es this
machine:--"It was painted blue, represented a sort of tent, and was
richly ornamented with gold Its height was seventy feet; its weight
1,000 lbs.; the air which it displaced was 4,500 lbs. in volume, and the
vapor with which it was filled was half the weight of ordinary air. The
approach of the equinox having brought rain, all the conditions under
which this balloon was constructed and exhibited were unfavourable. The
structure was so large that it was impossible to get it together
and stitch it, except in the open air--in the garden, in fact, where
Montgolfier commenced its construction. It was a great labour to turn
and fold this heavy covering, while the liability of the thick paper
to crack was an additional difficulty. Not less than twenty men were
required to move it, and they were obliged to use all their skill, and
every precaution, not to destroy it. No balloon had ever given so much
trouble. On the 11th of September the weather improved, and the balloon
was entirely completed and prepared for the first experiment. In the
evening the attempt was made. It was with admiration that the beholders
saw the beautiful machine filling itself in the short space of nine
minutes, swelling out on all sides and showing the full symmetry of its
artistic form. It was firmly held in hand, or it would have risen to a
great height. On the following day the actual ascent was to take place,
and the commissioners of the Academy of Sciences were invited to be
present. In the morning thick clouds covered the horizon, and a tempest
was expected; but as there was an ardent desire that the ascent should
take place without delay, and as all the gearing was in order, it was
resolved to proceed.

"Fifty pounds of dry straw were fired in parcels under the balloon, and
upon the fire were thrown at intervals several pounds of wool. This fuel
produced in ten minutes such a volume of smoke that the huge balloon was
speedily filled. It rose, with a weight of 500 lbs. holding it down, to
some height above the ground, and had the ropes by which it was attached
to the ground been cut, it would have mounted to a great height.
Meantime the storm broke, rain descended, and the wind blew with great
force. The most likely means of saving the balloon was to let it fly
but as it was to ascend again on another occasion, at Versailles, the
greatest efforts were made to bring it down, and these, together with
the damage caused by the storm, eventuall