loons took place
for the most part only on the occasions of coronations and other great
public fetes.

Chapter VIII. Green's Great Journey Across Europe.

It is probable that at the origin of navigation, man, before he had
invented oars and sails, made use of trunks of trees upon which he
trusted himself, leaving the rest to the winds and the currents of
the water, whether these were known or unknown. There is some analogy
between such rude rafts, the first discovered means of navigation on
water, and balloons, the first discovered means of navigation in air.
But unquestionably the advantage is with the latter. No means have yet
been found of directly steering balloons, but by allowing the gas to
escape the aeronaut can descend at will, and by lightening his car of
part of the ballast he carries he can ascend as readily. It must also be
remembered that the currents of air vary in their directions, according
to their elevation, and were the aeronaut perfectly acquainted with
aerial currents, he might, by raising or lowering himself, find a wind
blowing in the direction in which he wished to proceed, and the last
problem of aerostation would be solved. That any such knowledge can ever
be acquired it is impossible to say; but this much may with safety be
advanced, that distant journeys may frequently be taken with balloons
for useful purposes.

One of the most remarkable excursions of this kind was that
superintended by Green, in 1836, from London to Germany. This journey,
1,200 miles in length, is the longest that has been yet accomplished.
Green set out from London on the 7th of November, 1836, accompanied by
two friends--Monk-Mason, the historian of the journey, and a gentleman
named Molland. Not knowing to what quarter of the globe he might be
blown, Green provided himself with passports to all the states of
Europe, and with a quantity of provisions sufficient to last him for
some time, should he be driven by the wind over the sea. Shortly after
mid-day the balloon rose with great grandeur, and, urged by a light
breeze, floated to the south-east, over the plains of Kent. At four
o'clock the voyagers sighted the sea.

"It was forty-eight minutes past four," says Monk-Mason, "that we first
saw the line of waves breaking on the shores beneath us. It would
have been impossible to have remained unmoved by the grandeur of the
spectacle that spread out before us. Behind us were the coasts of
England, with their white