The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-11-05
From the Boston Daily .qduersiser.

From the Boston Daily .4dUertiser 4
BALLOON VoYAGE PROM ENGLAND TO
France. 1t is well known that the late |
DR.. Jeffries, of this town, accompanied Mr.. !
Blanchard in his @rial voyage across the |
British Channel in the year 17S5. The fol- !
lowing letter, describing that voyage, is |
lately republished in the London papers:
The following is a copy of DIR. yeffries'
letter. 1t IS dated Calais, Jan. 8, 17S5, the !
day after the @ronauts assembled from Do !
yer Cliffs -" Heaven has crowned my ut /
most wishes with success. | cannot des. !
cribe the magnidcence and beauty of our
voyage; when almost mid-channel, and at |
high elevation, we had such prospect
OF the country as surpasses my descriptive
powers. When two-thirds over, we bad
expended the whole of our ballast. 7 At
about FIVE or six miles from the French
coast we were again falling rapidly towards
the sea: on which occasion my poble little
Captain gave orders, and set tie example.
by beginning TO strip our @r.aI car first of
our silk and tinery, and this Tot giving US
relief, we cast away one pling and then the
other; after which, | was obliged to I'M
screw and cast away Our moulinet; yet
stu approaching the. SEA very fast, and the
boats being much. alarmed for US, we, I'M
wllhngiy, cast away first one anchor and
tnen another after which, my little hero
stripped ami threw away his coat and great
coat On this was compelled to follow his
example, F.e next cast away his trowsers Il
we then PIT on our cork jackets, and were,
God Knows, however, as merry as grigs, to
think how we should futter in the water
we had fixed cord, &c. to mount into our
upper story, and | believe both of us, as
though inspired, felt ourselves confident Of
success in the event. Luckily, at this in
slant the mercury we found beginning to
tall IN the barometer, and we soon after
assembled much higher than ever before and
made most beautiful and lofty entire into
France exactly at three o'clock. We en-
tered rising to such height, that the arch
which we described brought us down just
twelve miles into the country, when we de-
scended most TRANQUILITY into the midst of
the forest De Felmores almost as naked as
the trees, not an inch of cord or rope left no
anchor, nor any thing to help us mot living
soul being within several miles. My good
little captain begged for all my resolution to
stop at the top of the first tree | could reach );
1succeeded beyond my comprehension, and
you would have laughed to see US each with
out rag of any sort, MI. Blanchard at the
valve, holding the top of lofty tree, and
the balloon playing TO and fro over US, hold
ingalmost too severe contest with my arms.
Ittook exactly twenty eight minutes to let
out air enough to relieve the balloon with
out injury. We soon heard the wood sur
rounded by footmen, horsemen, &C., and re-
'ceived every possible assistance from them.
] was soon we'll mounted, and had fine
gallop of seven miles. We were invited to
the chateau or seat of NJ. de Sandrouen,
where we received every polite attention,
and were led through noble suite of "a
partments to partake of an elegant refresh
ment, &C., and at niue o'clock sent away in
an elegant chariot and six horses hut under
the promise that we would call at the chat
eau of M. Brounot, at Ardingham, where we
staid about an hour. and then proceeded to-
wards Calais, as before, where we arrived
between one and two this morning. Twas
surprised to find the difficulties of access );
i've very strong gates. bridges, &.r- /; the
guards very vigilant and active. But the
attentions of Nj. Mouron and his family
exceeded all description. This morning
the Mayor, Governor, Commandant, and Of
fcers, in body, the Kings Attorney-Gen-
eral, &c. have been to pay US congratulate
nv visit, and we have been complimented as
they compliment the King alone, by sending
us the wine of the city. A patent is now
making out to make my captain a citizen of
Calais, and we are receiving honours and
attentions much above our merit" Blan-
chard received 1000 louis-d'ors in conse-
quence of his accomplishing his attempt to
cross the Channel in his balloon. This was
the promised reward from the French King j
-"By letters from Boulogne of the 4th inst. we
are informed that the Duke de Charities
was then daily expected there, to see NJ.
Piatre de Roster cross the Channel in his
balloon. If he got the start of M. Blan-
chard, he was to have 1000 louis-d'ors and
all his expences paid but unless be crossed
first, his expedition was not to take place"