AIROPAIDIA:
OR
AËRIAL RECREATION.
+Descriptions+ _of_ the aërial Scenes _are illustrated with
_ENGRAVINGS_, by the best Masters: two of which are_ +coloured+.
_The_ one, _a circular View from the Balloon at its greatest
Elevation; the_ City of Chester _appearing in the_ Center.
The other, _a Specimen of Balloon Geography: being a Prospect
from_ above _the Clouds, of the Country between_ Chester, _and_
Warrington _in Lancashire, with the Track of the Balloon in the
Air_.
_A_ third _represents the Balloon over Helsbye-Hill in Cheshire,
with a beautiful View of the adjacent Country_.
AIROPAIDIA:
+containing
the NARRATIVE of a
BALLOON EXCURSION+
from +chester+, the eighth of September, 1785,
taken from +minutes+ made +during+ the Voyage:
H I N T S
+on the IMPROVEMENT of BALLOONS,
and MODE of INFLATION by _STEAM_:
MEANS to prevent their DESCENT over WATER:
occasional ENQUIRIES
into the STATE of the ATMOSPHERE,
favouring their DIRECTION:
with various philosophical
OBSERVATIONS and CONJECTURES.+
+to which is subjoined,
MENSURATION of HEIGHTS by the BAROMETER,
_MADE PLAIN:_
with extensive TABLES.+
The +whole+ serving as an +introduction+ to
AËRIAL NAVIGATION:
+with a copious+ INDEX.
+By THOMAS BALDWIN, Esq. A. M.+
- - - - - Addita +navigiis+ sunt
Multa. _Lucretius De Rerum Nat._ L. 5, V. 335.
Nihil +perfectum+ simul ac +inceptum+.
+Usus uni rei+ deditus, et +naturam+ et +artem+ sæpe
vincit.
_Cicero._
CHESTER:
Printed for the Author, by J. Fletcher; and sold by W.
Lowndes, No. 77, Fleet-street, London; J. Poole, Chester;
and other Booksellers.
1786.
Price, in Boards, 7s. 6d.
TO THE
PRINCIPAL INHABITANTS
OF
_CHESTER:_
For their +polite attention+ on the Day of Ascent, and Preservation
of +order+ during the +inflation+: on which, the Success of aërial
Experiments so much depends, and throu’ the Want of which, so many
have already failed; for the kind Anxiety manifested during his
Absence; and for their friendly +congratulations+, on his safe
Return; the following Account of the Balloon-Excursion, written at
their Request, is, by their Permission, with all Gratitude, Esteem
and Respect,
+dedicated+,
by their most obliged,
and most obedient Servant
+the+ AIRONAUT.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE PLATES; WITH DIRECTIONS
FOR PLACING THEM.
1st. _An Account of the Plates._
1. (_a_) _A Circular View from the Balloon at its greatest
Elevation_, (Page 58.) The Spectator is supposed to be in the Car
of the Balloon, suspended above the _Center_ of the View: looking
_down_ on the Amphitheatre or _white_ Floor of Clouds, and seeing
the _City of Chester_, as it appeared throu’ the _Opening_: which
discovers the Landscape _below_, limited, by surrounding Vapour, to
something less than _two_ Miles in Diameter.
The Breadth of the _blue_ Margin _defines_ the _apparent_ Height
of the Spectator in the Balloon (viz. 4 Miles) _above_ the
_white_ Floor of Clouds, as he hangs in the Center, and looks
_horizontally_ round, into the _azure_ Sky.
2. (_b_) _The Balloon over Helsbye-Hill in Cheshire_, at half past
II. on Thursday the 8th of September, 1785. (Page 78.)
It is seen in the _South-west-Quarter_.
The View was taken in a _high_ Field, at the End of Sutton-Causeway.
Helsbye-Hill, tho’ upwards of 600 _Feet high_, appeared from the
Car of the Balloon, to be on the _same Level_ with the _Grounds
below_.
3. (_c_) _A Balloon-Prospect from above the Clouds_, (Page 154,)
or _Chromatic_ View of the Country between Chester, Warrington and
Rixton-Moss in Lancashire: shewing the whole Extent of the aërial
Voyage; with the _meandering_ Track of the Balloon throu’ the Air.
4. _The Explanatory Print_ (_d_), (Page 155:) which elucidates the
former by giving the Names of the principal Places mentioned in the
Excursion.
N. B. _The Circular View_ is seen to the best Advantage, when
placed _flat_ on a Table or Chair, and _rather_ in the Shade: the
Eye looking _directly_ down upon the Picture.
Whoever will be at the Trouble of viewing _distinct_ Parts of the
_Balloon-Prospect_, throu’ a very small Opening, made by rolling
a Sheet of Paper into the Form of a hollow Tube, and applying it
close to either Eye, at the same Time shutting the other; or by
looking throu’ the Hand, held a little open, and close to the Eye;
may form a very accurate Idea of the Manner, in which the _Prospect
below_ was represented _gradually in Succession_, to the Aironaut;
whose Sight was bounded by a Circularity of Vapour, as in Section
79, 221.
2d. _Directions for placing them._
Place the _Top_ of the +circular view+, _even_ with the _Top_ of
the Page.
The Plate will then lye over at the Bottom, and at the _right_ Side
of the Page.
Fold the Bottom up into the Book, even with the Margin: and the
_right_ Side in like Manner.
Observe to place the _Bottom_ of each of the other Plates, even
with the _Bottom_ of the Page.
The Plate will then lye _over_ at the Top, and at the _right_ Side
of the Page.
Fold the Top _down_, into the Book, _even_ with the Margin: and the
right Side, in like Manner.
The circular View, to _face_ Page 58.
The Balloon over Helsbye-Hill, to _face_ Page 78.
The Balloon Prospect, to _face_ Page 154.
The explanatory Print, to be placed _on_ Page 155: and, when
unfolded, to be seen _along with_ the Balloon-Prospect.
Literal and other Errors proper to be examined, and
corrected with the Pen, before the Book is read.
Page.
6. Note [1]—ειαδεν _write_ ευαδεν.
18. Note [6]—_Cube_ of the Velocity, &c. _write_ (as in some
Copies) Square of the Velocity, &c. the Resistence will be as
3 × 3 = 9.—See Chambers’s Dictionary, under +resistence+.
23. Section 21. _Blot out_ [Signs] of Currents.
26. _Before_ All Things being thus prepared, _insert_ [_Section_]
_viz._ 25.
35. Line 13.—I o’Clock, _write_ I. o’Clock.
54. Section 52.—an Extent above them of 77 Miles, _write_ an
Extent of 102 Miles. See the Occasion of this Mistake in Note
(_a_) Calculation SECOND, which makes the Answer 102 Miles, 1
Quarter, 320 Yards; and the Ans. to the
PROBLEM being 102 1 307
—————————————————————————
gives the Prospect 13 Yards
less than _that_ over the Clouds.
84. Line 4.—great Turnpike-Road, _write_ great public Road.
84. Note [26] _After_ See Moore’s Practical Navigator, _insert_
See Page 98 [34].
98. _After_ Note [34] _add_ See Section 84, Note [26].
118. Line 5.—from a vertical Situation only, to be seen, _write_
to be seen from a vertical Situation only:.
174. Line 1.—excessine Diminution _write_ excessive Diminution.
177. Line 9.—contain _write_ contains.
202. The Sections 259, 260, 261, are repeated.
234. Line 6.—a Yard, _write_ two Yards.
236. Line 3. _After the Words_ in Danger of breaking; _add_ the
Bottom of the Balloon must be opened, or the upper Valve
drawn. _And erase the Remainder of the Sentence._
237. Line 4.—which is a Sign that the Balloon descends, _write_
(which is a Sign that the Balloon descends).
242. Line 21.—supercede, _write_ supersede.
263. Line 5.—commonly: ascend, _write_ commonly ascend:.
266. Line 21.—their Passage _write_ its Passage.
271. Line 14.—each 4 Feet _write_ each 4 Inches.
278. Lines 15 and 18.—third Tables _and_ third Table, _write_
fourth Tables _and_ fourth Table.
283. Note [119].—more than the three first Decimals _write_ more
than the four first Decimals.
288. Line 5. _After_ .0000076, _insert_ which, being divided by
.1, gives a Cypher less.
288. Line 11.—with 4° on .25, _write_ with 4° on 25.
290. Note [120]—at low Water.) _write_ at low Water.
292. Line 23.—there will remain the greater Height, _write_ there
will remain, +secondly+; (see Section 367) the greater Height.
303. Line 6.—(viz. the 8,) _write_ (viz. the .8,).
309. Line 10. Marginal Note.—_7th Step in Section_ 366. write _7th
Step in Section_ 368.
310. _After_ Line 23, _insert_ _Air_-Thermom. 56°.
311. Line 1.—By the Practice of the first Example, _write_
Practice of the second Example.
312. Line 29. _After_ The Answer, &c. _insert_, made by rejecting
a Cypher,.
317. Before the last Line but two, _insert_ +end of the first
stage+.
318. Line 23.—the 2d Tenth, _write_ the 1st Tenth.
319. Line 13.—, gives 7. _write_, gives 97.
322. last Line but two.—and the remaining Feet _write_ the
remaining Feet.
AIROPAIDIA:
CHAPTER I.
[Sidenote: Introduction.]
Section 1. The Public have, for a considerable Time, been entertained
with Accounts of aërial Voyages.
Such Accounts are, in many Respects, vague and unsatisfactory: by no
Means adequate to the Expectations and Wishes, which have been formed
by those, who have not yet penetrated the profound Heights of the
Atmosphere.
[Sidenote: Mistakes to be noticed, as Examples of Avoidance.]
2. The Voyagers have, now and then, been pretty accurate in Regard
to Time Place Distance and Velocity: Circumstances highly worthy of
Remark, in order to estimate the Improvement already made in this
wonderful Discovery, and point out its Use: but neither ought the
_several Occasions of Failure_ in the Experiments to be omitted; as
they will be found to arise more from a Want of Prudence and Foresight
in the Managers, than from any Defect in the Machine, or the Principle
on which it acts. Such Failure ought therefore to throw an additional
Light and Credit on the Art: and give a Spur to Ingenuity, which, it is
not to be doubted, will continue to drive forwards with the same rapid
Success; nor rest, till the Art itself is brought to the highest Degree
of Perfection; till airostatic Ships make the Circuit of the Globe: a
+Navigation+ which, from its Novelty and Importance, deserves to be
considered in a separate Treatise.
[Sidenote: Aërial Voyagers defective in their Descriptions.]
3. Balloon-Voyagers have likewise been particularly defective in
their Descriptions of aërial Scenes and Prospects: those Scenes of
majestic Grandeur which the unnumbered Volumes of encircling Clouds,
in most fantastic Forms and various Hues, beyond Conception glowing
and transparent, portray to a Spectator placed as in a Center of
the Blue Serene above them: contemplating at the same Instant, and
_apparently_ at some Miles Distance immediately below, a most exquisite
and ever-varying Miniature of the _little Works of Man_, heightened by
the supreme Pencil of Nature, inimitably elegant, and in her highest
Colouring.
Such are the Scenes which, Ballooners all allow, constitute the true
Sublime and Beautiful: inspire Ideas of rational Humiliation to a
thinking Mind, and raise the most careless Mortal to an unknown Degree
of enthusiastic Rapture and Pleasure.
Every Beholder is a Judge of the Scenery around him: and no one, it is
presumed, ever ascended into the Atmosphere on a _mild Day_, with a
sound and well ballasted Balloon, that did not wish to taste the Luxury
of a second Voyage.
[Sidenote: Disappointment shoud excite the Ardor of the Scientific.]
4. Yet notwithstanding, as Ignorance is known to be the Parent of
Fear, the Bulk of Mankind, which are by far the greater Number, will
long continue to entertain absurd Apprehensions concerning it; to
oppose and ridicule the Invention; as they will oppose every other
Discovery, which they have neither Talents _Inclination_ or Leisure to
understand.
This Reflexion shoud, on the contrary, rather excite than check the
Ardor of the Skilful and Scientific, to cherish and promote the Art.
In the History of Airostation, each Event is yet new and _uncompared_.
_Every_ Circumstance ought therefore to be carefully recorded: since
it woud be unfair to fix Bounds to Science; or argue, that such
Inferences, as shall demonstrate the great Utility of the Invention,
may not be drawn from Circumstances which Inattention might pronounce
to be most trifling and minute.
[Sidenote: The Reader cautioned.]
5. The Reader is requested to observe that, this Account being
addressed to the Generality, and not to the Curious and Philosophic
only; many Circumstances are added, which woud otherwise have been
considered as superfluous: and some it was thought proper to repeat, in
order to connect the Thread of the Narration, without the Necessity of
frequent Reference to the Sections.
[Sidenote: Squalls of Wind the Day preceding the Ascent.]
6. An Agreement having been made with Mr. Lunardi, that he shoud
resign his Balloon to Mr. Baldwin on Wednesday the 7th of September;
an Advertisement to that Purpose appeared in the Chester Paper: and
on Wednesday Morning, a great Number of Spectators assembled in the
Castle-yard of the City of Chester: where many waited till half past
IV in the Afternoon; Mr. Lunardi declaring that, on Account of the
Violence and Unsteadiness of the Wind which blew from the South and
South-West, it was dangerous to attempt the Inflation of his Balloon;
and Mr. Baldwin continuing to assert that, if it coud be filled, he
was willing to go up.
The Weather was _then_ moderate: but Mr. Baldwin, thinking the Hour
too late to begin the Inflation, which, judging from the two former
Inflations, coud not probably have been completed till after _Sunset_;
made a Proposal to Mr. Lunardi, that he shoud postpone the Exhibition
till the next[1] _Day_. The latter, after some Reluctance, arising from
a Fear lest the Public shoud disapprove his Conduct, politely complied
with his Request, on Mr. Baldwin’s saying that he woud take the Blame
on himself.