The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-12 00:00:00

BALLOON ASCENT.

Y-esterday was announced by Mr. GRAHAM,
the aeronaut, for making his seventeenth ascent with his bal-
loon. He selected for the occasion a spot which seems to be
a favourite one of his to make the ascent from,—narnely, the
•Gardens of White Conduit-house, Pentonville, where he had
three times before exhibited, once successfully, and twice the
contrary.

The public taste for ballooning, if we may judge by yester-
day's exhibition, seems to be very much on the wane; nor is it
much to .be regretted that it should be.so ; for, without the
exception of the gratifiCation which such sights give to one's
curiosity,'hy exhibiting a man dangling in the air at an im-
mense height, we can,perceive little amusement, and much less
of utility, in those aerial -flights, as usually conducted.
,The balloon yesterday was the same with which 111r.Graham
has already taken many flights ; from which, however, it does
not seem to be much the worse for the wear.

The inflatinr, process, as it is called, commenced a eleven
o'clock. As the morning lowered very much, and a fall of rain
was anticipated, which might not only damp the proceedings,
but perhaps stop them altogether, the gas was let into its place
of destination very slowly—,a bird in She hand being consider-
ed worth two in the bush ; and as, if the balloon was once filled
and no ascent could take place, the gas would have been lost
both to ,the Imperial proprietors of it and to Mr. Graham.
About two o'clock the wisdom of the precaution became more
evident, -for the rain began to come down very heavily, and
threatened—not the dispersion of the company, for there was
no
.company to be dispersed, but—the prevention of any from
arriving, if there were any so minded. The rain lasted for about
half an hour, and did one good for Mr. Graham—it washed
his balloon completely, which before seemed of a mud colour,
and covered with dust.

At near three o'clock, the balloon having been.well washed,
and the rain having ceased, it began, as it got gradually dry,
to show some variety of colours, and the afternoon assuming a
more favourable appearance, the inflating business went on
more rapidly under the immediate direction of Itlr. Graham
and a .11r. Adams, who we understand is a partner in the
concern.

Occasionally during the day,there were half a dozen men em-
ployed in•hlowing into sonic sort of wind instruments, and
thumping a drum most unmercifully; and these people were
called the balloon hand. There was, however, to be heard now
and then, from another part of the gardens, something like an
approach to music, from what we learned was a band in attend-
ance upon the firemen of the Royal Exchange Assurance Com-
pany, who were regaling themselves at this house on this day
on the annual dinner given to them by their proprietors.
At four o'clock a few half-crowns, the term of admission,
began to make their appearance at the entrance-door, and the
owners of them, and a few others with orders, scattered them-
selves on the grounds; but even up to this time the muster of
spectators was very scanty indeed. it now appeared that a
new species of entertainment had been provided for the specta-
tors, and a very silly one we deem it, if not indeed mischievous.
A small cannon was placed in the midst of the spectators, close
to the balloon, and occasionly charged very strongly with
powder, -by a person who seemed to know nothing about such
a process,; and this was several times in the course of the after-
noon made to explode, certainly to the annoyance of every body,
and to the alarm, and possibly serious alarm, of women and
children.

Five o'clock showed the afternoon rather favourable to the
ascent, and at this hour the gardens appeared the fullest with
spectators, and that fulness consisted of about 200, chiefly of
thet,y-rag and bobtail sort.

After considerable impatience on the part of the few specta-
tors who were present, the balloon was announced as ready for
its voyage, at within a quarter to six o'clock ; and at that hour
the car was attached by the net-work surrounding the balloon
and other cords in the usual manner. It was now rumoured
that a gentleman had paid a considerable sum to Mr. Graham
for permission to accompany him, and that he was to take his
flight in the balloon. Nor was the rumour void of foundation,
for in a few minutes a young gentleman of a military appear-
ance, dressed in a blue frock coat, &c., and wearing large mus-
tachios, was seen upon the platform, and he was pointed out as
the intended companion of Mr. Graham. The ballast, grappl-
ing-iron, &c. being now placed in the car, which was a very
plain wicker one, Mr. Graham took his seat in it, and was im-
mediately followed by the gentleman above alluded to, who we
understood to be Captain Conroy, of the 3d Dragoon Guards.
This gentleman, in taking his seat, which he did with his hat
off; evinced no other change of countenance than a little flush-
ing of his cheek. The wind was now rather strong, blowing
from the south-east. The signal was given to let go the ropes
which held down the balloon, after it had been removed from
the phitform.to the ground ; which being done; the machine
made a very sudden bound from the earth in a northerly direc-
tion, and came with some violence against one of the trees on
that side of the gardens. This accident, although attended with
no danger or inconvenience, might have shaken the nerve of a
man in his first flight towards the Heavens ; but on Capt. Con-
roy it had not the slighest effect; and never did we see a per-
fect novice in these aspiring voyages exhibit more of real pre-
sence of mind—if the countenance be an index of that mind ;
his coolness seemed perfectly unaffected. Mr. Graham, of
course, was quite unmoved.
The balloon, cleared frbm the trees, now rose very majesti-
cally; and gradually towards the west directly in the first in-
stance, and then in a direction north-west. The atmosphere
was rather gloomy and dense, but still the aeronauts were seen
distinctly for a very considerable time, waving their flags. They
seemed to pass almost completely over the metropolis from east
to west, or nearly so.
The aseent, on the whole, was a very successful one, and
attended with less of bungling in the management than gene-
rally accompanies such exhibitions. The receipts of the day
towards defraying the expences must have been very trifling ;
but we understand that Captain Conroy paid 401. on the ground
for the permission to make the ascent.
TUE DESZENT.-At half-past two o'clock this morning
Mr. Graham arrived in town, having descended at Alr.Askew's
farm ,near Waltham Abbey, .about half-past seven o'clock.
Mr. Graham and Captain Conroy, when they reached tetra
firma, proceeded to Epping-place to dinner. Mr. Graham
states, that after his ascent from the ground he experienced
the most extreme cold, and that at one time it was so intense
as almost to deprive him of sensation. 'Tire extreme height
of the balloon was two miles and a half. Mr. Graham brought
his balloon safely with him to his house in Poland-street, and
was cordially greeted by his friends who had assembled tbere
to meet him.