The ascent was made from Wolverhampton. At 1.39 p.m., the balloon was four miles high, the temperature was 8°, and by the time the fifth mile had been reached the mercury was below zero, and up to this time observations had been made without discomfort, though Mr. Coxwell, having exerted himself as aeronaut, found some difficulty in breathing. About 2 o’clock, the balloon still ascending, Mr. Glaisher could not see the mercury in the thermometer, and Mr. Coxwell had just then ascended into the ring above the car to release the valve line which had become twisted. Mr. Glaisher was able to note the barometer, however, and found it marked 10 inches, and was rapidly decreasing. It fell to 9¾ inches, and this indicated an elevation of 29,000 feet! But the idea was to ascend as high as possible, so the upward direction was maintained. “Shortly afterwards,” writes Mr. Glaisher, “I laid my arm upon the table possessed of its full vigour, and on being desirous of using it I found it powerless,—it must have lost power momentarily. I tried to move the other arm, and found it powerless also. I then tried to shake myself, and succeeded in shaking my body. I seemed to have no limbs. I then looked at the barometer, and whilst doing so my head fell on my left shoulder.” Mr. Glaisher subsequently quite lost consciousness, and “black darkness” came. While powerless he heard Mr. Coxwell speaking, and then the words, “Do try, now do.” Then sight slowly returned, and rousing himself, Mr. Glaisher said, “I have been insensible.” Mr. Coxwell replied, “You have, and I, too, very nearly.” Mr. Coxwell’s hands were black, and his companion had to pour brandy upon them. Mr. Coxwell’s situation was a perilous one. He had lost the use of his hands, which were frozen, and had to hang by his arms to the ring and drop into the car. He then perceived his friend was insensible, and found insensibility coming on himself. There was only one course to pursue—to pull the valve line and let the gas escape, so as to descend. But his hands were powerless! As a last resource he gripped the line with his teeth, and bending down his head, after many attempts succeeded in opening the valve and letting the gas escape. The descent was easily made, and accomplished in safety. [Illustration: Fig. 299.—A descending balloon.] Some pigeons were taken up on this occasion, and were set free at different altitudes. The first, at three miles, “dropped as a piece of paper”; the second, at four miles, “flew vigorously round and round, apparently taking a dip each time”; a third, a little later, “fell like a stone.” On descending a fourth was thrown out at four miles, and after flying in a circle, “alighted on the top of the balloon.” Of the remaining pair one was dead when the ground was gained, and the other recovered.