The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-15 00:00:00

TO THR EDITOR OR THE STANDARD,

Dover, Nov. 7.
Sir,—At half-past four o'clock to-day a balloon of a large
size passed over this town; it had a light in the ear, and ap-
peared to be making for France; it was ❑early (lark, and as
soon as the light was put out we lost sight of the balloon. The
wind was north-west, and it appeared to be going towards
Duukirlc.. Yours, &c. A.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD.

Widmer, Nov. 7, 5 p.m.
Sir,—As it may be interesting to your readers, I belz to in-
form you that the balloon is just bvginning to pass over the
sea towards France.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
H. W. B.

( From our Dover Correspondent.)
On Monday afternoon the public attention was anxiously
drawn to the appearance of a balloon travelling in the region
of air in the direction from London to France. It was at a
considerable altitude when first observed, (about five o'clock,)
and, though nearly dark, th,, car, net-work, and theappearance
of passengers, could be observed by the assistance of glasses.
A light was distinctly seen for some little time in the balloon,
and then disappeared. The balloon continued in sight until it
out away front the castle over the sea, when it was lost sight of.
llt was thimght that the wind was too strong to allow them to
descend at Calais; but probably at Dunkirk, or some part of
Flanders, the aerial voyagers would secure a footing. We have
since learnt, that upon the high laud near Archer's Court, the
voices of the aeronauts could be distinctly heard, and upon
being shouted to by some countrymen, the flags in the balloon
were waved in token that they were heard.

(From the Observer.)
Sunday Morning, Two o'Clock.—We scarcely rememberany
instance where so much general anxiety has been manifested as
in the well doing of the balloon, and its adventurous experi-
mental passengers. Throughout the whole of the two last days
the gardens at Vauxhall, as well as the establishment of the
proprietors in Fleet-street, have been completely besieged by
parties, all of whom had but one object ►n calling. The uni-
versal question has been, " Pray have you received any intel-
ligence of the balloon ?" To the almost innumerable appli-
cants the same reply has been given, viz., that the proprietors
were without any authentic information beyond that conveyed
through the medium of the aeronaut's letter dropped over
Dover.
The majority of persons appear inclined to attribute the non-
arrival of intellieence to the vo)agers having met with some ac-
cident. We must confess ourselves not to be one of the party
entertaining such an opinion. We have not time slightest ap-
prehension of any fatal accident having resulted from the
" flight," nor indeed do we suspect that any "untoward event"
has come to pass, other than that the public have not been able
to obtain any account of the voyage, or where the " aerial trio"
have got to. _ _

The. pkin fact is. the trip being taken mainly et the expense
of Mr. Holland, Mr. Green may be said to be acting with re-
gard to coming down entirely under that gentleman's direc-
tions.

With the inflation with which they started, combined with
the novel provisions in the way of ballast, Mr. Green expressed
it to be his opinion that they could remain up three weeks or a
month. It is not generally known that the contrivances in-
vented for the occasion by Mr. Frederick Gye anti Mr. Green
were of such a nature as to enable the latter to lower the balloon
at pleasure with a comparatively small expenditure of gas.
To make some of these understood, it will be requisite for us
to enter into a description of the preparations. On former as-
cents there have bean three seats, or benches, one at each end,
and one across the centre of the car. The last-named of these
has been removed, and a strong piece of timber substituted. In
the middle of this board an opening has been made so as to ad-
mit of the operations of a windlass which is attached to it. To
this a rope of some 150 or 200 fathoms, or yards, (we at this
moment forget which,) is affixed.
The project in the adoption of this plan is to place the aero-
nauts in a situation to haul up an additional quantity of water
should. any necessity arise for the application of that element.
For instance, supposing the travel era should have agreed, which
it is evident they have done, to prolong their journey, and the
"stores" run short—a calamity, by the bye, which we should
imagine could not await them for a week or more from the pe-
riod of commencing their undertaking—they will look out for• a
part of the country where there is water. Having discovered
the object of which they are in search, they will permit a very
suiall quantity of the gas to escape, which will give the balloon
a descending power, and on their arriving within reach of the
rope alluded to, a leathern bucket, which will hold a hundred
weight of water, will be thrown over, and having filled, will be
drawn op,--.and its contents deposited in some of the vessels
which have been fixed to the outside of the car. In the event
of this additional ballast not being sufficient to bring them down
so near to the earth as to allow an effective use of the grapnel.
the bucket will continue to renew its operations, until the end
shall have been attained.

As soon as the travellers shall have completed their "refit-
ment," they will discharge just sufficient of the water ballast as
will remove the depressing power, and oil' they will go again to
almost any height inclination mai lead.
The water ballast, too, will be brought into "good service,"
in the event of a compression, and consequent condensation of
the gas, which is frequently caused by entering a cloud, and the
subsequent expansion, which at all times takes place when the
balloon progresses under the influence of a more ratified at-
mosphere. _

This power of descent and ascent is an advance in ceronautie
science never before attempted; and a personal knowledge of
the success which has attended the preliminary experiments has
induced a perfect confidence in us as to the certainty of the eud
alined at.

The "stores" which the adventurous travellers took with
them, consisted of twelve fowls, two toagues, eight dozen or
biscuits, -two dozen Penny rolls, a large piece of cold boiled beef,
two gallons of coffee ready Made, one gallon of sherry, two
quarts of brandy, two four-gallon kegs of water, (in addition to
a large quantity of water for ballast,) a lamp, and a proportion
of unslaked lime. which was to be used as a medium for warm-
ing the water, coffee, &c.
A letter was received yesterday (Saturday) morning from
Paris. dated "Thursday afternoon, four o'clock," by Messrs.
Gye and Hughes, from Mr. F. Gye, who, with his father, is at
present in that capital, whither he had gone to be in readiness
to receive the balloon and-party in the eveut of a descent being
made there; but it does not throw any light upon the matter,
containing little beyond expressions tit surprise at not having
been able to collect any information as to the `• whereabout" of
the balloon• It is now supposed that the wronauts must have
taken advantage of . e favourable winds, and gone to Germany,
and their return is looked for with much anxiety. A Liam-
burgh and Rotterdam steamer will arrive in the Thames about
one o'clock this day, and it is not unlikely that she may bring
some tidings of the absentees.
It will be satisfactory to our readers to know that the friends
of the voyageurs are not under the least apprehension as to their
safety.

Lord Holland, as 'Chanrellor. of the Dttehy of Lancaster,
h.as appointed his son, Colonel .FOx. Receiver General of the
l)uehy, in the room of the late Sir, \Srilflain Knighton, Bart.
The gallant officer,
believe, still retain his other official
appointrnept of Secretary to the Master General of the UR1,i1M4,:29!
,i1M4,:29! .