The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

Foreign Intelligence

London, July 30.

LONDON BALLOON.

Yesterday the curious part of the inhabitants of London were on the tiptoe of expectation with respect to the aërostation of Miss Thompson, who ascended with Mr. Sadler, jun. in his balloon from Burlington House. The aërostatic art is not the subject of so much admiration as it was some years since; but the appearance of a lady flying on the wings of the wind, is now almost a novelty in England. No lady has made the attempt since Madame Garnerin went up at Vauxhall, and the undertaking on the present occasion was a matter of attraction.

There is a disposition on the part of the British public to sanction, and support every woman of spirit, who boldly throws herself on their protection, and we may say hundreds of thousands attended to bestow applause and encouragement.

Miss Thompson has long been desirous of mounting in a balloon from London, and it is but justice to say, she availed herself of the opportunity with firmness and resolution, not excelled in any example of female courage. The balloon was in every respect the same machine that ascended on a previous occasion. The apparatus was placed at the northeast angle of the court yard, and by three o'clock the balloon was partially inflated. It was concealed from the spectators who paid for admission by large pieces of canvass, which hung around as the curtains of a Turkish divan, no person being allowed to enter the enclosure except the men employed in conveying the gas. The company found some consolation for this check on curiosity, in the elegant display of beauty and fashion. The mansion windows were occupied by ladies of rank and the court yard was not without a large portion of fashionable promenaders.

The wind, which had blown fresh from the southwest quarter during the day, increased to a strong gale, and many persons were apprehensive the lady would not ascend. In that they were, however, quite mistaken.

The gale, which occasioned the balloon to move, notwithstanding its confinement, with considerable agitation, had no effect on the resolution of the female aeronaut; she refused to hear any observation to alter her resolution, exclaiming to her companion, 'Can you go up?' 'Certainly,' was his answer. 'Then,' said the lady with a smile,

'What man dare, I dare.'

At 4 o'clock the balloon contained gas enough to carry the aeronauts seventy miles, the distance it was calculated they would go. It was then partly affixed to the car, and at half past four the attendants removed it from the canvass screens to the other side of the yard, in order to give it room to clear the buildings. The gas, which had not previously put the balloon in shape, immediately gave the silk the regular appearance, and nothing was wanting but the aerial travellers. Mr. Sadler, jun. got into the car with much coolness, and was busily employed tying the cords which fastened the net work, when Miss Thompson came with several ladies and gentlemen, her friends. She was dressed in a French silk pelisse, with a neat straw hat and feather; she was interesting in her appearance, and genteel in manner. An indescribable sensation evidently pervaded the feeling part of the spectators.

There are many not yet reconciled to the safety of this sort of conveyance; and dread of the slightest disaster, which would inevitably plunge a fine bold spirited young woman to destruction, occasioned great anxiety.

Miss Thompson, as we have before observed, was firm and determined. The confusion occasioned by moving the balloon was enough to shake the firmest nerves; the lady, however, did not appear to feel it. Having taken her station in the car, the balloon, under the direction of Mr. Sadler, sen. was conveyed to the platform where the car rested. A pause ensued, during which the friends of the adventurers took a farewell: a person at the same moment exclaimed among the crowd round the balloon—'God bless you, Mary,' then addressing his companion, 'I have known her,' said he, 'since she was an infant.'

At that moment the countenance of the young lady we thought wore an appearance of emotion: a tear stood in the eye of several of the spectators, and the general feeling was beyond description. The car was released from the hands of the men who held it, and the balloon mounted with great rapidity, dashing over the northeast wing of Burlington House. Miss Thompson stood erect, and waved her white handkerchief; Mr. Sadler waved the flag. Both acted with all the courage imaginable, returning the shouts of the people until lost to the view. Impelled by the wind, it drove away to the north, about two points east, passing over Islington in the way to Essex. The spectacle

celebrated with so much tumult, for the former ascent.