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
