Balloon Ascent.
The Times, 1824-06-03T00:00:00

The melancholy fate of larris oes not scem to have alarmed iMr. Graham; nor the fright and dangerof his female companion to have acted with much sympathetic force on the nerves of her own sex. Scarcely is the coroner's inquest over on the deceased, and the sur- vivor recoveted from her bruises and terrors, when the public is called upon to witness another ascent of the same kind; The tine even seems to have been purposely chosen when the event was recent and public attention .awake, to make this renewed attempt; Mlr. Graham ard his ftiends calculating very justly, that the curiosity and interest which such enterprises excite, are always in preportion to the hazards which accom- any them, and the boldness required for their execution. The death of a Matador iu Spain is always sure to give a fresh zest and to assemble additional crowds to the next bull-fight. The fiht attempts of Mr. Graham last year, were rather unsuicessful: he therefore employed the precautions which exrperience has taugh to guard against failure on the present occasion. We never saw a more handsome and magnificent balloon, with all its apparatus in a more complete state and all its previous arrangements better secured than yesterday. The place fixed upon for the ascent was the garden of Vlute Conduit-hot.se,nearPentonville. Thissitualon had thead- vantageofa-dmitting such aconsiderablenumberofspectators tohaves near view of theaeronau,ic preparationsasmusthaveproduced a hand- some retum to the aeronaut, while it permitted all these preparations togo on at perfect leisure, and theballoon terise withotitaby obstriuc- tion from the surrounding houses. A platform was erected in the middle of the gardens by means of planks laid on casks. To this I platform which was sufficient to accommodate the aeronaut and all hie frienas, together with tie workmen engaged in making the ar- ran,geents, the balloon was attached during the process of inflation, and till the ascent took place. Another platform to the right exhibited thecar surmounted with a rich canopy, which unluckily was notdes. tined to grmce the ascent, and remained behind to receive the aerial travellers oR their return. By three o'clock, when we arrived at the gardens, the balloon had been nearly filled, and the number of spectators assembled was very considerable. Tne crowd collected outside the enclosure was immense, and required 'a strong detach. meat of policemen from the difrerent offices to keep it in or- der. All the streets and avenues north of the New-road, and leading to the gardens, were filled with carriages, carts, wag- gons, and aUl descriptions of vehicles, supporting a dense mass of spectators. Within the gardens the most perfect order prevailed, and the moat quiet and satisfied dispositions were exhibited. The windows and tops of the houses surrounding the gardens or com- manding a view of it, were filed with spectators, and presented the most lively appearance. The fineness of the dav and the clearness of the atmosphere both added to the scene, and created the disposi- tion to enjoy it About five o'clock Mr. Grahanis entered the pr- dens, attenued by a number of his triends, and ascended the plat-: form. The preparations, which had hitherto been observed with some impatience, now proceeded with greater spirit, and by 25 minutes to five thecarwasattached to the balloon the net-work pro- perly adjusted round, and every thing prepared ?or the ascent. He ad not to recruit on the spot for a companion. like the late unfortu- nate aeronaut. He was accompanied by his wife who chose to make thih journey as well as others with her husband. They both appear. I ed tube in as high spirits as if undertaking the jaunt of the honey- I moon. We shall not stop as usual to describe the dress of the tra-! vellers: it may only be remarked that the habiliments of Mtrs. Gra- ham did not seem sufficiently substantial to protect her from cold in. the high and cloudy regions io which she was about to ascend. Her husband, however, who had before made the excursion was the best judge of the matter. At2s minutes past five Mtr. and kifrs. Graham entered the car andhaving orderedthe thongs whichattached it tothe platform tobeloosed andmadetheir salutatious to the compnany, the balloon began to ascend amid the shouts of the spectators, which were answered by the obeisances and waving of flags of the aeronauts. Notningcouldbeconceivedmoreeasy elegant,andgrace- ful, than the launch and upwayd movement of is inmmense globe, carrying along with it the car with its intrepid travellers, about to =ealze one of the moststrikingand incredible fables of antiquity. As there was little wind, the balloon ascended slowly but steadily, in- clining gently in a south-westerly direction. MUr. Graham threw baDast out repeatedly in thefirst ten minutes, in otderto promote the rapidity of his ascent. Theballoon wasvisible nearly twentymninutes. The balloon used on this occaSion seemed to be completely new and is said to be 37 feet in diameter, containing when inflated 30,i0 cubic fetof air. The gas with whici it was charged was suppHied by the Imperial Gas Company, who are said (we know not on what authority) to have made a demand for it proportioned to the ex- pected pecuniary proceeds of Mr. Graham's expedition One of the most singular consequences of this ascent has been the poalponement of the important discussion in the House of Conm- mons wvhich commenced on Tuesday. The connexion between he movements of a balloon and the proceedings of Parliament, which seems at first nearly as diflicult to he understood as the fact of Tenterden steeple beinF the cause of Goodwin sands, will be found explained In our parliamentary report. The aeronauts descended at Cuck?ield, in Sussex, 40 miles from London, at 5 minutes before 7 o'clock, having been exactly I hour and 20 minutes on their voyage. Soon after starting they got into a dense cloud, which had such an effect on them as almost to prevent their hearmg each other talk. They alighted in a feld belong- ing to iIIr. Browne, a farmer, who rendered every assistance. The thermometer at a q,uarter past 6 was at freezing point, and at half past 6 so low as 27. They procured a chaise at the King's HIead, Cuckield, and arrved in Poland-street at 3 o'clock this morning, from whencsthey instantly proceeAed to WIhite Conduit-gardens. Both Mr. and rts. Grahamffwere in od health and slirits. BALLOOV ASCEiVP.