He has since made a number of ascents for scientific purposes, some of which were of a most perilous nature—one resulting in a disaster in the Baltic. On another occasion he was carried from Gothenburg over the Baltic, after having traversed the whole of Sweden. The reefs round the Isle of Goëland presented the greatest difficulties to his landing. This last attempt nearly cost Andrée his life; but these “little accidents” were not calculated to discourage a man of his temperament. He made several experiments at steering by means of a guide-rope and a sail, and came to the conclusion that it would be possible to direct the course of the balloon even while keeping it at a low altitude. Thereupon, early in 1895, Andrée presented to the Academy of Sciences a well matured project for exploring the regions of the North Pole with the aid of a balloon; the start was to be made from Spitzbergen, where the inflation of the balloon was to be effected. The estimated cost amounted to about £7,177. A National subscription was opened, which was completed in a few days by four generous donors. Mr. A. Nobel, of lamented memory, subscribed £3,588. The King of Sweden, wishing to show the interest taken by him in the expedition, gave £1,656. Baron Dickson, well known for his liberality, also gave £1,656. The sum was completed by Mr. R. Lamm and some other donors. Mr. R. Lamm, moreover, undertook to supply all the mechanical part of the various apparatus. Having once settled the financial aspect of the question, Andrée made several journeys all over Europe, in order to obtain personal interviews with foreign scientific celebrities and gain them over to his views concerning this bold enterprise. He visited, one by one, the aeronautical establishments, procuring at the same time samples of the tissues employed, and obtaining the opinions of various constructors. Thereupon, on his return to Stockholm, he carefully tested the samples which he had brought with him; he felt interested in the English and German products, but gave preference to the French industry. Finally his choice fell on Chinese Pongee silk, cemented together in double, threefold, and fourfold layers, and varnished, this tissue having been advocated and experimented with for several years past by M. H. Lachambre, to whom Andrée entrusted the construction of the balloon on condition that M. Lachambre should follow the expedition to Spitzbergen, where the benefit of his experience would be at Andrée’s service. The Aerial Vessel DESCRIPTION OF THE BALLOON FOR ANDRÉE’S POLAR EXPEDITION, AND THE APPLIANCES CONSTRUCTED AT THE AEROSTATIC WORKSHOPS OF VAUGIRARD. After studying the question for a long time, Andrée finally decided to give his balloon the cubical contents of 158,924 feet, and the shape of a sphere terminating in a slightly conical appendage.