which the travellers sit, who choose to venture on the perilous voyage. The Balloon was invented by a Frenchman called Montgolfier, whose machine was raised by means of rarefied air—that is, air rendered lighter and more expansive by the application of heat. Since his time, several improvements have been made, and the balloons of the present day are filled, by means of mechanical apparatus, in a ready and expeditious manner, with common gas. When balloons were first invented, great expectations were entertained of their usefulness and despatch in sailing through the air; but, from the want of a sufficient guiding power-the machine being always at the mercy of the winds,-no great practical good has been derived from the invention. Many serious accidents have arisen at different times to the intrepid æronauts, who have tried the balloon's sailing powers, and little good has resulted from their adventurous courage: the word "ronaut" is derived from two Latin words, and means "airsailor." Here you have a representation of one of those disasters which happen occasionally to balloon voyagers. It occurred to Major Money, who, you see, was in great peril between wind and water. Many years ago he ascended in his balloon from Norwich, expecting from the direction of the wind, to be able to descend somewhere near Ipswich; but when he had risen about one mile from the earth, a violent current carried him and his balloon towards Yarmouth. The balloon fell in the sea, about nine miles from land. The Major supported himself for some time in the water, by holding firmly to the cords, after the car had been separated from the upper portion of the balloon; and was at last rescued from his dangerous situation by the crew of a cutter which was sailing near. This was a disastrous voyage, but I think it will interest you to hear of a more successful one, performed by three gentlemen,-one of whom, Mr. Green, has introduced some improvements in the art of filling and guiding balloons. These gentlemen left the earth in the car of a very large balloon, at half-past one o'clock, on Monday, the 7th of November, 1836, intending to proceed to some point on the continent of Europe, not very distant from Paris. They took with them provisions for a fortnight; these, with sand-bags for ballast, cordage, and all needful apparatus for such a journey, were stowed in the bottom of the car, while all around hung cloaks, carpet bags, barrels of wood and copper, barometers, telescopes, lamps, spirit-flasks, coffee-warmers, &c.,-for, you know it would be impossible for them afterwards to supply anything which might have been forgotten. Thus duly furnished, the balloon was rapidly borne away by a moderate breeze over the fertile fields of Kent, to Dover. It was forty-eight minutes' past four when the first sound of the waves on the seabeach broke on the voyagers' ears: the sun was sinking below the horizon, and as the balloon was rapidly borne into the region of mist which hung over the ocean, we must suppose something of dread and uncertainty attended the adventurers' minds. Scarcely, however, had they completed some arrangements, intended to render the balloon more buoyant in a heavy atmosphere, than again the sound of waves surprised them, and below were seen glittering the well-known lights of Calais and the neighbouring shores. Passing over Calais, the æronauts lowered a blue-light to give notice of their presence, but could not tell whether the inhabitants perceived it. By this time night had completely closed in, and still the silken ball pursued its course. So long as lights were burning in the towns and villages, which they passed in rapid succession, the solitary voyagers looked down on the scene with delight; sometimes they could even catch the hum of the yet busy multitude, or the bark of a watch-dog; but midnight came, and the world was hushed in sleep. As soon as people were again stirring below, the guide-rope was hauled into the balloon, and the grappling-iron lowered; and after sundry difficulties, from the danger of getting entangled in a wood, and grievously affrighting two ladies, who stood awhile petrified with amazement at the unusual apparition, the voyagers succeeded in alighting in a grassy valley, about six miles from the town of Weilburg, in the duchy of Nassau. Here every attention and accommodation was afforded themand thus ended this remarkable journey, an extent of about five hundred British miles having been passed over in the space of eighteen hours. LOVE OF TRUTH. LOVE of truth, early and deeply fixed, is the root of all excellence. When the A late President Washington was a little boy, having got a hatchet, he was observed to be very busy hewing and hacking many things for his amusement. One day, his father seeing in the garden a fine cherry-tree spoiled, called to him and said, "George, have you been hacking this cherry-tree ?" The child stood a moment silent, and then said, "Papa, I cannot tell a lie;" upon which the father fondly snatched him to his arms, and commended him for honestly speaking the truth. OLD TOWN T Old Aberdeen lies at the mouth of the river Don, over which is a fine Gothic bridge of a single arch, resting upon two opposite rocks. The principal building in this town is the King's College, which is quadrangular, with cloisters on the south side. This college was founded in 1494, and from the circumstance of King James IV. claiming the patronage of it, it derives its present name. and the Marischal College, in the new town, form one university, called the University of King Charles. The library is large, but has not many This curiosities. The first principal was Hector Boethius, who was sent hither from Paris on an annual salary of forty Scotch marks, of thirteen pence each, which was considered a very handsome salary in those days, when money was of much more value than it is now. The New Town is the capital of the shire of Aberdeen, and exceeds in extent, trade, and appearance, any town in the north of Scotland. It is situated about one mile from the old town, on a rising ground, in a small bay formed by the river Dee, which is deep enough for a ship of two hundred tons, and about two miles in circumference. There is an elegant bridge over the river, consisting of seven arches, said to have been built by Dunbar, who was bishop about the year 1500. The chief public building is the Marischal College, founded by George Keith, Earl Marischal, in 1594, and since augmented by many additional buildings. In this college there are about a hundred and fifty students, who are instructed, as well as those of the king's college, by able professors. Besides two parish churches, and the college kirk, there is an elegant episcopal chapel, with several meeting houses. The other public buildings are a handsome town house, a grammar school, Gordon's hospital, and an infirmary. The harbour is defended by a strong stone pier, lately erected under the direction of Mr. Smeaton. The trade of Aberdeen is very considerable. Its imports are from the Baltic sea, and a few merchants trade to the West Indies and North America. Its exports are stockings, thread, salmon, oatmeal, and pickled pork. The two first articles are very important branches of manufacture in this town and neighbourhood. The picture represents the western front of the old church, as seen from the graveyard, "where the fore-fathers of the hamlet sleep." |