Читать книгу Bravo Brown! - Terence FitzSimons - Страница 15
ОглавлениеFrom Mr M. Van Buren, Cremorne, London. March 13, 1849.
Brown had approached the proprietor of London’s Cremorne Gardens apparently with a proposal regarding the Montgolfier balloon he had earlier commenced constructing. Perhaps he was enquiring as to the management’s willingness to sponsor his project, or at least offer an ascent for the completed balloon. ‘Professor’ James Ellis was at the time leasee of the gardens; it is unclear what Van Buren’s exact role was.
For the present I cannot entertain your proposal respecting the Montgolfier Balloon. This in reply to your favour of 5th inst. Yours obediently, Prof J. Ellis. Mr M. Van Buren.
From Mr John Hampton, Aeronaut, Rotunda, Dublin, June 15, 1849.
This is Brown’s first contact with Hampton, a balloonist and pioneer parachutist, already well regarded in aeronautical circles. One of his balloons, the Erin Go Bragh, was considered ‘Ireland’s National Balloon’. He sent Brown some copies of Coxwell’s magazine, cautiously indicating that his prior friendship with Coxwell was at an end.
In reply to your of the 13th instant I beg to state that I have not published any work on Aerostation myself, but the numbers I have sent you were published by a friend of mine at that that time.1 The work was continued up to the fourth number and it is not to be had, but as you seem to be an admirer of the science I have sent you these four numbers out of a few I had by me. I am sorry to hear that an ascent has been made in Leeds by Mr Gale. I was in Leeds in the summer of 1847, and partly made an arrangement at the Cloth Hall and the Gas Company to make an ascent, but circumstances prevented me till now. I was thinking of coming to ←29 | 30→Leeds but I fear an ascent would not now pay. I do not know who Russum is, unless it is Coxwell assumed the name. He, Coxwell, has not acted right by me. He knew nothing of Aerostation till he knew me. He has taken several of my inventions as I can prove. I have sent you a circular, and should you know any towns that an ascent would pay I shall feel obliged by your letting me know. You will see that I offer to share with proprietors of Gardens or anyone else, and should you be able to make any arrangements for me I shall feel much obliged. Wishing to hear from you to know if you received the parcel safe.
To Mr Hampton, Aeronaut, Meanwood Road, Leeds, June 18, 1849.
Sir, I am exceedingly obliged for you kindness in forwarding me the Balloon Magazine, I already had it in my possession having had it forwarded to me by Mr Coxwell, but nevertheless I am obliged to you for having sent me it, as I wish to present the other to the Mr Russum I mentioned before. Mr Russum is a native of Leeds, who has made several ascents in balloons of this own construction. He first ascended with Mr Green Jnr from Leeds in 1830 In the following year he constructed a balloon of silk and cotton, which was named the Coronation Balloon and ascended from Leeds at the Coronation of William the Fourth, September 8, 1831. He only made two ascents with this balloon which was afterwards destroyed by a mob at Huddersfield. There was a great meeting in that town, and it was said he had gone there to keep people away from the meeting. In 1809 he constructed a balloon of muslin of immense size; the largest gas balloon I have yet heard of with the exception of the Nassau. It was 42 feet in diameter and would hold between 45,000 and 50,000 cubic feet. It was truly a splendid machine. With this balloon he made six ascents, five from Leeds, and one from Cheltenham. The varnish he used unfortunately rotted the muslin and he almost failed in his ascent from Cheltenham. On his return to Leeds, so vexed was he at this circumstance that he immediately ripped it up.
With reference to a balloon ascent from Leeds paying, I should think it would. I know that the last we have had here have paid pretty well. In 1837 Mr and Mrs Graham made three ascents and on the last of these ascents, although rain fell nearly the whole of the day, there was a balance left of £18.10.0 in Graham’s favour. According to the Leeds papers Mr Russum ←30 | 31→never had less than 1,500 persons in the Cloth Hall Yard on occasions of his ascent.
At Bradford, a town 10 miles from Leeds, I should think a balloon ascent would pay as there has been only one ascent made from that place, and it was as far back as 1828. Bradford, I should say is as likely a town as any in England, all the stuff trade nearly having left Leeds for that town. Then there is Halifax, with its Piece Hall, from which place only three ascents have been made in 1785, 1837, and 1838, so that you see it is eleven years since an ascent took place there.
I think I could name some other towns in Yorkshire that would answer very well. There is Malton, a pretty large town, from which I believe no ascent has been made at all. And I believe there have only been three ascents made from the City of York, one in 1786 by Lunardi, one in 1814 by Sadler Jnr, and one last year by Lieut. Gale who almost failed. I suppose it was with difficulty he got away and only himself in the car.
There has been no ascent from Wakefield since 1837. Barnsley, I think, has only witnessed one in 1837, Keighley one in 1828, Skipton I believe none at all. Sheffield has been a noted place for balloons. Mr Charles Brown, a native of that place, having made several ascents with balloons of his own. This gentleman made near 40 ascents from Beverley, Sheffield, Halifax, Carlisle, Newcastle, Glasgow, Dewsbury, etc, but he had a great many failures. I think he has abandoned ballooning altogether, I have not heard of him since 1843 when he made an ascent with a new balloon from Sheffield.
Mr C. Green has made two ascents this year with his Victoria balloon one from Colchester, in Essex, and one from High Wycombe, Bucks. At both of which places he had been engaged; at the former by the proprietors of the Botanic Garden, and at the latter by the Literary Institute. Mr Gypson is arranging for an ascent from Eisbech. I have enclosed you the particulars of his 95th ascent, which took place at Peterborough May 30th from which you will see that he is not doing very well. There is a Mr Wadman, a gas-fitter, of Bristol, who made above 30 ascents last year. He is in partnership with a Mr Richard Green, the papers say a relative of Mr C. Green. Mr Wadman is ill at present, and Mr R. Green is making ascents with the balloon. He has lately made ascents from Newbury, Reading, and ←31 | 32→Bath, and seems to get very well encouraged. Mr Wadman has ascended 68 times and he calls himself the ‘Western Aeronaut’.
Lieut. Gale is engaged to ascend from Jephson Gardens Lamington on Wednesday the 20th of this month. Bye the bye, I do not like his way of announcing an ascent. He always states in his bills, in the country, that the Cremorne balloon will hold 60,000 feet, and will carry 12 persons, whereas it will only contain 38,000 feet. When he was in Leeds he was engaged by Anderson, the Magician, who got up a gala at the Botanical Gardens. I heard Mr Anderson say that his expenses on this occasion were £120, his receipts about £150. The gardens are in a very bad situation for a balloon ascent, as people can see all that is going on in the gardens from Woodhouse Moor. The Cloth Hall is the best place in Leeds. A grand gala is to take place in Leeds about the middle of July, at Leeds Fair. This gala is got up every year by the Oddfellows. Nothing particular is yet announced and I have thought of presenting your circular to them. I shall be glad if I can do anything for you. I am enthusiastically fond of ballooning; it has been my constant study for a period of 18 years.
I have an idea that a Montgolfier balloon would pay better than a gas balloon. A Montgolfier may be constructed of cheaper materials, may be filled anywhere at any time at very little expense, and may be kept up quite long enough for exhibition. I have a receipt for making the silk fire-proof. I have had the experiment tried and it answers very well. A short time after the commencement of the publication of the Aerostatic Magazine. I sent Mr Coxwell a plan of mine for a parachute and he said he liked my idea. I contributed to the Aerostatic Magazine as you will see on reference to the notices to correspondents. I am sorry it was discontinued. My parachute is on quite a different plan to any hitherto used. It is simply this; two parachutes in the form of yours, one a few feet above the other, the air rushing from the lower one would pass rapidly into the upper one and by its force would cause the whole to descent much slower than if only one were used. I should like to try the experiment myself.
From Mr Hampton, Aeronaut. Corn Exchange, Cork, July 11, 1849.
I received your with the stamps in. I did not wish to you to send them. I should have wrote to you before this, but I have been very busy. I have ←32 | 33→sent you the pamphlet with the account of my Albion balloon. When you first sent to me I did not think of the Albion, thinking it was the others you wanted.2
You speak of several aeronauts which I do not know, such as Mr Wadman, Mr R. Green, Mr Russum, and Mr Brown. This last gentleman I have heard of at Wolverhampton and other towns in England. As for Mr R. Green, I think this must be a brother of C. Green, the old aeronaut. He has many brothers who have made numbers of ascents which he lumps with his. He has also a son named George. Do you know if it was the Albion balloon he made the two ascents you speak of at Colchester and High Wycombe?
You seem to be well acquainted with Mr Russum. Will you tell this gentleman I shall be most happy to meet him, should I be making ascents where he is, also yourself, and others. I thank you for your kind offer in trying to get the ascents. I should be most happy to join you or Mr Russum in getting up an ascent or two, should you know a place or places that will pay. It seems by what you state that old Green is as lucky as ever in being engaged and being paid well, but Gypson is not so, this I do not wonder at. As for the puffing system, Gale, Gypson, and Green seem to be fond of it, I do not like this tricking. As for 95 ascents made by Gypson, it is like Green’s 300. I think I shall head them all by stating I have made 450 ascents, but I fear I shall then be like them, when asked to give an account of the places and dates I shall be found out, so that I had better go on the safe side. As for Coxwell, this fellow is dishonourable as for his having a new balloon, he has not. The balloon he has, if I am informed right, was Gale’s former balloon and the gentleman with him is one that was in partnership with Gale.3 I think Gale can speak to this.
I am thinking myself of getting someone to join me with this balloon, and I flatter myself I have got as fine a balloon as there is in England. I find it is too much for one man to attend to, that is, getting up the ascents, etc etc. I think of putting an advertisement in The Times newspaper for a ←33 | 34→gentleman to take half the balloon, he may make ascents or not, I will take all risk should he not like to go up.
I have a good thing in view and should like to bring it out this winter, it has to do with ballooning, etc. Much money can be made by it, but there must be two or more in it. Should you know anyone this would be a safe thing as I can show. It must be done in a proper manner so as no misunderstanding can take place, for without confidence nothing can be done, and with this everything must go on prosperous. My new plan is not only scientific and amusing, but must be profitable. It will cost about £200 to get it up and I am ready to back it with £100 myself.4 This, with my present balloon, cannot fail to make a fortune for two men if they act right to each other.
You will see that I ascend in Cork on the 16th and please God the weather is fine I shall I think have a bumper. I have been treated very kind by the Irish people, to know them you must live among them. I do not think any balloon would do here but the Erin Go Bragh. It is called ‘Ireland’s own balloon’. I shall be most happy to hear from you. You shall have a newspaper of my ascent.
To Mr Hampton, Aeronaut, Meanwood Road, Leeds, [Not dated.] July, 1849.
Brown declared his intention of becoming a practical aeronaut, and refers to his unfinished Montgolfier balloon.
I received your letter along with the pamphlet, for which I am extremely obliged. You are right, I think, in your idea as to the motive of Mr Green in purchasing the Albion. As soon as I hear that it had got into his possession it struck me that he had bought it with a view of putting a stop to Mr Hampton’s ballooning. I think the Albion must be worn out now for he never makes use of it, he always uses his Victoria balloon now. He made 14 ascents with it last year and this year he has made four. He ascended from Vauxhall last Friday night with a display of firework. The balloon was previously illuminised on the ground by Pearce’s electric light. Gale made an ←34 | 35→ascent from Birmingham last week. Gypson made his 96th ascent from Wisbeck last Thursday with another person and it was with difficulty he cleared the town. The enclosure was very much crowded, and he also made a collection outside, and the papers state that he would make a good sum by this ascent.
The Mr R. Green whom I mentioned in my last is not a brother of C. Green’s, but a distant relation. He is a young man. A paragraph is at present going the round of the papers stating that he made an ascent from Cardiff on Monday week and has not been seen since. His balloon was found next morning at Glastonbury, in the car where his coat, boots, neckerchief, and four bags which were wet. One person says he saw the balloon in the sea and it suddenly rose with great rapidity. It is thought that he had taken off his boots and part of his clothes and then abandoned the balloon with the intention of swimming to shore, but perished in the effort. Your water car would have saved his life.5 A fete is about being got up in Liverpool and the gas company has undertaken to fill a balloon gratis for this fete, but I do not know who are getting it up. Have you not some friend in that town who would look after it? I do not know anyone there.
I commenced making a Montgolfier balloon last February, large enough to raise about 500 pounds, and have got the upper half of it finished but my money is exhausted and I cannot go on with it at present. It was my intention to have made a private ascent or two this year, but I shall not be able to finish it till next year. You will perhaps be a little surprised when you hear of this, but the balloon would be fireproof and I have also a plan for regulating the fire, lessening, or putting it out at pleasure with ease. I am determined I will be an aeronaut, if possible, if I am obliged to make my balloon of paper.
I should be most happy to join you with the Erin Go Bragh, but I have not the means. I am very poor and have a very small income. I should like to meet with a party who would engage me to make descents with a parachute on my principle, which I think I have not described to you before. It is simply having two parachutes, one fastened above the other so that the air rushing out of the lower one would pass into the upper one with ←35 | 36→great force and by that means cause a very gentle descent. I sent a plan of this parachute to Mr Coxwell a short time before the last number of his magazine appeared and he said he liked my idea. You will see, in the notices to correspondents, what he says with respect to this and also the Montgolfier balloon, a plan of which I sent him also, but as the magazine was discontinued my letter did not appear in it.
I corresponded with Coxwell for some time after the magazine appeared, but have not heard from him lately, he is on the continent, as you will see by the scrap of paper enclosed, he calls his balloon Sylph. It was rather singular that at the time the postman delivered me your letter enclosing the bill a friend of mine was just showing me your advertisement in a Cork paper. I sincerely hope your ascent from that place may have proved a bumper. Nothing will give me greater pleasure, I can assure you, than hearing of your succeeding well in all your undertakings, for ever since I first read the Aerostatic Magazine I have felt a great interest in you and have read the accounts in the papers of your ascents with pleasure. I am quite delighted to think that you should have deceived Green by building another balloon. I do not suppose he would think of your doing this, he wishes to have it all to himself, he is very selfish, and this I have known for a very long time. When he was in Leeds last he behaved rather rudely to Mr Russum, and taunted him sadly about dragging over the roofs of the houses in one of his ascents from Leeds. I heard him ask Russum if he called that an ascent and you would have been amused to have seen Green himself strike the roof of the Cloth Hall the same day. Russum says he never felt so delighted in his life as he did at that moment.
I shall look anxiously for the paper of your ascent from Cork. I scarcely know what return I am to make for your kindness but if I can possibly do anything to serve you, I will with the greatest of pleasure.
From Mr Hampton, Aeronaut, 11 George Street, Cork, July 26, 1849.
You will have seen by this time that I have had two failures. The first was for the want of gas, and the second was owing to two fellows who were mending the neck of the balloon, it being a very windy day. I had got my weights all down to my last meshes of my net and had sent for eight men to stand by the hoop and was about to cast off half the weights, when a ←36 | 37→gust of wind took the loose silk out of the hands of the two men and they, trying to hold it, pulled one against the other and split the balloon from the neck to the valve. There was a large and highly respectable company on the ground and some thousands outside. All were of course much disappointed, it being the second failure, but no one could have felt it more than myself, for I do not like failures, they do an aeronaut much harm, but the most cautious will meet with misfortunes. I must say the public took it in good part it was seen by those on the ground that it was an accident. I at once offered to give up my balloon to any body of gentlemen that would form a committee and that I would not leave Cork till I had made an ascent, and that I would not receive one shilling more till I had done so and given full satisfaction. A committee was at once formed. The Mayor took upon himself to see that all should be done so as to satisfy all. I have got the balloon repaired and I think next Wednesday will be fixed for my ascent, and please God I hope all may go off well, if so, I shall have another on the Queen’s arrival.
I see by your letter and the newspapers that poor Green, the new aeronaut lost his life. I am very sorry. From what I read I think he ought not to have left his balloon. Had he have kept to it like me in 1838, when blown out to the North Sea, he might have met with some vessel that would have picked him up, but he is gone, poor fellow. The balloon has been found and so has his body, I see by the newspapers. I was very sorry to see in the papers the foolish statement that the balloon took 70,000 cubic feet of gas. Had it held half this he could have kept up and got into the upper current. It is in my opinion wrong and foolish to make these false statements.
I would advise you to mind what you are doing respecting the fire balloon, I cannot say much in favour of it, or against it, as I do not know the principle on which you are making it. And as for the parachute, let this stand over till you have seen me. I flatter myself I know as much about parachutes as any man, and if you will take my advice it may be of service to you. Do not think I am afraid that you will take the fame from me. I wish you could make up £150 or £100, we might then make such arrangements that might serve both. Two could do much, if honourable, but not without it.
The work on Aerostation, do not be in a hurry to publish it yet, should I be able to see you, I will talk to you on this subject too. As for repaying ←37 | 38→me, do not give yourself any trouble about this. I shall be most happy to attend to anything in my power for you. What does poor Green’s friend mean to do? Has he got the balloon safe? I hope he has. I will send you an Examiner. It has the best account about me. Let me hear from you soon.
To Mr Hampton, Aeronaut, Meanwood Road, Leeds, [Not dated.] August, 1849.
I was exceedingly sorry to hear of your misfortune at Cork, but these things cannot be prevented, and you are not the only one who has caused such disappointment to the public for Green’s Victoria balloon burst in a similar manner last year at Halstead, owing to a high wind.6 Only last Thursday Gale failed at Norwich for want of gas. It was very well no disturbance was made. I hope by this time that all may have gone off well.
The death of Richard Green, the aeronaut, is a very mysterious affair, for when the balloon was found it was not at all injured, and Mr Wadman states that he found in the car the large grapple, ballast bags, and other loose articles, weighting in the whole three quarters of a hundred weight, which, if Green had parted with judiciously, he might have kept up till day-break. He was seen at a great height above the water as late as ten at night, and the balloon was found at two in the morning. Wadman says also that Green might have cut away the car, which weighs 40 pounds. Wadman himself does not know what to attribute Green’s death. Green’s body was not found in the middle of Bristol Channel, as stated in some of the papers, but on the sands at Kewstoke near Weston Super Mare where a few boards were nailed together for a coffin and he was buried immediately in the sand. The balloon contained 70,000 gallons, not feet, it weighed two cwt, and would raise four cwt more according to Wadman’s statement.
You will have heard by this time of the accident with the Nassau balloon.7 This is rather a curious affair. The Illustrated London News states ←38 | 39→that Green explained the cause as follows. His nephew William Green had hold of the valve line, the balloon had become elongated, and instead of letting the cord slip through his hand he had held it tight. The valve opened, and about 14,000 feet of gas escaped. Another paper states that Green attributes it to the peculiar electrical state of the atmosphere which had deprived the gas of its power.
To Mr Hampton. Meanwood Road, Leeds, August 10, 1849.
The exploits of the female aeronaut, Margaret Graham, had already been noted in Brown’s correspondence. There was also the fact that this large lady – who was reported as weighing 220lbs, close on 100kg – had gained a certain notoriety through taking female passengers aloft, a practice frowned upon by the aeronautical fraternity and male members of the public.
I received the paper you were so kind in sending to me, and was glad to find you were more successful.8 I have enclosed you a bill announcing Green’s farewell visit to Leeds and will send you a paper containing an account of the ascent. He is engaged by Alfred Ormond who married Miss Waverley Scott, the actress. This gentleman has been getting up two or three galas at the Botanical Gardens, but has not been well encouraged.
Mrs. Graham has again made her appearance as an aeronaut. She made two ascents on Monday and Tuesday in Lieut. Gale’s new balloon La Ville de Paris from Cremorne. On the first occasion she was accompanied by one of her daughters and Mrs. Gale, and on the second by her two daughters.
Gale went up from Birmingham on Monday and on Wednesday from Cremorne. Green went up yesterday from Liverpool, having been engaged to ascend at the Fancy Fair which I mentioned to you in a former letter.
From Mr Hampton, Aeronaut, 11 Georges Street, Cork, August 14, 1849.
Queen Victoria visited Ireland from the 2nd to the 12th of August. The country was in the grip of a famine, the devastating effect of which many attributed to England’s want ←39 | 40→of appropriate remedial action, yet surprisingly Victoria was well received, drawing large crowds wherever she went.
I have just received your letter which I thank you for and the enclosed. I shall leave here tomorrow for Limerick. The Queen had not done much for me as she came before her time here, and as for Dublin, a balloon ascent would not have done much for all was taken up by the Review, and gas could not be had when it would have been wanted owing to the illumination, the same as it was here. I have made well without the Queen and I think I have cleared about £120.
If you see Green speak of me, but do not say you are in communication with me or he will not speak his mind to you. Mind and not give him any idea of what you are about doing; he will give the ideas to his son or brothers.
I should have been glad if things could have been arranged so as you could have joined me in my new undertaking this winter. I am sorry to say that I have been made such a tool of since this balloon has been made, that I have not the means to carry out my plans. I would sooner meet with someone without advertising if I could do so. I have not a doubt but a fortune could be made if properly managed and with two honourable men one to the other. Ballooning by itself will not be worth following, but connected with my plan much may be done. Let me hear from you soon with all particulars of Green. Be on your guard with Green.
From Mr Hampton, 12 Cecil Street, Limerick, August 25, 1849.
I received the newspaper and your letter. You have seen Green, and you have found him to be the man I represented.9 He does not like me or my name it seems. I have the most reason to dislike him, but it does not matter much his bad feeling. You will see by the bill that I ascend here on Monday week.
←40 | 41→
To Mr Alfred Ormond. Leeds, [Not dated.] August, 1849.
Alfred Ormond, a local identity and would-be entrepreneur, had already sponsored some balloon ascents at Leeds. Brown, still at work on his Montgolfier balloon, hoped to induce Ormond to fund the completion of the project. Subsequent events would indicate that Ormond’s enterprise and ambition exceeded his means.
Allow me to draw your attention to the following; I have made several improvements in the balloon and am anxious to meet with a gentleman who will assist me in carrying out my designs, not having money sufficient to do it myself. A small sum would only be required, about £30 or £40 and, if the parties were honourable to each other, it could not fail to make a fortune for both. My balloon would be so constructed that it would be impossible for it to burst or take fire, the latter causing it to be more suitable for firework ascents. It could be inflated in about ten or fifteen minutes at any place or time without the aid of a gas company. I would fill it myself. The expense would not exceed twenty or thirty shillings. With this balloon I would produce exhibitions equal to those of Vauxhall or Cremorne. I would ascend by night or day. Should you feel disposed to give me a trial I shall be most happy to meet you at any time when I shall be able to give you the particulars more fully. I am well acquainted with all the details of the art of Aerostation. Communications to be addressed Aeronaut, Post Office, Leeds.
To Mr Hampton, Aeronaut, Meanwood Road, Leeds, [Not dated.] August, 1849.
I received your letter enclosing the bill for which I am obliged. I am glad to hear of your again being on the ascendant. I hope all may again go off well. I see Warman has got another young man of the name of Green to pilot his balloon. He has made four ascents this month two from Chester, one from Preston, and one from Blackburn. Wadman was announced to ascend from Rockdale on Monday but failed, owing to the short supply of gas.
Young Green and another gentleman had a narrow escape at Preston on the instant. The balloon, in ascending, came in contact with a weathercock which tore a hole in the balloon 18 inches long. They threw out all ←41 | 42→they had with them, by which they cleared the town. They were only four minutes in the air, but travelled four miles and a half. Gypson made two ascents from Huntington last week. On the first occasion the balloon on its descent was towed in its inflated state back to the place where it started from and he ascended with the same gas the following day. He seems to have done very well there. He was the first person to ascend from Huntington.
I hope in my next to be able to state that I have commenced the construction of a balloon on my plans. I have met with a gentleman who promises to defray the expense of the machine and I believe we shall set about it immediately. I shall be very careful how I proceed. This gentleman is to pay for the machine and to engage me to make the ascents, and I will take care to have a proper written agreement before making the balloon.
From Mr Hampton, 12 Cecil Street, Limerick, September 4, 1849.
I received your note and the newspaper with Green’s balloon in it. You will see by the newspaper I have sent you that I have made my ascent from Limerick. The day was bad, and I did not clear my expenses.10 It seems that the Green’s are plentiful, as Wadman had another Green.
I am happy to hear that you have got a friend to assist you in getting up your balloon. Mind and do as you say, that is, to be on the safe side. Let me hear from you soon.
From Mr Hamptom Limerick, September 25, 1849.
I have just received your letter. I am sorry to hear that you have been so sadly disappointed, but keep up your spirits. I have had this sort of things all my life but, thank God, I got over them and so with you, I hope. I am ←42 | 43→sorry that your friend died with cholera.11 I wish you could join me. I think we should do well. I have got a good balloon and apparatus, but it is too much for one. I find I have a great wish to make a long trip and had I a party to join me I would at once enlarge my balloon for the purpose. If you could in any way raise £100 we could at once enter into some arrangement and come out well next season.
I leave here for Clonmel tomorrow. I fear I shall not get the gas. I have got the offer of the Barracks, the Band, and the patronage of the Mayor, Colonels, and the officers. I never had a better offer, but after having had every reason to suppose I could have the gas, it now seems there is some doubt.
Have you begun your balloon? If not I would like to know on what principle it is to be. You need not fear communicating with me freely as I will not take any advantage. Hoping to hear from you soon.
To Mr Hampton. Meanwood Road, Leeds, September 29, 1849.
Your letter enclosing the bill I received on Tuesday afternoon. I had previously seen your advertisement in Saturday’s Limerick Chronicle. I have no doubt you will do well in this affair. I sincerely hope so. As you seem desirous that I should give you some explanation of my plan for a balloon I will at once proceed to do so. With respect to my being afraid of your taking advantage of any communication I might make that would be likely to be useful to you, on the contrary I should only be too happy if I could tender you a service. I propose to construct a balloon on the original plan of Montgolfier but with the following improvements. The machine would be made fireproof. The fireplace would be provided with a cover, or extinguisher, to be raised or lowered at pleasure, the fire could therefore be lessened, increased or put out in a moment. On the topic of the balloon I would have a large valve only to be used when a rapid descent was required, or for the purpose of exhausting the balloon speedily with it reached the ground. If I were to make one to my wish I should prefer one of about 20,000 cubic feet capacity not larger. When complete ←43 | 44→the machine with its whole apparatus would weigh about 250 pounds, and as the rarefied air would be about half the weight of common air, it would raise about 500 pounds more. The cost of such a machine would not exceed £40. The inflation would cost very little. For £2 I would fill the balloon and keep it up two hours. This kind of balloon would be far more attractive than a gas balloon and, in consequence of the small expense attending it, could not fail to be a moneymaking concern. I am quite confident it would succeed.
On perusing the above I have no doubt that you will pronounce it a dangerous plan, but so far from this being the case, it would be a safer machine than a gas balloon for inland excursions. I would not ascend near the sea with it. All the accidents that have happened with Montgolfier balloons have been through their taking fire, it is impossible for the above to do so. It would also be impossible for it to burst. Many accidents have happened through the bursting of gas balloons. It would be impossible for the machine to fail for want of gas or of being supplied with bad gas, its power would always be quite uniform. Ascents could be made from places which have no gasworks. Although the expense of this machine would be so trifling, still I have not the means of procuring the sum necessary. To tell you the truth I am but a clerk in the Post Office here at a low salary. I have not the slightest doubt that you and I could do well together, but you see the position I am in.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, October 8, 1849.
Lieutenant General (later General) Sir Edward Blakeney was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in Ireland.
I received your letter on my return to Dublin on the 7th. I am sorry to say that my ascent that was to take place at Clonmel did not come off though it had been announced by advertisement and bills. I had got the grant of the Barracks to ascend from, the Band and the patronage of the Mayor, Colonels, etc. as you will see by the bill I have enclosed. I have letters and other proofs that the gas had been promised me and I can also prove that they could have inflated the balloon had they had the mind to have done so, but three of the Directors refused to do so. I have been advised to ←44 | 45→bring an action against them for the amount I have lost by their breaking their promises, but perhaps this would not be wise, as I want the gas next summer.
I have had, as you will see by the bill, a lecture in Limerick, but owing to General Blakeney coming into Limerick to view the troops the same day my lecture was to come off, and dining with the officers in the evening, I did not do much, but it went off well and gave great satisfaction. Indeed I may say that I have only gained at one ascent this summer, but I have paved the way for good things next summer. Please God I live so long.
I shall now lay up for the winter here as I have a good place for my balloon and have many friends, but I think I shall go to London about Christmas. I now will reply to your letter which I have read with much pleasure owing to the straightforward manner you write. You kindly offer to send me some particulars of voyages, etc. I shall feel thankful for the same, in return you shall have from me all the assistance I can give you to bring you out as an aeronaut. But now let me give you a few words of advice. You say you have a wife and that you hold a situation at the Post Office. Let me beg of you to consider two things. The first; is your wife agreeable to your becoming an aeronaut and to give up your situation for that of the precarious life of a public man? These are two questions you ought to seriously consider. Do not think I wish to dishearten you; no to the contrary you shall, as I have before stated, have my best assistance should you think of keeping to your intentions.
As for you plan of the fire balloon I do not condemn it, on the contrary I think your ideas are good and I will feel much pleasure in meeting you and having some conversation on the subject, and to assist you as far as I can, and if agreeable I will call on you when I leave Dublin for London and have some serious conversations with you on all the points Respecting my ascent from Hackney, it took place in 1839. In 1838 I ascended from Canterbury. On both occasions I ascended on the hoop without a car, but I cannot give you the dates, as I have not the papers with me, they are in London. My second ascent with the Albion was from Gravesend a week after my first ascent in 1838, with my arm in a sling, it having been broke at my first ascent at the Eyre Arms Tavern, St John’s Wood. This ascent was made in my parachute car, the balloon not being able to take up the car of ←45 | 46→the balloon. My third ascent took place a few days after, about a week, and this was as fine an ascent as could be made. I was up about an hour and three quarters over the town and descended quite safe at Hoe, close to the Church. I was offered £20 at this ascent to take up a lady, but I refused, thinking I was not experienced enough. About a fortnight after I made my fourth ascent from the same place and this nearly was my last. I fell in the sea, about 15 miles below Sheerness in the North Sea, and had the top of one of my fingers pulled off, my balloon lashed to pieces by striking a brig that was beating up the Channel in the storm. This was on a Tuesday and on the following Saturday I made an ascent at Cremorne Gardens for Mr Glenny who had a grand Flower Show. It was ten shillings each to the gardens. I was paid £37.10.0 for this ascent. It was thought a matter of impossibility that I could have made this ascent, my arm being so recently broken and my finger off and the balloon so much destroyed, but myself and Mrs. Hampton with others, worked night and day and got into London on Saturday morning, and at four o’clock in the evening I made my ascent. I was so much exhausted that when I got the balloon fairly afloat I sat down in my car, and nature was so overcome that I fell off to sleep. After the balloon going about 15 miles it began to descend, owing to condensation, and I was awoke by the shouts of some farming men. I awoke, jumped up, threw out three bags of ballast, and went on five miles further and descended on the estate of Mr Walpole Esq, and after dining with that gentleman and some of his friends, I returned home about three the next morning. The dates of those ascents must be got from the papers in London. Any other information you want I will be most happy to give you. Let me hear from you soon, stating if I shall call on you, as I have stated. Keep your plans to yourself. Are you in communication with other aeronauts or not? Do not deceive me if so, as I would not wish to interfere.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, October 29, 1849.
I see by your letter that you are still determined to become an aeronaut and as you have got the consent of your good lady, and I have the same from her own lips, though mind I do not doubt what you state. When we meet we then will have some conversation on the subject. I must tell you I have been badly treated and much deceived, and shamefully so, by that ←46 | 47→fellow Coxwell that it makes me almost doubt all men. This will account to you why I put such questions to you as I have, and may still do so. One thing I will promise you that, please God, next summer you shall ascend with me and this is not all if things go well. As for any kindness, you have nothing to thank me for as yet. I wish men would be more just to each other and not think they are doing a kindness or a favour when they are only doing a duty. One thing I must tell you and Mrs. Brown, that myself and Mrs. Hampton will only come in on condition and that is that your house is to be to use the same as it would be to yourselves – no extras, mind this, if there are my stay with you will be a very short one. So you will take from this that I am a homely and plain man. As for Aerostation, plans, etc, must be left till I see you as I cannot handle my pen so freely as you, not but I shall be most happy to hear from you. I will drop you a line stating when I shall leave.
From Mr Hampton, [Not dated.] October, 1849.
In 1845 Sir John Franklin led an Artic expedition to explore the Northwest Passage. The expedition, consisting of two naval vessels and 129 crewmen, vanished. By 1848 the Admiralty, pressured by Lady Franklin and her influential supporters, undertook to mount a rescue mission.
I this morning received a newspaper from you which I thank you for. You will see by the enclosed that I wish to lay a plan to discover Sir John Franklin. Gale has been before me – but I wish still to lay my plan before the public and as I am somewhat deficient in my pen I would feel much obliged if you would put the enclosed in form by writing it plain, and where you can add do so, both in words and suggestions or improvements, and let me have it as soon as you can.12 Make it as plain as you can so that all may understand it. I fear you will have some trouble in making out my writing. Do you think you could get it in the Leeds paper or any ←47 | 48→others if I send you a copy of the Freeman, if it is put in? Let me know in your next. I have not spoken of a Montgolfier balloon as I wish to keep this to ourselves for the present. You may borrow some words from those papers that have been drawn out for me, of which I do not like the style, but you can make use of them in taking some parts of them.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street. Dublin, November 17, 1849.
The French aeronaut, Francois Arban, famous as the first balloonist to fly across the Alps, was presumed lost over the Mediterranean Sea on October 7th while on a flight out of Barcelona, but Brown in a footnote gives a colourful account of Arban’s subsequent adventure.
I much fear you will think me very ungrateful after the kindness you have shown in copying my long and unintelligible letter and sending it to me. I was disappointed in getting into the Freeman and the day it was to appear the letter of Lady Franklin to Gale was put in the Freeman. I then withdrew my letter to make some slight alterations, as you will see. Do not think I was not pleased with what you wrote I was much so, and feel much obliged for the pains you took with it. Do what you can in getting it in all the papers you can and if you could send the account to any of the London monthly publications, you could date it from the Rotunda Dublin in my name, saying I should feel obliged if they would give it a place in their columns etc etc. Sign it John Hampton, Aeronaut. As for the account you sent about Gypson’s lecture, it is like the man, it cannot be understood, there is no meaning in it. When I see you we will have some talk about this and things of the same kind.
I am very sorry that poor Mons. Arban, the French aeronaut has lost his life. He was, without doubt a brave man.13
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Pray do not let your papers appear till after you have seen me as I think it will be to your advantage, or I hope so. If it please God I will see you on Christmas but if you are engaged let me know and I will make it your time. Mind, you must not put yourself out of the way for us. I have written to Lady Franklin and enclosed the letter from the Freeman offering my services, should more than one be wanted to go out.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, December 3, 1849.
I received your letter and the Sun newspaper. I fear you must have had much labour in copying so many letters. I was in hopes the Leeds newspaper would have inserted the letter from the Freeman and that you could have cut out from the papers as many as you wanted to send to other journals, not for you to write so many as you have. I thank you for taking so much pain. I should like to know if it is in the Mechanic’s Magazine and the other papers you have sent to. You seem to have access to some Reading Rooms and can see those papers, if so you will see if they have inserted the letters you sent or not. It cannot be expected that all will do so. I have had a letter from Lady Franklin and she seems much pleased at my letter, you shall see it when I see you. My letter has appeared in the Cheltenham papers, also in Wolverhampton, and in the Limerick Chronicle, but this was only an abridged account not worth notice. I do not know if the Cork papers have noticed it or not yet. It has also gone to America and will be inserted there. I will bring with me some of my plans to show you.
From J. MacSweeny Esq., M.D, Cork, December 18, 1849.
In looking over my papers I find that I did not answer your last letter, I hope that you will excuse me. Matters relating to an unfortunate joint stock company diverted much of my attention from Aerostation. Since you wrote to me I have got the pamphlet giving an account of the voyage of Mr Windham Sadler across the Irish channel in 1817. I will be happy to send you an abstract if you have not yet read a copy of the pamphlet. You have probably got from Mr Hampton an account of his aerial trip from Cork, and an account of his voyage from Limerick, if not, let me know, and I will send you a statement. I am not quite sure of your present address. I hope that this will reach you.
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To J. MacSweeny Esq., Meanwood Road, Leeds, December 21, 1849.
I received your letter yesterday and was indeed much pleased to see it, for not having heard from you since I last wrote I was afraid I had given some offence, I am glad however that this has not been the case, for I have no one here that I can converse with on the subject of Aerostation. You appear to be aware of my being in communication with Mr Hampton. I have corresponded with that gentleman since last July, I have not yet seen him, but hope to do so today or tomorrow, for he has promised to call and see me. Mr Hampton kindly sent me the particulars of his ascents and failures at Dublin, Cork and Limerick, and also the pamphlet published by him in 1844, which I mentioned in a former letter. The title of the pamphlet is ‘Disclosures relating to the loss of the Albion Balloon’. Mr Green treated poor Hampton shamefully, however he has not prevented his again ascending.
We have had two ascents made from Leeds since I last wrote to you, one by Gale and Goulston and the other by Charles and Henry Green. I dare say you would see a short notice of each ascent in The Sun, for I sent the particulars to that paper and the account of Green’s ascent appeared in The Cork Constitution copied from The Sun.
I am glad to hear you have procured the pamphlet of Sadler’s voyage across the Channel. I have not yet seen it, but should much like to do so. I have repeatedly tried to procure it but have failed to do so. Since I last wrote to you I have procured the particulars of a great number of voyages performed by Green and his son, Gale, Coxwell, Hampton, Gypson and Wadman the Bristol aeronaut. I have accounts of 12 ascents made by Richard Green, who was drowned in the Bristol Channel, two ascents from New York by Dr Morrill, two from New Orleans and three from New York by Victor Verdalle a Frenchman who ascends without car, hung by the heels by a cord with his head towards the earth, smoking a cigar, foolish fellow!
Gale was lecturing in Aerostation at Birmingham about a fortnight ago. He exhibited a machine which he calls an aerial locomotive which floated round the lecture room, but I have not yet seen a description of this machine. I suppose it is the one which was exhibited at Cremorne last year. I see there is a notice of Crosbie, the Irish aeronaut, in the memoirs of Sir Johan Barrington, giving a description of his person. I have go an engraving of Tytler’s Edinbugh Fire balloon.
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In the early part of this year I commenced making a balloon but for want of means I was obliged to give it up when only half done. It now remains in that state.
From Mr Wm. Shoberl. 20 Great Marlborough Street, London, December 26, 1849.
William Shoberl was the proprietor of a well patronised publishing business. His father was the celebrated author Frederic Shoberl. One is left to speculate as to the particulars of Brown’s rejected manuscript on Aerostation.
Absence from town and other circumstances have prevented me from replying earlier to your recent obliging communication. I have now to acquaint you that I duly received your work on Aerostation, which I have read with considerable pleasure but I regret to state that I do not think a sufficient number of purchasers could be found to cover the expenses upon the work in these times, which are so very inauspicious to literary speculations. Under these circumstances I am sorry I cannot avail myself of your obliging offer. The manuscript shall be disposed of in any manner you may be pleased to direct.
From J. MacSweeny Esq., Cork, December 26, 1849.
I received your letter, and I now send you the pamphlet of Sadler’s voyage, as I am sure you would wish to see it, chart and all. You can copy it at your leisure and send it back to me. However, before you do so you can write to me.
I have seen a drawing of the Edinburgh Fire balloon but I would like to see your sketch of it. Aerostation is destined yet to produce great changes in the state of mankind in different parts of the world. Sails used in conjunction with drags will lead to important results. The reversible drags described in my essay, namely the plank drag and the spar drag are well fitted for a sailing balloon. Mr Hampton is zealous and enterprising. He ought to try to be the first to actually sail a sail balloon and to direct it by the sails, as it can be done when drags are used. The possibility of directing balloons should be boldly proclaimed in every quarter.
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1 The Balloon or Aerostatic Magazine. Henry Coxwell, London, 1845.
2 Disclosures relating to the loss of the Albion Balloon, London, 1844.
3 This was the case; the balloon was originally named The Prince of Wales, but Coxwell renamed it Sylph.
4 Mr Hampton’s idea was that he could make money by lecturing on Aerostation, but on trial he found it was not a profitable speculation.
5 The ‘Water Car’ used by Hampton was the invention of Mr Henry Coxwell.
6 In 1848 Mr Charles Green proposed to ascend from Halstead – his balloon was inflated, but a violent wind caused the netting to break, the balloon escaped from the netting and immediately burst.
7 Mr Charles Green with two others ascended from the Vauxhall Gardens, July 25th, 1849. The balloon soon commenced descending and struck the roof of a house in London Road. The two voyagers were thrown out violently on the roof and left there. The balloon immediately reascended.
8 Mr Hampton ascended from Cork, August 1st, 1849, accompanied by Mr Francis, M. Jennings and Lieutenant Wm. Underdrew. They were up 53 minutes and descended at Cove.
9 Mr Charles Green accompanied by his brother, Mr Henry Green, ascended with the Victoria balloon from the White Cloth Hall, Leeds, August 13, 1849. The day was stormy and they were conveyed 25 miles in 31 minutes, descending near York. Previous to the ascent I had some conversation with Mr C. Green, who appeared very fidgety and said he was afraid he would lose his balloon, owing to the high wind. I mentioned Hampton’s name, stated he had just ascended at Cork, but Mr Green made no remark about Hampton.
10 Mr Hampton ascended from Limerick, September 3, 1849, accompanied by Mr Hampden W. Russell and Mr Townsend. Their greatest altitude was 4,130 feet according to the aneroid barometer they had with them, and they were up exactly one hour. They landed rather roughly in consequence of the grapnel failing to catch a firm hold. They were dragged along the ground some distance, and the car dashed through a wall of dry masonry five feet high.
11 It was reported that Alfred Ormond, the person here alluded to, had been carried off by cholera, but the fact was he had got much in debt and had not the means of satisfying his creditors. He afterwards proceeded to Germany, and died in Bavaria.
12 Mr Gale, in a letter to the Sun, London paper, proposed to employ a balloon in the search for Sir John Franklin; a large balloon was to be employed in surveying, and smaller ones, carrying messages printed on oiled paper and silk, to be scattered in the air, were to be dispatched to inform Sir John, in the event of his finding any of the messages, of the whereabouts of the parties searching for him.
13 Francois Arban ascended alone for Barcelona, October 7, 1849. The papers at the time stated that he was drowned and that his body was found on the shore of Catalonia near Roses. But in November 1853 a paragraph appeared in the papers stating that he had reappeared, that his balloon went over to Africa, that he was seized and made a slave, and continued in that state for two years, when he effected his escape.
