The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-19 00:00:00

AEROSTATION.

The ascent of the Vauxhall balloon, which was adver-
tised to be " positively the last this season" took place on
Monday. The day, though by no means a fine one, was
much more favourable than that on which the expedition of
aeronauts previous to this was entered upon. In conse-
quence, then, of the comparative fineness of the day, and
no doubt on the reliance of the public (which we believe to
be well founded) on the reluctance of the proprietors of
the gardens to seek for another superlative to the adverb
" positively" at this advanced period of the year, a large
number of persons of distinction and fashion congregated
within the walls, and the roads outside were thronged with
more humble but not less anxious spectators. A consider-
able time having elapsed after the hour (half-past two o'clock)
specified in the bills before the signal for starting was given,
nine persons entered the car, whose names are as follow :
Messrs. Williams, Holland, Holloway, Spencer, Adams,
F. Gye, jun., C. Gye, Green, and Mason. The balloon
ascended with great rapidity, amidst the enthusiastic cheers
of the assembled crowd. Nothing could be more lively or
animating than the scene presented at this moment. The
band played a beautiful air ; the eyes of all were fixed upon
the balloon and those who filled the car ; the specta-
tors cheered and waved their hats and handker-
chiefs, their applause was responded to by the
aeronauts, and the immense machine itself shot aloft
with the celerity of an arrow. On a sudden, however, it
disappeared, and was completely hidden from the view of
those who seemed to take such an interest in its passage.
The fact was, that in about a minute the balloon ascended
into a dense cloud, and from that time was invisible. It

was very ludricous to observe the blank and disappointed
looks which the circumstance produced on the countenances
of those who, but a moment before, gazed with such apparent
joy on the interesting sight displayed in the progress of the
balloon. The direction taken on this occasion was towards
Henley.

MR. GREEN'S ACCOUNT.

The clouds upon this occasion were nearer to the earth
than I ever remember to have seen them, with one excep-
tion, and consequently we lost the view of it in less than
twenty seconds after leaving the gardens. After arriving
at the upper surface of a layer of clouds, which, from the
fall of the barometer, must have been about 800 feet in
thickness, we perceived a halo around the equator of the
balloon gradually becoming brighter, and in about four
minutes from the time of starting were in a brilliant sun-
shine, covered by a clear blue sky, with a sea of clouds be-
neath us extending to the horizon on every side.
The atmosphere above was perfectly clear, not even the
slightest particle of cloud floating in it. The sun's rays
striking on the surface of the clouds produced a dazzling
whiteness, aad an imperceptible change was constantly
taking place in their forms—here a ridge of small hills, then
a deep valley extending some miles, while, in the distance,
reared their heads tall masses of clouds, which several of
my companions insisted were mountains of earth, and not of
vapour, until I convinced them, from the transparency of their
edges (the sun being behind them), they could not be so.
We now appeared to be perfectly isolated from every living
creature, the view of the earth being completely obscured,
and a solemn stillness reigning around. At intervals we
distinctly heard the tinkling of sheep-bells, the barking of
the dogs, and sometimes the gun-shot of a sportsman.
From being unable to see the earth, and, consequently,
having no objects to assist us in judging of the speed at
which we were advancing, my companions amused them-
selves by giving their opinions as to the spot and probable
distance from the metropolis we were likely to descend,
some stating ten miles, others twenty-five ; and indeed it
was very difficult for the most experienced person to deter-
mine the question with any accuracy. The currents vary
considerably at different altitudes. The clouds moved so
much faster than the balloon, that, on ascertaining their
direction by the compass, we appeared to be going towards
the spposite point, and although this was not the case, still
it was difficult to persuade any person to the contrary who
had never before witnessed the same effect. I took up with
me a copper vessel, containing seventy pounds weight of
water, for the purpose of using it as ballast, the outlet
being regulated by a valve ; the great uniformity of the dis-
charge rendered it very serviceable, and far superior to sand,
which often becoming damp in wet weather forms itself
into large lumps, and issues from the bags in greater quan-
tities than is sometimes intended. This vessel, which is
air-tight when the valve is closed, showed very beautifully
the variations of the density of the atmosphere at the dif-
ferent altitudes, for the whole of the water being discharged
on first ascending, and the valve being then closed, the
vessel, of course, became filled with the atmosphere of that
altitude ; and on the valve being partially opened, at the
greatest elevation we attained (about 5,000 feet, or nearly
a mile), the air in the interior of the vessel immediately
expanded (being surrounded by an atmosphere of dirni-
nished density); and rushed out with a hissing noise. The
valve was again closed, the vessel being now filled with the
rarefied air, and on being opened after our descent the
atmosphere entered the vessel in order to restore the equili-
brium.
We witnessed a splendid sunset, and immediately com-
menced the descent, and, after passing through the layer of
clouds which now almost rested on the earth, the grappling-
iron took hold in a ploughed field, and was there securely
held by a gentleman named Cumberlege and his friend, who
with some ladies were on horseback in the adjoining field,
and most kindly rendered all the assistance in their power.
We were somewhat astonished after the apparent calm of
the atmosphere to find ourselves in the parish Leighton
Buzzard, in Bedfordshire, forty-five miles from Vauxhall.
There was considerable more wind at the surface of the
earth than above, which gave us another proof of the com-
plete efficacy of the elastic grappling rope, for not the
slightest jerk was perceptible on landing. We were in the
air exactly one hour and three quarters.
Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, Oct. 18.

C. GREEN

LONDON COLLIER WHARFS.—The evils of un-
loading colliers in the pool, and the expenses attending the
present mode of delivery, are about to be remedied by the
adoption of wharfs in the Isle of Dogs, connected with a
railway to join the Blackwell Railway, which will commu-
nicate with the Eastern, he Great Northern, the Birming-
ham, and Great Western Railways, and thus supply
the metropolis and inland counties with coal at a very
reduced price. By the plan proposed, which has the sanc-
tion and support of the ship and coal owners, it is intended
to unload the colliers alongside of wharfs afloat by means of
machinery with ton boxes, which may be transmitted either
in barges or on the railway to any part of the metropolis.
In adopting this method the coals will only be once moved
instead of five times, and the ships detained a fifth of the
time at present occupied in its delivery, independent of
the very reduced charges.—(Abstract from the Sunderland
Herald.

A young lady happened accidently to slip down in
the street—a gentleman hastened to her assistance, and on
her rising inquired if she had received any injury. " Quite
the contrary," was the reply of the trembling fair.
During the terrific gale of Thursday last, as a gen-
tleman, accompanied by a little girl, both on horseback,
was proceeding round the Junction-road, a gust of wind
caught the little equestrian and threw her to the ground.
Fortunately she sustained no serious injury.

A RESIDENCE IN' FRANCE, &C:BY THE AUTHOR
or " THE Puoz."—The literary fame which Mr. Cooper
has so justly derived from his previously-published works
will " moult no feather" by the appearance of the one
before us. It is what a book of the kind should be—a
plain, unvarnished, and undistorted account of whatever
the author thought worthy of observatimin the countries
through which he travelled, or in which he tarried. If
a writer professes to give us a description of the habits,
manners, laws, and customs of a country, we like to fancy,
as it were, that we had been companions of his journey.
It is the freshness and originality of note-book sketches
that constitute their great charm ; and such is the cha-
racteristic of the work before us.—Sunday Times.

A season morc unpropitious than the present for
the operations of the husbandman is fortunately of rare
cm:cam:lice ; and the causes of complaint which was last
year connected with a superabundant crop aro likely to be
reversed.—Berwick Advertiser.