Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-06
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
From the Ne,o Fork Journal Ct Commerce
THE BALLOON ASCENT.

GENTLEMEN:--The high wind which prevailed
at nv departure from Castle Garden, (Wednes
day evening" prevented me from taking the in
struments of which l promised to furnish you
notes.
The weather was very doubtful in the morn
ing. My barometer had fallen, in IL hours, from,
90 50 TO 90 4l6, though the day previous had
shifted lis position, and thought It probable that
the alteration might be caused from haste or in
attention in setting the nonus before the mercury
was perfectly tranquil. My doubts increased at
IL o'clock. when DR. Chiffon told me his baro.
meter on Tuesday, E p. NJ. stood at so l, and
! Wednesday, A. NJ. at 80, and while convers,
sing with him at IL A. Nj. it had fallen to so -.
At 1 p. NJ. mine stood at 29.4 DR.. Chilton's
remained at So, and Mr.. Charles Pools at
90 4. Yet FROM the appearance If the atmos.
phere there vas probability OF very little wind,
though no Indication of fine weather; and judg-
| ing from the twenty preceding days, had little
cause to anticipate more favorable weather at any
definite time to which | might postpone the as
ceH>ion.
The gates were thrown open, and commenc-
ed the imitation of the balloon at 9 O'clock. Be
tween 5 and the mist became more dense, and
the wind increased from the S. S. E. with strong
! indications vi ram. At this time large compa-
! ny had collected, and the imitation proceeded to
the state in which never will postpone IL can
get the balloon out of the Garden. AT fl.
ni,hed attaching the Garland the balloon two
thirds filled, was buoying the whole weight which
| | intended u to carry. 1t Is IN this situation
that usually suspend my philosophical instru-
ments and 1t is likewise In this position that the
balloon is IN most danger Of bursting from the
force of>,he wind curling over the wall; circum-
| stance that occurred at my second ascension, and
but for great exerhons and prompt assistance.
would have proved fatal TO the enterprise. Fear
ing the same accident on this OCCASION. gave
myself only time sufficient Z" n"'e the balloon
to the $, f. corner OF the Garden which mad
selected Tor starting point then ordered the
TWO CORDS 10 DC cut "h'ch hau ser'to 10 s'ea"y
The top OF me oaiio"h
Inc "ino no" bore Win great toree. causing
hail turn IN the net ano cotas' wh'ch gave "
tangled appearance anu JauSeu 10 CHANCES per
minutes OF causing rapture; 'He'e'ofe' 10 Gu
sure the asoens'on' cut the only rema'hn@ corfu,
| which unmoored the baI!onn, and II rose III beau
tiul style,with an a.censiona' power OF ~ p"unds
making \. \. w. course, though rising VITA
such rapdity as to TORN an angle OF nearly oo
degrees with the earth. AZ ~ minutes past .,
| reached the summit OF the Clouds w"'en va"
obscured the suns rays so long from the ea''h'
=.
ing 'eit my Instruments Juaseu Tue ue" at
taihed aiu'uae 10 oe "t ,eaS' one "'''s' ~. '"'
sun broke '"r'n WIN all Tue majFsf Ppeu''a' ~
our hnest summer Gays a"' 80 Su ..,,i "%"s
ton, you may well 'uaS'ne' uau '''i''''s e"ec''
One cluster VI c''uas ON! remal"ea 'ooSe ~, me
Their course J"usea oy tue SUM- o"'e ~ >
and at very snort distance ln,s gave 'oe some
nneaslness. lest .hey saou'a oe charged WIN the
electric huid, when, IRON 'he es'aoi's"eu laws
on this science, MI sht pass 10 my balloon
In a few seconds. however was lar ao''e
| every thing resembling cloud. mere ours' up;
on my sight one OF '"e most 'nPos',S views
ever 0eheiu -Cai' u m"Jes"c' sp'e"u'", VI SUP
llme,--invoke shakespeare mihu 10 u'sc''oe'
or painter to portray r,-uhey' anu even
Thought must fa'l TO conceive the ricn d"wny
-sottness and white fieecy accumulation ul Clouds
piled in waves as Tar as the eye could reach. c."
vering the earth anti closing 10 my ssnt Tue 'ano'
water, aud every thing ANIMATE or 'nan'maie'
that had so long and often viewed win delight.
Above nothing but clear ceru'ean eSpahse'-
the uoiJen .0eans sDrcauinT over TIE vast