The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The following letter has been addressed to
me by M. Nader, with a request to have it pub-
lished in the London journals. It has reference to
a paragraph which has recently appeared in some
newspapers, stating that it is the intention of Lord
Carlingford to dispute the honours of M. Nadar,
his lordship claiming for himself, all it seems, the
credit of discovering the principle of aerial
navigation by means of an aerial chariot. The
great interest taken by the public in the question,
at the present time, may induce you to find a place
for M. Nadar's communication.—l am, sir, your
obedient servant,

FERDINAND SILAS.
8, New Burlington-street, London,
Nov. 2, 1863.

"My dear Silas,—Please to reply for me, I beg you,
to Lord Carlingford, excusing your friend now confined in
bed, telling his lordship that, with my too great French
ignorance of what is taking place abroad, I knew absolutely
nothing of his system of aerial automotion. I rely suffi-
ciently upon the courtesy of Lord Carlingford to know that
he will not doubt my word.
" I cannot but congratulate myself on having had the
honour of finding myself on the same ground with Lord
Carlingford; I regret only that on his part he knows so
imperfectly my theory, which is absolutely the contrary of
that which ho attributes to me.

"To give you two or three axioms—According to my
views, the guidance of balloons lighter than the atmosphere,
is a problem not only impossible but absurd. This is abun-
dantly demonstrated by the slightest aerostatical practice.
"To contend against the air, it is necessary to be no-
lighter but heavier than air, the same as the bird is specifi-
cally heavier than the air in which it flies., lam persuaded
that the helice (screw) is destined to give to man the posses-
sion of the immense domain which belongs to him, and of
which he would have been master long ago, if he had not
obstinately followed, since the invention of ballooning, what
in hunting phrase is called a wrong track.
" I beg of you to send immediately to Lord Carlingford a
copy of the first number of my journal, l'Acronaute, where
these principles are laid down.
_

"In fine, and that there may be no possible mistake on
the part of anyone regarding what 1 am attempting, I de.
sire to find the necessary resources for the constitution of a
society, which shall be the centre of all hitherto isolated and
there ore lost attempts to solve a question so profound, so
vast, so complex, that it does not seem to belong to a single
individual to achieve it. I have my system, which I believe
to be good, since it is mine ; but I shall aid with all the
strength of my will, and with all the energy of my perse-
verance, every system which shall be proved to be better
than mine. The question to me is not at all who may have
determined the great problem; it is that the solution may be
found at last. The fruit is ripe, I long to see it plucked, no
matter by whom ; and this is the sole cause of the agitation
which I have endeavoured to call forth, and which I am now
pursuing.—Yours,
" Paris, 30th October, 1863."

"NADAR.

New Works by English Authors.

MR. HOWARD STAUNTON has a volume just ready on
"The Great Schools of England."
MR. CHARLES READE'S NOVEL Or " VERY HARD
Cam," in All the Year Round, will be published shortly
in two or three volumes. It is reported, says the Critic,
that he has been asking £3,000 for the reprint.
MR. JOHN TI3IBS has a new volume just ready entitled
"Knowledge for the Time, a Manual for Reading and Re-
ference on Subjects of Living Interest."

MRS. HOWITT HAS A JiIIVENUE STORY just ready, en-
titlsd, " Mrs. Rudd's Grandchildren."
MISS YONGE has, as usual, a juvenile tale for Christmas,
ready. It is entitled " The Wars of Wapsburgh," and
will be published by Messrs. Groornbridge and Sons.