st of sand, by which the ascent is
regulated and the fall is moderated; the coating of caoutchouc, by means
of which the material of the balloon is rendered airtight and prevents
loss of gas; and, finally, the use of the barometer, which marks at
every instant, by the elevation or the depression of the mercury, the
position in which the aeronaut finds himself in the atmosphere. Charles
created all the contrivances, or, in other words, all the ingenious
precautions which make up the art of aerostation.

On the 26th of November, the balloon, fitted with its network, and
having the car attached to it, was sent away from the hall of the
Tuileries, where it had been exhibited. The ascent was fixed for the 1st
of December, 1783, a memorable day for the Parisians.

At noon upon that day, the subscribers, who had paid four louis for
their seats, took their places within the enclosure outside the circle,
in which stood the casks employed for making the gas. The humbler
subscribers, at three francs a-head, occupied the rest of the garden.
The number of spectators, as we read underneath the numerous coloured
prints which represent this spectacle, was 600,000; but though, without
doubt, the gardens of the Tuileries are very large, it is probable this
figure is a considerable overstatement, for this number would have been
three-fourths of the whole population of Paris.

The roofs and windows of the houses were crowded, whilst the Pont Royal
and the square of Louis XV. were covered by an immense multitude. About
mid-day a rumour was spread to the effect that the king forbade the
ascent. Charles ran to the Chief Minister of State, and plainly told him
that his life was the king's, but his honour was his own: his word was
pledged to the country and he would ascend. Taking this high ground,
the bold professor gained an unwilling permission to carry out his
undertaking.

A little afterwards the sound of cannon was heard. This was the signal
which announced the last arrangements and thus dissipated all doubt as
to the rising of the balloon, There had during the day been considerable
disturbance among the crowd, between the partisans of Charles and
Montgolfier; each party extolled its hero, and did everything possible
to detract from the merits of the rival inventor. But whatever
ill-feeling might have existed was swept away by Professor Charles with
a compliment. When he was ready to ascend, he walked up to Montgolfier,
and, with the