The Deviation was gently tho’ _invariably_ towards the +sea+: and, if not _timely_ prevented, the Balloon must have fallen in the Middle of the Channel. 229. 5. The same Case woud have happened on the Re-ascent at Bellair; if the _levitating_ Force had _not_ as at first, overcome the Influence of the +waters+, and lifted the Balloon into the _same_ upper Current, which continued to move in its former safe Direction. 229. 6. Different Branches of the Duke of Bridgewater’s Canal near Preston-Brook might _possibly_ affect it in a small Degree: and, tho’ Clouds a little afterwards, secluded the Aironaut from a Sight of the Earth; yet the Balloon was known to hang, for some Time, over the Mersey near Warrington. 229. 7. The Balloon descended and alighted on the Middle of a large Tract of wet Moss Ground. The Writer saw Sadler’s Balloon rise at Manchester, the 11th May, 1785, and descend near Blencow-Bridge, at the Conflux of _two_ Rivers. The above Facts give sufficient Indications of the constant Tendency which Balloons have, to descend on Water. CHAPTER XXXXII. Section 230. Three Causes seem generally to concur in producing the Effect of Descent, over Water. 1. The Water itself. 2. The Air above it. 3. Change of Temperature, Section 231. Article 1. So long as Gass escapes from the Balloon; it will be instantly and _reciprocally_ attracted, throu’ the _Crevices_, by the Moisture contained in the _Air_, particularly over _Rivers_: its specific _Gravity_ within the Balloon, woud be encreased,[52] and consequently the Balloon itself rendered less buoyant: The Gass woud, on the contrary, be repelled by _electric_ Air: which woud lessen its Tendency to escape, throu’ the Pores of the Silk. But it is _presumed_ that Air-tight Balloons will be little affected by _external_ Moisture. 231. 2. Moist Air over Water being generally cooler than over the adjacent Land, will, so long as the Gass continues at its former Temperature, assist and raise the Balloon _thus_ moving into a _denser_ Stratum: but no sooner is the Balloon contracted by the external Cold, than it descends into a Medium of Air, whose specific Gravity is proportionable to the contracted Bulk of the Balloon, and rests when equal to it. 231. 3. Water is also a Conductor of Electricity, tho’ a feeble one: and there is moreover a strong chemical Affinity between +water+, inflammable Air, Gasses, Floguiston, and Electricity.[53] 231. 4. Water will therefore +conduct+ the Gass to itself: i.e. will draw the Balloon _downwards_, and with accelerating Velocity; as the Attraction is stronger, the nearer the Water.