Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

Messrs. Livingston and Sadler ascended in a balloon at Liverpool on the 28th of September. They travelled about 35 miles in about an hour and a half, and descended in safety. The following account of this enterprise, will be perused with interest, by those of our readers, who were lately amused with the ascent of Mr. Guille from this city, and more recently with the rapid and extensive flight of his balloon:
[N. Y. Com. Advertiser.]
The BALLOON.--An aerial voyage, notwithstanding the perfection to which the art of aerostation has arrived, may justly be regarded as an undertaking eminently characteristic of human daring. The ascension of an aerostatic machine from this town is, however, an event, of rare occurrence. Two only, we believe, have ascended from it. The first balloon ascended in July, 1785, when the art of aerostation was almost in its infancy.--In that year, Lunardi, a native of Italy, and the first person that ascended in a Balloon in England, ascended from the old Fort. The second was in August, 1812, when the venerable and intrepid aeronaut, Mr. Sadler, ascended from Kirkdale. Seven years have rolled by since that period, without the public being gratified by witnessing so magnificent a spectacle. The ascent of Messrs. Livingston & Sadler yesterday, was therefore, looked for with an interest greatly heightened by the novelty and rarity of the event, and the probability should the wind prove favorable, of Mr. Livingston attempting the daring and hazardous enterprise of crossing the channel to Ireland. The balloon in which these gentlemen ascended had been some time in preparation.--Its exhibition commenced, in the Music hall on Monday week. Its dimensions were greater than any balloon hitherto made, having been constructed by Mr. Livingston for the express purpose of crossing the channel to Ireland. Its diameter was 32 feet, and its height 58; it contained 31,880 cubic feet of gas, and its power of ascension was equal to 1100 lbs. The form of the car was oval, the ground an azure blue, painted in clouds, having on either side the Star of the Orders of St. George and St. Patrick, and at each the Regent's Plume: a band rail, and trellis work of gilt, from which were suspended festoons of flowers: the whole surmounted with a canopy of blue and yellow satin. Its decorations were extremely elegant and beautiful, beyond any thing ever witnessed in Liverpool. On Monday evening last the exhibition closed, when the balloon was removed to the area of the House of Industry. Yesterday was appointed for the ascent. The weather early in the morning seemed rather unfavorable for the purpose, the face of the heavens was overcast with masses of dense clouds. The wind blew a fresh breeze from the southwest, and at once destroyed all hopes of Mr. Livingston attempting the passage to Ireland. During the morning, however, the clouds slowly dispersed; the atmosphere partially cleared up, and at intervals, we were cheered with gleams of sunshine.

The company gradually collected in the spacious area of the house of Industry. The galleries on the west side, as well as the rooms in the front of the house, were principally occupied by elegantly dressed females. A considerable part of the company promenaded the area; among whom we noticed most of the rank and beauty of Liverpool and the surrounding country. The band of the 71st regiment, which had come from Chester for the occasion, was stationed in the area, and relieved the tedium till the ascent of the balloon by occasionally playing animating national airs.

The spectators on the outside of the houses were immense. The windows and tops of every house from which a glimpse of the balloon could be obtained were crowded. The Botanic walk, Moss Lake and the other fields in the neighborhood, Edge Hill, Low Hill, Everton, in short, every place and every eminence favorable for viewing the balloon teemed with spectators. Never before, we believe, was so immense a multitude congregated on any former occasion in Liverpool.

The process of inflation commenced at an early hour, under the able and scientific direction of Dr. Traill. At half past one, a pilot balloon was launched into the air. It continued in sight a few minutes when it entered a cloud, which concealed it from view. The inflation of the balloon being completed, the car was attached to it. Every preparation was now finished. Signal guns were fired a little after two o'clock; and a breathless anxiety prevailed for the ascension. At this period, the atmosphere had considerably brightened. The clouds, in the direction of the wind, had ascended, and formed a fleecy and almost spotless field, through which at intervals, the azure of the sky was discernible. Messrs. Livingston & Sadler having entered the car, the flags were delivered to the aerial voyagers by the Countess of Sefton and Mrs. Blackburne. The balloon was then loosened, and at sixteen minutes after two, sprung as it were, into the air, amid the congratulations and benedictions of myriads of spectators.

The ascent was most magnificent. It filled the mind of every beholder with overwhelming ideas of the sovereignty of human art and the extent of human daring. The balloon, after hovering over the multitude, and affording them an opportunity of contemplating the sublimity and grandeur of its ascent, began to mount with rapidity; the aeronauts manifested the utmost intrepidity, and unfurling their flags, waved them in the air, bowing at the same time to the innumerable spectators. The balloon took the direction of N. E. by E. It soon attained a great altitude, assumed a globular shape, and gradually diminished in magnitude. When it appeared no larger than 'a cloud about the bigness of a man's hand,' it was observed to be descending towards the earth; and after having been in the air about 12 minutes, it disappeared below the horizon a little to the east of Everton. In a few minutes it was seen ascending again, but much diminished in magnitude. After continuing in view about thirty-five minutes, it was lost to human ken in the pathless regions of boundless space.

It is difficult to form an opinion of the probable number of spectators at the period of ascension; but including the people from the country, it is probable that it could not be less than eighty thousand. We have not heard of the slightest accident having occurred among this immense multitude to mar the pleasures of the day.

COURIER OFFICE, Wednesday Morning, Half past Ten o'clock.

By the arrival of the Bolton Mail, we learn that Mr. Livingston and his intrepid companion descended safely about four o'clock yesterday afternoon, in the neighborhood of Blackburn, having travelled about thirty-five miles in little more than an hour and a half.

The above account is confirmed, as will appear by the following extract of a letter from a friend at Chorley:

"Chorley, September 28th.

"I have the pleasure to inform you, the balloon passed direct over Chorley soon after three o'clock, in the direction of Blackburn: from description, moving in a very majestic and steady manner, at times ascending to a very considerable height, at others descending, as if for the purpose of obtaining a more correct view of the terrestrial scenery."