Of which Event the Writer of this Account was an _Eye-Witness_, in the Case of Mr. Lunardi: who was _detained_ above 20 Minutes over the _broad Bend_ of the River Mersey, near Ince, in Cheshire, the Day he _landed_ between Tarporley and Beeston-Castle, ascending from the New Fort at Liverpool. He quitted his Station by the Escape of Gass, and descended into the _Stream_ of Wind, which continued as _violent_ as before. CHAPTER XXX. Section 169. The Summer Scenes of Fairy-Land below, being soon eclipsed by the _quick_ Intervention of a _Range_ of Clouds; the +sudden+ Contrast of which was highly pleasing to the Imagination; a Prospect of +mid winter+ instantaneously succeeded. [Sidenote: The Center filled up in an Instant.] 170. The Earth’s _Surface_ throu’ an immeasurable Crater of Vapour accumulated round the Aironaut, who was suspended, and seemed fixed in the Center above it, _no longer existed_. And, if it will not be allowed, that a _new_ Earth, and a _new_ +sky+ appeared; at least, let the Imagery and Resemblance of what was really seen, be taken from that +earth+, which in Fact did _not_ appear. A +world+ of _Clouds_, +greater+ than the +one+ below, became, for the first Time the _sole_ Object that engrossed the Sight. (See Section 144.) [Sidenote: View of the Clouds taken from _above them_.] 171. The Balloon was _apparently_ raised some Miles above the _Surface_ of a _concave shallow_ Plate, or Shell, or rather an immense Plain, _which_ was in general smooth and well defined: but the _dense_ tonìtruous Masses, rising here and there _above_ the Rest, greatly resembled steep and +rugged mountains+ seen in Perspective, at different Distances from 5 and 10 to at least a hundred Miles.[45] An unvaried deep cerùlean and pellucid Azure, without a Cloud above, enclosed the +novel earth+: whose Surface, whether Valley, Plain, or +mountain+ _in Appearance_; seemed as if covered to a prodigious Depth, by successive Falls of Snow, driven and polished by the Winds and Frost, and dazzling to the Sight: the Sun still shining above all, with +white+, unremitting and invigorating Rays.[47] CHAPTER XXXI. [Sidenote: Brilliant Colouring of _dense_ Clouds.] [Sidenote: Aironaut lost in the _blue Fields_ of Air, by the Intervention of Clouds below him: which prevented all _farther_ Knowledge of his Situation, and also a Sight of the Earth itself.] Section 172. A Thunder Cloud in most grotesque Form;—of superior Magnitude, Density, and +brightness+—a _celestial Colouring_; and whose _Shade_ was itself a _Colour_ of semi-transparent and transcendent _Blue_ and _Violet-Purple_;—remaining for several Minutes, _exactly under_ the Balloon, _tempted_ the Aironaut to descend into it; and, if possible, investigate its Structure and Composition.