the plain of Saint-Denis, or in that of Grenelle;
for it is to be presumed that he hardly dreamed of going to Rome when he
engaged to go to the spot. More than fifteen days passed before he
received the expected notice; and he had probably given up his balloon as
lost, when there came the following letter from the nuncio of his
Holiness:

"Cardinal Caprara is charged by his Excellency Cardinal Gonsalvi,
Secretary of State of His Holiness, to remit to M. Garnerin a copy
of a letter dated Dec. 18. He hastens to send it, and also to add a
copy of the note which accompanied it. The cardinal also takes this
occasion to assure Monsieur Garnerin of his highest esteem."

To this letter was added a translation of the report made to the
cardinal, secretary of state at Rome, by the Duke of Mondragone, and
dated from Anguillora, near Rome, Dec. 18:

"Yesterday evening about twenty-four o'clock there passed through
the air a globe of astonishing size, which fell upon Lake Bracciano,
and had the appearance of a house. Boatmen were sent to bring it to
land; but they were not able to do so, as a high wind prevailed,
accompanied by snow. This morning early they succeeded in bringing
it ashore. This globe is of oiled silk, covered with netting, and
the wire gallery is a little broken. It seems to have been lighted
by lamps and colored lanterns, of which much debris remains.
Attached to the globe was found the following notice." (Which is
given above).

Thus we see that this balloon, which left Paris at seven o'clock on the
evening of Dec. 16, had fallen next day, the 17th, near Rome, at
twenty-four o'clock, that is to say, at sunset. It had crossed France,
the Alps, etc., and passed over a space of more than three hundred
leagues in twenty-two hours, its rate of speed being then fifteen
leagues (45 miles) per hour; and, what renders this still more
remarkable, is the fact that its weight was increased by decorations
weighing five hundred pounds.

An account of the former trips of this balloon will not be without
interest. Its first ascension was made in the presence of their Prussian
Majesties and the whole court, upon which occasion it carried M.
Garnerin, his wife, and M. Gaertner, and descended upon the frontiers of
Saxony.

The second ascension was at St. Petersburg, in the presence of the
Emperor, the two Empresses, and the court, carrying Monsieur and Madame
Garnerin; and it fel