[Sidenote: Descent at first rapid.] 96. The circular Mouth of the Balloon continuing wide open, at about 18 Inches Diameter; so much _cool_ and _moist_ Air rushed in during the Descent; that, tho’ its Momentum or acquired Motion was retarded by _Dispersion_ of the Ballast, it had not yet recovered an +actual levity+: being too near the Ground before the second Bag was discharged. _Presuming_ however that 24 Pounds Weight of Ballast thrown out, was sufficient to break the Fall, tho’ in a cool moist _condensing_ Atmosphere of _pure defloguisticated_ Air; the Event of _landing_ was _waited for_. [Sidenote: A _depressing_ Torrent of Air on the Balloon.] It has been _since_ imagined that a _heavy_ +depressing+ torrent of _cool_ Air took Place from the North-West at a certain Height over the Water, and _assisted_ the Descent of the Balloon. [Sidenote: The Balloon descended with a _rushing_ Noise.] 97. In order to judge with what Rapidity the Balloon descended, when so +low+ as to be within the Influence of the _under_ Current, while the _cool moist_ Air rushed in at the Bottom, and most probably pressed out the Gass; the following Intelligence has been communicated by a Person of Veracity. [Sidenote: Anecdote shewing the Rapidity of Descent, at first.] As two credible Farmers were working, with their Servants, in the +harvest+; on hearing a hollow, rushing Sound in the Air, which they took to be a _Whirl-wind_, or _distant Thunder_, and which seemed every Moment to encrease and approach them; they all retreated under a large Oak. While there, they first perceived the swift Descent of the Balloon. Two, who were afraid of Thunder, then began to take Courage, boldly exclaiming they shoud never fear Thunder again, since the _Falling_ of a Balloon coud be attended with so _terrible_ a Noise. CHAPTER XVII. BALLOON STILL DESCENDING. Section 98. The Car, gliding _over_ Trees in the _farther_ Hedge-Row of a Grass Field, glanced on the Ground. [Sidenote: Caution on Landing.] The Aironaut, being _prepared_ for the Event, supported a _Part_ of the Weight of his Body by his Hands, grasping the _upper_ Hoop. The Balloon _stooping_, and declining from the North-West Breeze, drew the _upper_ Hoop out of the Perpendicular: by which Means, the Bottom of that Division of the Barometer-Frame which contained the _Tube_, pressed against the Bottom of the Car on the Ground, was _separated_ from the remaining Half of the Frame, and fell on the _Grass_. [Sidenote: More Ballast parted with, viz. seven Pounds.]