September 4, 1784

Posted by sydney on Sep 4th, 1784

My Nep. Edmund White launched a balloon on our down, made of a soft, thin paper; & measuring about two feet & a half in length, & 20 inches in diameter. The buoyant air was supplyed at bottom by a plug of wooll, wetted with spirits ofwine, & set on fire by a candle. The air being cold & moist this machine did not succeed well abroad; but in Mr Yalden’s stair-case it rose to the ceiling, & remained suspended as long as the spirits continued to flame, & then sunk gradually. These Gent. made the balloon themselves. This small exhibition explained the whole balloon affair very well: but the position of the flame wanted better regulation; because the least oscillation set the paper on fire. Golden weather, red even.

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September 1784
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