Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-06-24

Washington Irving, E'q


TUE BALLOON ASCENT
Yesterday, N the ntlrtnuon, Mr.. Charles Durant
nude las slxth efand ascension from Castle Car
len The weather was uucommony fine, and
fhrongs Of citizens and strangers were drawn 10 tho
Castle at an curly hour, by the prospect Of bcho-
ding al ofcc the President, the Indian Chiefs, and
tho balloon ascent More than four thousand per-
sons wcro within the cosllo was, embracing in
their number, much of the beauty, fashion,. and
responsibility Of our good city. The crowd with.
out the wolli WINS still greater, extending in long
lncs through Tho Battery aud ts vicinity. Tho
WINTER was alive with stcnrn bouts, anil boats, and
ataili all crowded with enger Spectators of tho ex-
pcclcd scenes. The front seats of the amphe-
nlfe were almost exclusively occupied by bril-.
itai.t n,srmbage If Indies, whose attention seemed
10 be y4ty equally divided AMONG the three tngros-
slne Objects Of curiosity IL The long interval pre-
eelpng The arrival Of the President, the spectators
oere entertained with music from he orchestra and
he ascent of sfqcral small balloons.
A bout . O'clock The cnngor of drums and trtm-
pets lhc shouts Of the multitude, and the thunder
ofmlillcry, announced the approach Of the Man
Of the People, Tho President conducted by
Nr Swmtwout into the saloon, and soor appear
ed tho plo22a bowling TO the assembly, who mil
Cd INN with hearty and long continued ncclnna-
TONS fer few minutes, tic President retired
INTO ihc snloon and stating that the fatguos Of the
led 10 seek repose, he returned 10 his lodgings.
At quarter pnslfVc, the elegant steam boat
Now York opprr ehed The Battery in fine style.
aud came TO- near the wet sid1 of ih3 castle. IL
0as soon asccflaiaed that Baek Hawk was on
bound but 10 the Great disappointment Of the spec
afof5 it was nl5o learned thal he declined enter
ing the Cn5llc TIL after the ascension In tho
nlean time, the Indian Chiefs wete recognized by
fleir crimson aud flowing fabasl and became tho
- focus Of oil cycs,' to Which they could, in their
position be visible. The Chiefs looked composed-
~, aud with Their charlottesville indifference, on
tic animated and imposing scene before them, and
endured the gozo Of the multitude with apathy, If
not wlthGignitY Almost every b at in the haibor,
smaller or greater, came IN succession under the
stern the New York, to give her passengers
view Of tho wd warriors
The process OF tnhang the balloon was compile
ted Mt half past fyG o'clock Aitofty five minutes
after five. VI Dar,nt took his seat IN the car, rose
"A lew yards and threw out two bags Of ballast.
lie then cut the cord expecting 10 be enabled by tho
Irsosc, TO clear the Garden but the balloon taking
"A diagonal direction, rlnshcd the car, with consid-
cr.tae violence against the caves Of the saloon.
| The persons stationed on the roof seized the net
work Of the balloon, bnd detained it I'LL the cord
vas again fastened and The balloon drawn back in-
! 10 the centre OF the nfoa.
A, five minutes before o'clock--hy Mr. Du-
rants timc--the balloon made Il far start, cleared
the Garden, and assembled il sublime style. The
bold u,ronaut stood upright, in perfect conposnres
waving from his dizzy height, the glorious STAN
ilsrd of the Uaion. and anon amusing himself with
| tAroWlhg out snndry patees OF tandblls, OF what
character and to what purpose or effect, we failed
TO learn copies perhaps, Of the Proclamation Of
the loh December, and of the Message of the 10th
tanuarv-or pcrchance OF parting addresses.
! The Balloon took f. S. ~ course and was in