Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-18
WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 10, 1896.
For the Phenix Gazette. ]


MEssRs. EpIToRs-Allow me to enclose you,
for republication, some stanzas on The BAL
loon, (which think very fine particularly the
second and fifth lines of the Second stanza
The late brilliant ascensions of MIR. Robert
son from Castle Garden, New-York, have been
attended with great eclat, BY thousands.
Itmay not be deemed superauous here, to re-
neat. that Balloons were first constructed IN
the wear 1888 BY the brothers Montgolher, pa
,,er manufacturers at Annonay, in France. The
FIRST human being who assembled into the atmos-
nhere. in one of these machines, was NJ. Pilatre
DE 2ozier-from garden in Paris, on the 18th
October, 1888.
Doctor G. Gregory gives the following ac-
count Of Mr.. Lunardi's Can Italian) ascent from
Edinbureh:-"I was myself spectator OF the
fight of Lunardi, and never was present al
sigh, so interesting and sublime. The beauty
of the gradual ascent, united with sentiment
of terror, on account Of the danger OF the man,
and the novelty and grandeur OF the whole ap-
nearance. are more than words can express. "A
tacDe, that she died on the spot, as the balloon
assembled: several tainted; and the silent adml-
ration Of the anxious multitude was beyond any
thing had ever beheld "
In the words of Doctor Gregory-"l was
myself also spectator of the flight OF Lunar
di' from the Green OF Glasgow, and well re-
member the effect il had on an elderly woman
close to whom | stood When the Balloon
Was now speck in ether tost
ga moment seen, moment lost"
she lowered her outstretched neck, and turning
away her visual orbs, almost strained to crack
ing, exclaimed" Heb me! il is a glawmry"
Ga spell)-thus, Slisbelieving the evidence Of her
own senses.
The concluding line of the enclosed
':.4nd Genius yields to fate"-
recalls the burst of feeling of that true son of
genius BURNs-when speaking of Poetry.
cannot refrain from giving it,
"Bewitching poetry is like bewitching wo-
man; she has in all ages been accused oil MIS-
leading mankind from the councils OF wisdom
and the paths Of prudence, involving them In
difficulties, batting them with poverty, and plum
cling them in the vortex of ruin; yet where is
the man but must own that all our happiness on
earth is not worthy the name-that even the no.
" hermit's solitary pros Of paradisiaca bliss
is but the glitter Of northern san rising over fro
zen region, compared with the many pleasures,
the nameiess raptures that we owe to the lovely
QUEEN of the heart OF MAN. II.
THE BALLOON.
The airy ship at anchor rides;
Proudly she heaves her painted sides,
Impatentof delay;
Andnow her silken form expands,
She springs aloft, she bursts her bands,
She floats upon her way.
How swift for now see her sail
High mounted on the viewless gale,
And speeding up the sky;
And now speck in ether tost,
moment seen, moment lost,
She-cheats my dazzled eye
Bright wonder thee no Tapping wing,
No laboring oar, no bounding spring,
Urged on thy fleet career;
BY native buoyancy nnpepd;
Thine easy flight was smoothly held
Along the silent sphere
No curling mist at close of night,
No meteor on the breast of night,
No cloud at breezy dawn,
No leaf adown the summer tide,
More efFortless isseen to glide,
Or shadow Ger the lawn.
Yet thee, cen thee, the destined hour
Shall summon from thine airy tower,
Rapid in prone descent,
Methinks see thee earthward Borne,
With haccid sides that droop forlorn,
The breath ethereal spent.
Thus daring Fancy's pen sublime,
{ Thus Loves bright wings are clipp'd by Time;
Thus Hopes, her soul elate,
Exhales amid this grosser air;
The Eghtest hearts are bound by care,
And Genius yields to fate.
lBritish Misastrsly.
The greatest advantage know (says Pope
OF being thought wit by the world IS, that II
gives one the greater freedom OF playing the