Читать книгу Bravo Brown! - Terence FitzSimons - Страница 16
ОглавлениеFrom Mr Hampton, 12 William Street, Hampstead Road, London, January 2, 1850.
I should have written to you before this, but I did not get the book till yesterday. Mr Shoberl is a very gentlemanly man and from what I could judge of him a very honourable one. He at once gave me up the book and informed me that it could not be got up for less than two to three hundred pounds and his advice to you is, not to risk such a sum, for he says it could not pay. He stated to me he was an author before he became a publisher. He gives you great credit for what you have done, and so do I. I would advise you to persevere in getting all the facts you can of different aeronauts of the present day and those of former times. You may some day have a chance to join some person that may wish to bring out a work on somethings else of science, which will add to the interest of both, if not you and I will do something with it in a short time. I wish you were nearer me so as we could talk things over. I could give you many suggestions and will do so still as far as I can. There are great improvements to be made in your book and much that can be added which will give it greater interest.
Since I saw you I have thought of great improvements in the plan of the fire balloon. You must keep all to yourself. I hope to see you this summer, you then shall see my balloon and her apparatus and judge for yourself of my ability as an aeronaut. I will bring the book on to Liverpool and send it from there to you, this will save some expense. I shall not leave London for a week or two yet so that you can write to me to the above address. If you want the book before let me know and I will at once send it to you. I have seen parties that know Gale but the account they give of him is not very flattering.
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When you again write put down what is that you use to steep the linen in to prevent it taking fire, as I wish to try some experiments as soon as I get back to Dublin. You must keep up your spirits and time will do much for you, all will depend on my success this next summer. You must act wise and just and not give up a certainty till things are more favourable. Since I have been in London I have heard of another fatal accident by ballooning, also another balloon that you do not know of. I will get more particulars soon.1
From Mr Hampton, 12 William Street, Hampstead Road, London, January 8, 1850.
I have much to tell you, I have this day been to Lady Franklin’s and also to the Admiralty about my plan. I am to see them again tomorrow with drawings, etc. You shall know the result as soon as it is over. I have seen Gale, poor fellow, he is bad off I fear. He has nine children, making eleven in family with his wife and himself. He gives a lecture tonight, Monday, and again on Thursday. I shall go and see him on Thursday, and let you know all. Wadman is dead, he died last August. Coxwell has started, I am told, to Germany. I have not seen him and have no wish to do so.
Will you oblige me with my letter that was in the Dublin Freeman about Sir John Franklin. I have been obliged to give the one I had to the Admiralty and I have not another with me. I have got two or three in Dublin and if you will send me the one you have I will return you one when I get back to Dublin with my other papers I shall send you.
From Mr Hampton, 12 William Street, Hampstead Road, London, January 28, 1850.
It is some time since I last wrote to you, the reason is that I am not yet sure what will be the results of what will be done at the Admiralty respecting my plan for the discovery of Sir John Franklin. They have received my plans favourable and I should have gone out with this last expedition had there been time for me to have got ready. All will depend upon the ←54 | 55→intelligence the Admiralty receive this next month. If another expedition is equipped I have no doubt but I shall be sent out. I shall not accept of the offer unless it is favourable. I have not desire or ambition to go out, but on the principle of humanity, it would be a great sacrifice, as I should lose my season and as my plans would become know, as the Admiralty wishes me to get up a model so as practically to try my plan before them, so that the newspapers would at once lay the whole before the public and this would at once give other aeronauts the opportunity of profiting by my plan, which they would do. I hope good news may be received of Sir John Franklin, and if so I then shall at once bring out my Invention before the public.
I leave here for Dublin on Friday next and shall return by sea, as this is the cheapest. I will send your book by Pickfords. If you can this spring come to Dublin I shall be most happy to see you, but do not get leave of absence before you let me know, so as I may let you know if it would be a good time for you to come. Write soon, as I wish to hear from you. Direct to Rotunda, Dublin.
From J. MacSweeny Esq., Cork, January 31, 1850.
I received your letter of the 7th instant. Your remarks on the jealousies of aeronauts are too true. Their bickerings have not been of service to Aerostation, and the erroneous statements made by some aeronauts have misled many persons. For instance, several aeronauts stated that they would know the direction in which a balloon was going, by throwing out bits of paper which they supposed would be left behind to indicate that the balloon was moving in the opposite direction; but the papers having acquired the motion of the balloon would not be left behind. The very air which checks their descent has the same velocity as the balloon and the air carries them on with it. It is true that the act of throwing out a bit of paper makes it recede from the car, but suppose a balloon to rotate and in the car four aeronauts who throw out papers at the same moment, one from the prow, another from the stern, one from the right hand side of the car, and another from the left hand side of it, though the papers by the force of expulsion may recede from the car to a short distance, it is clear that the balloon could not move in ←55 | 56→the opposite direction from each paper at the same time; therefore, the throwing out of bits of paper is of no use to make the course of a balloon when out of sight of fixed objects above clouds. You ought to be on your guard against this error.
Since my essay appeared the belief in the possibility of directing balloons has been making way among amateurs, but as yet the greater number of the public are under the impression that aerial navigation is an impossibility and take little interest in the science.
The writer of the article on Aerostation in the Westminster Review for January 1848, vol. 48, says that the art of guiding or propelling a balloon appears to be almost as far from our grasp as ever. Yes this writer is inconsistent, as error always is. He states in a subsequent passage, in alluding to Hedging, that an attempt to steer balloons made in conjunction with the guide rope would be successful.
Do you know anything about the history of Mrs. Sage? From what part of England was she?2 As you intend to be a practical aeronaut, I wish to draw your attention to a mode of presenting a grapnel rope from snapping in a storm when the grapnel holds. Some of the rope below the hoop should be formed in several loops by binding cord round the neck of each loop. The first loop is formed by weak cord, the second by a stronger cord, and so on, each loop in succession is made with stronger cord. When a rope breaks, it always breaks at its weakest part. The above plan destroys the injurious effects of a jerk on the rope. The cords round the necks of the loops break one after the other, the weakest first, and the rope will not be broken. When Mr Hampton was in Cork, in July I drew his attention to this plan, and he highly approved of these snap-loops.
From Mr Hamptom, London, February 1, 1850.
I hope you will get the book safe. This day I start for Dublin by sea. Mr Gale is, I am told, at Hull, giving lectures. If you see the Hull paper, see what they say about him and let me hear from you soon.
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From Mr Hampton, Stove Tenters, Cork Street, Dublin, February 13, 1850.
The Mr Sheppard that Hampton disparages was George Sheppard, inventor of a small silk balloon later used by the 1852 Franklin Relief Expedition. The balloon automatically dropped printed messages giving details of the location of the rescue party.
I received your kind letter this morning and I thank you much for the information therein. I agree with you that the inventions you speak of will die away to nothing. As for the trial made by Mr Sheppard in the Park, it shews he knows nothing about balloons, and he is doing Aerostation a deal of harm.3 I find that another expedition is to be sent out. My plans are before the Lords of the Admiralty. Gale does not seem to do much. Let me know if you hear more about him, I wish to know all I can, and you seem to get more information than I do here.
I am sorry they do not treat you better at your office but take my advice, and keep it till you can better yourself. We shall see what luck I have. I hope to see you this spring or in course of the summer. I will send you my papers as soon as I can get settled. We had a dreadful time of it, being at sea six nights and days. We were out at sea the night of the frightful storm, but thanks be to God, we are safe.
From Mr Hampton, Stove Tenters, Cork Street, Dublin, February 19, 1850.
James Goulston, ‘a great friend’ of Gale, was a professional aeronaut. On occasions he ascended under the name of Guiseppe Lunardi, the alias no doubt intended to suggest a relationship with the renowned aeronaut Vincenzo Lunardini.
I received your kind letter this day. If Gale comes to Leeds, do not say that you know much of me, nor that I was at Leeds, as he may say to you what he thinks proper about me. The foolish man thinks I have been doing him some injury at the Admiralty and that I have done so with Lady Franklin, this I have not, but I fear he has some enemy that has done so, and this I told him when I saw him in London.
I have again sent my drawing with some improvement at the Admiralty on Saturday last, and I will let you know what the result is when I receive a ←57 | 58→reply. Do not tell Gale this when you see him, also say that from what you have heard that I have not done much in Ireland, nor do you think lectures or balloon ascents will do much in Ireland. The fact is I do not wish him to come here this summer, there is not enough for two, therefore we shall only injure each other. I hear that Coxwell has not left London, nor do I think he will, from what I hear he has got the balloon he had ‘locked up’ and I should not be much surprised if he was to get in with Mr Goulston, and get the management of the balloon Gale had and to throw out Gale.4 Gale has been a very foolish man by not acting right to Mr Goulston, that gentleman has been a great friend to him, I am told.
In my opinion Gale’s letter to Lady Franklin will not serve him much. I agree with you that Sheppard has made a bad thing of ballooning, and that the Admiralty has not shown much judgment in not having an experienced aeronaut. Continue to send me all the news you can, and I will do the same to you. Should Gale come to Leeds, notice if anyone is with him, that is, in partnership, if so, let me know their name if you can.
From Mr Hampton, Stove Tenters, Cork Street, Dublin, March 1, 1850.
Gale’s supposed partner, identified simply as Dean, was Joseph Dean, alias Captain Bedey. This aeronaut was later to play an extensive, and at times intrusive, part in Brown’s own aeronautical endeavours.
I have just received your letter. I am very sorry to hear the account you give of poor Gale’s bad success, he must be in a frightful state. I wish you had the means of buying the things, if they are sold, I have no doubt he would sell the whole for £5. I cannot spare the money or I would send it to you. Should you think of having them, mind how you make your bargain. He had a silk balloon when in London, you should try and get this in for the £5. If you have the means of getting them, they may be of great use to you next winter. It would be better that you should have them than a stranger. I have seen them when in London and they are worth, without the silk balloon, £5, and the silk balloon is worth about fifteen shillings. I would ←58 | 59→not give more than £5 for the lot. Was anyone with him as a partner, and had he a man attending him named Dean? If he had no one with him as a partner, I cannot make out how he has kept up against these losses.5
I have received a letter of thanks from the Lords of the Admiralty for my invention, this is two letters I have received, besides what I have had from Lady Franklin. I have written again to Lady Franklin, and when I get a reply you shall know. I have got my model fire balloon done and I shall next week try some experiments, the result you shall know. Shall we have the pleasure of seeing you this summer? I hope we shall. I think of getting up my Surveying Balloon if I can raise the money to do so, it would tell well to have an experimental trial here, I have no doubt. I find the solution you first told me of has answered well, it prevents the linen getting into a blaze, only burning a hole, and goes out as soon as it is taken from the fire. Let me hear again from you, and state what poor Gale is doing, etc. I would readily assist him had I the means of doing so. I fear he will find that Coxwell is no friend to him.
From Mr Hampton, Stove Tenters, Cork Street, Dublin, March 5, 1850.
I have just received your letter of the 3rd instant. Do not think that I doubt you, this I do not. I am glad to hear that you have been on friendly terms with Mr Gale, and I hope he will not forget your kindness to him in the hour of adversity. My reason for wishing you not to say much about me was that he would not be so free with you if he knew that you and I were so friendly as we are. You will not deny yourself the right of free communication with Mr Gale or any other person – all I ask is not to state my plans, etc. Did you hear Gale say that the Admiralty had noticed his plans or not? I much fear they have not, for if I speak the truth, I do not think they will send out anything of the sort. Though I have received a letter of thanks, as I stated to you in my last, it does not lead me to suppose that they will adapt my plans, but I shall know more in a day or two, and will then write to you again. I cannot make out how poor Gale gets away from ←59 | 60→the different towns without paying, which he must, if he has had such bad success, rent, printing etc, must be paid.
It is just what I stated to you some time back respecting Coxwell, and getting the balloon from Gale, and you will find I fear that he, Coxwell, will work Gale of out Goulston’s favour, and I think it will not take much to do this from what I hear when I was in London. Mr Goulston has been a good friend to Gale, but Gale has not acted as he ought, so it is stated. What he will do I cannot think, he has a large family to support.
I shall do my best to bring out the new fire balloon this summer, if I can do so. I have got my model done and shall try it in a day or two. You misunderstand me respecting the placing of the fire. I never thought of putting it so high as the zone of the balloon, for two reasons, one is that I should scorch the top of the balloon while the lower part would receive the heat. If I have the pleasure of seeing you soon, you then shall see all my plans, and you will then judge accordingly.
From J. MacSweeny Esq., Cork, March 6, 1850.
The book by Monck Mason, so far mentioned a number of times, was titled Aeronautica; Or, Sketches Illustrative of the Theory and Practice of Aerostation: Comprising an Enlarged Account of the Late Aerial Expedition to Germany. It was published in 1838 and gained its author a certain notoriety. Mason was by profession a musician and never piloted a balloon, always travelling as a passenger.
I received your communication, and also the Leeds newspaper, and have to return many thanks. I know nothing about Dr Potain’s ascent at Dublin, except what has appeared in Monck Mason’s book. If you go on as you have gone on you will certainly have the most complete list of ascents in England.
I suppose that you have seen the programme of Mr Hampton’s lecture in Limerick. I should like to see the programme of Lieut. Gale’s lecture in Leeds, and also a sketch of his flying machine.6 When it will be convenient ←60 | 61→to you, I would wish that you would send me the account of the voyage from Boulgone by Godard in September 1848.
With regard to the decomposition of water, it can be done by magnetic electricity. Small machines for the decomposition of water have been on sale in London for many years at the shops of makers of philosophical instruments.
From Mr George Burcher Gale, Aeronaut, 24 Mansion House Street, Kennington, March 20, 1850.
A professional balloonist, Gale’s practice of ascending astride a horse, with the animal standing on a platform, had brought him into disrepute in England, and while he discontinued the practice on home ground he still performed this equine stunt for continental audiences. Gale was an alcoholic and constantly pressed for funds. Edwin Dipple was a London publisher and print seller. H. W. Darby, a pyrotechnic, was contracted to construct Sheppard’s message balloons for use by the Franklin Relief Expedition.
I feel that you must think me not only neglectful but ungrateful, in not writing to you before this. On my return to town I found my affairs at odds and ends, parties had been interfering with my name and correspondence with the Admiralty, in fact the whole corps of aeronauts, together with several pyrotechnics, amongst whom is my friend Darby, have taken advantage of my absence to lay their schemes before the Lords Commissioners, all founded upon my principles, and in fact Darby has got the contract for supplying the balloons, and it is not as yet settled whether my services will be required. However, I am to see Captain Austin on tomorrow, after which you shall hear from me again.
I have seen Mr Dipple, on the subject of your records, and he declined publishing at present, having so much in hand.
I have had three sittings for my portrait with Mr Croper of King William Street, London Bridge. The original drawing will be finished the latter end of this week and a copy will be made immediately for you. In the meantime will you be kind enough to forward to me the lecture as I have to deliver in on Monday and Tuesday next, which I did not know of until today. I have made an engagement to ascend from Ipswich on Easter Monday, the particulars of which I will forward to you.
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I saw Coxwell before he left town. I mentioned you to him and gave him your address, he said he would send you some accounts from the continent. He proceeded to Hamburg, where his balloon was and from there he would go to Berlin. Please write to me on the receipt of this, and believe me to be your much obliged friend.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, March 24, 1850.
I am sorry to hear that you will not be able to come to Dublin as you thought, but I hope we shall meet before the summer is over, either by my coming to England or you to Ireland. As for my model balloon, I have been very busy on it, and was preparing the top when your letter came. I shall have a ground trial of it in a day or two, indeed I meant to put off the trial till you came, but I must now send you all the particulars when it takes place. I have availed myself of the address of the party you sent me that makes the fire-proof calico and if he can supply it cheap, I shall give him the order. I have not yet heard from him. The fuel I intend to use is spirits of wine. This is cheaper than naphtha and has not the disagreeable smell. I shall have much to contend with, but this I must expect this will present sparks, etc but I fear it will not produce heat enough. The weather has been very fine, indeed too much so for the time of year.
I thought Gale had given up lecturing. Have you sent his book? If so has he sent the cash he had of you? Has he sent for his paintings? If so, has he got them? If not his lecture will not be much. As for any aeronaut interfering with his name, I beg to say it would be of little use for anyone to do so I fear, and this he will find I think. As for his going out, I can tell him he will not, without he means to take the berth of a common man – if he offers to do this he may stand some chance, as they may think he will answer two purposes, that is, to work the ship and attend to the balloons, but as for reward, he will find that this will be small, but I doubt even at this sacrifice he will go out. As for the French aeronaut, he seems to be a mountebank, in fact ballooning will soon come to this, I fear.7
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I wish to God I could get some spirited fellow that would join me in a trip from Dublin to the continent, I would at once fit up my Erin Go Bragh for it and would, I have not a doubt, keep up one night and a day, but the expense is too much for one to risk – fitting out and getting back would be great, and would depend much on the direction we might go.
I have this week received a letter from Lady Franklin. It is a very kind one, but she states that she regrets to say that she fears the Lords Commissioners will not do more than send out the messenger balloons, and this can be managed by the officers. Therefore, I do think poor Gale has not much chance. I think I may say I have been as favourably received by Lady Franklin and their Lordships as any of the corps of aeronauts, having received a letter of thanks from their Lordships, and three letters from Lady Franklin, and was also kindly received by Lady Franklin and their Lordships when I was in London. I do not think Mr Gale can say this. I could have had my name much more in the papers and my drawing in The London News had I thought proper, but this I did not wish at present.
Let me hear from you soon, stating all you know respecting poor Gale, and if he has got his paintings, etc. etc.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, April 3, 1850.
In my last letter to you I said I had written to the gentleman about the fire-proof calico, the address I put on my letter was Mr Notts, Dundee, Scotland. I wrote on the 23rd of March but received no reply. Was the address right? I have sent you my papers by a friend, Mr Collins, or Mr Hannserly, belonging to the Panorama of the Mississippi, which you have in Leeds, if you have not received them you will soon. I am getting on with the Aerostation Fire balloon. I am writing out a small pamphlet which I shall send to you for your opinion. Have you heard from Gale? I hope you have, though I doubt.
From Mr Hampton, 20 Jervis St, Dublin, April 4, 1850.
Will you allow me to trespass on your kindness in asking you to write off the enclosed, and at the same time make what improvements you can, but ←63 | 64→keep to the principle.8 I mean to get this into print and have it illustrated with one or two cuts of my new balloon, and when they are complete, shall distribute some few thousands in Dublin, so that it may be talked about, and I do think, if the day is fine, I shall have a good attendance. I am about to commence the large balloon. I shall use your first receipt for saturating the cotton as it seems to answer. If you know any printer, ask what would be the price to get the pamphlet up and print about 5,000 without the illustrations. You must let me know what I have to pay you for writing it out for me, do not forget this. I shall be glad to receive it as soon as you can get it done, as I wish to shew it to some gentlemen here. Keep the copy by you in case I may want it again written. I think you had better name the balloon as follows, Hampton’s new Aerostatic Surveying Fire Balloon. You will find many blunders, such as repeating things twice over; you will place all as it should be. Let me have the letters back as soon as you can, as I want to show them. Keep them safe and clean, as they are of great importance to me. I fear my handwriting and other blunders will put you out of temper.
From Mr Hampton, Dublin, [Not dated.] April, 1850.
I have sent you the papers, I fear I have also sent you a task, but I have no doubt you will be able to arrange them. I shall leave them to your judgement, you can curtail them where you think it can be done. When you have looked over them you then must give me your opinion. Let me know when you received them, so as I may know you have got them safe.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, April 8, 1850.
The ‘first attempt with the Albion’ that Hampton refers to resulted in a near fatal turn of events. Hampton makes a brief reference to the incident in an earlier letter. On June 6th, 1838, Hampton sought to take his new balloon Albion aloft from the Eyre Arms Tavern, St John’s Wood. Insufficient lift brought the Albion into collision with the side of a house, the balloon having travelled a mere quarter of a mile. Hampton was flung from the car and sustained severe injuries.
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Your very kind letter has just come to hand. Your advice is good and kind, and I am well aware that you say all for my good and meant it. You are quite right in what you state about the size, and I am of the same opinion as you. Although I have stated in the papers I have sent you that the balloon was to be so large, it is not, and never was my intention to have it so large. She will not be larger than my Erin Go Bragh, and in proof of this I am using the same pattern, so that it will be the size you state, that is, high 63 feet, and 43 feet diameter. You must also bear in mind that I do not mean to ascend with it in Dublin – I should be mad to do so, being so near the sea, and not fully acquainted with the power of a fire balloon, indeed I mean to make myself master of it before I ascend. The reason I stated it to be so large was that I thought it would be a greater draw on the day of the experiment, but on the second consideration I think it will be better to keep to facts. As for failures, I am no way favourable to them, not will I risk one, but I do not mean to say that I may not have one, the best and most cautious may fail, but I will, as I always have, do my best to prevent them.
I have not a doubt but you have got my other papers by this time, but lay them aside for the present, and when you have read them, give me your opinion on them. I think they may be condensed or may be brought out with the account of my first attempt with the Albion, the Parachute, etc. I want to see if I can make some money by this experiment, and I then think of getting up some good views of ballooning for lecturing next winter. Though Gale has not done well, it does not follow it may not answer. I shall act very different to Gale. Make the little pamphlet as interesting as you can, perhaps a sketch or two from the accounts of the aeronauts you have named in your last letter you have sent may not be out of place. As for the fire, I shall make some trials, and you shall know the result soon.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, April 21, 1850.
I received the papers on the 19th, which I thank you for. You must think me a very troublesome fellow – but from your kindness I am sure you will make allowance. I am getting on rapidly with the balloon, and shall have the paper all pasted on this next week, and shall then commence cutting out. The solution does not act so well as I would wish it, I fear ←65 | 66→it evaporates, or it may be that I have not made it as strong as I should have done, money has prevented me doing this. I am using the first, that is the phosphate of ammonia and ammonia. I am in the greatest anxiety about the rarefying the air when the balloon is complete. I fear the spirits of wine or naphtha will not give the heat I want. Turpentine causes too much smoke, so does resin. I am about to try charcoal and other things. Should you think of anything likely to answer, pray let me know. I am well aware I shall have much to contend with, but I must do my best, and please God I hope to succeed.
I had heard that Gale made an ascent at Ipswich, but I was informed he was well paid.9 This might not be true. I think he ought to have written to you before this; my reason for saying what I did, when I found you had lent him money was from what had been stated to me. Gale is a stranger to me, this you know – he has a large family and things are very bad with him. As for the papers you have got now, do not put yourself to any inconvenience, I fear they are complicated and will take much time and trouble to get them in order. I wish, as you say, we were nearer to each other than we are, for more reasons than one. Mind one thing, my balloon and car are at your service at any time and place for you to have an ascent at any time you can get leave. I think you and I must have some talk about getting up a pamphlet in numbers or otherwise. I have sent you all the pieces of newspapers I have got at present cut out. I have many more, but all my accounts of the Albion, Parachute are with a printer at Cheltenham. This man has failed, and I have tried to get them from him but cannot, perhaps I may some day when I can go to Cheltenham. I need not tell you to keep the pieces of newspaper safe, I have sent you all as you may take what you want.
To Mr Hampton Post Office, Leeds, April 23, 1850.
I received your letter this morning along with the newspaper scraps and will return you the latter in a few days. You speak of getting up a publication in numbers – I have often thought of doing this myself. The expense of printing a pamphlet of 16 pages would be very trifling, but you see that ←66 | 67→to advertise it runs away with a deal of money and it could not well be made known without advertising. I was surprised to hear Gale say that the Aerostatic Magazine was the ruin of Coxwell. I think he cannot have attended to it properly, or it would have done well. If you think of commencing a magazine I fancy we can find matter for it, part can be taken up with the History of Aerostation, etc.
You appear to have some doubts about being able to fill the fire balloon by means of spirit of wine. Now I am glad you think of giving up this plan for it would be a very expensive one. I think if you try spirit of wine and linseed oil you will find that they together will answer. Linseed oil yields a little smoke, but not much, and the smell is not quite as disagreeable as that of turpentine. I have let off a great number of balloons with linseed oil alone, but it would be better with a little spirit of wine.
I am sorry to hear that the fire-proof solution does not answer. The piece of linen that I had some time since that had been dipped in that solution continued to be fire-proof several weeks and I think it is very likely to be as you say, that what you have tried is not quite strong enough, but I hope you will succeed in making the cloth fire-proof, the balloon will not be safe without.
From J. MacSweeny, Esq., Cork, April 27, 1850.
It is sad to think of accidents that might have been avoided if simple contrivances had been used. It would be very difficult for an aeronaut to be flung out of a car if netting between the ropes which suspend the car were fastened to the ropes for his protection. A small door of cane work and netting at each side of the car would enable him to get out when necessary, by withdrawing a small bolt from the door at one side.
An objection raised against the guide rope is the damage it would do in passing over a town, but as the friction of a guide rope prevents a balloon from moving as fast as the wind, sails placed obliquely can be used for steering a balloon clear of any town or building. This plan would have saved Roche and might have enabled Arban to reach a headland.10 It is odd ←67 | 68→that Gale did not in his lecture treat of this mode of directing balloons. Is it possible that he was not aware of it when he lectured in Hull? You had, I dare say, some conversation with him on the subject in Leeds. What was his opinion of it? You have seen the account of Hampton’s voyage from Cork. You probably did not see the remarks of a Cork paper on his previous attempt to ascend. I enclose a cutting which may amuse you.
The safety-car for descending on water, was it made by Coxwell, or by Hampton? I drew Hamptons’ attention, when he was in Cork, to a matter that would add to the safety of the car, and fastened to it by a long rope, when the car touches the water it offers resistance to the balloon urged on by the wind. The consequence is that the car is thrown on its side, and the aeronauts being in some measure fettered by the apparatus for keeping out of the water, are in danger of having their heads plunged under water. The drag by offering resistance at the opposite side of the car tends to keep the car upright, and thus prevents the aeronaut from being smothered by the water, when the balloon urged by a high wind moves rapidly along the sea. You ought to draw the attention of your friend Coxwell to the snap loops described in a former letter, they may be the means of saving his life in bad weather.
In hunting over my papers, if I find any of the dates of the early ascents of the Albion, I shall let you know. With regard to the account of the aerial trip from Navan in Monck Mason’s book, it always appeared to me very odd that a voyage at that early date should have been made from a small place instead of from a large city. I do not know any person from the locality who could throw any light on the matter.11
I had some notion that Hampton would have lectured in Leeds when he went there. The sailing balloon and drag might have excited attention, and might have brought many to a lecture. Hampton, when about to lecture in Limerick, wrote to me for the sketch of the sailing balloon which appeared in The Illustrated London News I sent it and some observations ←68 | 69→on drags, as objections might be possibly started to sailing balloons. The objection that a drag might injure a ship or a boat in an estuary or harbour was met by my proposing as a drag a bundle of twigs bound round a rope. This would not stove in a boat. At sea a good buffer, in front of a spar drag or a plank drag, was to be used to prevent injury to ships, and a bell on a drag was to warn ships at sea at night. A balloon furnished with sails and drag could easily be made to avoid a ship. I direction his attention to the advantage the spar drag and plank drag had to the drag depicted in The Illustrated London News. By their means great resistance could be offered at times in the water, so as to stop a balloon when aeronauts would wish to speak with the crew of a ship at sea. The writer in The Illustrated London News of May 30, 1846, gave the plan of sailing a balloon furnished with a drag as the then recent invention of Mr Green, not a word was given about Wright who started the idea in 1803 – not a word about my reviving Wright’s plan, and improving on it.12 Wright, certainly, in a rough way, could direct a balloon over water by the plan he proposed, but he did not know how to sail a balloon over land. The carriage he proposed as a drag on land would be liable to be obstructed. The simple addition of a rattan, or of a piece of whalebone at the end of a rope, prevents a rope from lashing round a tree and thus enables a guide rope to glide among trees. The friction of the rope on ground enables the wind to take effect on sails placed obliquely. Thus a balloon can be directed over land, and houses can be avoided. The reversible drags used on sea in conjunction with sails attached to balloons would give aeronauts great control over balloons in crossing the sea. The writer in The Illustrated London News in 1846 must have been aware of Wright’s proposal and of my plans, as he quotes my essay on the subject. Have you the particulars of the ascent made by Mrs. Graham and her daughters?13 Have you the particulars of the ascent she made with Mrs. Gale?14
I suppose that you have seen a letter on balloons in polar regions from Hampton in the Dublin Freeman’s Journal in November last. He sent it to ←69 | 70→me from Dublin, and I sent him a letter in which I drew his attention to the utility of spirits of wine as ballast for messenger balloons in polar regions. The spirits of wine would not be frozen, and could be made to escape drop by drop from bladders to lighten the balloon to enable it to go far.
I understand that Coxwell lectured on Aerostation in Germany. It is a pity that he did not send you the programme of his lectures. I wish that he would send you the titles of any recent works published on the continent on the subject of Aerostation. It was reported some years ago that Charles Green was writing a work on Aerostation. I wish he would come out in black and white. I have had several communications from Mr C. Clark of Totham, Essex, I have no heard from him this long time. You have corresponded with him, I think. Does he reside in the same place yet? Has he ever made an ascent?
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, May 5, 1850.
I should have written to you before this, but I have been so busy with the balloon. I find I shall have much to contend with respecting the fire etc. but I must persevere. Do not mind sending the newspaper cutting still you have had time to do what you want with them. I have been trying our plan of spirits of wine and oil. I find it gives greater heat than the naphtha alone, but the oil spits so much and will in time spoil the balloon. The oil by itself would not do as it gives out so much smoke. I have sent you a piece of the balloon which I think you will find to do well, it is the fag end. My balloon will be as follows in weight, cotton and paper 95lbs. Rope 20lbs. Car, about 45lbs, the Hoop, and things for the fire I cannot yet say, but I do not think the whole will be more than 200 to 240lbs.
Respecting the magazine, you and I will have some talk about it after I have done with this balloon, which will be this summer. In the meantime get all the information you can. You shall hear from me soon. I am about to make some experiments.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, May 25, 1850.
Señor Don Pedro de Montemayor, a pioneering Spanish aeronaut, caused a stir in aeronautic circles with the announcement of his discovery of a ‘certain method’ for ←70 | 71→directing the flight of a balloon, and his intention to fly from Madrid to London in his giant balloon, Eole.
You must excuse my not writing to you before this, I have been so much taken up with my balloon that I have not had time. I see by your letter of the 9th instant that you have got another situation. I hope it is to your satisfaction.
In reply to your second letter, I shall not have the balloon complete till the end of June, I fear. I am in great anxiety about it. You will see by the bill I have sent you what I mean to do. Say in your next letter what you think of the bill. It seems that Coxwell has not a balloon and he is doing his best to make things meet.15 As for Gale, he has acted as I expected he would, from what I had heard when I was in London, it is a pity that men will act so. I have some more scraps of newspapers which I will send you when I have time to look at them.
I see by Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper that a monster balloon is being made at Valverde, in Spain, by Senor Montemayor. It says that hundreds of persons have been for eight months employed. It is to be shown in a few days to the Queen of Spain, and then to come to London in one day. You can see the account in Sunday Lloyd’s of the 19th.
To Mr Hampton, Bradford, May 29, 1850.
I now return you the newspaper cuttings, for the loan of which I am greatly obliged. How are you getting on with the balloon? I am very anxious to hear, I assure you. It is some time since I heard from you, but I can guess how busy you will be. Did you see the advertisement in The Times the other day about a flying machine? The advertisement is headed Rescue of Sir John Franklin. To the rich and chivalrous, and the party proposes to construct in three months, and for £9,000, a machine capable of performing 100 miles in an hour.
In America, a Mr Porter, who made some noise last year about a flying machine, is at present courting some excitement. He proposes to carry 150 ←71 | 72→persons to California or to London in a day. He is selling shares very fast, the papers say. Wise, the American aeronaut, has just published a work, the title of which is A System of Aeronautics.
To J. MacSweeny Esq. Bradford, May 29, 1850.
Since I last wrote to you I have left my native town, and have come to reside here, having changed my situation on account of ill health.
Hampton is getting on very fast, he says, with his balloon, it will be about the size of his Erin Go Bragh. I had intended sending you a sample of the fire-proof cloth but have left it at Leeds. Did you see the advertisement in The Times the other day, relating to a flying machine where a person offers to construct one in three months for £8,000, to travel at the rate of 100 miles an hour? At Washington, U.S., a Mr Porter is raising money to construct a flying machine, with which he says he can take 150 persons to California or to London in a day. We shall see. This Mr Porter made some little stir in the spring of last year about a flying machine but his plans did not at that time succeed.
Have you seen The Illustrated London News of Saturday last? It contains a likeness of Gay Lussae and a short notice of him, and it is stated that Mr Wise, the American aeronaut has published a work entitled A System of Aeronautics.
From J. MacSweeny Esq., Cork, May 31, 1850.
The Mr Hugh Bell referred to in this letter was an aeronaut who experimented with an elongated balloon, Locomotive, which he attempted to steer by use of a pedal powered propeller. Though unsuccessful, he achieved the unfortunate distinction of having killed a spectator with his balloon’s grappling hook.
I suppose that it was your friend Coxwell who made the experiment at Leipsic mentioned in The Times. I did not see The Times in which it was, but I enclose a short notice of it from a Cork paper:
According to The Times correspondent an Englishman had been learning to fly in Germany. He crossed from St. Thomas’s Tower to the Tower of the Schloss at Leipsic in a machine of his own invention, on the 26th of April.
←72 | 73→
From the ‘Compendium’ in the Cork Southern Reporter of May 9th, 1850. You probably saw the drawing of the balloon for distributing slips of silk and paper in The Illustrated London News of May 11th, 1850.
I have not the particulars of the voyage of Jungius.16 The ascent of Comaschi from Turin, and M. Verdun from Le Mans I gleaned from a brief notices in the London Papers.17
I do not think that the public are yet sufficiently alive to the importance of Aerostation to support a weekly publication. A monthly one, at least, during the months of summer and autumn might possibly succeed, if conducted with system and impartiality. You probably have seen an account of a person at Washington who is trying to form an aerial navigation company. British aeronauts ought to be up and stirring. Aerostation is yet destined to go ahead. It appears by The Times of the 28th of this month, that a Mr Bell of London has not been idle. An experiment has been made by him to direct a fish shaped aerostat. In the descent in Essex, unfortunately, a man was so torn by the grapnel that he died on the following day. You will of course be on the alert to learn all the particulars. I think that some of the grapnels in use are more sharp pointed than necessary.
If I had an accurate copy of Coxwell’s advertisement in the Hamburg paper I might perhaps be able to send you the translation of it.
I was about to send off this letter to Leeds when yours from Bradford came to hand. I was sorry to find that you have been ill. You must take care of yourself. Aerostation cannot afford to lose you now. I am afraid that you have injured your health by too much confinement and study. Regularity of living and rural walks, when not carried to excess, will sometimes do wonders for a young man of your age. A large, well ventilated bedroom is of the greatest importance for health. You must live to see the triumphs of Aerostation for triumph it assuredly will. Gale, I dare say, will be able to inform you about Bell’s experiment in London. I have seen the article about Gay Lussac in The Illustrated London News of May 25th. I wish that ←73 | 74→you would send me the account of Grellon’s ascent at Madrid. Where did you see the account of Montemayor’s balloon?
In overhauling my papers, if I find Gypson’s descent I shall send you an account of it.18
To Mr George. Burcher Gale, Bradford, Yorkshire, June 6, 1850.
I thought I should have heard from you before this time, but I suppose you must have been busy. How are you getting on? I should very much like to hear from you. I was told on Sunday that you were about to make an ascent from Wakefield. One from this town I think would pay very well; there has been nothing of the kind since 1828. Can you give me any particulars relative to the balloon with which Mr Bell ascended on Friday week from Kennington? I have seen the account given in the newspapers, but should like to have a more particular one from you. My friend Dr MacSweeny is very anxious to learn all the particulars of the experiment. I think something extraordinary will be done this year – a great deal is promised.
Coxwell has been lecturing at Hamburg. I saw his advertisement in a Hamburg paper, but did not hear how he succeeded. The Sun of Saturday evening stated that he had just made two ascents from Hamburg, and was about to make a third.19 Has Graham got his balloon completed yet? I have not seen any notice of him in the papers. I wrote for an Ipswich paper containing an account of your ascent, and the account given was very interesting
I shall be glad to receive your portrait if you can make it convenient to let me have it. From what you said in your last letter I expected to hear from you again soon, hoping I shall do so.
←74 | 75→
To J. MacSweeny Esq., Bradford, Yorkshire, June 6, 1850.
The experimental ascent of the Arctic Surveying Balloon was advertised for the 11th of July – the event was cancelled and brought forward to the 18th of July. Hampton obtained the obtained the services of the bands of the 71st Highlanders and the 42nd Regiment of Foot to provide musical entertainment. In addition day leave had been granted to the boys of the Royal Hibernian School, and the pupils of the Deaf and Dumb School so they could attend at the Rotunda Gardens.
I have just received a proof of the bill Hampton intends to have printed announcing the exhibition of the fire balloon. It appears from his letter, and also from his bill, that he does not intend to make a voyage with it yet, but to have it confined by cords. The balloon is to be exhibited at the Rotunda Gardens, Dublin, and Hampton hopes to have it completed by the end of this month. It will be 70 feet high, and 45 in diameter and will be tastefully ornamented. I advised him to have a large valve in the top to be used when a rapid descent was required, or for exhausting the balloon speedily when it landed. He calls the balloon in the bill The Arctic Surveying Balloon.
In my last letter I stated that a Frenchman named Grellon had ascended in Spain with a Montgolfier, and as you are desirous to learn the particulars of his voyage, I will give you the fullest account I have got met with, which appeared in The Morning Chronicle about the middle of last month in the Madrid letter to that paper:
M. Grellon ascended with his large Montgolfier balloon from the Circus of M. Paul, Calle de Barquillos, Madrid, and the balloon, which was impelled by a strong north western breeze, passed over the Plaza de Toros, where a bull fight was going on, and attracted the attention of the spectators there till it disappeared. It fell at no great distance from Madrid, having passed over the Retiro, from which all the movements of M. Grellon and his descent were clearly seen.
The above is the account I saw of it, and I have looked in vain in the newspapers for a fuller account.
I wrote to Gale yesterday and requested he would send me the particulars of Bell’s balloon which ascended from Kennington where Gale resides. I scarcely know what to think of this man. When he was here in February, he was altogether without money. I lent him a couple of pounds ←75 | 76→and also took him to a friend of mine, who lent him money, but he never writes to me now. The last letter I had from him was in March last and in it no mention was made at all of the money, but requesting I would send him his book containing his lecture, which I immediately forwarded to him. I shall see if he answers my letter of yesterday.
I have tried to procure a copy of Wise’s work, mentioned in my former letter, but cannot. The Editor of The Illustrated London News informed me that I could get a copy at Chapman’s, in the Strand, but Chapman says that none are to be got in London, although the newspaper editors have got them. I will however try to get an American agent to get me one.
I have not yet seen The Illustrated London News with the Messenger Balloon in, neither can I get a copy of the paper of the date you speak of. The account of the Leipsic flying experiment is quite new to me, I had not seen it before. It was not Coxwell who made the experiment, he was in Hamburg at the time. The account of Montemayor’s balloon has appeared in nearly all the papers, but no account has yet appeared of its ascent. I should have been glad if you could have let me have a copy of the first edition of your essay. I wish to collect everything I can relating to Aerostation, and all shall be carefully preserved.
From J. MacSweeny Esq., Cork, June 15, 1850.
I have not got Wise’s book yet, but I had ordered it before your last letter arrived. The work is probably on sale by this time in London, I dare say I shall get it soon. You probably saw in the papers the account of Coxwell’s ascents from Hamburg in May, if not I can send you a statement.
The advertisement relating to the Aerial Machine, described in the Patent Journal, might have escaped your notice, I therefore send it.
To J. MacSweeny Esq., Bradford, June 24, 1850.
I received your last letter and have to thank you for the information it contains, and in particular for the account of the voyage of M. Arban.20 ←76 | 77→The advertisement in The Times respecting the Patent Journal I had not noticed, although I look the papers over carefully every day. I have ordered a copy of the Patent Journal, and expect to find in it a description of Bell’s Aerial Machine. I see there is a short account of it in The Builder of last week.
I never yet heard your opinion of the machine proposed by Mr Luntley under the name of Dadalus Britannicas, a description of which was given in a small pamphlet published by him in 1848. That, I think, is the nearest approach that has yet been made towards effecting aerial navigation.
In the Paris letter of the Standard of Freedom of Saturday last, it is stated that a balloon called The Californian was announced to ascend on Sunday with two ladies and a gentleman. The latter is said to be able to guide the machine as he pleases. I hear nothing more of Porter’s machine although I see the New York papers regularly. The New York Courier and Enquirer has a notice of Wise’s book, which, it says, gives the particulars of the various attempts made to navigate the air, and also accounts of remarkable balloon ascents including those of Mr Wise. I have not yet got the work. In Saturday evening’s Standard there is an account of the ascent of a Frenchwoman named Bertrand from Lisbon, who, after remaining up two hours, attempted to descend among a number of country people, but some of them having armed themselves with cudgels, she thought proper to reascend. She descended safely some miles off. The account is a very droll one. The people were so alarmed at the balloon that some fell on their knees, other ran away as fast as they could.
Gale ascended from Portsmouth on the 18th and descended near Hilsea Lines. On the 20th Gale, Goulston, and another person ascended at ten at night from Cremorne. On the 22nd Green and Rush – his 14th ascent – ascended in the Nassau balloon from Vauxhall at half past seven, and descended at twenty minutes past eight at Pauls’ Cray. Gale is announced to ascend from Dudley Castle this day. No ascent took place at Birmingham last week.
From J. MacSweeny Esq., Cork, June 28, 1850.
MacSweeny had earlier enquired of Charles Clark. Clark was not an aeronaut, but he described himself as an ‘amateur’ aerial enthusiast. He had reprinted on his private ←77 | 78→press the early work of the Rev. Ralph Morris, Flying No Failure or Aerial Transit Accomplished More Than A Century Ago. 1751. Reprinted 1848.
A letter from Mr C. Clark of Totham, Essex, informs me that in The Dispatch newspaper of the 2nd instant there is a long review of Wise’s book. If you succeed in getting The Dispatch of that date I wish that you will let me know your opinion of the review.
Mr Clark sent me the account of the inquest on the body of the man killed by the grapnel, this account I subjoin:
The Inquest. On Tuesday an inquiry took place touching the death of the unfortunate man Clark, before C. C. Lewis Esq. Coroner, and a respectable jury, when the following evidence was adduced. Jonathon Little of Matching deposed: On Friday evening last a balloon fell in this parish, and deceased with several others went to render assistance, the grappling iron caught in a pollard tree, and being disengaged from that, struck deceased on the left side. I saw him standing with his hands to his side, and I asked him if the hooks had caught him, he said they had. He then followed me after the balloon, but could not run, after which I saw no more of him.
William Beloc Rix of Matching, surgeon, deposed: I was called to deceased on Friday evening about 8 at the house where he lies. I found him in a state of great suffering, complaining of violent pain in the pit of the stomach, and unable to get his breath, he said the iron of the balloon had struck him a severe blow to the stomach. He had the appearance of having received a very severe injury. I saw him six or eight times subsequently and he died at half past one on Saturday afternoon, having never rallied in any perceptible degree, the cause of death was some severe internal injuries. There was one gentleman in the balloon who gave his name. Hugh Bell, 1 Spring Garden Terrace, Trinity Square, Southwark.
A verdict in accordance with these facts was retuned. The unfortunate accident, we are informed, is to be attributed in great measure to the incautious act of the deceased, in approaching so near to the grapnel, Mr Bell having placed himself in great danger in leaning over the side of the car in order to warn the people of their liability to injury therefrom.
Your letter of the 24th instant has come to hand. I suppose that Comaschi was drowned.21
←78 | 79→
I perceive by the supplement to No. 210 of the Patent Journal that Mr Bell has adopted the plan of bands crossing each other instead of the usual knotted netting, a plan I advocated long since. The balloon you were constructing in Leeds, was it to be a fire or gas balloon? I should like to see some of the material of which it is composed.
From Mr Hampton, Aeronaut, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, July 1, 1850.
I fear you will not excuse my neglect in not writing to you before this, but I so hope your good sense will make an allowance. I have been so busy that I have not had a moment to myself. I received the newspaper you so kindly sent me. You will see by the bill I have sent you that I have at last fixed on a day for my public trial. I have had a private one and it had turned out better than I expected, the particulars you shall have in full as soon as I have time. I have written for the Lord Lieutenant to patronise my first trial. I have not yet had his answer.
Now, my dear friend, will you draw out the account I have sent you, put it in proper form, make good all mistakes, and send the same back at your earliest convenience, indeed I should like to have two copies, if you have time, but one if not. My reason for wanting them soon is I think of getting it into The Illustrated London News, and other papers, therefore I am sure you will do what you can for me. I must someday make up for all the trouble I give you. Give me all the news you can, etc etc.
To Mr Hampton, Aeronaut, Bradford, July 2, 1850.
It is now a month since I heard from you. I hope all is going on well with you and your new undertaking. Have you yet got the balloon completed? I should not have written today but I thought I would let you know of Green’s accident. Green and Rush ascended from Vauxhall on Saturday night with the Nassau balloon and fell in the Thames below Gravesend. They were dragged rather roughly through the water for some time, but a man discharged a quantity of shot through the balloon, which set the gas at liberty speedily. The aeronauts were taken on board a vessel. Green had his face hurt and bruised. This is the 15th time Rush has been up with him but the first time he has met with an accident, I believe. He thinks a deal of Green and places great confidence in him, and Green makes a good deal of money out of him. On the 10th September 1838 Rush paid £300 for the use of the Nassau balloon for one ascent only.
←79 | 80→
Gale ascended from Dudley on Tuesday last but with two other persons, and was announced to ascend from Birmingham yesterday. He appears to be doing very well just now. I suppose that his paintings, which he used in his lectures, are in Leeds yet. The man who printed his bills told me last week that he had the paintings by him, and that he had not then got his money from Gale. He is however going to summon him for the amount he owes him. The printer says he wishes he could sell the paintings. They would not be of any use to me, and even if they were, I have not money to spare in that line. I hope you will write on receipt of this, and let me know how you are getting on.
To J. MacSweeny Esq. M.D., Bradford, July 2, 1850.
I am obliged to you for the account of the inquest on the man killed by the grapnel. The London papers yesterday, I am sorry to find, have an account of another balloon disaster. Before this reaches you you will have seen the particulars of the accident. Gale, when in Leeds, told me that the Nassau balloon was quite rotten and that he should not be surprised to hear of Green being killed by making use of that machine. It however appears to me from the accounts given of the accident in the London papers, that the valve must have been damaged – very likely that when opened it would not close. I did not see The Dispatch of the 2nd of June, but since your letter arrived I have tried to procure it. I am afraid I shall have some difficulty in doing so. Neither have I yet got the Patent Journal, though I expect to do so tomorrow.
The Mr Rush, who ascended with Green on the 22nd ult, and also on Saturday last, I am not aware of his being an American, but he is the same gentleman who ascended with Green, September 10, 1838. He lives at Elsenham Hall, in Essex. He has not made 15 ascents with Green. I believe that in all his ascents he has risen to very great altitudes. According to The Illustrated London News of Saturday last, he and Green, on the 22nd ult, attained a height from Dudley on Tuesday last, and that he was to ascend from Birmingham yesterday.
