Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-06-11

IL o'clock when Dr. Chiffon told me his barometer on
Tuesday p. Nj. stood at SOL, and Wednesday, GA. NJ.
at So aud while cGaversing with him at IL A. NJ il had
fallen TO 30.-At T. NJ. mine stood at 294. DR.. Chill
tons remained at SO-Mr Charles POOLS 294 Yet,
from the appearance OF the atmosphere there proba
bty Of very little wind though indie OF fine wea
thei; and Judging from the twenty preceding days. had
little cause to anticipate favorable weather at any
definite time TO which might postpone the ascension.
The gates were thrown open, and commenced the
initiation Of the balloon at o'clock Between and the
mist became Dense and the wind increased from the
:. 3 E. with strong indications OF rain At this time
large company had collected aud the initiation proceeded
TO the state in which never will postpone it, il get
the balloon out OF the Garden AT finished attaching
the Garland the balloon two-,hirds filled, buoying
the whole weight which intended it TO carry Its in
this situation that usually suspend my PHILOSOPHERS in
struments, and il is likewise in this position that the bal
loon is in most danger Of bursting from the force of the
wind curling over the wall; circumstance that occurred
at my second ascension aud but Tor great eNertons and
prompt assistance would have proved fatal to the enterprise
Fearing the same accident this OCCASION gave myself
ner OF the Garden which hadsclec,ed Tor starring point
then ordered the two cords to be which had served
to steady the top of thetballoon
The wind now bore with great force, causing halfurn
in the net ami cords, which gave tang
and Judged IL chances per minute OF causing rupture
therefore, to ensure the ascenson the only remain
ing cord which unmoored the balloon il rose i'm bea
ufu STYLE with an ascensonal power Of 20 pounds, maxi
ing N. N W. course, though rising with such rapidy
as to form angle Of neare 80 degrees with the earth
Aten minutes past 8, reached the summit OF the Clouds
which had obscured the suns rays long from the earth
had been absent now only six minutes, and having left
my Instruments judged the then attained altitude TO be
at least mile. Here the sun broke forth with all the
majesty peculiar 10 finest summer days. and sud-
den transition. you may well imagine, had thrilling eff
lect. One cluster OF clouds only remained above me-
Their course judged by the sun, bore N. W., and at
very short distance. This gave me some une asine
lest they should he charged with the electric ilud which,
rom the established laws this science might pass
my balloon.
In few seconds however, was far above every thing
resembling cloud. Here burst upon my sight one Of
/ cy held Cal Tic
splendid. or subime,-nvoke a Shakspeare's mind to
describe or painter to portray it, they and thought
must fail to conceive the rich downy soiness and white
heecy accumulation of clouds piled in far as the
eye could reach covering the earth, and closing to nv
sight the land water, and every thing animate mani
mate, that had so long and often viewed with delight
Above nothing but clear ceruean the golden
sun beams spreading the of clouds and
extending through immensely of space where sight is
bounded, and from whence thought returns unable
10 traverse the confines OF the field beyond Here
was scene sufficient for the writer fill valumes and
The painter to exhaust his skill in trying delineae the
Infinitely delicate and mellow ints reaching 10 boundess
extent
Imagine yourself in my situation, with this sublime
scene opening to your sight, and you conceive better
than can describe, the sensations il would naturally pro-
duce do not wish TO convey any irghu ideas respect
the noble view yet you suppose was all plea
sure TO me, or that perfectly free from
suse you gentlemen, felt unpleasant anxe,es from
having too much ascensonal power. The information o.
those holding the is the means by which ascertain
It's buoyancy and owing to the surgng effects the wind
on the balloon, they able the correct
power had resolved 10 start with great ascensiona
orce the only plan 10 clear the Garden with safety
found on swinging clear, the balloon had buoyancy of
full forty pounds than intended, and my first care
was to open the valve, TO couneract the upward enden
cy and except few seconds pass the dense cloud
which appeared in the NV.
never closed the valve till | had been absent SO
minutes from the earth, when to my great qualification
some scraps OF tissue paper remained stationary in
zonal line with the These scraps as floats TO
throw in the air. by them can ascertain sooner than
by the barometer, when am rising falling. This first
intimauon oil falling dispeled my anxietes-and closing
the valve prepared TO descend and eisurely lowered
anchor with 200 feet of cord Though the
had Increased the FIRST six minutes the cold now in
tense.
My flagstaff is of CEDAR and touching it clear the
anchor, II had an icy GOODNESS. At safe estimate was
now l6 $1,000 feet from the earth, and do think the
barometer would have given altitude of nearer than
miles but had left it below, this is only an est
mate.
While descending, had very little else to do than rest
ana refresh myself by rubbing my hands, which
somewhat cut by the valve cord, and benumbed by the
cold could now contemplate the around me- and
must say regretted on nearing the earth to be obliged
again TO pass through the dense fog which had given me
23 m when had descended its upper surface hearing
the roar OF the surf judged myself shore of the
Atlantic examined my ballast, which considered ra-
ther cant pattern to remain longer suspended the
ocean, and while revolving in my mind what could best
dispense with in OF necessity, among which was nv
coat nat one anchor and cable, and the from be-
ow the irs hoop> TO allow place stand heard
the cawing oil some crows which again revived nv sp
rts and at 80, heard forest BIRDS which left me
In IN. after saw the earth. | was then suspended
over some trees, and threw bag of ballast which
broke the fall little and carried a clear field
where the anchor struck Oh 4lm on the farm of II
Morris, Esq, Manor of Fordham Westminster COUNTY
Y, IL miles from City Hail. from Hudson River and
from Long Island Sound The whole time remained in
the air was In. Sim; III and 13m. of which time had
sunshine, with perfectly clear sky.
-Four negroes from the farm of Mr. Norris assisted me
TO fold the balloon, which is injured in the slightest
degree started for this city in wagon, and approach
ing McCombs Dam, heavy rain obliged me to put up at
Mt Devoe's till morning, when he took to Harlaem
and MIR Bradshaw sent TO the city, where arrived at
Castle Garden at half O'clock after an absence of is
hours, enjoying my usual good health and spirits.
Yours, &c. CHARLES +. DURANT.
New York, May 81, 1888
BORING FOR WArER-The Steam Engine al Hollis
Hotel, New York, is still industrousy eng aged in boring
Tor water Yesterday it made eight inches and reached
to the depth OF 594 feet The process was commenced
year and hall ago, and has been perseverngy pursued
Five hundred feet had been bored through the solid rock
Salt water was struck at the depth Of $50 feet The wa.
ter is now within five feet Of the surface, but brac
ish 1t hoped that vein OF pure will soon be
struck and, in that hope, the process will be continued
Journal Of Commerce.
From the London Quarterly Revow.1
Although the steam engine be now perhaps perfect
as ever can be- the management and OF
TO mechanical purposes still capable Of very great i'm
proyement The whole machinery of a steam vessel for
instance, is as yet rudc cumbersome and expensive liza
BILE 10 constant arrangement and frequent accidents both
within the ship and wibouttha is saw in the engines
and boilers and in the paddle wheels Nor is there much