The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-01 00:00:00

VAUXHALL GARDENS.

BALLOON ASCENT OF MR. GREEN ON

HORSEBACK.
Abandoned by science as a hopeless speculation, the
balloon has become the legitimate property of the ca-
terers for the amuseiziont of the public. It now forms
one of the most attractive of the varied entertainments
got up for the delectation of the holiday folk and sight-
seers in our public gardens, a hile the rage for novelty,
and the depraved taste, as it may be termed, for scenes
of excitement and peril, have set ingenuity at work to
produce a new sensation or create new pleasure. Our
Parisian neighbours have had the questionable honour
of striking out the latest novelty, and setting the
newest fashion in aerostation; and the interest and cu-
riosity excited by M. Poitevin's recent ascent on horse-
back have induced the proprietor of the royal property
at Vauxhall to get no a similar exhibition for the en-
tertainment of his numerous patrons.
Mr. Green, of whom it may be said that
his home is the air,
And ho only par cemplai,ance touches the ground,"
having volunteered to play the Dun Quixote in what
many will consider a needless exhibition of foolhardi-
ness, the ascent took place yesterday afternoon under
the most favourable atmospheric auspices, and in the
presence of vast crowds assembled within and without
the grounds. The aeronaut was evidently so perfectly
master of the situation" that the sympathies of the
philanthropists were enlisted only on behalf of the horse
—an application having actually been made on Tuesday
to place him under the protection of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The magistrate,
however, refused to grant the injunction, and man and
horse (if the diminutive quadruped which went up last
night can by any stretch of imagination be termed such)
made their appearance in the enclosure at the appointed
hour. The process of kflstion was completed about
half-past six, and the next hour was occupied in making
the necessary arrangements for the ascent. The great
Nassau balloon having been placed hors de combat by
its immersion in the Thames some time since, when,
our readers may remember, it was found necessary
to fire several shots into it to allow the gas to escape,
the Royal Victoria balloon—one of much smaller
dimensions—was called into requisition. It was
this, we were given to understand, which ren-
dered it necessary to substitute a little pony,
weighing just 2001b5., for the horse. A light wicker
platform was suspended by cords from the hoop of the
balloon, and in this sockets were fitted to receive the
hoofs, which were then firmly strapped down, so as to
render all kicking and plunging out of the question.
The animal, richly caparisoned in crimson and gold, hav-
ing been secured on the platform, was then blindfolded,
and Mr. Green, who appeared perfectly cool and col-
lected, went through the form of mounting his diminu-
tive steed, his feet resting on the sandbags op either side
of the platform, and at ten minutes to eight o'clock the
balloon and its novel freight shot up with great rapidity
amidst the cheers of some and the laughter of others,
and, after soaring to a considerable altitude, took a
south-easterly direction, and was soon lost in the clouds.
The pony made some desperate plunges just as the bal-
loon rose, and, from the violent oscillations which the
little platform exhibited while it remained in sight, we
would infer that the animal was by no means satisfied
with his position. In the enclosure were a large num-
ber of scientific and literary gentlemen, and several fo-
reigners and friends of the aeronaut.

MRS. GRAHAM'S BALLOON
ASCENT. _

Mrs. Graham, the intrepid female aeronaut, made her
54th ascent from the Flora Gardens, Bayswater, on
Monday evening last; with the new splendid balloon, the
" Royal Victoria and Albert." The balloon was inflated
by the attendants of the Imperial Gas Company, and on
this occasion carried up five persons—Mrs. Graham,
three of her daughters, and her eldest son. The balloon
took nearly a southerly direction, remaining in sight until
it commenced its descent in the distance. The following
is Mrs. Graham's brief account of the same :
The wind blowing rather, fresh at the moment' of
starting, a gust passing over the balloon caused a partial
descent in the grounds, which was speedily remedied by
discharging a small quantity of ballast, when we directly
rose most majestically. Passing over Kensington-gardens,
we obtained a clear bird's-eye view of Cremorne, which
was then illuminated, and we could distinctly hear the
sounds of music ascending therefrom. The Royal
Gardens, Vauxhall, my son directly looked for and
pointed out, on the other side of the bridge, to
his sisters. The entire view to my son and
one daughter, whose first ascent this wan, was
almost electric, and the exclamations of surprise
and astonishment equal to any I have ever heard ema-
nate from persons possessed of nerve that have accom-
panied me; not wishing to travel far, and observing
some fine parks in the distance, I made ready to descend
on one of them, and ultimately effected this desideratum
at half-past eight o'clock in the centre of Richmond-park,
where, after giving the necessary directions to my son,
and those persons assembled on the spot, myself and
three daughters gratefully accepted the invitation of A.
N. Roberts, Esq., of Besborough-park, Roehampton,
and accompanied by his son, Frederick Roberts, Esq., of
Hill-street, Berkeley-square (then on a visit), we pro-
ceeded to the splendid mansion at Roehampton; where,
after partaking of refreshment, afforded in the true " Old
English Style," and favoured with the kindest attentions
by Mr. Robarts, his son and daughter (who was pleased
to accept one of my daughters flags), we were conducted
to a brougham belonging to the family, and in it con-
veyed to town, attended with the most flattering enco-
miums and heartfelt wishes of our generous host and the
members of his family then present.
In conclusion, I cannot omit noticing the extraordinary
admiration of my daughter Alice, who accompanied me
on Friday night last from Vauxhall-gardens, at the
astonishing view of London, at midnight, being the first
and only attempt made by females to conduct the manage-
ment of a balloon at night, and so much pleased am I
with the nerve exhibited by those of my daughters who
have hitherto accompanied me (four in number), that if
on trial I find the others of equal spirit (which I doubt
not), I feel disposed (God willing) to ascend with my
seven daughters at the Great National Exhibition of
1851.