The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-09-18 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

" Total
fa" As soon as this trial had been completed, Mr. Rush once
more took his seat in the car, and adjusted the barometers.
I then opened the upper valve, and discharged a quantity of
gas equal to the power of the 27 half-hundred weights, which
were then removed from the hoop.
" Every thing in the shape of preliminary having been
effected, I released the balloon from its moorings at half-past
six o'clock, by means of the liberating iron, and rose from
earth with an ascending power of 1121bs.
" At the moment of our quitting the earth, the barometer
stood at 3050, and the thermometer at 60. Before, however,
seven minutes had elapsed, the instruments had fallen—the
former to 20, and the latter to 36, equal to 11,000 feet, thereby
giving us an altitude from the earth of upwards of two miles.
" Had it not been for the flaccid and miserable appearance
the balloon would have presented, I should before starting
have parted with gas equal to at least an additional 1000
pounds, and not have taken up more than 500 pounds of sand
ballast. We should then have had an agreeable voyage, but
as it was, not having the valuable assistance of my friend
Mr. Spencer, as on the previous occasion, it required almost
too much exertion on my part in discharging the ballast and
gas in sufficient quantities to enable us to effect the end we
had in view before the night had set in. Our observations
from this circumstance, therefore, became more limited than
I could have desired.
"This fact has induced the to determine on no! making
another experimental trip, except under what I conceive to
be the most favourable auspices, and after ample preparation,
one point, of course, being an early hour of starting. _
" The direction we took on leaving the gardens was N.E.,
and so continued during the early part of our upward course,
but ou reaching the elevation of 11,000 feet, we became to-
tally stationary for a minute or two as regarded any !inward
progress. I then threw out two bags of ballast, e filch gave
us an astonishingly increased rising power. Another current
now took us, and we were driven backwards nearly due south.
We continued to rise with ereat rapidity, and in a few mi-
nutes a different current drove us from west to east. The
whole of this time I was throwing out ballast as fast as I
could. When we attained an elevation of 16,000 feet, about
three miles, we got into a current which was blowing with
considerable violence at the rate of about 60 miles an hour.
The course of this current was north by west, and it was under
the influence of that wind that we were carried to our ulti-
mate destination.
" It will be seen by the extract from the journal kept by
Mr. Rush and myself, that we attained an altitude exceeding
that of any mountain in the world, and set I am able to say
that that gentleman did not experience the slightest difficulty
in his respiration from the diminished density of the air. In
short, the only inconvenience Mr Rush sustained arose from
the occasional sudden escape.of the gas from the lower valve
during the balloon's rapid ascent, and even this annoyance
he did not feel to any extent until the barometer had sunk to
about 1-1 inches.
" What renders this fact the more remarkable is, that
during our ascent, particularly above the elevation or 16,000
feet, we had been forcing our way upward with great velocity
through a range of currents which was running horizontally
at the rate of about 60 miles an hour. At this period the
roaring of the winds strongly resembled the noise produced
at the time of a hurricane, as heard on the top of a high hill,
and the temperature was at the same moment piercingly cold.
At this altitude I suffered severely from the effect of cold in
my hands and feet. ,
At this point it was that Mr. Rush requested me to con-
tinue the observations he had himself commenced with regard
to the operations of the barometer and thermometer.
" We were now exposed to the influence of the winds, to
which I have referred, which, combined with the extraordi-
nary exertion I was compelled to undergo, frequently ren-
dered it a matter of the utmost difficulty for me to fetch
breath. I
" The greatest altitude we reached was 27,146 feet, indi-
cating an elevation from the earth of 5 miles and 746 feet,
the barometer at this period having fallen from 30 50 to 11,
and the thermometer from 61 to 5, or 27 degrees below the
freezing point.
" I now subjoin a copy of the operations on the instruments
we took up with us; those of the barometer being taken from
that made by Mr. Jones, of Charing-cross, for Mr. Rush ex-
pressly for the two ascents. This barometer acted with the
nicest accuracy, and enabled us to carry our observations to
a far greater extent than any which I had ever before had
with me. For whilst on the former ascent Mr. Spencer's
barometer ceased to act at 20, and Mr. Rush's marked at
14.70, on this occasion, when the action of my glass stopped
at 17, Mr. Rush's went on until the mercury had sunk to 11,
our highest elevation.
" The following is an extract from Mr. Rush's memoran-
dum, showing the variations in the ascent:—
Barometer. Thermometer.; Barometer. Thermometer.
30.5 .. .. 61 i 21 .. .. 40
29 • • .. 60 I 20 .. .. 36
'27 • • .. 58 1 19 .. .. 35
26 .. .. 55 18 .. .. 30
25 • • .. 52 17 .• .. 25
24 .. .. 48 16 .. .. 20
23 .. .. 46 1 15 .. .. 18
22 . .. 43 ;
"Here it *was that Mr. Rush suffered such inconvenience
from the escape of the gas at the lower valve, that he was
obliged to ask me to continue the observation. They thus
proceeded :
Barometer. Thermometer. Barometer.
13 .. .. 11 11 ~12 • • • • 8
"By the time we had attained this elevation I had reduced
the ballast, which at our starting was 15001bs, to something
under 7ifibs, which I resolved on preserving, because I felt.
that being ignorant of the character of the country which
from all appearances we should have to descend in, and it
being dark, it would be but an act of prudence to have at
command a 'playing' or available moveable power, and the
result fully proved the propriety of the reservation.
"Shortly after we had commenced our downward course
we discovered that there was soraelking falling which very
much bore the appearance and consistency of snow. To this
circumstance I directed the attention of Mr. Rush, whereupon
we looked aloft, when we found the sky to be snore than
usually thickly studded with stars, and perfectly free from
any mass in the shape of cloud. This result, at the moment,
gave rise to no inconsiderable feeling of astonishment in our
minds, especially as the snow continued to descend in large
quantities. Upon an after consideration, however, I aux in-
clined to think that the substance which fell was not snow,
but the dew and moisture collected on the balloon which had
become congealed or frozen, by the coldness of the tempera-
ture to which it had been subjected in our passage upwards.
These particles adhered to the netting and balloon until an
increased collapse was caused by the intentional voidance of
gas ; and when that operation took effect they were removed
by the motion of the netting, and fell in flakes like a shower
of snow. This felting of flakes continued for a considerable
time, and from its appearance fully justified our original no-
tion that it really was a snow shower. When we bad de-
scended to within about three miles of thy, earth, 1 imagined
I. perceived the sea bounded by the line of the Sussex coast ;
on mentioning tire discovery to Mr. Rush, that gentleman
expressed it to be his opinion that what appeared to be water
was nothing but tog.
" However, I pointed his attention to a place, a few miles
to our right, which, from its being exteusively lighted up
with gas, I considered to be Brighton, and eventually, after
some considerable consultation, Mr. Rush admitted the pro-
bability of my supposition being correct. My opinion was
shortly afterwards borne out for on our mole nearly ap-
proaching terra firma we discovered the Castle of Lewes to
be immediately beneath us. With Lewes and the surround-
ing country, of which I was in perfect ignorance, Mr. Rush
was well acquainted.
"Of course from our vicinity to the ocean there was no
time to be lost in effectingepur descent; I therefore made in-
quiries of Mr. Rush as telpthe nature of the locality in respect
to water and hills, and from the information he afforded me
I found that it would be necessary to effect a landing imme-
diately on the south side of the town, where a beautiful level
offered itself for our reception.
" Accordingly we hovered over Lewes until we came into
the northerly current, which I was aware we must fall in with ,
at a particular elevation. When, therefore, the balloon came '
within the operation of that wind, we glided on until we ar-
lived above a field behind the residence of the Rev. H. West,
in Southover, when we effected our descent. The appear-
ance of the balloon floating over the town of Lewes seemed
to excite considerable sensation among the inhabitants, and
we could discern many persons running to our assistance,
and amongst those to whom we were most indebted was the
Rev. Mr. West, Mr. Morris, and several other gentlemen, to
whom I take this opportunity. of returning my acknowledge-
ments, not merely for the asststance they
re us, but fo
the careful conduct they observed inregard to the preserva-
r
tion of the balloon.
" We left the Royal Gardens at half past six, and landed
again_ at Lewes (a distance of about 50 miles) at a quarter
befor4 eight o'clock, having performed the trip in an hour and
a quarter.
"As our descent was necessarily very rapid, and made after
the darkness of night was set in, it was impossible that we
could make any observations, with a view to comparison,
beyond this—that in the course of our progress we fell in
with, and were acted upon by, currents running S.E., S.W.,
N.W. and W.; but the strongest, and that under the influ-
enceOf which we • : ly travelled, was from the N.W.
This current w A)l: elevation of about three miles,
althougtejlee Te(t. -13 te was a perfect calm.
"So i''us- rft,lppl, tug up more weight than
ow. ...,: 4,......... t 1 ....
Lk
\ lj -11.17•77:"

Thermometer.
• • 5

;Or
1.1

WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.—This afternooti the Queen rode
on horseback in the park. Her majesty Was accompanied
by the King and Queen of the Belgians, Lord and Lady
Portman, Hon. C. A. Murray, Viscount Melbourne, Hon.
Col. Cavendish, Baroness Lehzen, and Viscount Falkland.
The Hon. Misses Paget and Hanson followed in a pony
phaeton.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, accompanied
by Lady Mary Stopford, took a carriage drive.
Lord John Russell, Lord Glenelg, and Viscount Palmer.
ston, arrived at the castle this afternoon, and joined the
royal dinner party. The Hon. and Very B, ev. the Dean of
Windsor and his lady, the Hon. Mrs. Hobart, and the Hon.
Mrs. and Miss Cavendish, also had the honour of dining
with her Majesty.
The following took their departure this morning :—Prince
Esterhazy and his son Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, Earl and
Countess Albemarle, and Lady Falkland.
Prince George of Cambridge came to Cambridge House
on Wednesday. His royal Highness returned to Kew in the
atternoon.
Lord John Russell left Brighton on Wednesday, on a
visit to her Majesty at Windsor.
Lord Glenelg left town on Wednesday afternoon, for
Windsor Castle, on a visit to the Queen.
The Earl and Countess of Albemarle arrived at their resi-
dence at Hampton Court on Wednesday, from Windsor
Castle.
THuasnay.-ahhis afternoon her Majesty rode in the park
on horseback, accompanied by the King and Queen of the
Belgians, her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, Lord
Falkland, General Lumley, Hon. Col. Murray. Earl of Bel-
fast, Viscount Melbourne, Lard John Russell, Lord and
Lady Portman, Hon. Col. Cavendish.
Sir F. Wetherall and the Hon. Sir Edward Cust were in-
cluded in the royal dinner party of yesterday.
Baroness Lehzen took an airing this afternoon in a pony

phaeton.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by
Prince George and the Princess Augusta of Cambridge, and
attended by Baroness Ahlefeldt, Colonel Jones, and Colonel
Schlater, honoured the performance at Astley's, on Wed-
nesday evening, with their presence.
Lord Glenelg arrived in town on Thursday morning from
Windsor Castle. His lordship left town in the afternoon on
his return to Windsor Castle.
Viscount Palmerston left town on Wednesday, on a visit
'to her Majesty, at Windsor Castle.
FRIDAY.—In the morning their Majesties the King and
Queen of the Belgians, accompanied by the Duchess of
Kent, left for Bushy, to pay a visit to the Queen Dowager.
Her Majesty took her accustomed airing on horseback in
the afternoon, and was attended by Viscount Palmerston,
Lord John Russell, Lord Glenelg, Hon. Miss Anson, Hon.
C. A. Murray, Hon. Col CAvendish, Lord Falkland, and
Lord and Lady Portman.
Her Majesty held a privy council at two o'clock this after-
noon. It was attended by Lord Melbourne, Lord John
Russell Viscount Palmerston, Lord Glenelg, the lord chan-
cellor, Lord Falkland, the lord and groom in waiting, Hon.
Col. Cavendish, clerk marshal; and the Hon. C. A. Murray,
equerry.
The lord chancellor arrived in the morning, and will join
the royal dinner party this evening.'
The Princess Augusta left Frogmore on Thursday,
on a visit to her royal sister, the Duchess of Gloucester, at
her residence in Bagshot Park.
Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians, and
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her majesty
the Queen Dowager yesterday at Bushy Park. His Ma-
jesty, King Leopold, afterwards went to Claremont.' The
Queen of the ,Belgians and the Duchess of Kent returned to
Windsor Castle.
Viscount Howick arrived in town on Thursday from the
Continent.