similar size ascended at the same time, apparently to race the one provided with this marvellous propelling (?) agent, but itself to be wafted in the old and primitive fashion by the changeful breeze. Such a sight as the start I have seldom seen. A balloon ascent may be an exciting event; the aeronaut and those around are often very excited; but on this occasion every one admitted to the enclosure seemed to have gone entirely off his head. Each one fancied that he was managing the whole affair. Every one was shouting, every one giving orders, every one hanging on to the balloon, every one wildly excited. The balloons went up, ballast was immediately poured freely over every one's head, and the result was distinctly amusing. Some of the men were fearfully enraged at a little sand being thrown on their hats, others laughed,

and the remainder shrugged their shoulders. One balloon went right up several thousand feet; the other did not rise more than a few hundred. Of course they got into different currents. The oar was worked violently, and we watched carefully for the result. The balloon certainly began to turn slowly round, but of course it did nothing more. Whether the inventor expected to see the balloon propelled along against the wind, or what he expected, he did not say.

Two years afterwards, happening to hear rumours of a marvellous navigable balloon being constructed by the military authorities in Paris, I went to Meudon, where is the establishment of the military aeronauts, and was surprised and delighted to behold a fully inflated monster with a long car and big screw attached, which some months

afterwards rose to spread its fame around the globe, as the first balloon which had made a voyage in a given direction and had been propelled back to its starting-point.

Having thus served my 'prenticeship, and seen what most other people's balloons were like, I determined upon becoming owner and captain of my own vessel. Accordingly I bought the good balloon "Eclipse," of 28,000 cubic feet, and set to work to fit her up after my own fashion. I engaged Mr Wright to arrange the first start (at Aldershot), and employed some soldiers of my company to assist at the inflation. After an enjoyable voyage we determined to descend, came down with a good bump in one field, and bounding over a large hedge, in which the grapnel took a firm hold, landed softly in a grass field. A pack