Hisdescriptionofanencounterwithastorm—cloudintheJuneof1843hasaninterestofitsown，andmaynotbeconsideredoverdrawn。ItwasanascentfromCarlisle，Pa。，tocelebratetheanniversaryofBunker’sHill，andWisewasanxioustogratifythelargeconcourseofpeopleassembled，andthuswastempted，soonafterleavingtheground，todiveupintoahugeblackcloudofpeculiarlyforbiddingaspect。Thiscloudappearedtoremainstationarywhilehesweptbeneathit，and，havingreacheditscentralposition，heobservedthatitsundersurfacewasconcavetowardstheearth，andatthatmomenthebecamesweptupwardsinavortexthatsethisballoonspinningandswingingviolently，whilehehimselfwasafflictedwithviolentnauseaandafeelingofsuffocation。Thecoldexperiencednowbecameintense，andthecordagebecameglazedwithice，yetthishadnoeffectincheckingtheupwardwhirlingoftheballoon。Sunshinewasbeyondtheupperlimitsofthecloud;butthiswasnosoonerreachedthantheballoon，escapingfromtheuprush，plungeddownseveralhundredfeet，onlytobewhirledupagain，andthisreciprocalmotionwasrepeatedeightortentimesduringanintervaloftwentyminutes，inallofwhichtimenoexpenditureofgasordischargeofballastenabledtheaeronauttoregainanycontroloverhisvessel。
StatementsconcerningathunderstormwitnessedatshortrangebyWisewillcomparewithotheraccounts。Thethunder"rattled"withoutanyreverberations，andwhenthestormwaspassing，andsomedensecloudsmovingintheuppercurrents，the"surfaceofthelowerstratumswelledupsuddenlylikeaboilingcauldron，whichwasimmediatelyfollowedbythemostbrilliantebullitionofsparklingcoruscations。"Green，inhisstormyascentfromNewbury，England，witnessedathunderstormbelowhim，aswillberemembered，whileanuppercloudstratumlayathisownlevel。ItwasthenthatGreenobservedthat"ateverydischargeofthunderallthedetachedpillarsofcloudswithinthedistanceofamilearoundbecameattracted。"
Theauthorwillhaveoccasion，indueplace，togivepersonalexperiencesofanencounterwithathunderstormwhichwillcomparewiththeforegoingdescription。
CHAPTERIX。EARLYMETHODSANDIDEAS。
Beforeproceedingtointroducethechiefactorsandtheirachievementsintheperiodnextbeforeus，itwillbeinstructivetoglanceatsomeoftheprincipalideasandmethodsinfavourwithaeronautsuptothedatenowreached。
ItwillbeseenthatWiseinAmerica，contrarytothepracticeofGreeninourowncountry，hadastrongattachmenttotheantiquemodeofinflationwithhydrogenpreparedbythevitriolicprocess;andhisballoonswerespeciallymadeandvarnishedfortheuseofthisgas。Theadvantagewhichhethusboughtattheexpenseofmuchtroubleandtheprovidingofcumbersomeequipmentwasobviousenough，andmaybewellexpressedbyaformulawhichholdsgoodto—day，namely，thatwhereas1，000cubicfeetofhydrogeniscapableoflifting7
lbs。，thesamequantityofcoalgasofordinaryqualitywillraisebut35lbs。ThelightergascameintoallWise’scalculationsforbolderschemes。Thus，whenhediscussesthepossibilityofusingametalballoon，hisfiguresworkoutasfollows:Ifaballoonof200feetdiameterwereconstructedoutofcopper，weighingonepoundtothesquarefoot;if，moreover，somesixtonswereallowedfortheweightofcarandfastenings，anavailableliftingpowerwouldremaincapableofraising45tonstoanaltitudeoftwomiles。Thiscalculationmayappearsomewhatstartling，yetitisnotonlysubstantiallycorrect，butWiseentertainednodoubtastothepracticabilityofsuchamachine。Foritsinflationhesuggestsinsertingamuslinballoonfilledwithairwithinthecopperglobe，andthenpassinghydrogengasbetweenthemuslinandcoppersurfaces，whichwouldexcludetheinnerballoonasthecopperonefilledup。
Hismethodofpreparinghydrogenwaspracticallythatstilladoptedinthefield，andseemsinhishandstohavebeenseldomattendedwithdifficulty。Witheightcommon130—gallonrumpuncheonshecouldreckononevolving5，000cubicfeetofgasinanhour，usinghiselementsinthefollowingproportions:water，560lbs。;sulphuricacid（sp。g。1。85），144lbs。;ironturnings，125lbs。Thegas，asgivenoff，wascooledandpurifiedbybeingpassedthroughaheadofwaterkeptcoolandcontaininglimeinsolution。Contrastedwiththis，wefinditestimated，accordingtothepracticeofthistime，thatatonofgoodbituminouscoalshouldyield10，000
cubicfeetofcarburettedhydrogenfitforlightingpurposes，andafurtherquantitywhich，thoughuselessasanilluminant，isstillofexcellentqualityfortheaeronaut。
ItwouldevenseemfromastatementofMr。MonckMasonthatthevalueofcokeinhisdaylargelycompensatedforthecostofproducingcoalgas，sothatinalargenumberofGreen’sascentsnochargewhateverwasmadeforgasbythecompaniesthatsuppliedhim。
Some，atleast，ofthemethodsformerlyrecommendedforthemanagementoffreeballoonsmustinthesedaysbemodified。
Green，aswehaveseen，wasinfavourofatrailropeofinordinatelength，whichherecommendedbothasanaidtosteeringandforasavingofballast。Inspecialcircumstances，andmoreparticularlyoverthesea，thismaybereckonedaserviceableadjunct，butoverlanditsuse，inthiscountryatleast，wouldbeopentoseriousobjection。Thewriterhasseentheconsternation，nottosayhavoc，thatatrailropemayoccasionwhencrossingatown，orevenprivategrounds，andtheactualdamagedonetoagardenofhops，ortotelegraphortelephonewires，maybeveryseriousindeed。
Moreover，thestatementmadebysomeearlypractitionersthatatrailropewillnotcatchsoastoholdfastinawoodorthelike，isnottobereliedon，foraninstancecouldbementionedcomingunderthewriter’sknowledgewheresucharopewasthesourceofsomuchtroubleinahighwindthatithadtobecutaway。
Thetroublearoseinthisway。Theropedraggedharmlesslyenoughalongtheopenground。Itwould，likewise，negotiateexceedinglywellasingletreeorawholeplantation，catchingandreleasingitselfwithonlysuchmoderatetugsatthecaraswerenotdisturbing;but，presently，itsend，whichhadbeencaughtandagainreleasedbyonetree，swungfreeinairthroughaconsiderablegaptoanothertree，where，strikingahorizontalbough，itcoileditselfseveraltimesaround，andthusheldtheballoonfast，whichnow，withthestrengthofthewind，wasbornetotheearthagainandagain，reboundinghighinairaftereachimpact，untilfreedomwasgainedonlybythesacrificeofaportionoftherope。
Wiserecommendsapendantlineof600or800feet，capableofbearingastrainof100lbs。，andwithcharacteristicingenuitysuggestsaspecialusewhichcanbemadeofit，namely，thatofhavinglightribbonstiedonateveryhundredfeet，bymeansofwhichthedriftsoflowercurrentsmaybedetected。Inthissuggestionthereis，indeed，agreatdealofsoundsense;forthereis，aswillbeshownhereafter，verymuchvaluetobeattachedtoaknowledgeofthoseairriversthatareflowing，oftenwhollyunsuspected，atvariousheights。
Smallparachutes，crumpledpaper，andothersuch—likebodiesasarecommonlythrownoutandreliedontodeclarethelowerdrifts，arenotwhollytrustworthy，forthisreason——thatair—streamsareoftenveryslender，merefilaments，astheyaresometimescalled，andthese，thoughsettinginsomedefinitedirection，andcapableofentrappingandwaftingawaysomesmallbodywhichmaycomewithintheirinfluence，maynotaffectthetravelofsobiganobjectasaballoon，whichcanonlypartakeofsomemoregeneralairmovement。
Wise，byhisexpedientoftyingribbonsatdifferentpointstohistrailrope，wouldobtainmuchmorecorrectandconstantinformationrespectingthosegeneralstreamsthroughwhichthependantropewasmoving。Asimilarexpedientadoptedbythesameingeniousaeronautisworthyofimitation，namely，thatoftyingribbonsontoarodprojectinglaterallyfromthecar。
Theseformahandyandconstanttelltaleastotheflightoftheballoon，forshouldtheybeflutteringupwardstheskysailoratonceknowsthathiscraftisdescending，andthathemustactaccordingly。
Thematerial，puresilk，whichwasuniversallyadopteduptoandaftertheperiodwearenowregarding，isnotoneveryaccounttobereckonedthemostdesirable。Inthefirstplace，itscostaloneisprohibitive，andnext，althoughlighterthananykindoflinen，strengthforstrength，itrequiresagreaterweightofvarnish，which，moreover，itdoesnottakesokindlyasdoesfabricmadeofvegetabletissue。Further，paradoxicalasitmayappear，itsgreatstrengthisnotentirelyanadvantage。Thereareoccasionswhichmustcomeintotheexperienceofeveryzealousaeronautwhenhisballoonhasdescendedinaroughwind，andinawkwardcountry。Thismay，indeed，happenevenwhentheascenthasbeenmadeincalm。
Squallsofwindmayspringupatshortnotice，oraftertraversingonlytwoorthreecountiesastronggalemaybefoundontheearth，thoughsuchwasabsentinthestartingground。Thisismoreparticularlythecasewhenthelandingchancestobeonhighgroundintheneighbourhoodofthesea。
Inthesecircumstances，thecarefulballoonist，whowillgenerallybeforewarnedbytheruffleonanywaterhemaypass，orbythedriftofsmoke，thetossingoftrees，orbytheirveryrustlingor"singing"waftedupwardstohim，will，ifpossible，seekforhislandingplacetheleeofawoodorsomeothershelteredspot。But，evenwithallhiscare，hewillsometimesfindhimself，onreachingearth，beingdraggedviolentlyacrosscountryonamadcoursewhichtheanchorcannotcheck。Now，thecountrythroughwhichheismakinganunwillingsteeplechasemaybedifficult，orevendangerous。
Rivers，railwaycuttings，orotherundesirableobstaclesmaylieahead，or，worseyet，suchadeathtrapasinsuchcircumstancesalmostanypartofDerbyshireaffords，withitsstonewalls，itsprecipitouscliffs，anddeeprockydells。Tobedraggedatthespeedofanexpresstrainthroughterritoryofthisdescriptionwillpresentlymeandamagetosomething，perhapstotelegraphpoles，toroofs，orcrops，andifnot，thentotheballoonitself。Somethingappertainingtoitmustbevictimised，anditisinallwaysbestthatthisshouldbethefabricoftheballoonitself。Ifmadeofsomeform，oratleastsomeproportionoflinen，thiswillprobablyrenderelong，and，allowingthegastoescape，willsoonbringitselftorest。Ontheotherhand，iftheballoonproperisasilkone，withsoundnetandingoodcondition，itisprobablethatsomethingelsewillgivewayfirst，andthatsomethingmayprovetobethehaplesspassengerorpassengers。
Andherebeitlaiddownasonefirstandall—importantprinciple，thatinanysuchawkwardpredicamentasthatjustdescribed，iftherebemorethanonepassengeraboard，letnoneattempttogetout。Inthefirstplace，hemayveryprobablybreakalimbinsodoing，inasmuchasthetangleoftheropeswillnotallowofhisgettingcutreadily;or，whenactuallyontheground，hemaybecaughtandimpaledbytheanchorchargingandleapingbehind。But，worsethanall，hemay，inanycase，jeopardisethelivesofhiscompanions，whostandinneedofalltheavailableweightandhelpthatthecarcontainsuptothemomentOfcomingtofinalrest。
Wehavealreadytouchedontheearlynotionsastothemeansofsteeringaballoon。Oarshadbeentestedwithoutsatisfactoryresult，andtheconceptionofarotaryscrewfoundfavouramongtheoristsatthistime，theprinciplebeingactuallytriedwithsuccessinworkingmodels，which，bymechanicalmeans，couldbemadetoflitaboutinthestillairofthelectureroom;buttheonlyfeasiblemethodadvocatedwasthatalreadyalludedto，whichdependedontheundesirableactionofatrailropedraggingoverthegroundorthroughwater。Theideawas，ofcourse，perfectlypractical，andwassimplyanalogoustothemethodadoptedbysailors，who，whenfloatingwiththestreambutwithoutwind，aredesirousofgaining"steerageway。"
Whilesimplydriftingwiththeflood，theyareunabletoguidetheirvesselinanyway，andthis，inpractice，iscommonlyeffectedbysimplypropellingthevesselfasterthanthestream，inwhichcasetherudderatoncebecomesavailable。
Butthesameresultisequallywellobtainedbyslowingthevessel，andthisiseasilyaccomplishedbyacable，withasmallanchororotherweightattached，draggingbelowthevessel。Thiscableisessentiallythesameastheguide—ropeoftheolderaeronauts。
Itiswhenwecometoconsidertheimpressionsandsensationsdescribedbyskyvoyagersofbygonetimesthatwefindthemcuriouslyatvariancewithourown。Asaninstance，wemaystatethattheearth，asseenfromahighflyingballoon，usedtobealmostalwaysdescribedasappearingconcave，orlikeahugebasin，andingeniousattemptsweremadetoprovemathematicallythatthismustbeso。Thelawsofrefractionarebroughtintoprovethefact;or，again，thecaseisstatedthus:Supposingtheextremehorizontobeseenwhentheballoonislittlemorethanamilehigh，therangeofviewonallsideswillthenbe，roughly，someeightymiles。If，then，alineweredrawnfromtheaerialobservertothisremotedistance，thatlinewouldbealmosthorizontal;sonearlysothathecannotpersuadehimselfthathishorizonisotherwisethanstillonalevelwithhiseye;yettheearthbelowhimlies，asitseems，atthebottomofahugegulf。Thusthewholevisibleearthappearsasavastbowlorbasin。Thisisextremelyingeniousreasoning，andnottobedisregarded;butthefactremainsthatintheexperienceofthewriterandofmanyotherswhomhehasconsulted，thereisnosuchopticalillusionasIhavejustdiscussed，andtotheirvisionitisimpossibletoregardtheearthasanythingbutuniformlyflat。
Anotherimpressioninvariablyinsistedonbyearlyballoonistsisthattheearth，onquittingit，appearstodropawayintoanabyss，leavingthevoyagersmotionless，andthisillusionmust，indeed，beprobablyuniversal。Itisthesameillusionastheapparentglidingbackwardsofobjectstoatravellerinarailwaycarriage;onlyinthislattercasetherattlingandshakingofthecarriagehelpsthemindtograsptherealfactthatthemotionbelongstothetrainitself;whereasitisotherwisewithaballoon，whosemotionissoperfectlysmoothastobequiteimperceptible。
Oldideas，formeduponinsufficientobservations，eveniferroneous，wereslowtodie。Thusitusedtobestatedthatanuppercloudflooradapteditselftothecontourofthelandoverwhichitrested，givingwhatMr。MonckMasonhascalleda"phrenologicalestimate"ofthecharacteroftheearthbelow;
theclouds，"evenwhenundertheinfluenceofrapidmotion，seemingtoaccommodatethemselvestoallvariationsofforminthesurfaceofthesubjacentsoil，risingwithitsprominencesandsinkingwithitsdepressions。"Probablyfewaeronautsofthepresenttimewillacceptthestatement。
Itusedcommonlytobeasserted，andissooftentothisday，thatafeelingasofsea—sicknessisexperiencedinballoontravel，andthenotionhasundoubtedlyarisenfromthecircumstancesattendinganascentinacaptiveballoon。Itwerewell，nowthatballooningbidsfairtobecomepopular，todisabusethepublicmindofsuchawhollyfalseidea。Thetruthisthataballoonletupwithalengthyropeandheldcaptivewill，withafitfulbreeze，pitchandswayinamannerwhichmayinducealltheunpleasantfeelingsattendingaroughpassageatsea。Itmaydoworse，andevenbebornetoearthwithapuffofwindwhichmaycomeunexpectedly，andconsiderablyunsettlethenervesofanyholidaypassenger。I
couldtellofa"captive"thathadbeenbehavingitselfcreditablyonanotverysettleddaysuddenlyswoopingoveraroadwayanddownintopublicgardens，whereitlayincontinentlyalongtheground，andthen，beforetheastonishedpassengerscouldattempttoalight，itwasseizedwithanothermood，and，mountingonceagainmajesticallyskyward，submittedtobehauleddownwithallbecominggraceandease。Itisowingtotheirvagariesandwantofmanageabilitythat，aswillbeshown，"captives"areofuncertainuseinwar。Ontheotherhand，afreeballoonisexemptfromsuchdisadvantages，andatmoderateheightsnotthesmallestfeelingofnauseaiseverexperienced。Theonlyunpleasantsensation，andthatnotofanygravity，evercomplainedof，isapeculiartensionintheearsexperiencedinarapidascent，ormoreoften，perhaps，inadescent。Thecause，whichistrivialandeasilyremoved，shouldbeproperlyunderstood，andcannotbegiveninclearerlanguagethanthatusedbyProfessorTyndall:——"Behindthetympanicmembraneexistsacavity——thedrumoftheear——inpartcrossedbyaseriesofbones，andinpartoccupiedbyair。
ThiscavitycommunicateswiththemouthbymeansofaductcalledtheEustachiantube。Thistubeisgenerallyclosed，theairspacebehindthetympanicmembranebeingthuscutofffromtheexternalair。If，underthesecircumstances，theexternalairbecomesdenser，itwillpressthetympanicmembraneinwards;if，ontheotherhand，theairontheothersidebecomesrarer，whiletheEustachiantubebecomesclosed，themembranewillbepressedoutwards。Painisfeltinbothcases，andpartialdeafnessisexperienced……BytheactofswallowingtheEustachiantubeisopened，andthusequilibriumisestablishedbetweentheexternalandinternalpressure。"
Foundedonphysicalfactsmoreorlesscorrectinthemselves，comeanumberoftalesofoldendays，whichareatleastmoremarvellousthancredible，thefollowingservingasanexample。
Thescientifictruthunderlyingthestoryisthewell—knownexpedientofplacingashrivelledappleunderthereceiverofanairpump。Astheairbecomesrarefiedtheappleswells，smoothsitselfout，andpresentlybecomesroundandrosyasitwasinthesummertime。Itisrecordedthatononeoccasionamanofmatureyearsmadeanascent，accompaniedbyhisson，and，afterreachingsomeheight，theyouthremarkedonhowyounghisfatherwaslooking。Theystillcontinuedtoascend，andthesameremarkwasrepeatedmorethanonce。Andatlast，havingnowreachedattenuatedregions，thesoncriedinastonishment，"Why，dad，yououghttobeatschool！"Thecauseofthisremarkwasthatintherarefiedairallthewrinkleshadcomeoutoftheoldman’sface，andhischeekswereaschubbyashisson’s。
ThisdiscussionofoldideasshouldnotbeclosedwithoutmentionofaplausiblepleafortheballoonmadebyWiseandothersonthescoreofitsvaluetohealth。Loftyascentshaveprovedastrainonevenrobustconstitutions——theheartmaybegintosuffer，orillsakintomountainsicknessmayintervenebeforeaheightequaltothatofourloftiestmountainisreached。Butmanyhavespokenofanexhilarationofspiritsnotinferiortothatofthemountaineer，whichisexperienced，andwithoutfatigue，inskyvoyagesreasonablyindulgedin——ofalight—heartedness，aglowofhealth，asharpenedappetite，andthekeenenjoymentofmereexistence。
Nay，ithasbeenseriouslyaffirmedthat"moregoodmaybegotbytheinvalidinanhourortwowhiletwomilesuponafinesummer’sdaythanistobegainedinanentirevoyagefromNewYorktoMadeirabysea。"
CHAPTERX。THECOMMENCEMENTOFANEWERA。
ResumingtherollofprogressiveaeronautsinEnglandwhoselaboursweredevotedtothepracticalconquestoftheair，andwhosemethodsandmechanicalachievementsmarktheroadofadvancebywhichthesuccessesofto—dayhavebeenobtained，therestandoutprominentlytwoindividuals，ofwhomonehasalreadyreceivedmentioninthesepages。
Theperiodofasinglelifeisseldomsufficienttoallowwithinitsspanthefulldevelopmentofanynewdepartureinartorscience，anditcannot，therefore，bewonderedatifCharlesGreen，thoughrevivingandre—modellingtheartofballooninginourowncountry，evenafteranexceptionallylongandsuccessfulcareer，leftthatpursuittowhichhehadgivennewbirthvirtuallystillinitsinfancy。
TheyearfollowingthatinwhichGreenconductedthefamousNassauvoyagewefindhimexperimentinginthesameballoonwithhischosenfriendandcolleague，EdwardSpencer，solicitor，ofBarnsbury，who，onlynineyearslater，compilesmemorandaofthirty—fourascents，madeundereveryvarietyofcircumstance，manybeingofahighlyenterprisingnature。WefindhimwritingenthusiasticallyoftherapturesheexperiencedwhensailingoverLondoninnighthours，ofloftyascentsandextremelylowtemperatures，ofspeedingtwenty—eightmilesintwentyminutes，ofgrapnelropesbreaking，andofacross—countryraceoffourmilesthroughwoodsandhedges。SuchwasMr。Spencertheelder，andiffurtherevidencewereneededofhispracticalacquaintancewith，aswellaspersonaldevotionto，hisadoptedprofessionofaeronautics，wehaveitinthestoreofworkingcalculationsandotherminutiaeofthecraft，mostcarefullycompiledinmanuscriptbyhisownhand;thesememorandabeingtothisdayconstantlyconsultedbyhisgrandsons，thepresenteminentaeronauts，Messrs。SpencerBrothers，assupplyingamanualofreliabledatafortheexecutionofmuchofthemostimportantpartsoftheirwork。
IntheterrificordealandriskentailedbythedaringandfatalparachutedescentofCocking，Greenrequiredanassistantofexceptionalnerveandreliability，and，ashasbeenrecorded，hischoiceatoncefellonEdwardSpencer。Inthischoiceithasalreadybeenshownthathewaswelljustified，andinthetryingcircumstancesthatensuedGreenfranklyownsthatitwashiscompetentcompanionwhowasthefirsttorecoverhimself。Afewyearslater，whenadistinguishedcompany，amongwhomwereAlbertSmithandShirleyBrooks，madeamemorableascentfromCremorne，EdwardSpencerisoneoftheselectparty。
Someaccountofthisvoyageshouldbegiven，anditneednotbesaidthatnomoregraphicaccountistobefoundthanthatgivenbythefacilepenofAlbertSmithhimself。Hispersonalnarrativealsoformsaninstructivecontrasttoanotherwhichhehadoccasiontogivetotheworldshortlyafterwards，andwhichshallbedulynoticed。Theenthusiasticwriterfirstdescribes，withapparentpride，thecompanythatascendedwithhim。BesidesMr。ShirleyBrooks，therewereMessrs。Davidson，oftheGarrickClub;Mr。JohnLee，wellknownintheatricalcircles;Mr。P。Thompson，ofGuy’sHospital，andothers——teninall，includingCharlesGreenasskipper，andEdwardSpencer，who，sittingintherigging，wasentrustedwiththeall—importantmanagementofthevalverope。
"Thefirstsensationexperienced，"AlbertSmithcontinues，"wasnotthatwewererising，butthattheballoonremainedfixed，whilstalltheworldbelowwasrapidlyfallingaway;whilethecheerswithwhichtheygreetedourdeparturegrewfainter，andthecheerersthemselvesbegantolookliketheinmatesofmanysixpennyNoah’sArksgroupeduponabilliardtable……Ourhatswouldhaveheldmillions……Andmoststrangeistheroarofthecityasitcomessurgingintothewelkinasthoughthewholemetropolischeeredyouwithonevoice……Yetnonebeyondtheordinarypassengersaretobeseen。Thenoiseisasinexplicableasthemurmurintheairathotsummernoontide。"
ThesignificanceofthislastremarkwillbeinsistedonwhenthewriterhastotellhisownexperiencesaloftoverLondon，asalsoanotetotheeffectthattherewereseen"largeenclosedfieldsandgardensandpleasuregroundswherenoneweresupposedtoexistbyordinarypassengers。"Anotherinterestingnote，havingreferencetoaoncefamiliarfeatureontheriver，nowdisappearing，relatedtothepaddleboatsofthosedays，thesteamersmakingaverybeautifuleffect，"leavingtwolongwingsoffoambehindthemsimilartothetrainofatablerocket。"Highlysuggestive，too，oftheexperiencesofrailwaytravellersintheyear1847istheaccountofthealighting，which，bytheway，wasobviouslyofnoveryrudenature。"Everytime，"saysthewriter，"thegrapnelcatchesinthegroundtheballoonispulledupsuddenlywithashockthatwouldsoonsendanybodyfromhisseat，ajerklikethatwhichoccurswhenfreshcarriagesarebroughtuptoarailwaytrain。"Buttheconcludingparagraphinthisrosynarrativeaffordsanotherandaverynotablecontrasttothestorywhichthatsamewriterhadoccasiontoputonrecordbeforethatsameyearhadpassed。
"Wecounseleverybodytogoupinaballoon……Inspiteoftheapparentfrightfulfragilityofcaneandnetworknothingcaninrealitybemoresecure……Thestoriesofpressureontheears，intensecold，andthedangerofcomingdownareallfictions……Indeed，wealmostwantedafewperilstogivealittleexcitementtothetrip，andhavesomenotion，ifpossible，ofgoingupthenexttimeatmidnightwithfireworksinathunderstorm，throwingawayalltheballast，fasteningdownthevalve，andseeingwherethewindwillsendus。"
Thefireworks，thethunderstorm，andthethrowingawayofballast，allcameoffonthe15thofthefollowingOctober，whenAlbertSmithmadehissecondascent，thistimefromVauxhallGardens，undertheguidanceofMr。Gypson，andaccompaniedbytwofellow—passengers。Fireworks，whichweretobedisplayedwhenaloft，weresuspendedonaframeworkfortyfeetbelowthecar。Lightningwasalsoplayingaroundastheycastoff。ThedescriptionwhichAlbertSmithgivesofLondonbynightasseenfromanestimatedelevationof4，000feet，shouldbecomparedwithotherdescriptionsthatwillbegiveninthesepages:——
"Intheobscurityalltracesofhousesandenclosuresarelostsightof。Icancompareittonothingelsethanfloatingoverdarkblueandboundlessseaspangledwithhundredsofthousandsofstars。Thesestarswerethelamps。Wecouldseethemstretchingovertheriveratthebridges，edgingitsbanks，formingsquaresandlongparallellinesoflightinthestreetsandsolitaryparks。Furtherandfurtherapartuntiltheywerealtogetherlostinthesuburbs。Theeffectwasbewildering。"
At7，000feet，oneofthepassengers，sittinginthering，remarkedthattheballoonwasgettingverytense，andtheorderwasgivento"easeher"byopeningthetopvalve。Thevalvelinewasaccordinglypulled，"andimmediatelyafterwardsweheardanoisesimilartotheescapeofsteaminalocomotive，andthelowerpartoftheballooncollapsedrapidly，andappearedtoflyupintotheupperportion。Atthesameinstanttheballoonbegantofallwithappallingvelocity，theimmensemassofloosesilksurgingandrustlingfrightfullyoverourheads……retreatingupawayfromusmoreandmoreintotheheadoftheballoon。Thesuggestionwasmadetothroweverythingoverthatmightlightentheballoon。Ihadtwosandbagsinmylap，whichwerecastawaydirectly……Therewereseverallargebagsofballast，andsomebottlesofwine，andthesewereinstantlythrownaway，butnoeffectwasperceptible。Thewindstillappearedtoberushinguppastusatafearfulrate，and，toaddtothehorror，wecameamongthestillexpiringdischargeofthefireworkswhichfloatedintheair，sothatlittlebitsofexplodedcasesandtouch—paper，stillincandescent，attachedthemselvestothecordageoftheballoonandwereblownintosparks……Ipresumewemusthavebeenupwardsofamilefromtheearth……HowlongweweredescendingIhavenottheslightestidea，buttwominutesmusthavebeentheoutside……Wenowsawthehouses，theroofsofwhichappearedadvancingtomeetus，andthenextinstant，aswedashedbytheirsummits，thewords，’Holdhard！’burstsimultaneouslyfromalltheparty……Wewerealldirectlythrownoutofthecaralongtheground，and，incomprehensibleasitnowappearstome，nobodywasseriouslyhurt。"