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.
From 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
