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the wind continued to rage with unabated fury the whole of the evening。 At 6 p。m。 I stepped into the car with Mr。 Simmons and gave the word 'Away！' The moment the machine was disencumbered of its weights it was torn by the violence of the wind from the assistants； bounded off with the velocity of lightning in a southeasterly direction； and in a very short space of time attained an elevation of two miles。 At this altitude we perceived two immense bodies of clouds operated on by contrary currents of air until at length they became united； and at that moment my ears were assailed by the most awful and longest continued peal of thunder I have ever heard。 These clouds were a full mile beneath us； but perceiving other strata floating at the same elevation at which we were sailing； which from their appearance I judged to be highly charged with electricity； I considered it prudent to discharge twenty pounds of ballast； and we rose half a mile above our former elevation； where I considered we were perfectly safe and beyond their influence。 I observed； amongst other phenomena； that at every discharge of thunder all the detached pillars of clouds within the distance of a mile around became attracted and appeared to concentrate their force towards the first body of clouds alluded to； leaving the atmosphere clear and calm beneath and around us。
〃With very trifling variations we continued the same course until 7。15 p。m。； when we descended to within 500 feet of the earth； but； perceiving from the disturbed surface of the rivers and lakes that a strong wind existed near the earth； we again ascended and continued our course till 7。30 p。m。； when a final descent was safely effected in a meadow field in the parish of Crawley in Surrey； situated between Guildford and Horsham； and fifty…eight miles from Newbury。 This stormy voyage was performed in one hour and a half。〃
It was after Green had followed his profession for fifteen years that he was called upon to undertake the management of an aerial venture； which； all things considered； has never been surpassed in genuine enterprise and daring。 The conception of the project was due to Mr。 Robert Hollond； and it took shape in this way。 This gentleman； fresh from Cambridge； possessed of all the ardour of early manhood； as also of adequate means； had begun to devote himself with the true zeal of the enthusiast to the pursuit of ballooning； finding due opportunity for this in his friendship with Mr。 Green； who enjoyed the management of the fine balloon made for ascents at the then popular Vauxhall Gardens。 In the autumn of 1836 the proprietors of this balloon； contemplating making an exhibition of an ascent from Paris； and requiring their somewhat fragile property to be conveyed to that city； Mr。 Hollond boldly came forward and offered to transfer it thither； and； as nearly as this might be possible； by passage through the sky。 The proposal was accepted； and Mr。 Holland； in conjunction with Green； set about the needful preparations。 These； as will appear； were on an extraordinary scale； and no blame is to be imputed on that account； as a little consideration will show。 For the venture proposed was not to be that of merely crossing the Channel； which； as we have seen； had been successfully effected no less than fifty years before。 The voyage in contemplation was to be from London； it was； moreover； to be pursued through a long； moonless winter's night； and under conditions of which no living aeronaut had had actual experience。
Calculation； based on a sufficient knowledge of fast upper currents； told that their course； ere finished； might be one of almost indefinite length； and it is not too much to say that no one； with the knowledge of that day； could predict within a thousand miles where the dawn of the next day might find them。 The equipment； therefore； was commensurate with the possible task before them。 To begin with； they limited their number to three in allMr。 Hollond； as chief and keeper of the log； Mr。 Green； as aeronaut； and an enthusiastic colleague； Mr。 Monck Mason； as the chronicler of the party。 Next； they provided themselves with passports to all parts of the Continent； and then came the fitting out and victualling of the aerial craft itself； calculated to carry some 90；000 cubic feet of gas； and a counterpoise of a ton of ballast； which took the form partly of actual provisions in large quantity； partly of gear and apparatus； and for the rest of sand and also lime； of which more anon。 Across the middle of the car was fixed a bench to serve as table； and also as a stage for the winding in and out of an enormous trail rope a thousand feet long； designed by Mr。 Green to meet the special emergencies of the voyage。 At the bottom of the car was spread a large cushion to serve the purposes of rest。 When all was in readiness unfitness of weather baulked the travellers for some days； but Monday； the 7th of November； was judged a favourable day； so that the inflation was rapidly proceeded with； and at 1。30 p。m。 the 〃Monstre Balloon；〃 as it was entitled in the 〃Ingoldsby Legends；〃 left the earth on her eventful and ever memorable voyage。 The weather was fine and promising； and； rising with a moderate breeze from the N。W。； they began to traverse the northern parts of Kent； while light； drifting upper clouds gave indication of other possible currents。 Mr。 Hollond was precise in the determination of times and of all readings and we learn that at exactly 2。48 p。m。 they were crossing the Medway； six miles west of Rochester； while at 4。5 p。m。 the lofty towers of Canterbury were well in view； two miles to the east； and here a little function was well carried out。 Green had twice ascended from this city under patronage of the authorities； and the idea occurred to the party that it would be a graceful compliment to drop a message to the Mayor as they passed。 A suitable note； therefore； quickly written； was dismissed in a parachute； and it may be mentioned that this； as also a similar missive addressed later to the Mayor of Dover； were duly received and acknowledged。
At a quarter past four they sighted the sea； and here； the air beginning to grow chill； the balloon dropped earthward； and for some miles they skimmed the ground； disturbing the partridges； scattering the rooks； and keeping up a running conversation the while with labourers and passers below。 In this there was exercise of perfectly proper aerial seamanship； such as moreover presently led to an exhibition of true science。 To save ballast is； with a balloon； to prolong life； and this may often best be done by flying low； which doubtless was Green's present intention。 But soon his trained eye saw that the ground current which now carried them was leading them astray。 They were trending to the northward； and so far out of their course that they would soon make the North Foreland； and so be carried out over the North Sea far from their desired direction。 Thereupon Green attempted to put in practice his theory； already spoken of； of steering by upper currents； and the event proved his judgment peculiarly correct。 〃Nothing；〃 wrote Mr。 Monck Mason； 〃could exceed the beauty of the manoeuvre； to which the balloon at once