In his last year (1869) Smith exhibited the French ‘captive balloon’ in the Ashburnham grounds. This balloon was made of linen and indiarubber, and held thirty people. It was attached by a strong rope worked by an engine of 200 horse-power, and could be let out, so as to soar ‘in an aerial voyage over London,’ 2,000 feet. The charge for an ascent was ten shillings, but a free admission was granted to a female inmate of the Fulham Workhouse, who chose to celebrate her hundredth birthday by a trip in the balloon, attended by the matron. It was fortunately not on this occasion that the captive balloon, after the manner of its kind, escaped! {16c} John Baum, who became lessee in 1870, had not the character of his predecessors, nor a hand strong enough to restrain the vagaries of his more troublesome clients. But he was by no means incapable as an entertainment manager and when the gardens were opened they were found to be much improved, and a new theatre was built. He developed the stage amusements, and produced some good ballets, such as _Giselle_, in 1870. In 1875 there was a comic ballet by the Lauri family, and Offenbach’s _Rose of Auvergne_, with a ballet of 100, was given. Auber’s _Fra Diavolo_ was presented before a Bank Holiday audience in 1877. {17} The orchestra was a capable one under Jules Riviere. In 1872 the licence for dancing, the great attraction of Cremorne, was refused, but in 1874 the waltzing or, the ‘crystal platform’ was again as lively as ever. [Picture: The Firework Gallery, Cremorne. From an etching by W. Greaves, 1870]