The Rhode Island Republican

WONDERFUL MACHINE.—We find in an English publication of 1784, a description of an extraordinary aerostatic machine, which was prepared in Naples, for the purpose of gratifying the curiosity of royalty. The balloons of the present day are but pigmies compared with it. Notwithstanding the minuteness of the description, it is difficult for us to conceive that a body of such magnitude, at noon day, should ascend to a height which would render it invisible. It is also singular that in the course of three or four hours, this enormous balloon should be wafted only a mile from the place from which it started. But without further comment, we proceed to lay before our readers, a copy, verbatim, of the description of this huge balloon, and the aerial palace to it appended.

London, March 29.

By a letter from Naples, dated the 19th February, we learn that his Majesty the King of Sweden, having expressed a desire to see the experiment of the air balloon, there was yesterday a grand exhibition by order of the Court of Naples, and in the presence of their Majesties. Just imagine an immense globe of one hundred and fifty feet in the diameter, and two hundred in height, gilt, and bearing on the top an enormous crown, sparkling with well imitated precious stones of various colors; to this globe was annexed a building of the most beautiful architecture of the Doric order, formed of pumice stone, and surrounded by a terrace or gallery, railed in with orange trees and lemon. This wonderful machine rising majestically to the heavens in a clear sky at noon, in sight of an applauding multitude, carrying with it an orchestra of eight capital performers, whose music, for the short time it could be heard, had a most sublime effect. In about twenty seven minutes it had disappeared by a perpendicular ascent; nor could the people discover any appearance of it by the best telescopes.

It was exactly twelve o'clock when the machine began to rise, and at two it had not been again visible. An anxiety seemed to prevail among all the spectators, but their acclamations were excessive, when at thirteen minutes past three they observed a small speck in the air at an immense distance, but which soon showed itself to be the wished for machine, which gradually descended till it reached the earth, about a mile distant from the place of its ascent, which was a plain eastward of the town.

Besides the above mentioned orchestra, and two persons (who had contrived the machine) who were there to regulate it; there went up eight persons of rank, consisting of three Neapolitan noblemen; a French, three Spanish and an English gentleman. They affirm that they mounted to the height of twelve Italian miles. The globe was formed of the skins of kids, and covered with silk inside and out; with an elastic gum over it, which took the gilding extremely well; it required several hours filling with an inflammable air, but when full it was so closely stopped that nothing could evaporate.