not being able to forestal Blanchard and
Jefferies, he abandoned his project.

The first of January having been fixed for
the departure of the aeronauts, a splendid
entertainment, graced by the presence of Lord
Chatham and the Mayors of Dover and
Canterbury, was given to them the day before.
Blanchard and Jefferies wisely refused to
respond to the numerous healths that were
drunk to them in any stronger liquor than
water. After this banquet—which was
protracted till the then late hour of nine o'clock
at night—some experienced sailors were
summoned, and they unanimously declared their
belief that the east wind, then blowing
steadily, would continue. Their prediction
turned out to be accurate. At break of day
on the first of January, some pilot balloons
that had been purposely launched, were
rapidly carried away in the anticipated direction.
It was impossible, therefore, for the
ascent to take place. The same thing
occurred every following day till the seventh,
when, at two in the morning, the wind shifted
to a favourable quarter, by blowing from
north to south, with a few slight oscillations
to the south-west.

As soon as M. Blanchard had determined
to start, he called all his workmen (it was
then five in the morning) and ordered them
instantly to repair to the spot. When they
were assembled, he launched another small
fire-balloon, which went off in the direction of
Calais. M. Blanchard, in a loud and firm
voice, announced to the Governor of the
Castle that, as the wind was favourable, he
was preparing to take his departure. In
order to give notice to the inhabitants, the
Governor ordered three cannons to be fired at
half-past eight. The whole population of
Dover, together with a great number of
strangers, who had purposely come from the
neighbouring towns within the few preceding
days, thronged down to the water's side.

At ten o'clock, Blanchard and his
companion made their last preparations, by
testing once more the strength of the cordage,
which formed the net containing the balloon
and suspending the car, and by proving, by
compression, the whole and safe condition of
the balloon itself. In the car, there were
placed, in two rows, nine little bags filled with
sand, a bladder containing letters, another
bladder filled with rum, and a third with
wine, fifteen sea-biscuits, a barometer, a
thermometer, a compass, a little two-pronged
hook, having in some degree the form of an
anchor, a telescope, a whistle, two short cloaks
(one of them lined with fur), and lastly two
magnificent flags emblazoned with the arms
of France and England. The weight of these
various objects, together with that of the
sand, amounted to forty-five pounds; and
that of the aeronauts, with their clothing, to
two hundred and forty-nine pounds. The car
was therefore laden with two–hundred and
ninety-four pounds.

It was a quarter past twelve when M.
Blanchard, perceiving that the balloon would
soon be filled with gas, yielded to the Governor
the honour of dispatching the messenger
balloon. The aeronauts then lunched with
the authorities of the Castle, the Mayor, and
the principal inhabitants of the town. Their
repast ended, they proceeded to the place of
departure, in the midst of a crowd of inquisitive
spectators. There, a touching scene
occurred. Dr. Jefferies' eldest child, a girl
thirteen years of age, threw herself weeping
on her father's neck, with the hope of
preventing him from starting. Mrs. Jefferies,
also, entreated her husband to remain, with
every mark of utter despair. These ladies
might make a display of affection, but they
by no means gave evidence of their good sense
or judgment. A man on the eve of a hazardous
expedition—and there are hazardous
expeditions which must be executed, if the
whole human race is not a crowd of cowards
—a man starting on a service of danger
requires more judicious and self-denying
marks of attachment than were so unwisely
evinced on the present occasion. Jefferies
himself, overcome by such a strong appeal to
his feelings, could not help bursting into tears,
although he endeavoured, by words of
encouragement, to dissipate the fears of his
wife and children. The distressed and
distressing females were at length led away into
the apartment of the Governor of the Cinque
Ports, where the utmost attention was paid
them, and encouragement given, by assuring
them of their relative's probable success, in
spite of their exaggerated terrors.

Two vessels had started from the port of
Dover, with orders to follow the course of
the balloon to the opposite coast, in order to
afford assistance to the aeronauts, in case of
their falling into the sea. The precaution,
was certainly a prudent one; but if any
accident had happened, it would probably have
proved a useless measure. Each of these
vessels carried eight picked men belonging to
the port, and a lieutenant of the navy.
Several other private vessels, having on board
a great number of anxious beholders, set sail
at the same time. At one o'clock precisely,
Jefferies entered the car, where Blanchard
had preceded him, and sat down on the rope
which served for a seat.

The two aeronauts were dressed alike, in a
sort of brown woollen slop, waistcoat of the
same material, knitted drawers covering the
feet, and tight ancle-boots. They both wore
leather gloves, and a scarlet woollen
comforter twisted several times round their necks.
Blanchard had a cap of light grey plush,
covering his ears; Jefferies a thick sailor's
cap. He also wore a tight girdle of silk, to
which were fastened his watch and his
handkerchief, and beneath which the form
of his favourite snuff-box was evidently
apparent.

Blanehard, in the most decided tone of