[This magnificent work has been recently completed by the
publication of the eighth volume, which may, we believe, be
procured from Mr. Henry Bohn.--ED.]
_Aërostation_ (Vol. ii., p. 199.).--The article BALLOON, in the _Penny
Cyclopædia_, would give C.B.M. a good many references. The early works
there mentioned are those of Faujas de St. Fond, Bourgeois, and Cavallo;
to which I add the following: Thomas Baldwin, _Airopaidia, containing
the Narrative of a Balloon Excursion from Chester, Sept_. 8. 1785.
Chester, 1786, 8vo. (pp. 360.).
Vincent Lunardi published the account of his voyage (the first made in
England) in a series of letters to a friend. The title is torn out in my
copy. The first page begins, "An Account of the First Aërial Voyage in
England. Letter I. London, July 15. 1784." (8vo. pp. 66 + ii. with a
plate.) It ends with a poetical epistle to Lunardi by "a gentleman well
known in the literary world" (query, the same who is thus cited in our
day?) from which the following extracts are taken as a specimen of the
original balloon jokes:--
"The multitude scarcely believed that a man,
With his senses about him could form such a plan,
And thought that as Bedlam was so very nigh,
You had better been there than turned loose in the sky.
* * * * *
"In their own way of thinking, all felt and all reasoned,
Greedy aldermen judged that your flight was ill-seasoned,
That you'd better have taken a good dinner first,
Nor have pinched your poor stomach by hunger or thirst.
"In perfect indifference the beau yawned a blessing,
And feared before night that your hair would want dressing;
But the ladies, all zeal, sent their wishes in air,
For a man of such spirit is ever their care.
"Attornies were puzzled how now they could sue you,
Underwriters, what premium they'd now take to do you;
While the sallow-faced Jew, of his monies so fond,
Thanked Moses he never had taken your bond."
Mr. Baldwin ascended in Lunardi's balloon, the latter being present at
the start, though not taking part in the voyage.