the dominion of the air-第7部分
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e the mouth to release the strain。 He also found that the condensed moisture round the neck had frozen。 These two statements point to his having reached a considerable altitude； which is intelligible enough。 It is； however； difficult to believe his further assertion that by the use of his single oar he succeeded in working himself down to within a few hundred feet of the earth。 The descent of the balloon must； in point of fact； have been due to a copious outrush of gas at his former altitude。 Had his oar really been effective in working the balloon down it would not have needed the discharge of ballast presently spoken of to cause it to reascend。 Anyhow； he found himself sufficiently near the earth to land a passenger who was anxious to get out。 His cat had not been comfortable in the cold upper regions； and now at its urgent appeal was deposited in a corn field； which was the point of first contact with the earth。 It was carefully received by a country…woman； who promptly sold it to a gentleman on the other side of the hedge； who had been pursuing the balloon。
The first ascent of a balloon in England was deserving of some record； and an account alike circumstantial and picturesque is forthcoming。 The novel and astonishing sight was witnessed by a Hertfordshire farmer； whose testimony； published by Lunardi in the same year； runs as follows：
This deponent on his oath sayeth that； being on Wednesday； the 15th day of September instant； between the hours of three and four in the afternoon； in a certain field called Etna； in the parish of North Mimms aforesaid； he perceived a large machine sailing in the air； near the place where he was on horseback； that the machine continuing to approach the earth； the part of it in which this deponent perceived a gentleman standing came to the ground and dragged a short way on the ground in a slanting direction； that the time when this machine thus touched the earth was； as near as this deponent could judge； about a quarter before four in the afternoon。 That this deponent being on horseback； and his horse restive； he could not approach nearer to the machine than about four poles； but that he could plainly perceive therein gentleman dressed in light coloured cloaths； holding in his hand a trumpet； which had the appearance of silver or bright tin。 That by this time several harvest men coming up from the other part of the field； to the number of twelve men and thirteen women； this deponent called to them to endeavour to stop the machine； which the men attempted； but the gentleman in the machine desiring them to desist； and the machine moving with considerable rapidity； and clearing the earth； went off in a north direction and continued in sight at a very great height for near an hour afterwards。 And this deponent further saith that the part of the machine in the which the gentleman stood did not actually touch the ground for more than half a minute； during which time the gentleman threw out a parcel of what appeared to this deponent as dry sand。 That after the machine had ascended again from the earth this deponent perceived a grapple with four hooks； which hung from the bottom of the machine； dragging along the ground； which carried up with it into the air a small parcel of loose oats； which the women were raking in the field。 And this deponent further on his oath sayeth that when the machine had risen clear from the ground about twenty yards the gentleman spoke to this deponent and to the rest of the people with his trumpet； wishing them goodbye and saying that he should soon go out of sight。 And this deponent further on his oath sayeth that the machine in which the gentleman came down to earth appeared to consist of two distinct parts connected together by ropes； namely that in which the gentleman appeared to be； a stage boarded at the bottom； and covered with netting and ropes on the sides about four feet and a half high； and the other part of the machine appeared in the shape of an urn； about thirty feet high and of about the same diameter； made of canvas like oil skin； with green； red； and yellow stripes。
NATHANIEL WHITBREAD。
Sworn before me this twentieth day of September； 1784； WILLIAM BAKER。
It was a curious fact； pointed out to the brave Italian by a resident； that the field in which the temporary descent had been made was called indifferently Etna or Italy； 〃from the circumstance which attended the late enclosure of a large quantity of roots； rubbish； etc。； having been collected there； and having continued burning for many days。 The common people having heard of a burning mountain in Italy gave the field that name。〃
But the voyage did not end at Etna。 The； as yet； inexperienced aeronaut now cast out all available ballast in the shape of sand； as also his provisions； and rising with great speed； soon reached a greater altitude than before； which he sought to still farther increase by throwing down his plates； knives； and forks。 In this somewhat reckless expenditure he thought himself justified by the reliance he placed on his oar； and it is not surprising that in the end he owns that he owed his safety in his final descent to his good fortune。 The narrative condensed concludes thus：
〃At twenty minutes past four I descended in a meadow near Ware。 Some labourers were at work in it。 I requested their assistance； but they exclaimed they would have nothing to do with one who came on the Devil's Horse； and no entreaties could prevail on them to approach me。 I at last owed my deliverance to a young woman in the field who took hold of a cord I had thrown out； and； calling to the men； they yielded that assistance at her request which they had refused to mine。〃
As may be supposed； Lunardi's return to London resembled a royal progress。 Indeed； he was welcomed as a conqueror to whom the whole town sought to do honour； and perhaps his greatest gratification came by way of the accounts he gathered of incidents which occurred during his eventful voyage。 At a dinner at which he was being entertained by the Lord Mayor and judges he learned that a lady seeing his falling oar； and fancying that he himself was dashed to pieces； received a shock thereby which caused her death。 Commenting on this； one of the judges bade him be reassured； inasmuch as he had； as if by compensation； saved the life of a young man who might live to be reformed。 The young man was a criminal whose condemnation was regarded as certain at the hands of the jury before whom he was being arraigned； when tidings reached the court that Lunardi's balloon was in the air。 On this so much confusion arose that the jury were unable to give due deliberation to the case； and； fearing to miss the great sight； actually agreed to acquit the prisoner； that they themselves might be free to leave the court！
But he was flattered by a compliment of a yet higher order。 He was told that while he hovered over London the King was in conference with his principal Ministers； and his Majesty； learning that he was in the sky； is reported to have said to his councillors； 〃We may resume our own deliberations at pleasure； but we may never see poor Lunardi again！〃 On this； it is further stated that the conference broke up； and the King； attended by Mr。 Pitt and other chief officers of State； continued to view Lunardi through telescopes as long as he remained in the horizon。
The public Press； notably the Morning Post of September 16； paid a worthy tribute to the hero of the hour； and one last act of an exceptional character was carried out in his honour； and remains in evidence to this hour。 In a meadow in the parish of Standon； near Ware； there stands a rough hewn stone； now protected by an iron rail。 It marks the spot where Lunardi landed； and on it is cut a legend which runs thus：
Let Posterity know And knowing be astonished that On the 15th day of September 1784 Vincent Lunardi of Lusca in Tuscany The first aerial traveller in Britain Mounting from the Artillery Ground In London And Traversing the Regions of the Air For Two Hours and Fifteen Minutes In this Spot Revisited the Earth。 On this rude monument For ages be recorded That Wondrous Enterprise Successfully atchieved By the Powers of Chemistry And the Fortitude of Man That Improvement in Science Which The Great Author of all Knowledge Patronyzing by His Providence The Invention of Mankind Hath graciously permitted To Their Benefit And His own Eternal Glory。
CHAPTER IV。 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BALLOON PHILOSOPHY。
In less than two years not only had the science of ballooning reached almost its highest development； but the balloon itself； as an aerostatic machine； had been brought to a state of perfection which has been but little improved upon up to the present t hour。 Better or cheaper methods of inflation were yet to be discovered； lighter and more suitable material remained to be manufactured； but the navigation of the air； which hitherto through all time had been beyond man's grasp； had been attained； as it were； at a bound； and at the hands of many different and independent experimentalists was being pursued with almost the same degree of success and safety as to…day。
Nor was this all。 There was yet another triumph of the aeronautical art which
