From a Conversation held the next Morning at Frodsham, with some intelligent Persons who had descried it gliding gently throu’ the Air; the Balloon appeared so extremely _minùte_, that it was thought impossible to be the +one+ expected the same Day to rise at Chester with an Aironaut. [Illustration: R. Newton } Arm. design et pinx. Stothard delin. T. Baldwin} Sharp sculps. _The_ BALLOON _over HELSBYE HILL in_ CHESHIRE _see page IIII b._ Published May 1ˢᵗ. 1786, by T. Baldwin Chester.] [Sidenote: Half Mile _white_ Flag like a Feather.] To use their own Expression, “_it coud not have been larger than a Bladder, if they had seen it on the Ground_.” The same Persons observed the _white_ Flag, like a _Feather_ about 8 Yards Distance from the Balloon. A second Air Bottle was thrown down. [Sidenote: Course of the Balloon traced to shew the Manner in which it was affected by the _Water_.] 78. The Town of Kingsley being to the East; Frodsham-Bridge half a Mile to the West; the Conflux of the Rivers Wever, and the _wide_ Mersey falling into the Sea one Mile farther Westward; the Balloon proceeding in its usual Course over the Country in the _upper_ Current; began to be _impeded_, on its vertical Approach +across+ the Meadows to the Wever; was actually stopped; and being _entangled_ by the _River_, evidently changed its former Direction: imitating, if possible, _its_ Meanders; or at least making Gyrations in Circles of different Diameters, at the same Time turning different Ways round its Axis: describing Curves, something similar to that of the Moon round the Earth in her Orbit; or of Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, as those _Curves_ are delineated in the _Prints_ of Long’s Astronomy:[23] the Course of the River being its _changeable_ Center. 79. It is to be observed, that if the Balloon had continued to pursue its _former_ Course; no Danger was to be apprehended of its falling on the Sea, or on the broad Branch of the River Mersey towards Warrington. On the contrary, it must have gone into the Heart of the adjoining County, and passed near Manchester. It is likewise worthy of remark; that unless a Fragment of light Vapour intervened for a few Seconds; the Country immediately below the Observer was _continually_ illuminated by the Sun’s Rays: tho’ none but the larger Objects were distinguishable at the Bottom of the profound Abyss, _more_ than two Miles in Diameter at one View: that being the utmost Boundary of the circular Prospect below. [Sidenote: Circularity of Prospect below, bounded by _Vapour_.] 80. The _Sea_ tho’ known to be _near_ by the Dashing of its Waves upon the Shore, which were plainly heard, was totally eclipsed: as if by Haze or Vapour, which began to be accumulated only at a certain Height _below_ the Balloon; yet in such a Manner as _not_ to prevent the solar Rays from penetrating throu’, and shining bright upon the Water.