TL 
 
 617 
 R74b 
 
 ENGINEERING 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Rotch 
 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND THE FIRST BALLOONS, 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 Pacific Aeronautical Library
 
 Benjamin Franklin and 
 the First Balloons 
 
 BY 
 
 ABBOTT LAWRENCE ROTCH 
 
 DISCARDED W_I 
 
 PAL.
 
 Benjamin Franklin and 
 the First Balloons 
 
 BY 
 ABBOTT LAWRENCE ROTCH 
 
 REPRINTED FROM THE 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY 
 / VOLUME XVIII 
 
 OF THE 
 PACIFIC AERONAUTICAL I 
 
 D 'SC/IRDED ey_ PAL 
 
 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 
 
 THE DAVIS PRESS 
 
 1907
 
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND THE FIRST 
 BALLOONS. 
 
 BY ABBOTT LAWRENCE ROTCH. 
 
 The recent bi-centenary of Franklin's birth, which coin- 
 cided with the revival of interest in balloons, makes this a 
 timely topic, especially since Franklin's descriptions of the 
 first balloon ascensions are almost unknown and do not 
 appear among his philosophical papers. The five letters 
 which I have the honor to present were written to Sir 
 Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society of London, in 
 1783, when Franklin was Minister to the Court of France 
 and, with the collateral documents, they give perhaps the 
 most complete and accurate account of the beginning of 
 aerial navigation, enlivened with the humor and speculation 
 characteristic of the writer. It is certainly remarkable 
 that Franklin, in the midst of diplomatic and social duties, 
 could have found time to investigate personally this new 
 invention of which he at once appreciated the possibilities. 
 
 The documents which I publish are copies of Franklin's 
 letters, made on thin paper in a copying press (probably 
 the rotary machine invented by Franklin), and all but one 
 bear his signature in ink. They have corrections in the 
 author's hand-writing and, except for a few words, are 
 quite legible. They were purchased by me from Dodd, 
 Mead & Co., in December, 1905, and previously had belonged 
 to G. M. Williamson, of Grandview-on-the-Hudson, to 
 whom they had come from Vienna. None of the letters 
 appear in Sparks' edition of Franklin's Works, and while 
 all but one are included in the collections compiled by 
 Bigelow and Smyth, there are numerous inaccuracies, some 
 of which will be specified hereafter. Drafts of three of the
 
 letters are deposited in the University of Pennsylvania, 
 but the existence of one letter and the whereabouts of 
 another were unknown to the late Mr. Smyth,, the editor 
 of the last and most complete edition of Franklin's Works, 1 
 who made careful search for the original documents. 
 Although the American owners of these copies did not allow 
 them to be transcribed, Mr. Smyth states that he printed one 
 letter from my copy, and he noted how the other copies diff- 
 ered from the drafts in the University of Pennsylvania. In 
 general it may be said that, whereas Bigelow gives the text 
 without paragraphs, capital letters or the old spelling, 2 
 Smyth follows the originals more closely. In view of the 
 historic and scientific interest of these letters, they are now 
 printed exactly according to the press-copies. The letter 
 dated November 30, appears never to have been printed 
 and whereas Smyth reproduced the letter of November 21 
 from the University of Pennsylvania draft, this or another 
 draft (or possibly this copy) was in the possession of the 
 French aeronaut, Gaston Tissandier, about 1887. 3 
 
 (THE FIRST HYDROGEN BALLOON.) 
 
 PASSY, Aug. 30, 1783. 
 SIR, 
 
 On Wednesday, the 27 th Instant the new aerostatic Experi- 
 ment, invented by Mess". Montgolfier, of Annonay, was 
 repeated by M. Charles, Professor of experimental Philosophy 
 at Paris. 
 
 A hollow Globe 12 feet Diameter was formed of what 
 is called in England Oiled Silk, here Taffetas g&mme, 
 the Silk being impregnated with a Solution of Gum elastic 
 in Lintseed Oil, as is said. The Parts were sewed together 
 while wet with the Gum, and some of it was afterwards 
 passed over the Seams, to render it as tight as possible. 
 
 It was afterwards filled with the inflammable Air that 
 is produced by pouring Oil of Vitriol upon Filings of Iron, 
 when it was found to have a tendency upwards so strong as to 
 
 1 The Writings of Benjamin Franklin, collected and edited by Albert Henry 
 Smyth, Volume IX, New York, 1906. 
 
 2 Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin, compiled and edited by John Bigelow, 
 Volume VIII, New York. 1888. 
 
 8 Histoire des Ballons, Paris, 1887, Volume I, page 29.
 
 be capable of lifting a Weight of 39 Pounds, exclusive of 
 its own Weight which was 25 Ibs. and the Weight of the 
 Air contain'd. 
 
 It was brought early in the morning to the Champ de 
 Mars, a Field in which Reviews are sometimes made, 
 lying between the Military School and the River. There 
 it was held down by a Cord till 5 in the afternoon, when it 
 was to be let loose. Care was taken before the Hour to 
 replace what Portion had been lost, of the inflammable 
 Air, or of its Force, by injecting more. 
 
 It is supposed that not less than 50,000 People were 
 assembled to see the Experiment. The Champ de Mars 
 being surrounded by Multitudes, and vast Numbers on the 
 opposite Side of the River. 
 
 At 5 aClock Notice was given to the Spectators by the 
 Firing of two Cannon, that the Cord was about to be cut. 
 And presently the Globe was seen to rise, and that as fast 
 as a Body of 12 feet Diameter, with a force only of 39 
 Pounds, could be suppos'd to move the resisting Air out 
 of its Way. There was some Wind, but not very strong. 
 A little Rain had wet it, so that it shone, and made an 
 agreeable Appearance. It diminished in Apparent Magni- 
 tude as it rose, till it enter'd the Clouds, when it seem'd 
 to me scarce bigger than an Orange, and soon after became 
 invisible, the Clouds concealing it. 
 
 The Multitude separated, all well satisfied and delighted 
 with the Success of the Experiment, and amusing one 
 another with discourses of the various uses it may possibly 
 be apply'd to, among which many were very extravagant. 
 But possibly it may pave the Way to some Discoveries 
 in Natural Philosophy of which at present we have no 
 Conception. 
 
 A Note secur'd from the Weather had been affix'd to the 
 Globe, signifying the Time & Place of its Departure, and 
 praying those who might happen to find it, to send an account 
 of its State to certain Persons at Paris. No News was 
 heard of it till the next Day, when Information was reeeiv'd, 
 that it fell a little after 6 aClock, at Gonesse, a Place about 
 4 Leagues Distance, and that it was rent open, and some say 
 had Ice in it. It is suppos'd to have burst by the Elasticity 
 of the contain'd Air when no longer compress'd by so 
 heavy an Atmosphere.
 
 6 
 
 One of 38 feet Diameter is preparing by M r . Montgolfier 
 himself, at the Expence of the Academy, which is to go 
 up in a few Days. I am told it is constructed of Linen & 
 Paper, and is to be filled with a different Air, not yet made 
 Public, but cheaper than that produc'd by the Oil of Vitriol, 
 of which 200 Paris Pints were consum'd in filling the other. 
 It is said that for some Days after its being filled, the Ball 
 was found to lose an eighth Part of its Force of Levity 
 in 24 Hours; Whether this was from Imperfection in the 
 Tightness of the Ball, or a Change in the Nature of the 
 Air, Experiments may easily discover. 
 
 I thought it my Duty, Sir, to send an early Account of 
 
 this extraordinary Fact, to the Society which does me the 
 
 honour to reckon me among its Members; and I will endeavour 
 
 to make it more perfect, as I receive farther Information. 
 
 With great Respect, I am, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient 
 
 and most humble Servant 
 
 B. FRANKLIN 
 Sm JOSEPH BANKS, Bar*. 
 
 P. S. Since writing the above, I am favour'd with your 
 kind Letter of the 25 th . I am much obliged to you for the 
 Care you have taken to forward the Transactions, as well 
 as to the Council for so readily ordering them on Applica- 
 tion. Please to accept and present my Thanks. 
 
 I just now learn, that some observers say, the Ball was 
 150 Seconds in rising, from the Cutting of the Cord till hid 
 in the Clouds; that its height was then about 500 Toises, 
 but, being moved out of the Perpendicular by the Wind, 
 it had made a Slant so as to form a Triangle, whose Base 
 on the Earth was about 200 Toises. It is said the Country 
 People who saw it fall were frightned, conceiv'd from its 
 bounding a little, when it touched the Ground, that there 
 was some living Animal hi it, and attack'd it with Stones 
 and Knives, so that it was much mangled; but it is now 
 brought to Town and will be repaired. 
 
 The great one of M. Montgolfier, is to go up, as is said, 
 from Versailles, in about 8 or 10 Days; It is not a Globe 
 but of a different Form, more convenient for penetrating 
 the Air. It contains 50,000 cubic Feet, and is supposed 
 to have Force of Levity equal to 1500 pounds weight. 
 A Philosopher here, M. Pilatre du Rozier has seriously
 
 apply'd to the Academy for leave to go up with it, in order 
 to make some Experiments. He was complimented on his 
 Zeal and Courage for the Promotion of Science, but advis'd 
 to wait till the management of these Balls was made by 
 Experience more certain & safe. They say the filling of 
 it in M. Montgolfier's Way will not cost more than half a 
 Crown. One is talk'd of to be 110 feet Diameter. Several 
 Gentlemen have ordered small ones to be made for their 
 Amusement. One has ordered four of 15 feet Diameter 
 each; I know not with what Purpose; But such is the 
 present Enthusiasm for promoting and improving this 
 Discovery, that probably we shall soon make consid- 
 erable Progress in the art of constructing and using the 
 Machines. 
 
 Among the Pleasanteries Conversation produces on this 
 Subject, some suppose Flying to be now invented, and 
 that since Men may be supported in the Air, nothing is 
 wanted but some light handy Instruments to give and direct 
 Motion. Some think Progressive Motion on the Earth 
 may be advanc'd by it, and that a Running Footman or 
 a Horse slung and suspended under such a Globe so as to 
 have no more of Weight pressing the Earth with their Feet, 
 than Perhaps 8 or 10 Pounds, might with a fair 
 Wind run in a straight Line across Countries as fast as 
 that Wind, and over Hedges, Ditches & even Waters. It 
 has been even fancied that in time People will keep such 
 Globes anchored in the Air, to which by Pullies they may 
 draw up Game to be preserved in the Cool & Water to be 
 frozen when Ice is wanted. And that to get Money, it 
 will be contrived to give People an extensive View of the 
 Country, by running them up in an Elbow Chair a Mile 
 high for a Guinea &c. &c. 
 
 B. F. 
 
 (A HOT AIR BALLOON CARRYING ANIMALS.) 
 
 PASSY, Oct. 8, 1783. 
 SIR 
 
 The Publick were promised a printed particular Account 
 of the Rise & Progress of the Balloon Invention, to be 
 published about the End of last month. I waited for it 
 to send it to you, expecting it would be more satisfactory 
 han anything I could write; but it does not appear. We
 
 8 
 
 have only at present the enclosed Pamphlet, which does 
 not answer the expectation given us. I send you with it 
 some prints. That of the Balloon raised at Versailles is 
 said to be an exact representation. I was not present, 
 but am told it was filled in about ten minutes by means 
 of burning Straw. Some say water was thrown into the 
 flame, others that it was Spirits of Sal Volatile. It was 
 supposed to have risen about 200 Toises : But did not con- 
 tinue long at that height, was carried horizontally by the 
 Wind, and descended gently as the Air within grew 
 cooler. So vast a Bulk when it began to rise so majes- 
 tically in the Air struck the spectators with surprise 
 and Admiration. The Basket contained a sheep, a 
 duck, and a Cock, who, except the Cock, received no hurt 
 by the fall. 
 
 The Duke de Crillon made a feast last week in the Bois 
 de Boulogne, just by my habitation, on occasion of the 
 Birth of two Spanish Princes; after the Fireworks we had 
 a Balloon of about 5 feet Diameter filled with permanent 
 inflammable Air. It was dismissed about One aClock in 
 the Morning. It carried under it a large Lanthorn with 
 inscriptions on its sides. The Night was quite calm and 
 clear, so that it went right up. The appearance of the light 
 diminished gradually till it appeared no bigger than one 
 of the Stars, and in about twenty minutes I lost sight of 
 it entirely. It fell the next Day on the other side of the 
 same Wood near the Village Boulogne, about half after 
 twelve, having been suspended in the Air eleven hours 
 and a half. It lodged in a tree, and was torn in getting it 
 down; so that it cannot be ascertained whether it burst 
 when above, or not, tho' that is supposed. Smaller Repe- 
 titions of the Experiment are making every day in all 
 quarters. Some of the larger Balloons that have been up 
 are preparing to be sent up again in a few Days; but I do 
 not hear of any material improvements yet made either 
 in the mechanical or Chemical parts of the Operation. 
 Most is expected from the new one undertaken upon sub- 
 scription by Messieurs Charles and Robert, who are Men of 
 Science and mechanic Dexterity. It is to carry up a 
 Man. I send you enclosed the Proposals, which it is said 
 are already subscribed to by a considerable number and 
 likely to be carried into execution. If I am well at the
 
 9 
 
 Time, I purpose to be present, being a subscriber myself, 
 and shall send you an exact Account of Particulars. 
 With great esteem and respect, for yourself and the Society; 
 I have the honour to be, 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient 
 & most humble Servant, 
 
 B. FRANKLIN 
 SIR JOSEPH BANKS, Bar 1 . 
 
 (THE FIRST AERIAL VOYAGE BY MAN.) 
 
 PASSY, Nov 1 21 8t , 1783 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 I received your friendly Letter of the 7 th Inst. I am 
 glad my Letters respecting the Aerostatic Experiment 
 were not unacceptable. But as more perfect Accounts of 
 the Construction and Management of that Machine have 
 been and will be published before your Transactions, and 
 from which Extracts may be made that will be more par- 
 ticular and therefore more satisfactory, I think it best not 
 to print those Letters. I say this in answer to your Question; 
 for I did not indeed write them with a view of their being 
 inserted. M r . Faujas de St. Fond acquainted me yesterday 
 that a Book on the Subject which has been long expected, 
 will be publish 'd in a few Days, and I shall send you one of 
 them. Enclosed is a Copy of the Proces verbal taken of 
 the Experiment made yesterday in the Garden of the 
 Queen's Palace la Muette where the Dauphin now resides 
 which being near my House I was present. This Paper 
 was drawn up hastily, and may in some Places appear to 
 you obscure; therefore I shall add a few explanatory Obser- 
 vations. 
 
 This Balloon was larger than that which went up from 
 Versailles and carried the Sheep, &c. Its bottom was open, 
 and in the middle of the Opening was fixed a kind of Basket 
 Grate in which Faggots and Sheaves of Straw were burnt. 
 The Air rarified in passing thro' this Flame rose in the 
 Balloon, swell'd out its sides, and fill'd it. 
 
 The Persons who were plac'd in the Gallery made of 
 Wicker, and attached to the Outside near the Bottom, 
 had each of them a Port thro' which they could pass Sheaves 
 of Straw into the Grate to keep up the Flame, & thereby
 
 10 
 
 keep the Balloon full. When it went over our Heads, we 
 could see the Fire which was very considerable. As the 
 Flame slackens, the rarified Air cools and condenses, the 
 Bulk of the Balloon diminishes and it begins to descend. 
 If those in the Gallery see it likely to descend in an improper 
 Place, they can by throwing on more Straw, & renewing the 
 Flame, make it rise again, and the Wind carries it farther. 
 
 La Machine poussee par le Vent s'est dirigee sur une des 
 AlUes du Jardin. That is against the Trees of one of the 
 Walks. The Gallery hitched among the top Boughs of those 
 Trees which had been cut and were stiff while the Body of 
 the Balloon lean'd beyond and seemed likely to overset. I 
 was then in great Pain for the Men, thinking them in danger 
 of being thrown out, or burnt for I expected that the Bal- 
 loon being no longer upright the Flame would have laid 
 hold of the inside that leaned over it. But by means of 
 some Cords that were still attach'd to it, it was soon brought 
 upright again, made to descend, & carried back to its place. 
 It was however much damaged. 
 
 Planant sur I'Horizon. When they were as high as they 
 chose to be, they made less Flame and suffered the Machine 
 to drive Horizontally with the Wind, of which however 
 they felt very little, as they went with it, and as fast. They 
 say they had a charming View of Paris & its Environs, 
 the Course of the River, &c but that they were once lost, not 
 knowing what Part they were over, till they saw the Dome 
 of the Invalids, which rectified their Ideas. Probably 
 while they were employed in keeping up the Fire, the Machine 
 might turn, and by that means they were desorientes as 
 the French call it. 
 
 There was a vast Concourse of Gentry in the Garden, 
 who had great Pleasure in seeing the Adventurers go off 
 so chearfully, & applauded them by clapping &c. but there 
 was at the same time a good deal of Anxiety for their Safety. 
 Multitudes in Paris saw the Balloon passing; but did not 
 know there were Men with it, it being then so high that 
 they could not see them. 
 
 Developpant du Gaz. That is, in plain English, burning 
 more straw; for tho' there is a little Mystery made, concerning 
 the kind of Air with which the Balloon is filled, I conceive 
 it to be nothing more than hot Smoke or common Air 
 rarify'd, tho' in this I may be mistaken.
 
 11 
 
 Aiant encor dans lew Galerie le deux tiers de leur Appro- 
 vissonement. That is their Provision of Straw; of which 
 they carried up a great Quantity. It was well that in the 
 hurry of so hazardous an Experiment, the Flame did not 
 happen by any accidental Mismanagement to lay hold 
 of this Straw; tho' each had a Bucket of Water by him, by 
 Way of Precaution. 
 
 One of these courageous Philosophers, the Marquis 
 d'Arlandes, did me the honour to call upon me in the Even- 
 ing after the Experiment, with Mr. Montgolfier the very 
 ingenious Inventor. I was happy to see him safe. He 
 informed me that they lit gently without the least Shock, 
 and the Balloon was very little damaged. 
 
 This Method of filling the Balloon with hot Air is cheap 
 and expeditious, and it is supposed may be sufficient for 
 certain purposes, such as elevating an Engineer to take a 
 View of an Enemy's Army, Works, &c. conveying Intelli- 
 gence into, or out of a besieged Town, giving Signals to 
 distant Places, or the like. 
 
 The other Method of filling a Balloon with permanently 
 elastic inflammable Air, and then closing it is a tedious 
 Operation, and very expensive; Yet we are to have one of 
 that kind sent up in a few Days. It is a Globe of 26 feet 
 diameter. The Gores that compose it are red and white 
 Silk, so that it makes a beautiful appearance. A very hand- 
 some triumphal Car will be suspended to it, in which Mess". 
 Robert two Brothers, very ingenious Men, who have 
 made it in concert with M r . Charles propose to go up. There 
 is room in this Car for a little Table to be placed between 
 them, on which they can write and keep their Journal, 
 that is take Notes of every thing they observe, the State 
 of their Thermometer, Barometer, Hygrometer, &c which 
 they will have more Leisure to do than the others, 
 having no fire to take Care of. They say they have 
 a contrivance which will enable them to descend at 
 Pleasure. I know not what it is. But the Expence of 
 this Machine, Filling included, will exceed, it is said, 
 10,000 Livres. 
 
 This Balloon of only 26 feet diameter being filled with 
 Air ten times lighter than common Air, will carry up a 
 greater Weight than the other, which tho' vastly bigger 
 was filled with an Air that could scarcely be more than
 
 12 
 
 twice as light. Thus the great Bulk of one of these 
 Machines, with the short duration of its Power, & the 
 great Expence of filling the other will prevent the Inven- 
 tions being of so much Use, as some may expect, till 
 Chemistry can invent a cheaper light Air producible with 
 more Expedition. 
 
 But the Emulation between the two Parties running 
 high, the Improvement in the Construction and Manage- 
 ment of the Balloons has already made a rapid Pro- 
 gress; and one cannot say how far it may go. A 
 few Months since the Idea of Witches riding thro' the 
 Air upon a Broomstick, and that of Philosophers upon 
 a Bag of Smoke, would have appeared equally impossible 
 and ridiculous. 
 
 These Machines must always be subject to be driven by 
 the Winds. Perhaps Mechanic Art may find easy means 
 to give them progressive Motion in a Calm, and to slant 
 them a little in the Wind. 
 
 I am sorry this Experiment is totally neglected in England 
 where mechanic Genius is so strong. I wish I could see 
 the same Emulation between the two Nations as I see 
 between the two Parties here. Your Philosophy seems 
 to be too bashful. In this Country we are not so much 
 afraid of being laugh t at. If we do a foolish thing, we 
 are the first to laugh at it ourselves, and are almost as much 
 pleased with a Bon Mot or a good Chanson, that ridicules well 
 the Disappointment of a Project, as we might have been 
 with its Success. It does not seem to me a good reason to 
 decline prosecuting a new Experiment which apparently 
 increases the Power of Man over Matter, till we can see to 
 what Use that Power may be applied. When we have 
 learnt to manage it, we may hope some time or other to 
 find Uses for it, as Men have done for Magnetism and 
 Electricity of which the first Experiments were mere 
 Matters of Amusement. 
 
 This Experience is by no means a trifling one. It may be 
 attended with important Consequences that no one can fore- 
 see. We should not suffer Pride to prevent our progress in 
 Science. Beings of a Rank and Nature far superior to ours 
 have not disdained to amuse themselves with making and 
 launching Balloons, otherwise we should never have enjoyed 
 the Light of those glorious objects that rule our Day & Night,
 
 13 
 
 nor have had the Pleasure of riding round the Sun ourselves 
 upon the Balloon we now inhabit. 
 With great and sincere Esteem, I am, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 Your most obed* 
 
 & most humble Servant, 
 
 B. FRANKLIN 
 Sir JOSEPH BANKS. 
 
 (POSTPONEMENT OF CHARLES' AND ROBERT'S 
 ASCENSION.) 
 
 PASSY, Nov. 30, 1783 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 I did myself the honour of writing to you the Beginning 
 of last Week, and I sent you by the Courier, M. Faujas's 
 Book upon the Balloons, which I hope you have receiv'd. 
 I did hope to have given you to day an Account of Mr. 
 Charles's grand Balloon, which was to have gone up yester- 
 day; but the filling it with inflammable Air having taken 
 more time than had been calculated, it is deferr'd till to- 
 morrow. I send you herewith a Paper in which you will 
 see what was proposed by Mess 18 Robert who constructed 
 the Machine; and some other Papers relative to the same 
 Subject, the last of which is curious, as containing the Journal 
 of the first Aerial Voyage performed by Man. I purpose 
 being present to-morrow at the Experiment, and shall 
 give you an Ace* of it by the Wednesday's Post. With 
 sincere & great Esteem, I have the honour to be, 
 Sir, Your most obed 1 humble Serv* 
 
 B. FRANKLIN 
 Sir Jos. BANKS, Bar*. 
 
 (THE SECOND AERIAL VOYAGE BY MAN.) 
 
 PASSY, Dec. 1, 1783. 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 In mine of yesterday, I promis'd to give you an Account 
 of Mess". Charles & Robert's Experiment, which was to 
 have been made at this Day, and at which I intended to 
 be present. Being a little indispos'd, & the Air cool, and 
 the Ground damp, I declin'd going into the Garden of the 
 Tuilleries where the Balloon was plac'd, not knowing how
 
 14 
 
 long I might be oblig'd to wait there before it was ready 
 to depart; and chose to stay in my Carriage near the Statue 
 of Louis XV. from whence I could well see it rise, & have 
 an extensive View of the Region of Air thro' which, as the 
 Wind sat, it was likely to pass. The Morning was foggy, 
 but about one aClock, the Air became tolerably clear, to 
 the great Satisfaction of the Spectators, who were infinite, 
 Notice having been given of the intended Experiment 
 several Days before in the Papers, so that all Paris was out, 
 either about the Tuilleries, on the Quays & Bridges, in 
 the Fields, the Streets, at the Windows, or on the Tops of 
 Houses, besides the Inhabitants of all the Towns & Villages 
 of the Environs. Never before was a philosophical Experiment 
 so magnificently attended. Some Guns were fired to give 
 Notice, that the Departure of the great Balloon was near, 
 and a small one was discharg'd which went to an amazing 
 Height, there being but little Wind to make it deviate from 
 its perpendicular Course, and at length the Sight of it was 
 lost. Means were used, I am told, to prevent the great 
 Balloon's rising so high as might indanger its Bursting. 
 Several Bags of Sand were taken on board before the Cord 
 that held it down was cut, and the whole Weight being 
 then too much to be lifted, such a Quantity was discharg'd 
 as to permit its Rising slowly. Thus it would sooner arrive 
 at that Region where it would be in Equilibrio with the sur- 
 rounding Air, and by discharging more Sand afterwards, 
 it might go higher if desired. Between One & Two aClock, 
 all Eyes were gratified with seeing it rise majestically from 
 among the Trees, and ascend gradually above the Buildings, 
 a most beautiful Spectacle! When it was about 200 feet 
 high, the brave Adventurers held out and wav'd a little 
 white Pennant, on both Sides their Carr, to salute the Specta- 
 tors, who return'd loud Claps of Applause. The Wind 
 was very little, so that the Object, tho' moving to the North- 
 ward, continued long in View; and it was a great while before 
 the admiring People began to disperse. The Persons 
 embark'd were M r . Charles, Professor of Experimental 
 Philosophy, & a zealous Promoter of that Science; and one 
 of the Messieurs Robert, the very ingenious Constructors of 
 the Machine. When it arrived at its height, which I sup- 
 pose might be 3 or 400 Toises, it appeared to have only 
 horizontal Motion. I had a Pocket Glass, with which I
 
 15 
 
 follow'd it, till I lost Sight, first of the Men, then of the 
 Car, and when I last saw the Balloon, it appear'd no bigger 
 than a Walnut. I write this at 7 in the Evening. What 
 became of them is not yet known here. I hope they 
 descended by Day-light, so as to see & avoid falling 
 among Trees or on Houses, and that the Experiment was 
 completed without any mischievous Accident which the 
 Novelty of it & the want of Experience might well occasion. 
 I am the more anxious for the Event, because I am not 
 well inform'd of the Means provided for letting themselves 
 gently down, and the Loss of these very ingenious Men 
 would not only be a Discouragement to the Progress of 
 the Art, but be a sensible Loss to Science and Society. 
 
 I shall inclose one of the Tickets of Admission, on which 
 the Globe was represented, as originally intended, but is 
 altered by the Pen to show its real State when it went off. 
 When the Tickets were engraved, the Car was to have been 
 hung to the Neck of the Globe, as represented by a little 
 Drawing I have made in the Corner A. I suppose it may 
 have been an Apprehension of Danger in straining too 
 much the Balloon or tearing the Silk, that induc'd the 
 Constructors to throw a Net over it, fix'd to a Hoop which 
 went round its Middle, and to hang the Car to that Hoop, 
 as you see in Fig. B. 
 
 Tuesday Morning, Dec. 2. I am reliev'd from my 
 Anxiety, by hearing that the Adventurers descended well 
 near 1'Isle Adam, before Sunset. This Place is near 7 
 Leagues from Paris. Had the Wind blown fresh, they 
 might have gone much farther. 
 
 If I receive any farther Particulars of Importance I 
 shall communicate them hereafter. 
 
 With great Esteem, I am, Dear Sir, * 
 Your most obedient 
 
 & most humble servant, 
 
 B. FRANKLIN 
 
 P. S. Tuesday Evening. 
 
 Since writing the above, I have receiv'd the printed 
 Paper & the Manuscript, containing some Particulars of 
 the Experiment, which I enclose. I hear farther, that the 
 Travellers had perfect Command of their Carriage, descending 
 as they pleas'd by letting some of the inflammable Air 
 escape, and rising again by discharging some Sand; that
 
 16 
 
 they descended over a Field sollow as to talk with Labourers 
 in passing and mounted again to pass a Hill. The little 
 Balloon falling at Vincennes, shows that mounting higher 
 it met with a Current of Air in a contrary Direction: An 
 Observation that may be of use to future aerial Voyagers. 
 
 Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart. 
 
 (SOME PARTICULARS OF THE SECOND VOYAGE.) 
 
 M r . Le Chevalier de Cubiere qui a suivi la marche du 
 Globe est arrive" chez M. Charles hier 10 heures J du Soir 
 et a dit, Que les Voyageurs etoient descendus lentement 
 et volontairement a trois heures f dans les Marais de Nesle 
 et d'Hebouville, une lieue et demie apres 1'Isle Adam. Us 
 y ont ete accueillis par M rs . le Due de Chartre et Fitz 
 James, qui apres les avoir embrasses, ont signe le Proces 
 verbal de lieu et d'heure. Beaucoup d' habitants de la 
 campagne et le cure" de Nesle et d'Hebouville se sont aussi 
 trouves leur arrivee. 
 
 Les Voyageurs ont assure n'avoir e'prouve que des Sen- 
 sations agreables dans leur traversee. M r . Robert e"tant 
 sorti du Char, et aide de quelques Paysans, se disposoit 
 a remplacer sa Pesanteur avec de la Terre; mais M. Charles 
 voulant profiter du peu de Jour qui lui restoit, pour faire 
 encore quelques observations, impatiente de la Lenteur de 
 cette operation, : a, repris son Vol a 4 heures et J, avec un ex- 
 ce"dant de Legerete d'environ 100 Livres par une Ascension 
 droite et une rapidite telle qu'en peu de terns le Globe 
 s'est trouve" hors de vue. La Chute du Jour 1'a determine" 
 a redescendre une lieue et | plus loin, aux environs de 
 Fouroy. 
 
 La Machine n'a e'prouve aucun Accident. Elle perdoit 
 le"gerement par une petite ouverture qui existoit deja 
 quelques heures avant son Depart aupres de 1'appendice, 
 et dont le Morceau de Taffetas que Ton y avoit applique 
 au moment de Fexpe"rience, s'etoit detache. 
 
 Le petit Ballon est tombe" dans la Cour du Dongeon a 
 Vincennes. II a etc" ramasse" par des Enfans et vendu 6d. 
 au nomme" Bertrand. II avoit perdu son air inflammable 
 par le Robinet qu'on avoit laisse ouvert expres pour em- 
 pecher Fexplosion a trop grande hauteur. On evalue qu'il
 
 17 
 
 a ete 50 minutes en 1'air. Le Taffetas 6toit roussi aux 
 deux Extremites. 
 
 NOTES CONCERNING THE LETTERS. 
 
 Letter of August 30. The hand-writing is in a more flowing style 
 than the subsequent letters. Bigelow omits paragraph ten beginning 
 "It is said." Both Bigelow and Smyth give another paragraph in the 
 Postscript, beyond the signature "B. F." in my copy; also a note dated 
 Sept. 2d, which contains calculations in French relating to the balloon. 
 Smyth says that these additions are not in the University of Pennsylvania 
 draft but that they occur in this press-copy, which is obviously a mistake. 
 In paragraph two of the Postscript "mov'd out," in Smyth, should read 
 "being moved out," and in the last line but one "upon" should read 
 "up in." 
 
 Letter of October 8. In the eighth line after the word "Balloon" 
 Smyth inserts "lately." Part of the valedictory and the signature are 
 omitted by Bigelow and Smyth, but the former gives an "Extract of 
 the Proposals" for the balloon of which I have no copy. 
 
 Letter of November 21. This should be dated Nov. 22, since the ascen- 
 sion of d'Arlandes and de Rozier which, according to the letter, took 
 place the previous day is known to have been on the 21st. The ortho- 
 graphy of the French words in Bigelow and Smyth does not always 
 agree with the copy. In paragraph three, for "Post," in Smyth, read 
 "Port;" in paragraph six for "Adventures," in Smyth, read "Adven- 
 turers;" in paragraph thirteen for "By the emulation," in Smyth, 
 read "But the Emulation;" in paragraph fifteen for the phrase, in Smyth 
 and Bigelow, beginning, "I wish I could see the same emulation," 
 correct to end, "between the two Nations as I see between the two 
 Parties here;" in paragraph sixteen, in both Bigelow and Smyth, for 
 "Experiment," read "Experience;" and for the unintelligible phrase in 
 both Bigelow and Smyth, "Beings of a frank and [sic] nature," read 
 "Beings of a Rank and Nature." Minor discrepancies between this and 
 the other press-copies and the letters as printed by Bigelow and 
 Smyth also occur. The signature is in pencil in this copy. A "P. S. 
 Nov. 25th" is not in the press-copy, contrary to Smyth's statement, 
 but I have a press-copy of the French Proces-Verbal, therein referred 
 to, in Franklin's handwriting with his name and eight others affixed 
 as witnesses. Neither Bigelow nor Smyth print this document, which 
 was first reproduced in the book mentioned by Franklin in the first 
 paragraph of his letter, viz: "Description des Experiences de la Machine 
 Ae"rostatique par M. Faujas de Saint-Fond, Paris, 1783." Since Frank- 
 lin's copy of the Proces-Verbal differs only in his spelling the word 
 "sang-froid" instead of " sens-froid, " I do not print it. However, 
 other changes were introduced in the Proces-Verbal when reprinted in 
 the second volume of M. Faujas' work, published in 1784. Tba plate
 
 18 
 
 forming the frontispiece to this volume shows the balloon as seen from 
 Mr. Franklin's terrace at Passy. 
 
 Letter of November 30. This has never been published so far as I know. 
 "The Journal of the first Aerial Voyage," here mentioned, was written 
 by the Marquis d'Arlandes to M. Faujas de Saint-Fond on Nov. 28th 
 and first printed in the Journal de Paris but was republished by Faujas 
 de Saint-Fond in his second volume. 
 
 Letter of December 1. Smyth states that he reproduced this letter 
 from my press-copy but he omits the capital letters and the contractions 
 in spelling, as well as the references "A" and "B," which are given 
 by Bigelow with the remark that the drawings were not found. "The 
 Manuscript, containing some Particulars of the Experiment, which I 
 enclose," mentioned in the Postscript, is a two-page account in French, 
 in Franklin's handwriting, by an eye-witness of the voyage, M. le 
 Chevalier de Cubiere. As this interesting document has never been 
 published, to my knowledge, I have given it here literatim from my 
 press-copy.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 ' 9 1964 
 
 '* RBTD 
 
 -30w-ll,'58(.8268s4)444
 
 W^ 
 
 AW***