While the inferior Clerics perfume the Garments of the _Priests_ officiating and offering Incense before the _high Altar_; which is ornamented with _full-Length Portraits_ in the richest Drapery, of Persons whether male or female, reputed of sound Morals and exemplary Piety; accompanied by Guardian Saints and happy Angels;—Columns of _white_ Smoke, wafted from _Silver_ Censers, rise to a certain Height in slow _majestic_ Movement, before the Eyes of the _kneeling_ Suppliants, who are _instantly shut out_ from the _enchanting_ View; till the Clouds dispersing, shew by _Intervals_, a Glympse of the _celestial_ Prospect, and of the _higher_ Orders of Beings, who _look down_ with _Complacency_ upon them; and seem _actually_ +descending+ throu’ Openings of the Clouds which _appear_ at Rest. CHAPTER XIII. [Sidenote: 2d Balloon-Iris.] Section 73. At 33 Minutes after II, the Balloon-Shadow was _again_ the Center of a brilliant _Iris_, painted at some Distance round it on Clouds below. [Sidenote: Bottle filled with _light_ Air.] 74. One of the Pint-Bottles for light Air was prepared (as in Article 14, of Section 12;) and dropped from the Car. The _Water_ it contained was poured down, to observe the Effects of _Air_ and _Light_ on the Drops. The Air did _not_ at that Height oppose a Resistance sufficient to break the Stream into _small_ Drops. Nor did they seem to coalesce: remaining, while they continued in Sight, of the same Size; some very large, others less so; and at the same _relative_ Distance, as when they first left the Bottle. The Colours seemed _stronger_ than usual. It may be _here_ observed that none of the Bottles were returned; tho’ found, and a Reward promised. The Country People, as soon as they saw a Bottle; imagining it must contain some Liquor, immediately contrived to open it: by which Procedure, the Intention of the Experiment was frustrated. The Bottles, which are _dangerous_ Companions even without Liquor, shoud, notwithstanding, be left in the Car: at least till the Time of _landing_ the Balloon. [Sidenote: Burton and Flint seen at the _first_ rising.] 75. While the Balloon was _first_ rising; a gentle Motion of the lower Current of Air carried it immediately towards the Sea. (Section 46.) At which Time, the Aironaut by a _Glance_ discovered the Mouth of the River Dee, four and five Miles wide, _yawning before him_: the Prospect extending to the Sea, as far as the _Smoke_ from the Lead-Works near a Place called Flint on the Welch Coast; and to Burton-Head on the Wirral Side; distant ten Miles from Chester. He has since been informed; that the Balloon seemed to +rest+, for a few Minutes, in the Air: and then _return slowly_ over Chester. [Sidenote: Balloon in a _quiescent_ Bed of Air.]