The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-22 00:00:00

I will now point out what the apparatus should
consist of. In the first place, the balloon should be
constructed of very light silk, about 25 or 30 feet in
diameter, with a net, a light car, &c.; apparatus for
the production of hydrogen gas should also be taken,
vitriol, iron filings, zinc, &c. A quantity of tissue
paper should also be taken for making small pilot
balloons to serve as signals, ascertain the state of the
upper currents, &c. And now for my mode of work-
ing. Suppose that the ships are beset by ice, or
• frozen in, and the parties wishing to cross an iceberg
or mountain, which would otherwise be attended with
danger and fatigue, let the large balloon be inflated,
to ean s of whichem p the o s
and two persons ascend rith proper telescopes, the
around
them,
hs
supposing
aeronauts
their
drifting of a balloon being prevented by a rope secured
the
might remain at any altitude required, the parties in
the car ship,
taking a
a and
surveyby means
altitude to be one mile, which would be as high as
they could attain with ropes.
But our knowledge as to the exact power of vision
is so very crude and defective, that I will not here
attempt to set any definite limit to the circle of view
that may be attained at this or any other altitude.
That we gain a vast circle of view by ascending
above the irregularities and obstructions which present
themselves to our sight on the earth's surface is
certain, and I am now making arrangements to carry
out a series of scientific experiments, with a view of
laying down some positive data on this highly in-
teresting and important subject.
To continue an ascent the balloon may be freed
from the ropes, and a height of two miles can be
attained, and here the parties might possibly see to a
greater, but not (as I think I can prove to the satis-
faction of science) to the enormous extent stated by
Lieutenant Gale, who says, at " an altitude of two
miles, a panorama of at least 1,200 miles would be
placed within observation."
Supposing Lieutenant Gale's statement to be true,
signals made by so small an object as a man on the
earth could not be seen from the car of a balloon at
a height of a mile, nor could the car of a balloon be
seen at this height by parties on the earth. This
must be well known to all who have ascended with
a balloon, though we may on a clear day see the
earth, towns, water, itc., but we cannot discern any
given object. The report of a gun may be heard at
an altitude of one mile ; this being the case, rockets
and maroons could be discharged from the car of the
balloon, which might draw the attention of the missing
parties to it.
I also would propose that a small line of some fa-
thoms in length, wound on a real, should be fixed to
the car, the end of the line made secure at the
place of starting ; let this line be paid out
as the balloon ascends, and it would answer two
purposes. It would lighten the balloon as it was
paid out, so that the weight would serve as ballast—it
would also serve as a guide to the place of ascent or
descent. There could be no objection to this line, as
it could not do any damage, no towns or houses
being in its way. This plan would save much time
and labour. In a few hours the parties in the car
could survey and ascertain what would otherwise take
them weeks to accomplish. With respect to the
pilot balloons, these could be made of oiled tissue-
paper, and filled with hydrogen gas, or rarefied air.
By means of these pilots fireworks might be sent up,
giving reports. &c., as signals for the missing par-
ties ; great numbers of these might be sent up day
and night, as the wind varied—the expense would
be very trifling. These pilot balloons could be
traced on the ice, if found by the missing
parties. Dispatches could be enclosed in a
small car, or in bladders partly blown, so as not to
sink in water. By this means the latitude and longi-
tude of parties in search could be communicated. I
have no doubt but that if Sir John Franklin had sent
off a number of these pilot balloons in the above
manner, stating his position, some of them would have
been picked up either at sea or on land by the parties
who have been so long in search of him. They
might be so constructed as to remain in the air a
considerable time, by dropping ballast at intervals by
an invention which I shall be happy to explain. A
balloon which was launched at Paris at the coronation
of Bumiaparte,. in 1804, remained in the air twenty-
two hours. It fell near Rome, having in that short
time travelled 900 miles.

I, trust, Sir, you will excuse my long let-
ter, and give it a place in the columns of your
valuable and widely-circulated journal. I shall feel
highly gratified, as I have only one object in view,
namely, to assist in the discovery and preservation of
those brave men who have ri,ked their lives in an
attempt to discover the north-west passage for the
benefit of their fellow-men.

Nothing will give me greater pleasure than render•
,ng every assistance in my power in any undertaking
'or the discovery of Sir John Franklin and his crew.
I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
JOHN HAMPTON, Aeronaut.

Rotunda, Dublin, Nov. 17, 1849.
P.S.—I shall he happy to attend any committee, if
called upon, to lay before them my plans and draw-
ings, fully illustrating my views.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.

The Queen, with their Royal Highnesses the Prince
of-Wales and Princess Royal, drove in Windsor Park
this morning. Her Majesty was attended by the
Viscountess Canning and Colonel Hon. Charles Grey.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out
shooting this forenoon, accompanied by the Duke of
Bedford, Sir Robert Peel, and Viscount Canning.
Lord Dufferin, Colonel Hon. C. 13. Phipps, Captai❑
Hon. J. Denman, and Colonel the Hon. A. Gordon,
were in attendance on his Royal Highness.
The younger members of the Royal Family took
their usual airings.
Sir David Dundas (Judge Advocate-General), and
the Right Hon. Thomas Pemberton Leigh; left the
Castle this morning.
The royal dinner party this evening included
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent (attended
by her Royal Highness's Ladies in Waiting), the
Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Dowager Lady
Lyttelton, Viscount Canning, Sir Robert, Lady, and
Miss Peel, General and Lady Isabella Wemysa,
Colonel lion. C. 13. and Mrs. Phipps, Sir George and
Lady Couper, the Hon. Mrs. J. Denman, and Mr.
Glover.

Sir George Grey arrived in town on Tuesday night
from his seat, Fallodon, Northumberland. Mr. Sidney
Herbart and Mr. Kingscote had an interview yester-
day with the Right Ilon. Baronet at the Home-office.
Mr. M'Lachlan had an interview with Earl Grey
yesterday, at the Colonial•office.
Sir William Clay and Mr. Cobden had an interview
with Sir George Grey yesterday.
Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor of Hong-Kong.
The Earl of Yarborough, Sir James Duke, and
Viscount Chew ton, had interviews with Sir George
Grey yesterday.

HEALTH of the QUEEN DOWAGER.
(From the Court Circular.)
" The Priory, Wednesday, Noy. 21.
" The Queen Dowager passed a tranquil Right, but
without much sleep.
" Iler Majesty remains in the same state this
morning. "DAVID DAVIES, M.D."

THE OPENING or THE COAL•EXCHANGS TO THE
TRADE.—Yesterday the Coal-Exchange was opened for
the transaction of the public business of the trade. Mr.
John Wood, the chairman of the coal, corn, and finance
committee, and most of the members, attended in the
building, and when the clock struck twelve, the clauses
ot. the Act and the Gazette notice having been read, the
entrances to the hall were thrown open. Cheers were
given fur the Queen, the city of London, the coal trade,
the chairman, and the architect of the building. The
whole of the arrangements seemed to give perfect satis-
faction to the merchants and factors, and the business of
the day was immediately commenced.
DUBLIN THEATRICALS.—Mr. Marston's tragedy of
Strathmore has been played with great success at the
Theatre Royal, the two principal characters being sus-
tained by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean.
A GAMBLER.—At the entrance of the "Pines," a
man met us in a waggon, and one of the hunters said,
" That man has lost his eyesight with gambling."
" How so?" inquired one of my companions. "It was
thus: Ile had a good farm which he neglected, to
engage constantly in gambling. On one occasion be
had sat up eight days and nights consecutively, and he
won another man's farm, house, cattle, and a steamboat;
but he became stone-blind from exhaustion. and is now
partially recovered, only sufficient to allow him to drive
a weggon !"—Sir J. Alexander's "Acadie."
In compliment to the splendid hospitalities of Sir
James Duke, his mayoralty is known in City history
as the Duke dinnersty (dynasty.)—Punch.