and were presently joined by others with rifles, and had I not requested Herr Zeise to tell them we were friends from Hamburg, we should no doubt have received another volley directed at our own heads instead of the "Sylph."

When this was explained the people ran to us and stated that they had taken us for Danish spies, and had really shot at the balloon.

I now proposed that instead of letting off the gas two of us should go a little farther.

Herr Zeise was allowed by general consent to have the preference, the other gentlemen being anxious to get back and report themselves.

We took in some earth to make up for the loss of weight, but the Holsteiners very correctly guessed that by ascending again we were not over well satisfied with our reception, notwithstanding the explanations about being taken for Danes.

We left the place where we were fired into at 4h. 27m., after which the following readings were taken of the second voyage:

It was only the lateness of the season that prevented the repetition of my autumnal ascents; the public were anxious that they should not cease, and the seats in the car were

bespoken for at least half-a-dozen trips. I determined then to re-commence in the spring of 1850, and went back to England in order to spend the winter at home.

In the year 1850 I returned to Hamburg, and before ascending gave lectures on aërostation at the Ton Halle, after which a new cirque was erected outside the Dammthor, where I made several ascents..

When the fine weather commenced two or three distinguished men came northward on purpose to accompany me. The first was Count Schaffgotsch, of Berlin, a scientific man and well-known amateur chemist. The Count, by his own wish, was the only passenger on May 22nd, when we journeyed into Hanover.

On May 26th Count Paul Esterhazy did me the honour of taking a seat by my side, and opposite to us sat Captain James, an Englishman, and a merchant of Hamburg.

We had a splendid trip in the direction of Lubeck, and there was one incident attending it which vastly pleased the Hungarian nobleman, and produced no small amount of excitement at our descent.

As we were travelling rapidly in the direction of the East Sea it was necessary to come to an anchorage, after emerging rather suddenly from a dense cloud. On the leeward side of a wood a good landing place was descried, but in scudding over the tree tops the grapnel caught a lofty branch, and the "Sylph" was brought up unexpectedly while we were yet hovering over the forest. There were only two courses open to us for getting free; the first was to slip the cable and leave the grapnel behind; the second remedy was for one passenger to descend the rope and

loosen the iron, and get down the tree as best he could. My own duty consisted in remaining by the " Sylph," for the guidance of the remaining passengers, but fortunately Captain James was ready for the emergency, and dashed over the side of the car in British seaman fashion, lowering himself away hand under hand as we cheered him down until he was lodged in the branches, and reported that he could push out the flukes of the grapnel in a "brace of

shakes."

The noble fellow lost his hat in descending, which was blown away and stuck in a bough.

Before the iron was pushed out, I asked what height Captain James had to go down and whether he could manage the tree.

"Never mind me," said the sailor, "look out for a lurch and do not go far, as I shall be rather out of my reckoning when I get below."

Having cleared the trees I threw open the valve to its full extent, and we made good a landing not far from the place where James landed on the tree top.

Two or three men were immediately sent to the wood with Mr. H, our fellow voyager, to assist Captain James.

Some hundreds of country people collected in an incredibly short time, and before the gas had escaped, another hundred or two bore down upon us with an object of attraction in the shape of a sturdy but rather short man with a white kerchief bound round his head. The mob appeared to be impressed with the belief that the robust stranger was either wrong in his head or injured in that part.

He came tripping along with a firm and buoyant gait, but had evidently lost temper, and his hat into the bargain

"Do pray," said Captain James, "assure these good people, that I am uninjured, some of them saw me come down the tree rather sharp, and no doubt take me for an orang-outang, others imagine my figure-head is smasheddo tell them I am all right, and as lively as a kitten."

"Of that I am sure they have had convincing proof; remove your handkerchief and they will then see that your head is as sound as need be."

The Captain did so, and when the country people comprehended that he had lost his hat, a cap was tendered for his use, which was accepted and paid for.

After accomplishing other voyages from Hamburg, I directed my steps to Hanover with the intention of travelling South, so as to reach Vienna.

The only spot in Hanover where an ascent was practicable, happened to be a public garden, situated on the Marien Island, and pretty well adapted for the required purpose. One drawback only to this locality was a formidable row of poplar trees, over which the balloon would have to pass in case the wind blew towards them. The very first time the "Sylph " was announced to rise from Hanover, which was on July 3rd, the wind blew fiercely in the direction of the high trees. The filling took place about twenty yards from their base, and the gas flowed freely, so that at the appointed time, the silken globe was distended fully, and but one sentiment prevailed throughout a large assemblage, which was the certainty of the "Sylph" being dashed against the trees as it rose in

so strong a wind. To say that I did not share in this grave apprehension would be untrue. I knew too well that it was hardly possible to escape. The balloon rolled round and round in an alarming way, after the retaining bags had been removed, and I expedited the start, calling upon my proposed companions to bestir themselves, and hasten into the car. The wind freshened every minute, and the tapered poplar tops bent in frightful curves, showing the extreme pressure of the atmosphere, and consequently, what was to be expected and guarded against.

I placed a passenger at either end of the car, giving them each a large bag of ballast, with instructions to discharge them the moment I said No. 1 and No. 2. Then imparting a large amount of ascending power to the "Sylph," I waited as it rolled its huge volume about, until I saw the tops of the trees comparatively unmoved by the wind, instantly I pulled the trigger and up we bounded. A general shriek burst forth, and not without reason, for the upper part of the balloon was struck by a sudden gust and in another second it would have been wrecked among the trees had not the orders to "let fall sand bags" been splendidly executed; for three of them, my own included, were plumped out simultaneously, and there was a sharp vertical spurt in consequence; this, however, did not altogether clear us, as the lower hemisphere of the "Sylph" caught the yielding boughs, but the silk was well protected by cordage, and the whole passed safely over, eliciting a shout of satisfaction of the true sensational order.