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.
- Vincenzo Lunardi
- Date:
- 1784
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.
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![[ ] fuppofe they may be divided ; but they agree in the propriety of making my attempt near Bedlam, as the event, in their opinion, will render it necefTary to convey me there. How happy fhould I be, if fome kind l'pirit would inftrudt me, to emulate Aftolpho* on his flying horfe, and to explore thofe regions where the (fraying wits of mortals betake themfelves ! But this isn t a time for even benevolent reveries, and l indulge them in any degree, to repel unwelcome apprehensions. Half after One. The time fixed for my depaiture is elapfed; but the Balloon is not fuffi.i n ly filled for the purpofe. The po¬ pulace have given feme intimations of impatience1; and I may yet be pre-judged before I make my att mpt. The prefence of th< Prince of Wales; and the obvious fatis- fadfior? with which he ‘ lews the progrefsof the preparations may remove the fufpimon of deceit, and reftrain the im- petuefity of the people. The con’defcendirfg affability of »he Prince, and the intereft he deigns to exprefs, by re¬ peated wifhes for the fafety of Mr. Biggin and me, are pleafing alleviations of my prefert anxiety. His Royal '-'X Highnefs remains near the Apparatus, without going to the company in the houfe. Thole who attend him, pay their court, and I dare fay, exprefs their real fenti- ments by anxieties for his fafety. They apprehend dan¬ gers fmm the apparatus and from tumults—his Royal Highnefi apprehends none, for he is really better informed, <_ # Vide Ariojio*s Oilando Furiofo, where the Kng ilh Knight as laid to have mounted to the moon, to bring back the wits of Orlando*—Qwery, Are not the fables of flying herfe^ dragons, &c prefurr ptions that the principle of Air Balloons is not a modern difeovery ? afks](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30793014_0036.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)