An account of the first aërial voyage in England : in a series of letters to his guardian, Chevalier Gherardo Compagni, written under the impressions of the various events that affected the undertaking / by Vincent Lunardi.

  • Lunardi, Vincent, 1759-1806.
Date:
1784
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the first aërial voyage in England : in a series of letters to his guardian, Chevalier Gherardo Compagni, written under the impressions of the various events that affected the undertaking / by Vincent Lunardi. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    26/76 (page 18)
    [ »« ] Balloons has been admitted here with reluctance; the pompous accounts of French voyages are credited, after making large allowances for Gallic vanity ; and all hy- pothefes refpe&ing a certain and uleful application of the difcovery are confidered as romantic vifions. This pre- pofTeffion, however, does not prevent philofophers an4 men of letters here from difcerning the practicability of every thing that has been efteCted in France. But they are not much more numerous in this than in other nations ; they do not always regulate the opinions of the people> and, in this cafe, they are not very defirous of undeceiving them. The national prejudice of the Eng- lifh againft France is fullered to have its full effeCt, on a fubjeCt from which the literati of England expect to de¬ rive but little honour; an unfuccefsful attempt has been made by a Frenchman ; and my name being that of a fo¬ reigner, a very excufable ignorance in the people may place me among the adventurers of that nation, which are faid to have fometimes diftmguifhed themfelves here by i ngenious impofitions. I am apprehenfive, therefore, I muff relinquifh my un¬ dertaking, after an expence which my circumftan ts can ill bear, and when the fatisfaCiion and glory of accom- plifhing it are juft within my reach. Adieu, my dear friend, I regret the neceffity of leav'ng on your mind, the melancholy imprefEons which this letter muff make. You may depend on it I fhall conduCl myfelf in every event with a proper recollection of your folicitude and regard for me. For 1 fhall ever remain, moft fmcerely your’s, London, Aug. iB, 1784. VINCENT LUNARDf.