91. The Observer very deliberately stooping to put down his Card and Pencil; with his _left_ Hand grasping the Hoop of the Car, and with his Right holding a Sand-Bag, to throw over as he approached the Earth; found that the Balloon was _influenced_ by an +under+ Current blowing from the Sea: and marked his Progress by the half Mile +white+ Flag; whose Stretcher having acquired a Position parallel to the Plane of the Horizon, placed the Flag in an excellent Point of View: the Balloon _towing_ it _apparently_ with a _slow_ Motion, over the distant Tops of the _dark-green_ Trees. CHAPTER XVI. BALLOON DESCENDING. [Sidenote: Air chilly. Therm. 55; Barom. 26½.] Section 92. No sooner had the Balloon _descended_ within the Influence of the _Sea Breeze_, than it became +instantly+ _condensed_ by a certain +chilliness+ which +then+ began to prevail. [Sidenote: Balloon in the _under_ Current.] 93. This Height has _since_ been considered as the +Level+ of +fleecy Vapour+, +Scud+, or lowest Stratum of Clouds, in +bright+ and +warm+ Weather.[28] No _visible_ Clouds were presented _near_ the Spectator. On the contrary, they seemed to _shrink back_ to the Distance of a Mile round the Eye; and then _immediately_ appear above it, the Balloon continuing to descend. Nor did any _circular_ Horizon of the Earth shew itself; till the Balloon had reached below this Level: viz. Barom. 26½, Thermom. 55. i.e. Temperate. Prospects were most +extensive+ and beautiful at this Altitude: which the Barometer estimates at full half a Mile.[29] Looking again at the Barometer, scarce a Minute afterwards; it had risen to 27. [Sidenote: Sudden Effect of cool moist Air on the Balloon.] 94. The Condensation by Chill and Moisture, and quick Contraction of _its_ Dimensions acted like a _Charm_ on the _Balloon_. In a Moment; as if dropped from the Clouds, the +Sea+ suddenly presented itself.[30] It seemed +near+, and of a +red+ Colour. _Circular_ Landscapes of the _distant_ Countries filled the Eye. Almost the whole Extent of the Channel was a perfect Calm: and rather _dazled_ the Sight. But from the Peninsula of Hale to that of Runcorn, and upwards, a _partial_ +Breeze+ from the North-West _ruffled_ the Surface (which was there of a _dark_ and menacing Complexion;) and seemed in its Course to have reached and _influenced_ the Balloon: whose Descent proving _more_ rapid than was expected; the Sand-Bag tyed up, weighing 12 Pounds, was opened, and the Sand _dispersed_. [Sidenote: Ballast thrown down, 12lb. and 12lb.] 95. The Aironaut continuing as before to _stand_ upright in the Car, and having resumed his Card and Pencil; Thermometer _again_ at 55°, on finding the Descent not _sufficiently_ retarded, wrote swiftly, “+no more remarks, mind the ship+:” meaning the Balloon: and briskly stooping for the second Bag of Sand, weighing likewise 12 Pounds, _dispersed_ it by _Handfulls_ in the same Manner.