The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-06 00:00:00

ANOTHER SCIENTIFIC BALLOON

ASCENT.

Yesterday another scientific balloon ascent was made
from Wolverhampton by Mr. Glaisher, the balloon being
under the guidance of Mr. Coxwell, as before. The day
was very capricious, being now fine and then again lower-
ing, until finally, at the time of ascent, an afternoon's rain
seemed inevitable. The cords were loosed exactly at one
o'clock, and the balloon coasted off in a south-westerly
direction. The balloon, as on previous occasions, was not
quite filled, on account of the expanding effects of the at-
mosphere at two or three miles altitude. It contained 60,000
feet of excellent gas, prepared under the able superinten-
dence of Mr. Proud, engineer to the gas works. Some
' pigeons were on this occasion allowed to accompany the
expedition. In addition to the instrument previously
taken, Mr. Glaisher took with him a camera, in order, if
possible, to take photographs of the different phases of the
clouds. He also took a newly invented barometer, for
the purpose of securing more correct observations of
the state of the atmosphere than was previously pos-
sible. These observations have formerly been taken
by Gay Lussac's syphon barometer and an aneroid,
but, as the correctness of the readings of the syphon
barometer mainly depend upon having a perfectly calibred
tube, and as the large size of the general barometer tube
rendered perfect calibration impossible, or at least very
difficult, Messrs. Negretti and Zambra have constructed a
barometer expressly for the purpose of checking the obser-
vations which have been made in order to test their cor-
rectness. With this view a good tube was selected, six feet
in length, and the mercury boiled through the whole of that
length. A cistern was then blown on its lower extremity,
and a stopcock added, by which means the mercury was
allowed to decrease inch by inch from the tube into the
cistern, and the rise which took place in the cistern was
subsequently accounted for in dividing the scale, the upper
part of the tube was used to construct the baromoter, and
by this instrument a direct reading is obtained without any
corrections being necessary for the displacement of the
mercury in the cistern down to eight inches. The differ-
ence, if any be found, will be due to the inequality of its
tube. We may mention that, among others, Lord Wrot-
tesly was present at the ascent. Mr. Glaisher has landed
near Ludlow. Altitude attained, six miles ; temperature,
minus, 5; very dry ; satisfactory.

IMPORTATIONS OF FOREIGN WHEAT

AND FLOUR.

The particulars of our importations of foreign
wheat and flour from the beginning of the year to
the end of July afford proof that up to the period
of the commencement of the harvest the supplies
were on an ample scale. The total of wheat landed
at the various ports of the United Kingdom during
the seven months was 4,M3,821 qrs., showing an
excess of about 31 per cent. over the extraordinary
importations of the corresponding period of last
year, and of more than 137 per cent, over those of
the same months of 1860. Since the end of July
the arrivals from America have continued to be of
remarkable magnitude, and it may therefore be
assumed that if the anticipations of deficiency in
the home crop this year should be realised we shall
be found, to a fair extent, prepared. The variations
in the sources of supply this year have thus far not
been great, the United States, Germany, and Russia
having each contributed very nearly the same per-
centage as from January to July, 1861. The chief
alteration is in the quantity from Egypt, which
continues steadily to increase. Subjoined is a state-
ment showing th© relative percentage from each
country :

IMPORTATIONS OP WHEAT DURING THE SEVEN MONTHS
ENDED JULY 31,
1860. 1361. 1362.
Qrs. Qrs. Qrs.
Totil importation.... 1,903,790 4,367,871 4,513,821

From Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent.
Russia
Prussia...* 35 14 .. 17
Denmark lO 4 . . 11
Mecklenburgh
Hanse Towns 4 .. 4 ..
France .
Turkey and Principalities 5 .. 5 5
Egypt
United States
British North America 1 .. 5 .. 6
Other countries

The proportions of flour have also been very large
but are slightly below those of last year. Annexed
are the totals :

IMPORTATIONS OF FLOUR DURING THE SEVEN MONTHS
ENDED THE 31ST OF JULY.
1860. 1861. 1862.
Cwts. Cwts. Cwts.
Total impot tation 1,897,196 .. 4,455,871 .. 4,225,882
From Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent.
Ha/Ise Towns 9 4 3
France 49 .. 10 .. 5
United States
British North America 7 .. 8 .. 12
Other countries . 7 .. 16 10

According to some reports, there is a prospect
that during the remaining months of the year Ame-
rican wheat and flour will have to sustain a strong
competition with the supplies from Germany and
France—a competition which must be carried on
under the disadvantage of the high rates of freight
which will be consequent on the vessels from this
this side taking out a diminished quantity of Euro-
pean goods from the operation of the new tariff.