Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-12-07


mind very lively impression, Of which
zone but those who have Witnessed, can
form perfect idea. Sounds from below
were still audible, aud We distinctly heard
The band playing on the spot which we
had jus, left.
Twenty three minutes past two, saw, in
tie direction of Wigan audOrmskirk, num-
bers OF people, and as our principal wish
was TO afford all the qualification in our
power, we opened the valve descended aud
saiuied them, and re-ascended; the report
oil two guns, which we presumed was in
tended as salute, we returned by waving
the baDnefs.
HE Lancashire coast, with the towns
OF Preston and Lancaster, aud different
villages to the north, formed most de.
.ighful and pleasing picture.
Our elevation at this period -four min.
utes to three) was about two miles and
mere we uncorked bottle of Madeira, and
with feelings of the highest respect, we
severally drank the health of the ladies who
presented our banners.
Here the town OF Blackburn, which
from our elevated situation appeared but
small, and at short distance from us to
the eastward. We now passed rapidly
over several elevated parts Of the country
aud large quantity Of peat land Two
minutes past three o'clock, the balloon,
which, FROM the time we threw out bal
last, had continued to rise, DOW became
slightly agitated, and in referring to our
compass we found that the current had
hanged from south west to west south
west direction.
Proceeding 10 this course for some time.
we passed over number of small villages
aud manufactures, from which numbers Of
people crowded; and at one particular
place, unanimously invited US 10 descend.
To crafty them, and smnse ourselves,
we opened the valve and descended, ma
king every appearance OF accedi g 10 their
wishes by waving our banners, and stand
ing up 10 the car. A general shout an.
nounced their conviction that their wish
es were about being sralified, and num-
beers FASTENED TO where they expected we
would aiight but we had approached too
near the earth to carry on the deception
any longer, and the expanding Of a bag OF
ballast Terminated their hopes, and in a
short time carried as 10 other scenes -
good hnmor, however, still prevailed, for
We could plainly heas their huzzas, and
see the waving of hats and handkerchiefs
The country over which we DOW pas.
sed still retained ali its beauty richly cul
tivaied, the eye never wearied 10 observ-
ing its variety but this scene was fast
changing to another of a different charac-
ter, for al a distance we could perceive the
western mountains situate iu Yorkshire,
which we learned by descending SO low as
to question aud receive an answer from
person at work 10 field. With rapidity
we now passed near Skipton, at Is min
utes TO four.
The uuinteresting face of the country
now determined us to get TO greater al
|titude having heretofore kept low for
the purpose Of enjoying the sceue, the Their
mometer generally at from 40 to S8 deg.
We, therefore, expended some Of our bal
last, and very rapidly left objects beneath.
We here took parting view Of the rece
ding objects, and 10 our establishment be
held the Humber, which must have been
at least upwards Of fifty miles from us we
had scarcely time to take hasty glance
at the vast smphitheatre beneath us, when
we found ourselves enveIoped in the ap-
preaching clouds.
The balloon now became quite distend.
ed, and we found il necessary to relieve
it by opening the valve, and allowing a
large quantity of gas to escape, which
broke the solemn silence which reigned
around us, by kind Of Kissing noise.
We still continued TO ascend rapidly, the
thermometer now sank fast and the cold
became very severe, having pow pene-
trated the intervening vale of clouds ; they
shortly after appeared TO our view far be-
meath like an Immense track covered with
STOW. Mr.. Livingston as well as myself,
now felt the cold extremely severe, every
thing we could collect was put in requisi-
ton to defend us from it, and we found
the bags from which we had discharged
ballast particularly useful, by being wrap
ned abou, our ANGLES, where the cold was
most intense. This caused us TO consult
the thermometer, and to our surprise we
found il had sunk to 6 degrees. To those
who have felt almost intoierable cold on
the face Of the earth, when the thermome-
ter stood many degrees higher, it will
doubtless create surprise how we existed !;
hut when IT is considered that the 2ronau
at no time feels any resistance, but travels
at an equal rate with the surrounding at.
mospbere, by which the body is not rob
bed of its warmth, as is the case when a
current of air is constantly passing, this
snrnr;se mnst cease. Onr altitude could