Lunardi had previously ascended in his balloon
from St. Andrew's Square, then not built upon, but only a vacant
space of ground. This, however, had been found an inconvenient
place, as the public could view the process of inflating the balloon
from several quarters, which of course lessened the profits of the
aeronaut. The ascent from St Andrew's Square was most magnificent.
The balloon passed over the heads of the thousands
assembled in the Green of Glasgow, and was seen majestically
gliding along, in the full view of the wondering multitude, until
it seemed dissolved in the thin air of the distant atmosphere.
Lunardi descended in the vicinity of Hawick, a distance of 70
miles, and was upwards of two hours in performing his aerial
voyage. An accident had nearly happened in St. Andrew's
Square on this occasion; for the Rev. Mr. Lothian, teacher of
mathematics, being anxious to see the effect of inflating the
balloon from the gas generated by the admixture of oil of vitriol
and iron filings, incautiously got himself entangled among the
ropes which held down the balloon at the very moment of its
ascent. The consequence was that the rev. gentleman was thrown
down and dragged along by the foot for some distance ; and had
not the ropes uncoiled of themselves, he might have been carried
up with the balloon, suspended by the leg. As the rev. mathematician,
however, had received no hurt by the accident, his ludicrous
situation became a source of much merriment in the city. The
subsequent ascent from the garden of the Merchants' House was
not so successful as the one from St. Andrew's Square—the
balloon descending at the shorter distance of Campsie It passed
over the city, but was not so distinctly seen in its progress as it
was on the first occasion.
I was present in the Green of Glasgow viewing both ascents.
I was then in the Grammar School, and we got the play, as our
teachers said, in order that we might behold the wonderful
spectacle; but boys are sharp enough, and they, with a good
deal of jeering, alleged that the play was given, not on their
account, but merely because the teachers themselves were anxious
to see the exhibition.
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