The Sun.
London, England, 1823-08-19 00:00:00

S D AY; AUGUST 19, 1823.

BALLOON HOAX AND RIOT.

In
ennseciunCe of certain placards, whicli were
very industtiously eirettlated thrnughout the tnetrorolia
the last week; announting„the intention of a Gmtitast to
ascend in a Li:Moen much !Oder than any itticlt hail yet been
employed by any df his *ion:rink predecessors,: an. immense
multitude WaS assenilgect yesterday afternoon inthe neighbour.
hood of White Conduct-lionse4 Islington, to see net Merely his
ascent, but alio ' the eitinOtdinary machine in which he pro.
mised to make it: The time thig gentleman flved for
starting upon his Aerial t?avels was three O'clock in the after-
noon tbut long before that time the. streets aid fields ahout
Isliikton were. cciingetely filled jtrith rinhinis sPeciators, and
exhibited a very bustling and Amusing spectacle. Tlie.place
in which the balhien was placed for inflation was the boiling-
green attached to White Conduit-house; but sonie howor tither
the company which went to inspect it there was neither very nu-
merous nor very select. Whethei this_ was Owing to the ballei-n
having been exhibited during the Week for the small price 4
one shilling, or whether it was owing to nob Ody being permitted
to enter the gardens withaitt first paying the heavy price of
three and sixpence, we cannot say, but this fact is, that from
one o'clock till four, not more than 300 persona Were to be seen
within the palling of liciarda erected around White COnduit-
house. The inflation began, or at leak it. was said that it be,
gan, at ten o'clock in the morning; but the progre* Of it *asslow, slow, and the supply of gas so defficient, that at 4 o'clock most
persons in the Garden anticipated the consequences Which sub.
sequently took place. It was, however, positively asserted by
those to whom the surrintenclance of the balloon was intrusted,
that it would be sufficiently. in fluted to ascend by five ; and the
more their assertions appeared to be discreditetiby those who
- heard them, the more vehement and active were they in 'repeat-
ing them. It was well for Mr. Graham that the persons Out of
doors, to whom these assertions were carefully reported by those
Within, did not see the progress which was actually made in
the process of filling the balloon until after they had paid their
fee of entrance, to the Cetherus at the ',Pates; for if they had by
ten accident been aware of it, it is quite certain that none of the
three anti sixpences would have rolled into Mr. Graham's purse,
which'were afterwards extracted • front that of the multitude,
partly owing to its credulity, partly to its wish to gratifY its
ove tOr the marvelous.

„leetween five and six o'clock the company in the gardens in-
crewed to about seven or eight hundred persons, not remarkable
for their genteel appearance or sobriety. An assemblage of
Englishmen, under the best circumstanctee is given to be int.
patient ; and that of yesterday afternoon was far from testifying
good humour when not gratified at the hour expected by the
eiscension.of the balloon. Music had been tried, and for some
time with efreet, to allay the irritation ; but at last even music
lost its charm, and ceased to delight. The cries of the multi-
tilde iii tl.e streets, which became about the same time very
violent, and not a little alarming, acted as a stimulus on the
nerves of the persons in the gardens. Taunts and reproaches
were addressed very plentifully, as well to Mr. tiraliani as the
tete Mr. elidlers, by Whom lie was accompanied. They were;
repeatedly asked why they had made such pompous professions
about going up precisely to their time, and about not keeping
the
_people,. as others had done, waiting for hours, in expecta-
tion 'of their ascent. Their friends, in reply, made various
excises for. them. It was stated, that the, balloon being of
much larger dimensions than any which had been sent into the
” aiure deep of air," required a much longer time. o fill, but
to the *use it was replied, that as Mr. Graham must have
been acquainted with that circumstance, it was his duty to have
calculated accordingly, and to have begun the inflation proper-
eori4tily earlreie It wait. then added, chat as the balloon was
iii4de, of cotton instead of silk, it was much heavier, and there-
. ,
lore reqeired a witer quantity of .gas to make it buoyant.
Soneeell'eg was likewiee whispered about the texture not being
so fine end close as it would have been had silk been the me-
terialeniployed, anti about the escape of a quantity of gas in
conseetience: but people said that this excuse was worth no
more ettentien than the fernier, anti applied exactly the same
IMSIVer.tO it. • Driven from these two, excuses, 31r. limit:Ain and
fritita.e had recourse to a third; and it was assured that the
stipple orgria Was not sogreat as the ocrueion requireti. In the truth
°ldes assertion everybody agreed, and out of it arose a question on
which see do not pretend to give any decision—naniely, whether
the public ought to blame Mr. Graham or the Gas Company
fbr this deficiency. Various were the opinions delivered upon
this point t but the majority appeared to think that the ties
vmpeny was most in fault, and backed their opinion by re-
tero:ce tn. the unequal manner in which the gee was Stlpplied
to Mr. Wm on his late ascent. at hackney. All these knotty
rants. and discussions were, however, unknown to the multi—
little ire the streets, which gradually became more and more.
riotous.. " Hope deferred," it, is said, " maketh the heart
sick;" on this occasion it only made the tongue noisy. A threat
Was loudly made by the people outside, that if the balloon did
not immediately ascend, they would burst into the garden, and
themselves, inquire into the meson why it did not gaup. This
threat, produced an eftect, not indeed in making the inflation of
the /Aileen proceed with more-rapidity, or in causing a car to
be attached to it-.-(that indeed was an effect which every boar
sccuted to despair of seeing produced ,that evening*)--but in I
inakieg Airesatlfer, jun., as we understeod, cut the ropes °edit;
halh,n, andseod it by itself
without any parachute, Ste.
On a oyilge to the upper regions. `1
i ,:•1•,
erc is in general ibuch
v
Majesty, n the.gallant manner in which a balloon first =wrings
from the meortegs to which it has been fastened; but redicule
itself cannot pout any thing more lutlicreits,than the manner in
which this ncketty, half-611W /Ambler of painted cotton rose
into the air. Its first efibrt at elevation was like the laborious
effort of a decrepit old man to vault from the ground e and
after it hatl obtained with great difficulty a partial elevation, it
sailed along the sky' with en uneven rotatory niotion, slnking
riving with an alternation of success that was well woithy 11:No
poets an abortion. Mr. Sadler, on giting its
realms unknown, said dint he ti
ror"
Pie taut of doors eesohl he setistial, mgr at lenet that their; injure
don would be allayed, by witnessing lee ascent even, in so eefi;
rushed a state: but his hares with id so in hopee that the pen.
regard to the
.Mii-ofeleors
pee Pie were by no mains fulfilled, whilst the very mention of
them' to the indoors people conterted their rage and disappoint
meat into perfect phreney. Mr. Graham, weir had quietly.
think into the White Conduit-house, robust his balloon ,of
unprecedented dirnensiona"7. was, rising halt 4illeti Mee the air,.
was loudly called rot Mr. Graham Was wise enough not to
appear. The car, which hart been placed in a sinumer-howie ore
the bowling-green, was then sought for, but might for in vain:
It Inul.vamslied Iva its proprietor into the Kern, during ale
time that the peopre were gazing at the pronrations that were
made to cut adrift his cotton etriptil balloon, end thus escaped
the, demolition with Which many yokel, threatened it. About this
period several iatlividuals forced themselves through the'paling
into the gardens at one side of them, in the hope of having a lit-
tle bit of a row; whilst others, more peaseribly inclined, forced
themselves out at the contrary side, in the hope of escaping free
from it. 'ftc uproar and confusioniwai incessant. Aloud cry
of " hive us back our Money—We'll not be swindled in this
way for nothing," mute in various quarters, and, as was tti be
expected, in such a case, those who lied not paid fur their ad-
mission, were mien active in encouraging it. '!'lie proprietor.
of the tavern came forward to requeet the people to be,qtnet and
peaceable, but in vain. Their cry was still—their money
some even insisted on being reepinpeneed for their hiss of time.
A promise was made that the money taken et the eoor should
be returned. Th 6 produced ti temporary silence ; but in a feiv
111i1141(11it was 411sovered that m
the o
done in the take,
etclebar r had ebsteoedriitlicet )11X
i,
taking with him all the cash, t was
of the bottle conjurer. 'l'he tempest again raged with renewed
violence, Mr. G raharn's presence was again dernatuted, and again
Mr, timhem's presence was rclUsed. The preptietor of the
house, who happened, to be an orator, luckily had a friend
who mistook biregelf for one. The friend ca
people not me finwarili and
on behalf of the proOtetoi, implored the to destro
the rrentises, its lie wads reeparty to the disappointment whig
they had that day experienced. The people reprteil that they
wou%l not listen to him, unless Mr. Ortileirre whom they knew
the clamour* of the
to be in his tavern, was produced, to make an apology. The
landlord or his friend (awe forgo which) retorted that he could
not t'Witpel Mr. eiraharn to (3)1110 fOrti'ard. Viva ors 3 speeches
weee then made by gentlemen whose lungs Were a, /hew better
ittltitedi re c;1 ebscupet
641
their janopg.e, and whose diffidence appeared to be on ti par
fig th
►nult
tsi;:eriie:hweeithofatvhieew vel;llltitllleweril)llen are in ge.
Wet of little Use when addressed to angry men, and the speeches
which thole gentlemen used were on this occasion waist titan
Useless. One of the teeters was indecamost ludicrously note
°ink—be boasted of his rights linglishnian, and told
people that they, would 1),. Aaret,' demi, if after all the wrongs
to which e years they could submit
in patience
theyencetoa lied
violations ui
ttttilite* ire like !his.- Ile was fie.
lowed by aStentor, who, tlineglilurbulPnt in his tnngue, was
placid in his proposals. Ile declared that though he had loSt
his time, his money, and 14f-dinner, Ire was determined not to

s• -

-lose his temper, and he 'cautioned them most earnestly not to
break either the peace, the laws, or the windows, as, if they
did, they were likely to get themselves into a scrape. How
his nretion•might have ended we cannot tell, as the attention-
of the multitude within was called from hint by a volley of
stones,. Whith were poured into the gardens by the multitude,
without; and within a few short minutes afterwards all the
palings of the garden were broken doin ;' the mob made a
violent irruption, into them, and Committed various acts of
outrage, for which we understand several of them are now in
custody.
Such was the, face that affairs wore dtiring the course:of yes-
terday within.thegardeng. Without them, public expectatton
seemed to have been excited in a very high degree. By twelve
o'clock an immense .mass of people had assembled the fields
immediately adjoining White Conduit-house ; the roofs of unfinished -
houses, and the Windows of inhabited ones, teaches,
.donky car* and even the brick-kilns, were thronged, with
spectators. By. font. o'clock,, when it was redly difficult to
form a conlecture as to the numbers on the ground, strong ex-
pressions o impatienee were manifested by a large proportion
of this tnultitudinotiS aasembly ; and the Wearisontenesg. of
those who had been on the gPot for many soars, exposed to all
the dust, Incotttenienee, and etilima of the bricks and ditches
which abound in the vidnity, was hardly disaipated by the
riety n.mainusement4 which the younger 81)(1W-oral toadied part
of die Populace Were diverting themselvea with. Thelatter,
with mere of good humour than propriety, were fenipting the
Unwary to. cross over patches (Jr veryerken and muddy,
ground, %Oath had been purposely strew over with dry gra-
vel and twiek=dttit; end the calamity of. those who inidWAY
over the insidious bottom sunk In and etuckthire, incapable
of extricating themseltes, excited. many a burst of iaughter
from those stlio had contrived the acme. Nov and, then
a pickpoCket's apprehension occasioned., a slight tnoienient ;
but otherwise the different parties who Were scattered in every
direction, where they could by possibility commaral a view of
the accent, remained quiet in their statibtis; and thus the time
dragged on very heavily till flee. Otle accident, indeed, oc.,'
curred about three o'clock that might have led, andpossibly
did lead (though we could not learn the result) to tiermeg con-
sequences. The spectators who had taken their station on the '
roofing and yarapetS of the unfinished houses, elated With the
bird's-eye view which they conmianded of all the aerostatic pre-
, parations that were going en in the ench*ire, expressed their
pity for the " groundings," in terms which might,..have been
meant for those of compassion, but which the latter considered
as the language of insult. 1t man in this " contemned crowd"
was particularly gelled at the reflections Which had been cast
on himself and those who stood around„, and proposed, in a
very brief but pithy harangue, to vindicate themselves by cast-
ing bricks on ~the proud occupiers of the house-mpg. This.
extraordinary proposal was immediately carried 'by acclaim,
tion, and an afiray took place of ti most »laming nature.
Bricks, clay, stoneg, and ruhltish, were thrown up tit the
fonner in merciless profusion, and severe bitises were inflicted..
The roofs, as if by magic, were unttnaitted in a few mo-
ments ; but they who supposed that by this evacuation they
should escape further attack, must have been grievously dig.
appointed. The houses being mere shells„ were without
doors or windows ; and the artillefy of their opponents poured
in upon them at every .Opening. They therefore resumed
their places on the roots, and by dint of extreme industry in
'demolishing the unfinished labours of the bricklayer, they
quickly collected a store of missiles, with which they so-vigo-
rously plied the enemy below, that they Kt length forced hint to' •
retreat to " most admireddisorder." r 1 female Amazon parti-
cularly distinguished herself by the execution Which she auntie
upon these routed assailants. Loud cheering announced. the
victory of the upper party ; and some peace-ollicers taking the
field prevented the vanquished from rallying. At -length,'
about half past five, the 'lnilltion appeared front without the'
enclosure to assume a slight rotatory motion, and
,to expand
considerably. Every body imagined that the process. of intla-,
don was now nearly completed, and , expectation .became in-
tense.- Guns were tired ; and these were presomed to be sig-
nals of the ascent ; but the balloon suddenly collapaed—the
top oralume, _which, a little,heft.werelanted a complete ate of a
asurned a conical appearance, anit for some minutes
it sunk below the trees so as to be invisible to the.multitude,
At length it again raised its many-coloured lima; lint it was.
visible, that like those of many who were assisting it to rise, it
was by no means es well furnished as it 16114,111 d I. The im-
' patience of the spectators was evzty moment giving 'Oleo to
levlipgs of anger and disappoinnuem, when the clock struck.
six ; another gun was tired, and in n few minutes this parts-
lvtic balloon did ascend--bust such a spectaele ! After leech
lounging and tumbling about, es if it was onwilling to resora
itself in the ridiculous plight it was to present, it gradually rose,
sideways, above the trees, with no ear, and apparently about,
one-terth as many feet.of inflemineble air us it ought to
have contained. A sight more 'ridiculous can hardly be. con-
chettilvfetfilikilluteitbrii4ll.l)ootvoksr,esetinteibletl
othera seelilic:opltyb,oya'zslasf.ftittc;,hteali„nteibie,
by
some process of equal ingenuity with that of Ai r.
inverted in the air. .Shouts of laughter, vexation, reproach,
ridicule, and denunciation, hailed time ascent; and the balt•
loon very slowly took a north-east course towards Dalstfin and

. ,
Hackney. It may be very true that aerostation has hitherto
added little. or nothing W the stores of science,-and has been
totally, Unproductive as to any purposes, of practical utility.;
but still a car, and a man in it, appear.totts such indispensable
appendages, that the projectors ought have indulged the public
with the gratification of very . harmless .prejudice. ii'ram the
haziness cif the Weather, rather than front the force of any cur.
rent of air, the unhappy object ints soon out of sight ; and then
the suppress s 1 the populace began to vent itself in
Acts winch we regret to tetY were iii their nature indefensible, and
in their effects ot veil serious. injury to innocent individuals.—
We mean the proPrietora of White Cenduit,hou`se.: The uproar.
heijan. with cries of, ''' Shrdati,',", Hoar,!' "„Swindlers, aid
repeatedvoiiferatiOU for Mr. thiltim. Mr. Graham not
• appet'iing, the mob proceeded to take summary vengeance for
their,i6ss of titne, and disappointMent. _The field in which they
stood, an' pa rt itrAlarly that part Of it which is opposite to the gar.
dens, and I.‘etWeen Pentan.street and Richard-street, unhappily
abounded with loose frogmen ts of old wall sand new bricks ; being
in the immediate neighbottrhood of some houSes that have been
pulled down, and others thatare now building. At first the palm,
lace contented themselves with throwing bricks' and mud at the
fence or palings.;" but their irritatinn seemed to increase, when
they discovered how weak Was the force of the police,within. Tee-
nYentious voilies of stones, brickbats, and rubbish, were now digs.
charged againit the fen ce,and in to the gar lens. Glass, tiles, .k.v. fell
in; shiicred into fragments ; and thine or four of the most despe.
rate athong,:the mob then crossed a dry ditch that intervened
between then) anti the gardens, and began to tear down with
the utmost fury,the palings that surroeunted the fence, The
fence itself, being naited in many parts to the trees, foe a long
time resisted this attack; but 10 or 12 man coming to the aid
of the first aisailants, Sprung-tip, and grasping it all together, by
dint of continued exertion in swaying it backwards and forwards,
Soon brought a considerable portion to the ground, Tile breach
that *us now effected discovered a few constables; who were
placed,,behind the ,trees.;' anti once or twice we observed them
make a sortie ;`. fait to all appearances very ineffectually, the iin-
mense numerical superiority of the rind) compelling them hastily,
•to retire: Animated by the cheers and other expressions of
' exultation which proceeded front those who were on the bank,
a few of the boldest ntnong the rioters now renewed their work
Of destruction, undercover of another tremendous volley, which
Seemed for some minutes to effect a complete clearance in the
gardens. Notwithstanding , the resistance of the oflcers; and
some desperate conflicts which they had with them, the
Mischievous perseverance of the rioters wastinerttinguisludde ;
and sometime renewing the attack, and n't others retreating,
they at length succeeded, we are sorry to State, in tearing
down the whole of the felled opposite the fields, and some piing
trees that were attached to them. Never was destruction more
complete. The populace now rushed in, pelf-mall, anti We ob.
-served Oa( one or two forms were, torn up and brought oat
into the midst of the crowd, while a constable's baton was
fhing and kick :ttbout the field, as a trtiphy of the •
success
*441
Which had atte - the Oinks of the marauders. We lament,
indeed, to add, '-'tli t a ritilion,T who thus broke into the gar.
dens, with a degree of. Wanton atrocity; that demandi the most
exemplary punishment, stopped is 'wing that win full courrie,.
and pre-violated a 'couple of children who were in it to the
grintbd, with such violence as to inflict a most Serious worced.
upon Otte of than. We were pleased to learn that this fellow:
Was secured,; anti hit Capture,, we understood, was effected by,
some of those who hail been most active in the aggressions .en
the fence, but yet seemed to participate in the general senti.:
ment of execration which his inhumanity had excited. Some
of the ring leaders in the affray were taken; to the watch.
house, and when we left the ground (about eight o'clock,) the
crowd had very nearly dispersed.—( The Timm)
Before we left the tavern it was nseertained that the balloon
descended at Stamford Hill, about fOur miles from White Con.
dolt ilago.—(2Vcw Times.)

, S

PRICE SEVENPENCi.

TIIE DF,PARTUItE 1A.560,
IN "'I'ANIIIt)ItE.

rPront a Traveller'3 Journal.]

Otirthe 13th of June l took leave of my friend,
John Price, and his admirable wife,- promising
to visit them'again as soon as it wash.) my potier,
and proceeded on my journey in quest of Mj%
Turner. I would not let Price goo with' me, on
second thoughts, aLmany sad ' accidents might
happen in this rotell'"'ind desolate part of the
world; and no relief in such case to. befound.:-.7
If I fell there was no, one belonging to me to
shed ,a tear for me but if a Mischief should. befal
Jack Price, his Wife would be miserable indeed
and I the maker of a: breach in the sweetest 'sys-
tem.Of
:felicity' thit lot'te and good sense had
ever formed. This made rne'refuSe his repeated
Offers to accotnpapy me. All 1 would have was
a boy pod a horse of hi to carry some proOsioni,
wit and dry, as there was no ptiblic:house to be
found in ascending thoSe tremeodoni hills, or in
tifedeep vales through whiO I must go; nor'any
house that he knew of beyond his own: Witl►.
the rising Sun; then, I set out, and was charoi-‘
ed for several hours with the air and views.---
The mountains,' the rocky precipices,' the woods
and the waters, appeared iu various striking,;situations every mile I ttaielled on, and found
the most astonishing tioiort of iiew. .:SOMetitnes
was abOve the clouds, and then crept 'to ed.
chanting iallies below. here glens were seen
that looked ifs if the Mountains bad been rent
asunder` to form the amazing st-enes ;• and 'thei.6,
foreats and falling streams &tiered' the sideS
the hills. Rivers in many places in the, mosti
beautiful cascades were tumbling along; and
cataracts from the tops of mountains came roaring
dowm. 'l7 he whole was grand, wonderful, and
line..Ou the top of one of the mountains I passed
aver at noon;` the air was piercing cold, on account
of its great height, and so subtle that we breathed
With difficulty, and, were a tlittle sick. Fruits
henCe ttatt severni black subjacent clouds hig,'
with thunder,and the lightning Within them.rolled
hack Wards and forwards like shining bodies
the brighust lustre. Out' Of them went Of*,
the grandest horrors through the va4Lhe,:
lo 'w, and had no More to do With the ptk
was on thin if. it hail been a stirinuit in another
planet. This scene was prodigious flue. " Suit,
,pedihns ventos et ram tonitruit caleat."

lilt the evening I. rid and walked, and in,
numberless windings round iMpassable Mils atut
by the sides of risers it was impossible to cross,
journeyed a great nu miles but no butt:tan
creature, or any kind of house, did I meet with
in alt the long way ; and as I arrived at last; a
beautiful lake, whose banks the hand of nature
had adorned with vast old trees; I sat down by
this water in the shade to dine on a neat':, tongue,'
I had got from good Mrs. Price, anti i so de.'
kighted with the strilOng bestitieg and stitlness of
the place that I determined to poi the night 4rs
this sweet retreat. Nor was.it one 'night only, if
I had my will, that 1 would have rested there.
Often did I wish for a convenient little lodge by
this sweet water wide, and that with die sitimeroul
swans and other futi I that resorted these, .1 might
have spent my time in peace below, till I was re-
moved to the established seat of happiness above:
Bad this been poqsihie .1 should hace avoided
many an affliction, and known hut few expezta-
lions and disappointments, whi,h render life. a
scene ouy emptine:,s and bificernexc itself. ~ niy
years would have rolled on in peace and
wisdom in this seqnestered, delightful scene,
and in silent meditations been productive
of that good temper and good action w hick`
the resurrection of the dead; the dissolu..
tkin of the world, the judgment-day, and the
eternal state of men, require us to have. Free

from the various perplexities and troubles I bave
eXperiellCvd by land and sea, in different parts of
the worhl, 1 should have lived in this paradise of
tt place in the enjoymeait of that fine happiness'
which easy country 'business and a studious life
afford, and might have made a better prepara.:
tion for that hone which is to itistutite me, and
let my invisible spirit depart• to the shades of
eternity. Happy they who in some such ram,
retirement can employ slime uselol hours every
day in thr management of a little comfortable
farm, de‘ote the greatvr portion of theirtiitt Id
suci:ed heavenly prei#, and an.4.elit.r
goodness, v, hick Cannot be disgolved when the
Minkel. goes, nor be confined to the how of obscu.c
illy, under the clods of earth, hot will exist in
our souls for ever, and enable us to depart in
peace to the happy regions. This ha ever
made un prefer a retired country life •whea
main
iti be
ttwtoole:st‘t:eirtri
cnienus(glrtie,,li
the
:eras
keeping,
iterityt:
rteti:ht
aet,tril jltjoialsytictilieeut iuse
eto
:%.dbte.
ive
fir
multiplying money ; dress,
pleasure entry, are not only little things for such
beings as were are, but they are indeed sad
printipal work for creatures that are actually
passing thirty fo an eve rlast lust state, there to
merit their last day, and talents mis`ttpplieff, in
dreadful agonies, in the habitations of darkness—
or to remain everlastingly in the mansions or
tight, peace and joy, if y have laboured to ob
taut arld improve in the grtice, and virtuous qua 4
lilies which the Gospel recommends. These
the treasure and posses=jon ‘vorth a Christian's
acquiring. These only are portable into the
eternal world, when the body that was eloathed
in purple and fine linen, and far.od sutriptuously
every day, is laid in a cold,and narrow rave,..._
Fake advice then, render ; be ready ; let US so
it%Sii:tilhlllikl(l.l4o):lntillweneiesttsi,tile*'rtilt,i:elliPtbyliiiSliftildilsitoratyt'gt:iottfisi4otiiiplutriit'ey nt