The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-03-21

estly end avoFed to dissuade him from his pur-
poses. But confident OF the perfect safety with
which. on scientific principles, be would descend
be publicly announced that he would ascend
on the first Of October, and explode the the bal.
loon at the height Of upward oe mile. On
the day advertised, al twenty minutes before
five O'Clock afternoon, he left The earth in the
presence of assembled thousands. and rose al.
most perpendicularly, in perfectly clear sky.
When the explosion took place, the lower part
Of the balloondid NOT Immediately invert' as in
theformer experiment, for in this case the BAL
loon burst open from top to bottom, and caved
sideways. Al the first discovery OF this, he was
somewhat alarmed, fearing that it might come
down with opntipuous accelerated velocity:
but rom this anxiety he was soon relieved, for
II canght the wind like the mainsai Of a ship,
and slid down upon the atmosphere in spiral
course with uniform velocity. The concus-
sion, though from The apparent rapidity Of the
descent 1t threatened TO be violent, was not har-
der than that which would follow the jumping
from an elevation 6f ten feet to the ground.
From the experience of his numerous aerial
excursions, Mr.. Wise is of opinion. that, at a
considerable elevation, there is constant and
regular current of wind blowing at all times,
from west TO east, with velocity of from TWEEN.
tyio fortv and even sixty miles per hour, accord
ing to its height from the earth. On The
strength of this conviction, he believes it to be
perfectly practicable and safe, not only TO cross
the Atlantic, but eveu to eircumaavigate the
globe, in a balloon; and be has expressed his
readiness to undertake either of these voyages.
About the beginning Of The year l843, he actn-
ally proposed TO some gentlemen Of the city Of
Philadelphia, the project of making an aerial
trip across the Atlantic, in undertaking which,
he assured them he would have as little hesita-
ton as about enbarking in the most approved
sieafn.yessel thatplied betweenthe ports o! New
York and Liverpool. Al first, supposing him to
be in Jest, they expressed their willingness TO
promote the design, bnt finding that he was in
sober earnest, they began TO evince conscien-
tious scruples asto the responsibility they would
incur, ifby any chance his life should fall sac
rfce to the bold adventure. He next determined
to petition the Congress of the United States, at
their ensuing session, for The necessary peeuni-
AIRY means; and Aattering himself with the hope
of the success of his application, to provide
against the accidents which might arise from
opposing currents and storms, or from omissions,
-impertectons, and unforeseen necessities atten>
dant upon all first trials. be issued a proclama-
tion, addressed to ali publishers OF newspapers
in the world Announcing it as his intention TO
make a trip across the Atlantic in a balloon in
the summer Of 1874, and calling upon the sea-
faring community of all climes not to be alarmed
should they happen TO be in The vicinity OF ball
loon, either on the ocean or in the atmosphere,
but endeavor to give aid TO the adventurers. He
proposed to have for the car sea-worthy boat.
which would be of service in case The balloon
should fail TO accomplish the voyage; and the
crew was to consist of three indsduals-sn
acronant, a sea-navigator, and scientific lands.
man. "
By the time Congress met, Mr. Wise had en-
larged his idea of crossing The Atlantic TO pur-
pose 0t sailing aroand the world. In petition
he presented tn that assembly, dated Lancaster
City, Dec 20, lS43, he certities, that taking ad-
vantage Of The current from west ito east, which.
governed BY great general law, blows at all
times rnnnd the globe, il was quite practicable,
from the improved state to which aeronautc
machinery now can be perfected. to travel east
ward in balloon with velocity .hat would eir-
cnmnavigaie the globe in from thirty to forty
days and that the aeronaut, by taking advantage
Of the local currents, could vary from straight
course thirty ar fnry degrees from the latitude OF
departure, so as to be able to leave dispatches in
Europe and China, and return by way OF Oregon
Territory to Washington CITY. He therefore
prays tie Congress TO appropriate the money ne
cessary for constructing an aerosiadt of 100 feet
in diameter Of substantial cotton drllling, with a
s,a.boat capable of enduring The ocean for car,
and so constructed that the masts and rigging
may be tnwed ready for erection ifitosea setpice
at any time that emergency might require. And
he concludes by engaging. that, should his pro-
posal meet with the approbatinn of the Congress,
he would cleerfulIv superintend the construction
of the machinery at his own expense. asking
nothing more than the command or direc;orship
Of the first experimental aerial voyage round
the globe.
This petition was received and read by the
Congress. and referred 10 the committee of naval
affairs. But though the committee to which il
was committed might mt doubt that Mr. Wise
had nerve Sufficient to make the attempt, they
probably had some doubts as TO its practicability
and safety, and therefore they made ne report
Most men willthink that the committee of Con.
gresst acted wisely, and that it is fortunate for
Mr. VI Use himself, that neither the Congress nor
his private friends have, by supplying the neces-
sary funds put il in his power te risk his life in
either of those foolish projects. The many ac-
cidents and hairbreadth escapes from severe bod
lily injury, ii moi from death, which he has met
with, during the course of his profession, when
undertaking much smaller excursions, scarcely
warrant him TO conclude. as, be does, that such
voyages would be attended with fewer risk than
sailing in the most approved eam-sesselst 10
attempt TO realize even his first idea OF crossing
the Atlantic IN a balloon, would, in the present
imperfect state of aeronantcs, be nothing less
than madness: TO atfen1pt .sssliae the secnrld
would be s'cyclopieus furor,s to borrow phrase
from John Caivin--.a gigantic madness; and
we can only account for his forming or broach-
ing such idpss, on the principle Of vanity, or oi
that. .insensibility to physical danger which the
adventurous gradually and unconsciously con
tract. We do not affirm that such schemes are
absolutely mpracficabe, or thatthey will nerel
be SAFELY accomplished; for the astonishing dis
coyeries already made 10 science render it I'M
9ossibe COR us 10 say to what extent the ele.
nents may be rendered obedient 10 the sway Q
The human will. Taspesk of crossing the ocean
against wind and tide, in a vessel, by the simple
aid Of a kettle filled with boiling water, was, ned
manysyears ago, laughed al as the rawlings Of
crack. .btained fool. "A shaved head and strai
waisteoat. were the promised rewards Of the orr
0inal proiector If that most noble enterprise
And. VET the foaming billows Of the great deeI
are at this day hourly piled by The rushing steam
ship. bounding and pufing recklessly along, Al
fho,,oh il were itself the victim OF The madnes;