The aeronaut Blanchard was the first to construct a parachute for use from a balloon, his idea being that it might prove of service in the event of an accident while aloft. In 1785 he let down from a great height a parachute to which was attached a dog in a basket, which reached the ground gently and safely. After this M. Garnerin, the famous balloonist already referred to, hazarded a parachute descent in person, and his attempt being eminently satisfactory, parachute descents became fairly common. In August 1814 Mr. Cocking, an English gentleman of scientific tastes, read a paper on parachutes, suggesting an amendment in their shape and construction, before the Society of Arts, for which he was awarded a medal. His theory was never put into practice, however, till twenty-three years later, when, fired no doubt by the interest aroused by the famous Nassau voyage, he resolved to put his invention to the test. He accordingly constructed his parachute, which was of enormous size, of unwieldy weight, and in shape rather resembling an umbrella turned inside out. Despite the warning of friends that the untried machine was unwisely built, he insisted on making a descent with it, and succeeded in persuading Mr. Green to take him and his craft aloft attached to the Nassau balloon. [Illustration: COCKING’S PARACHUTE.] On the 27th of July 1837 they started from the Vauxhall Gardens, Mr. Green in the car accompanied by Mr. Edward Spencer (grandfather of the present well-known firm of aeronauts), his friend and frequent companion; Mr. Cocking seated in his machine slung below. A height of 5000 feet was attained, and then Mr. Cocking, after bidding a hearty farewell to the others, pulled the rope which liberated his parachute from the balloon. Relieved from the enormous weight, the latter rushed upwards into the sky with terrific velocity, the gas pouring in volumes from the valves and almost suffocating the occupants of the car. Their position, indeed, for the time was one of the greatest danger, and they were thankful to reach the earth unharmed, which they eventually did. But their fate was happier far than that of the luckless Cocking, whose parachute, after swaying fearfully from side to side, at length utterly collapsed, and falling headlong, was, with its inventor, dashed to pieces.