We now come to that point in our subject where it is appropriate to give more detailed¹ and graphic² accounts of the recent doings of aeronauts. An extremely interesting description of a scientific balloon ascent³ is given by the celebrated⁴ aeronaut, Mr Glaisher, in a pamphlet, from which we shall make a few extracts. (See Note 1.) His description is illustrative of the subject of ballooning, and contains the salient points of several ascents⁵.

He asks us to imagine the balloon somewhat more than half inflated⁶, eager for flight, with only one link connecting it with earth, namely, a rope attached to an instrument, called a liberating⁷ iron catch. When all the ballast, instruments, etcetera, were placed in the car, Mr Coxwell brought the balloon to a nice and even balance, so that the addition of twenty pounds would have prevented it from rising.

As the moment for departure drew near, friends became impatient, and every one anxiously watched the final arrangements, which were made by Mr Coxwell, on whom was laid the important duty of letting go. His hand was on the catch, his countenance⁸ was fixed⁹, and his expression stern, as he gazed up into the heavens. He was waiting for the right moment, for the sky was partially¹⁰ cloudy, and it was necessary to wait until the balloon was midway between the cloud that had just passed and the next that was approaching, so that the aeronauts might have a clear sky, and be able to see the earth they were about to quit for a time. Nor was this all; he knew that in every wind, however strong it might be, there are periods of calm. If he could start in one of these he would avoid much rotatory motion. The deciding, therefore, of the exact moment for making a fair start was not so easy a matter as one might suppose.

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