Aerostatic Excursion.
The Times, 1824-05-26T00:00:00

Mr. Harris. thic gentlcman who was the companion of 51r. Grahami in hiis aerial voyage from Berwick-street, Solo, to the neighbourhortl of Rochester, Kent, ascended yestcrday in a balloon oathisown property, atid constructed under his own immediate di- rection. from the gardens of the Eagle Tavern, in the City-road. The balloon was built a, the Tennis-couirt, in the Havmarker, iand has been several nionths in Preparation. It is composed entirelv .uf silk, and is a stutleidous ant magiificent vehicle. It is called " The Royal George," this title being inscribed upon it in large gold letters. ''he bailoon and apparatus were re-novetl to the Eagle on Mlon- day morning, ard yesterday morning so early as five o'clock the prepar2tions comnienced for inflating it. A large gas-pipe was laid on fromthe main hlconging to the Brick-lane Cotnpany, and the ttage fro-n which it was to ascend having been completed, the balloon was lsshctl on. anilat II o'clock the process of fiiling began. The acrobaut had given so short a notice of' his intentioii to at- enmpta voyasz,tdat it was by no means generaflykrnwn to the public. rind eonsequenily the itirmber of persons collected was com-.paratively srnalI. Tnc time for ascent omiginallv fised upon was half-past 2 in ;I:c af rro':t at which houtr there wYere not more than 250 persons ir. the ln--ns. aid 31r. H-1 arris determitied on wsaiting another houlr. T'he baul!-n was gradnally hut successfully inflated, and was quite rea-dy for 'tartinlt at the hour first appointed. By halt.p;-*t t;nrec thc gardens were nearle lilled with well-dressed persons. amiLnm:nrn in nuniber tn at Ieact 1,000, and the Citv-roal and othAr avrnuee wcre rretty well crowded. Ahout an honr hefore the ascent took plnce, a strong degree of intere-t w;as excited by an arnoincemcnt fromn Mr. Ilarris'a Comnmittee to the con;- pany assenihkd in the gzarlens, that " a young ladv would ascend with Mn. Harris." Tlte ynong adventuress ioon after made her appcarance in the gronnds, accompa4ied bv M'1rs. Harris And two other ladles, and several of the Comnmittee of Gentle. min. and she be-aine immediately an object of the nost injtense ,erirsitv. TYe universal inquiry was, " Who is she? *What is. he- uame ?" rnd the crowd pressed around her, encouraging her by-com- pliinerts upon her courn.ge, and a,surances of theiir confidence that ,dhe would return safe. She wvas drcssed in a wlhite muslin gown straw bonnet, with a wreath of roses, and a small green shawl, ant wore her hair turned back upon the temples. antI braided. She ap- peared to he asout l'l years of age, of rather delicate frame anti rom- plexion, and her appearance altogether was extremely interesting. Her name is S:ocks, but the rank or situation in life of her or her fAmily was studiously or.cealed. She had only determined uipon the adventurout ilight about two hours befnire it took olace. At four o'clock ihe car was placed upon the stage tor the purpose of bring lashed to the balloon. The car is of an oval shape, very ele- gantly constructetl. The covering of the body is of crimson velvet, with an interMixtureofdeep green and yellowsilu, prettily festooned, and frirged with the same nmaterial. rhis was suspended by cords from a rsrcAlar frame above, similarly ornamented, and which was fastened to the ballooti itself. NIr. Harris, dressed in a jacket, waistoat, and trousers, of deep blue, ornamented with gold lace in. profusion, and buttons with the ancbor and crown upon them, and wearing a white liat, superintended all the arrange- snents in person, and directed them with the greatest possiblecoolness and judgmnent. avery thing being ready, Alr. Harris went to the tavern to escort bis fair companion to her seat, and returned in a few moments with her Icaning upon his arm, and preceded by a band playing a sIow air. The committee withs several ladies, brought up the rear. The intrepid girl mounted the stage with but a slighit appearance of fear in her mnanner, and was instantly greetet with the warmest cheers frotm the specrators. She curtsied in retmrn, and AJr. Harris having entered the car, the word was given for "1 the lady." Raving received ani affectionate farewell from several around her, she stepped into the car with firmness, and an unmoved coun- tenance, and took her seat aridst the most enthusiastic cries of J` fBravo !'!and loud clapping of hands. Mtr.Hatrisgave the word,and the cords being slipped, the immense vehicle ascended sviftly for a short distance, but buddenIl stopped, and it was the;i discovered by the spectators that one of tse four coris by which it wai fPstened to the eartFt had not been loosened from the pole, and that of course the balloon coul(i ascend no further until the rope was unfastened. A general feeling of alartm, prevailed for a few nmonments, h7bich was increased by the apparently perilous situation ot' the aeronauts at that moment, for the violent cheek which the adhezinig cotd gave to the balloon, drew it into a position almost horizontal, and the young lady, whose end of the car was dowvnwards, wast seen clinging to the sides, and teemed with difficulty to keep her seat. There wnasa general cry of " Cait the rope; for -God's sake cut the rope!" but this vass prevented, by those who hadt previouslv received their orders, until a signal was given by Jlr. Harris by the waving of his flag, and the rope was then severed in a Ino- ent, and thc balloon, freed from aU re5straint, ascended moat ma- jestically, the people below realing the air withtheir cheerings, and Mr. Harris and his fair and courageous coapaPion waving each a 8ag frerm the car. -The balloon- -took .a south-westerly direction, tend pursued its coarse teadily for about 7 or 8 minntes, when it entered a thicker1oud and was lost-to the view of earthlv gazers. '[he stoppage. of the balloon, when at a cettaitn heiiht, was pre. cdncerted, andt is an invention of MIr. Harris'., -we - believe entirely new. It was done, as he gays, in order to -afford an additional and prolonged. gratification to thiose who might attend to witness his at- tempt. The fourth rope Was co contrived as to reach an enormous length, and then to arrest the balloon in its progress4 so long as M3r. Harris chose, when, by.a signal, it could be ih a inoment se- vered without the least danger.- * - I I I - ' . : Tev weather wae much atiinsst the adventurous voyagers. It -had in th morning glven-"prominse o' agoodIl day "'but towards two o'elock the wind increased, the slVy becameciuded. :ad;everal sha .eers cf ruin ?Mh' . - * . A4EROST67 TF' T X-CvJrXIoNv.