Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

The immense Air-Balloon, preparing in Lord Foley's garden, is made of a coarse linen cloth, about 14d a yard, and contains nearly 3500 yards, which is painted over with boiled oil, as a varnish. Its dimensions are 80 feet broad by 84 feet high. There is an aperture at the bottom of it, of about 50 feet in circumference, in which is fixed an iron net and pan to hold the materials requisite for its inflation; and over which is a tin cover, divided, which opens by hinges, and is to act as an extinguisher, in case of necessity. Below this is hooked a gallery of net-work, upwards of 20 feet in circumference, which is kept open by light strips of deal, and bamboo cane; in which gallery is to be placed a magazine of straw, tied up in small parcels, ready to keep up the inflation.

They likewise have a large quantity of rectified spirits of wine, tied up in a number of sheep's bladders, which at any time, when set on fire in the pan, will give them an immense ascent. As the greatest danger will be that of taking fire, they have four hand engines with them; and as it is computed the Balloon will be capable of taking up 16 cwt. weight, they may take water enough. Four persons are to go up in it. They suppose they can inflate it in a quarter of an hour. Its present weight is computed at two tons. No person who has not seen it can have an idea of so immense a globe.