er, after throwing more wood on the
fire, in order to get up to a greater altitude, it was discovered that
a rent had been made in the covering, caused by the fire by which the
balloon had been damaged two or three days previously. The rent was four
feet in length; and as the heated air escaped very rapidly by it, the
balloon fell, after having sailed above the earth for barely fifteen
minutes.

The descent only occupied two or three minutes, and yet the shock was
supportable. It was observed that as soon as the machine had touched the
earth all the cloth became unfolded in a few seconds, which seemed to
confirm the opinion of Montgolfier, who believed that electricity had
much to do in the ascent of balloons. The voyagers were got out of the
balloon without accident, and were greeted with the most enthusiastic
applause.

On the day of the ascent, the opera of "Iphigenia in Aulis" was given,
and the theatre was thronged by a vast assemblage, attracted thither
in the hope of seeing the illustrious experimentalists. The curtain had
risen when M. and Madame de Flesselles entered their box, accompanied
by Montgolfier and Roziers. At sight of them the enthusiasm of the house
rose to fever pitch. The other voyagers also entered, and were greeted
with the same demonstrations. Cries arose from the pit to begin the
opera again, in honour of the visitors. The curtain then fell, and when
it again rose, after a few moments, the actor who filled the role of
Agamemnon advanced with crowns, which he handed to Madame de Flesselles,
who distributed them to the aeronauts. Roziers placed the crown that had
been given to him upon Montgolfier's head.

When the actress who played the part of Clytemnestra, sung the passage
beginning--

"I love to see these flattering honours paid."

The audience at once applied her song to the circumstances, and
re-demanded it, which request the actress complied with, addressing
herself to the box in which the distinguished visitors sat. The
demonstrations of admiration were continued after the opera was over;
and during the whole of the night the gentlemen of the balloon ascent
were serenaded.

Two days afterwards, Roziers having appeared at a ball, received further
proofs of admiration and honours; and when, on the 22nd of January, he
departed for Dijon on his return to Paris, he was accompanied as in a
triumph by a numerous cavalcade of the most distinguished young men of
the city.

There was, ho