Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-06

and the fireworks having been adjusted at some 4,
hundred and fifty feet below the car. the whole
launched into the air. The ascent gradual, |
perpendicular, FOR there was scarcely bi cath OF
air) and rendered distinct and brilliant by large
Bengola lights, placed outside of the garden walls,
and which. by the v:vidness OF their reflection,
gave 10 the balloon the appearance of a trapspar
ent luminous body. When these were extincuish-
ed and the smoke arising from them had cleared
away, the adventurous navigator with his frai yes
sci could just, by the aid of the then rising moon,
be distinguished still hovering almost directly over
the spot whence he rose. a, this momen, the match
reached the fireworks, and produced scene of in
tense nNisty and interest Hung high IN air dar-
Ing mortal was seen, scattering FIRE beneath and
around him. when a single spark, communicated 10
the gas which bore him wards, and there sus
tanned lin, would have reduced his giddy hsbita-
ton 10 ashes. Amidst the glare of rockets and
wheels OF fire, the balloon was seen a; intervals,
and though apparently motonless, it was, from its
diminishing size, obviously still ascending. The
fireworks were succeeded by asrge and brilliantly
Illuminated star certainly most beautiful and
happy thought. Its lus,re rendered all above dark.
ii seemed thei eiore prodigy, self>balanced in the
| middle skies too high for aught Of mortal birth,
| TOO near to earth TO be thing of heaven. When
this star had burnt out the aria traveller and his
vehiHe were no longer to be seen, though tens OF
thousands CT upturned eyes eagerly searched the
skies for trace of them.
| He descended, we learn at half past ten o.
CLOCK, at Flaihush, l.. L. on the farm of Col. Van
| Dyne, and arrived at The Garden at II O'Clock
well, but faigued.
Altogether this was one OF the most striking, and
out that such adventures useless hazards of life
without the possibility of benefit in any way, we
would say most admirable, spectaces we have ever
seen. We hope the adven,urer may have been
rewarded 10 proportion to the risks lac ran.
| The battery was thronged with some fifteen
thousand people. who enjoyed all and contributed
nothing. n: Y american.
| 1He .9tFonaitt. Mr.. Robertson descended in
safety at about half-past ten O'Clock, near farm
house, about mile and half hey oud Flatbush, l..
| l.. He has favored the editor of the Commercial
with the following interesting particulars of his as
cension: -
lie corld not procure one of Sir Humphrev
Davy's safety lamps in the city, and therefore
TOOK no instrument along by which to determine
me helSEt TO which he ascended. The balloon was
exceedingly well filed, and was capabl, of taking
up -iO pounds so that three persons of Mr.. r.
oertson's size might comfortably have made the
voyage. The burning OF the cord by which the
star was suspended, accident ~ obably oc-
casioned by some mistake in the arrangements of
me pyroiechnc. As the star w Weighed about forty
POUNDS, when II fell the balloon was so ma. eriaIy
| "en'eheo as 10 ascend with great rapidty, much
hiSher than the ieronaut had purposed TO Journey
IN perpendicular direction. But for this accident.
me s'ar weuid have accompanied the balloon the
"''o1e Instance, and OF course would have shown
me anxious spectators the direction which it took
| AIT X. suppcses that he assembled nearly three
miles. he several heavy rockets which were
sent up from The garden after his departure
some charged with young comets, and some with
serren;s, were seen by him; but although 10 II,
they were very large, and assembled very h;sh. still
he says they looked like small emissions of SHARKS
4 xt,llir
than D or feet When he opened the yalv. In,
,he purpose OF descending, lie found that the bal =
loon MAJ oeen so highly charged, that it took much
longer Tor the gas to escape than he expected and
ne was accordingly carried or miles further
nan ii was his design 10 go. During the whole
distance he could see the lamps OF the city, like
little merry particles far below, and could dis,in
Suish Broadway. Castle Garden was also visihls
Inc whole time, and appeared, with It's circle of
lamps, brilliantly lighted with gas, as though il
were directly below him. He could also easily
distinguish the land from the water He descended
al lew minutes alter 10 o'clock at some distance
beyond FIatbush, as above mentioned, about 100
ieet from dwelling house. After calling fer helm
some time, the good people came out in aIarnr
srpposing that there was a fire in the neehborbond
ihey soon however, discovered the strange visiter
IRON the skies, and with alacrity gathered several
oi the neisbbors 10 his assistance AID relief Too
ladies' also turned out, and were of great useful
hea' ' PuIihS cords, and assisting IN securing the
balloon. Here difficulty occurred which had
nearly lost MN the balloon, as the gas ESCAPED so
slow thar II difficult to keep If upon the
ground, alter his weight detached from il. Had
the balloon been made of silk, as usual he could
nave cut rent OF few feet, and DISCHARGED IL AZ
once But 1t IS made of gold beater's skin. of siy
th'cknesse>, and The material stoutly resisted his
knife However the difficulty was conquered. and
| one oil lie negh5Ors took him with his balloon. and
an MS apparatus, IN a wagon 10 Brooklyn, whence
ne crossed Immediately, and presented himself a,
the garden as before stated. MI r. saws il was
one oil The most agreeable excursions he ever made
III was very cold above, but he was not among tie
stars long enough to get chilled.
Ihe passengers on board the steamboat Oliver
Ellsworth, when 20 miles from the city, saw dis
'metiy the fireworks let oil from the balloon.
W Y. GGE.
S'oedist Siips-It has been subject of con-
versation and in the interior particularly. of much
| surprise mat vessels purporting to be national
| ships' should be sold by the u. s Marshal In or
der 10 elncid4te this matter, we have obtained
| copy of the decision OF the late District Jndso
MIR. ' an Ness, setting forth the grounds NJ
which these vessels ordered 10 he sold. Az
mere lazy case, this is one ofinterest and novel
ty' and 1t is treated with ability aud clearness -
! the decision rendered.
! Ahe facts shortly are these-ths two Sims :,
| question, aseyeniy-iour and frigate, were pur-
chased OF Swedish house by the house NJ
Golisndt < Co. for the Colombian goYernroert
! Ihey were COMMANDED and manned bv officers -
The Swedish navy, aud full crews; and sailed TO-
CaTthdgena, with instructions TO the officers j.
charge, to deliver them up on the fu6ltnent of ce
tain conditions, to Godsmidts' agent They ar