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deavoured to confirm them, with the Expectation that our growing Weight might in time be thrown into their Scale, and, by joining our Interest with theirs might be obtained for them as well as for us, a more equitable Treatment from this Nation. There are many brave Spirits among them. The Gentry are a very sensible, polite, friendly and handsome People. Their Parliament makes a most respectable Figure, with a number of very good Speakers in both Parties, and able Men of Business. And I must not omit acquainting you, that, it being a standing Rule to admit Members of the English Parliament to sit (tho' they do not vote) in the House among the Members, while others are only admitted into the Gallery, my Fellow Traveller, being an English Member, was accordingly admitted as such. But I supposed I must go to the Gallery, when the Speaker stood up, and acquainted the House, that he understood there was in Town an American Gentlemen of (as he was pleas'd to say) distinguish'd Character and Merit, a Member or Delegate of some of the Parliaments of that Country, who was desirous of being present at the Debates of this House; that there was a Rule of the House for admitting Members of English Parliaments, and that he did suppose the House would consider the American Assemblies as English Parliaments; but, as this was the first Instance, he had chosen not to give any Order in it without receiving their Directions. On the Question, the whole House gave a loud, unanimous Aye; when two Members came to me without the Bar where I was standing, led me in, and placed me very honourably. This I am the more particular in to you, as I esteemed it

a mark of respect for our Country, and a piece of politeness in which I hope our Parliament will not fall behind theirs, whenever an occasion shall offer. Ireland is itself a poor Country, and Dublin a magnificent City; but the appearances of general extreme poverty among the lower people are amazing. They live in wretched hovels of mud and straw, are clothed in rags, and subsist chiefly on potatoes. Our New England farmers, of the poorest sort, in regard to the Enjoyment of all the comforts of life, are princes when compared to them. Such is the effect of the discouragements of industry, the non-residence not only of pensioners, but of many original landlords, who lease their lands in gross to undertakers that rack the tenants and fleece them skin and all to make estates to themselves, while the first rents, as well as most of the pensions, are spent out of the country. An English gentleman there said to me, that by what he had heard of the good grazing in North America, and by what he saw of the plenty of flaxseed imported in Ireland from thence, he could not understand why we did not rival Ireland in the beef and butter trade to the West Indies, and share with it in its linen trade. But he was satisfied when I told him that I supposed the reason might be, our people eat beef and butter every day, and wear shirts themselves.

In short, the chief exports of Ireland seem to be pinched off the backs and out of the bellies of the miserable inhabitants. But schemes are now under consideration among the humane gentry to provide some means. of mending if possible their present wretched condition.

S. V. 364.

THE BALLOON IN 1783

[From letters to Sir Joseph Banks, written in Passy.]

October 8, 1783.

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, fill'd with permanent inflammable Air. It was dismiss'd about One o'Clock 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 diminish'd gradually till it appear'd no bigger than one of the Stars, and in about 20 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 12, having been suspended in the Air 11 hours and a half. It lodg'd in a Tree, and was torn in getting it down; so that it cannot be ascertain'd whether it burst when above or not, tho' that is suppos'd. Smaller Repititions of the Experiment are making every day in all Quarters. Some of the

[graphic]

The Original Air Balloon
MONTGOLFIER'S FIRST BALLOON

Franklin witnessed its ascent
August 27, 1783

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 Subscription by Messieurs Charles & Robert, who are Men of Science and mechanical Dexterity. It is to carry up a Man. I send you enclos'd 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 Time, I purpose to be present, being a Subscriber myself, and shall send you an exact Account of Particulars. .

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PASSY, Nov. 21, 1783.

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 fix'd 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 & fill'd it.

The Persons who were plac'd in the Gallery made of Wicker, and attach'd to the Outside near the Bottom, had each of them a Post thro' which they could pass sheaves of Straw into the Grate to keep up the Flame, & thereby 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 these 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 poussée par le Vent s'est dirigée sur une des Allées du Jardin.' That is, against the Trees of one of the Walks. The Gallery hitch'd among the top Boughs of those Trees which had been cut and were stiff, while the Body of the Balloon lean'd beyond & seem'd 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 Balloon being no longer upright, the Flame would have laid hold of the Inside that lean'd 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 damag'd.

1

Planant sur l'Horizon. When they were as high as they chose to be, they made less Flame, and suffer'd 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 employ'd in keeping up the Fire, the Machine might turn, and by that means they were desorienté as the French call it.

There was a vast Concourse of Gentry in the Garden, who had great Pleasure in seeing the Adventures go off so chearfully, & applauded them by clapping, &c. but

1 Franklin is here explaining to his correspondent certain items in the French account of the balloon ascension which he sent with this letter.

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