[Sidenote: The Gass not offensive.] 34. This gentle Evaporation of inflammable Air, or Gass, continued: disappearing at the Distance of four and five Inches below the Opening: nor did it offend the Smell; not descending within its Influence. [Sidenote: Attention to the Balloon, and Dimensions of the Car and Hoops.] 35. He then looked upwards at the Balloon, and perceived that it was considerably swelled in its Dimensions: and that the Distention had raised the Bottom-Opening of the Balloon half way between the two Hoops: i.e. from his Hip to his Shoulder, as he stood upright. The Height from the Bottom of the Car (which was a thin circular Board four Feet and a half, Diameter, placed on a strong Netting, and covered with green Bays) to its Top or the lower Hoop, was three Feet; with the Netting continued round between the lower and upper Hoop. [Sidenote: Stationary, and Notes made.] 36. He was aware that the Swelling of the Balloon, and copious Vapour then issuing from it, denoted the Moment when it began to lose its ascensional or elevating Power; and that its accelerated Motion was diminishing. He therefore looked at his Barometer and Watch, which was 53 Minutes past I.[9]; took up his Pencil, and on a Card (marked before he left the Earth, as follows: Chester-Castle-Yard. Thursday, the 8th of Sept. 1785, I. o’Clock, Barometer 29⁸⁄₁₀, Therm: 65 in the Shade towards the North;) he wrote “Rose at 40 Minutes past I.” He then looked again at the Barometer, which continued falling for some Minutes, and fluctuating up and down within the Space of an Inch or more. It first began to rest at 23¼, and a little after at 23½. Having looked again at his Watch, he put down “57 Minutes past I. became stationary: Barometer 23¼: Therm: still 65, sometimes lying in the Shade, and sometimes exposed to the Sun: the Balloon turning round frequently thro’ East to South.” [Sidenote: Fluctuation of Barometer.] 37. The Fluctuation of the Barometer, he imagined to arise from continued Exertions of the Gass within the Balloon, opposed by the atmospheric Air, which varying in Density and Temperature woud give an unequal Resistance to the Balloon: and both Gass and Air being elastic, the Power of Ascent would act by Intervals, and communicate its Pulsations to the Quicksilver in the Tube. His own irregular Motions in the Car would increase the Fluctuation. [Sidenote: The Compass traversed, but was useless.] 38. The Compass likewise traversed backwards and forwards, pointing due North, and unaffected by the Turns of the Balloon: but was useless, as the Sun shone bright the whole Time of the Excursion.[10] [Sidenote: Aironaut first looked down at Leisure.] 39. Thing’s taking a favourable Turn, he flood up, but with Knees a little bent, more easily to conform to accidental Motions, as Sailors when they walk the Deck: and took a full Gaze before, and below him. [Sidenote: Scenes below described.] But what Scenes of Grandeur and Beauty!