The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-12 00:00:00

the proprietors and myself to under-rate rather than over-
rate its capabilities, in order that the public should in no
case be disappointed, but, on the contrary, unless some
unforeseen circumstance occurred, be surprised. How-
ever, owing to the exertions made by Mr. Hutchinson,
engineer to the London Gas Company, and his judicious
and I was obliged to allow
eaxrrpaencgteamtioennstswienrethseurmpaanssuefdae,ture of the gas, even my own
about fifteen thousand feet of gas (equal to one-fifth of
the power of the whole) to, escape before I could release
the machine from the moorings, the ascending power
being much too great, and no room being left in the car for
any more passengers. We proceeded at first to the east,
but soon took a south-easterly direction, leaving Greenwich
and Woolwich to the left. The Gardeng and every avenue
leading to them appeared to be one solid mass of human
beings ; in fact there was not an elevated spot within two
miles of the metropolis which was not crowded with spec-
tators. We had ascended about three-quarters of a mile •
when we found ourselves in a brilliant sunshine, which
formed a strong contrast to the dense and clouded. atmos-
phere we had just left. The gas now expanded rapidly,
and the silk, down to the bottom of the neck, was com-
pletely distended. We of course ascended with great ve-
locity, and in less than five minutes the fall of the mercury
in the barometer indicated a height of two miles and
a half. This was our greatest elevation, and, it be-
ing nearly dark, I thought it unadvisable to ascend
higher ; therefore, suffering a small portion of gas
to escape from the valve, we commenced our descent.
We were now nearly opposite Gravesend, and had crossed
the Thames several times. The grappling iron or anchor
first touched the ground near the village of Cliffe, in Kent,
and, after slightly catching several times, took a firm
hold ; a slight breeze sprinning up at this moment, the jerk
caused the hoop to which the grapple cord was attached to
give way, which rendered it necessary to open the valve
very wide. This done the car soon touched the ground ;
we then drifted about 100 yards, and the valve being kept
open, the stupendous machine, which so lately exhibited
its giant power, lay motionless on the ground.
All my companions expressed the greatest delight during
the voyage, and enjoyed themselves much, indeed so loud
was their mirth several times, that I had some difficulty in
making my directions audible, for I assigned some duty to
each, such as watching the rise and fall of the mercury in
the barometer and thermometer, throwing out ballast, &c.
Being forced to take such a large quantity of ballast, we
found the car too small ; but a new one much larger will be
constructed for the next. ascent.
We slept at the village of Cliffe, proceeding to Graves-
end yesterday morning, and arrived in town at 10 o'clock
last night. C. GREEN..

SINGULAR ESCA PhOF A PRISONER

Kendrick, the Police-officer of Kendal, late of Keswick,
who had the reputation of being one of the most expert
thief takers in the North, has had an adventure with one
of the roguish fraternity, which tends to tarnish rather
than to add to his fame. _

The worthy who has proved himself too many for the
officer called at the inn at Kendal a few evenings ago, and
asked to be accommodated with a lodging for the night.
His request was complied with, and on his being shown to
his bed-room, he left behind him a small basket, the con-
tents of which the landlord had the curiosity to inspect, as
he did not•exactly like the appearance of his guest. The
basket was found to contain about 100 pick-lock keys,
weighing from 10 oz. to 3 drs. each, fit for anything from a
castle-gate to a lady's boudoir ;21 of them were double-ended.
The police belog informed of this, were on the alert, and
about to form a cordon round the house. About half-past
eleven, Kendrick ha,.l stationed one man in the house, and
was himself outside in the entry, when he observed the
fellow, who had begun to • think all was not right, coming
out of a low front window into the street ; the officer was
there to receive him ; a severe struggle ensued, and they
fell together, but assistance coming- up, he was secured and
lodged in the lock-up. Next day (Wednesday) when
before the Magistrates, he called himself William Goodwin,
a hatter by trade, said that he had served his time at
Dundee, but that hehad not worked at his business for two
ynrs, having until lately kept a retail beer-shop in Turn-
weli-str.nt, London. The Magistrates had no doubt but
that the ,honesty of principle by which he was governed
was questiooabie, and they committed him to Appleby
goal for exerlis.e on the treadmill for three months.
On Wednesday. Kendrick set out with his charge for
Appleby, in a ,„.0-ik. The prisoner had on leg-irons, and his
left hand ruffled to the side of the gig, but with the coolest.
nonchalance he observed, there was no need of these things,
he would go quietly enough) it was only three months, and
he could stand it. Off they Went, and the affability, polite-
ness, and civility of the prisons r, won upon the affections
of his conductor. At Mr. Noble's': at Low Barrow-bridge,
they resembled two gentlemen rio:ng for pleasure, and
bobbed and 'lobbed in drops of brandy: On they went to
Orton, and here again they stopped, ana as it rained they
again pledged each other in a drop of I).”andy. Before
starting from Orton the placid behaviour of the prisoner
still further won upon the unsuspecting confidence of the
officer, and he unruffled his left hand, and his arms were
then both at liberty—but still he had the leg 'chains on.
When within something less than four miles from Appleby,
the prisoner made a ferocious attack upon the officer, ,Trasp-
jog his throat with both hands, and holding him until he
was almost lifeless. The latter threw himself out of the
gig, but the prisoner still kept his hold, and the officer be-
came quite Insensible, and on recovering he found himself
leg-ironed, hacdeuffed, and robbed of all he had, viz.—two
excellent pocket pistols, his great coat, all his keys, and
3/. 10s. in money, and the horse and gig were gone.
Kendrick, on recovering a little, hobbled along the road
as well as he could, and in about a mile he came up with a
countryman working upon the road side, and to bindle ap-
pealed in his misery ; but ;Or some time the labourer re-
fused to have anything to de with him, suspecting he
had broken out of gaol. After much entreaty, and a
promise of reward, the man was induced to run to Ap-
pleby, and give the alarm. Kendrick lio!ibled away until
he reached the hamlet of Hoffrow, and there lie ap-
pealed to the humanity of the good folks ; but they dis-
believed his tale, •as well they might, and accompanied
him as far as Burrels with his irons on. They were
then induced to get a file and set him at liberty ; but
still thinking they •had done wrong by liberating a Mon,
accompanied him to Appleby, where he was known, and his.
highly improbable story gained credence. The late prt-
he be ul
left
. f.
tr ona
atm enter-n
nihr
the
mg dashed on at a furious,va y , ratett,
irnnt oi
front
np
ttpol
oe
fbtyl
it,
ing the ti,.."'n missed his .
; he turned and inquired of an
bottom of tilts Wind; he drove
ostler the
0 ; the man feel the horse past the
King's Head and over the In .:'lge, pointing out the Carlisle-
roadscal dashed at a rattling
h"e'llreoraed, he
towCh-a' ritios.V. p e d
; and up Bartlebarrow the r,.:
pace. At the top of the bill he qmi.ted the Penrith-road,
and dashed off to the right on the Longnorton-road.
On Kendrick reaching Appleby, a number of constables
went of in pursui!, but Goodwin far outstrippeJ them all,
being full two hour's ride a-head. He was traced through
the Memberly toll-bar, and upon the Fell leading to Al-
ston, the gig was found smashed to pieces in a quarry. 1-10
had stripped the harness off the horse all but the bridle,
and taken it on with him, but had left it near Alston Moor,
where it was fallen in with next day, and the worthy him-
self was supposed to have taken the road to Newcastle.
Goodwin is a young man, about five feet six inches high,
and from the description given of him, there seems little
doubt but he is the identical person that escaped from three
constables near Cockermouth a few months ago, and got
clear off. Kendrick was ,rmuch injured by the ruffianly
treatmen,t of his prisoneTAeumberland P4.,clurt,