by Edgar Allan Poe

[Astounding News by Express, via Norfolk ! - The Atlantic crossed in Three Days ! Signal Triumph of Mr Monck Mason's Flying Machine ! - Arrival at Sullivan's Island, near Charlestown, S C , of Mr Mason, Mr Robert Holland, Mr Henson, Mr Harrison Ainsworth, and four others, Steering Balloon, "Victoria," after passage of Seventy-five Hours from Land to Land ! Full Particulars Voyage !

The subjoined jeu d'esprit preceding heading in magnificent capitals, well interspersed with notes of admiration, was originally published, as matter of fact, "New York Sun," daily newspaper, and therein fully subserved the purpose of creating indigestible aliment quidnuncs during the few hours intervening between couple Charleston mails The rush "sole paper which had the news," was something beyond even the prodigious; and, , if (as some assert) the "Victoria" did_ not absolutely accomplish the voyage recorded, difficult to assign reason why she have accomplished it ]

THE great problem is solved ! The air, earth ocean, subdued by science, and will become common and convenient highway for mankind The Atlantic actually crossed in Balloon ! and this too without difficulty - without any great apparent danger - with thorough control machine - and inconceivably brief period of seventy-five hours from shore to shore ! energy of an agent at Charleston, S C , enabled the first the public with detailed account most extraordinary voyage, performed between Saturday, the 6th instant, at 11, . M , and 2, P M , on Tuesday, the 9th instant, by Sir Everard Bringhurst; Mr Osborne, nephew of Lord Bentinck's; Mr Monck Mason and Mr Robert Holland, the well-known ronauts; Mr Harrison Ainsworth, author of "Jack Sheppard," &c ; and Mr Henson, the projector late unsuccessful flying machine - with two seamen from Woolwich - in all, eight persons The particulars furnished below relied on as authentic and accurate in every respect, as, with slight exception, copied verbatim joint diaries of Mr Monck Mason and Mr Harrison Ainsworth, to whose politeness our agent is also indebted for much verbal information respecting the balloon itself, its construction, and other matters of interest The only alteration MS received, made of throwing the hurried account agent, Mr Forsyth, into connected and intelligible form

"THE BALLOON

"Two very decided failures, of late - those of Mr Henson and Sir George Cayley - had much weakened the public interest subject of aerial navigation Mr Henson's scheme (which at first was considered very feasible even by men of science,) was founded principle of an inclined plane, started from an eminence by an extrinsic force, applied and continued revolution of impinging vanes, in form and number resembling the vanes of windmill But, in all the experiments made with models Adelaide Gallery, found operation fans propel the machine, but actually impeded its flight The only propelling force it ever exhibited, mere impetus acquired descent inclined plane; and this impetus carried the machine farther vanes were at rest, than were in motion - fact which sufficiently demonstrates their inutility; and absence propelling, also the sustaining_ power, the whole fabric would necessarily descend This consideration led Sir George Cayley only of adapting propeller to some machine having of itself an independent power of support - in word, to balloon; the idea, however, being novel, or original, with Sir George, only as regards the mode application to practice He exhibited model invention Polytechnic Institution The propelling principle, or power, was here, also, applied to interrupted surfaces, or vanes, put in revolution These vanes were four in number, but were found entirely ineffectual in moving the balloon, or in aiding its ascending power The whole project was thus complete failure

" juncture that Mr Monck Mason (whose voyage from Dover to Weilburg balloon, "Nassau," occasioned excitement in 1837,) conceived the idea of employing the principle Archimedean screw of propulsion air - rightly attributing the failure of Mr Henson's scheme, and of Sir George Cayley's, interruption of surface independent vanes the first public experiment at Willis's Rooms, but afterward removed his model Adelaide Gallery

"Like Sir George Cayley's balloon, his own was an ellipsoid Its length was thirteen feet six inches - height, six feet eight inches It contained about three hundred and twenty cubic feet of gas, which, if pure hydrogen, would support twenty-one pounds upon its first inflation, gas has time to deteriorate or escape The weight whole machine and apparatus was seventeen pounds - leaving about four pounds to spare Beneath the centre balloon, was frame of light wood, about nine feet long, and rigged on balloon itself with network customary manner framework was suspended wicker basket or car

"The screw consists of an axis of hollow brass tube, eighteen inches in length, through which, upon semi-spiral inclined at fifteen degrees, pass series of steel wire radii, two feet long, and thus projecting foot on either side These radii are connected outer extremities by two bands of flattened wire - the whole manner forming the framework screw, completed by covering of oiled silk cut into gores, and tightened so as tolerably uniform surface At each end axis this screw is supported by pillars of hollow brass tube descending hoop lower ends tubes are holes pivots axis revolve end axis next the car, proceeds shaft of steel, connecting the screw pinion of piece of spring machinery fixed car operation spring, the screw is made to revolve with great rapidity, communicating progressive motion whole rudder, the machine was readily turned in any direction The spring was of great power, compared with its dimensions, being capable of raising forty-five pounds upon barrel of four inches diameter, first turn, and gradually increasing as wound up It weighed, altogether, eight pounds six ounces The rudder was light frame of cane covered with silk, shaped somewhat like battledoor, and was about three feet long, and widest, one foot Its weight was about two ounces It turned _flat_, and directed upwards or downwards, right or left; and thus enabled the ronaut to transfer the resistance air which in an inclined position it must generate in its passage, to any side he might desire to act; thus determining the balloon opposite direction

"This model (which, through want , necessarily described in an imperfect manner,) was put in action Adelaide Gallery, where it accomplished velocity of five miles per hour; although, strange , it excited very little interest in comparison previous complex machine of Mr Henson - so resolute world to despise anything which carries with it an air of simplicity To accomplish the great desideratum of rial navigation, very generally supposed that some exceedingly complicated application made of some unusually profound principle in dynamics

" satisfied, however, was Mr Mason ultimate success invention, that he determined to construct immediately, if possible, balloon of sufficient capacity to test the question by voyage of some extent - the original design being to cross the British Channel, as before, Nassau balloon To carry out his views, he solicited and obtained the patronage of Sir Everard Bringhurst and Mr Osborne, two gentlemen well known for scientific acquirement, and especially interest exhibited progress of rostation The project, desire of Mr Osborne, was kept profound secret public - the only persons entrusted design being those actually engaged construction machine, built (under the superintendence of Mr Mason, Mr Holland, Sir Everard Bringhurst, and Mr Osborne,) seat latter gentleman near Penstruthal, in Wales Mr Henson, accompanied by his friend Mr Ainsworth, was admitted to private view balloon, on Saturday last - two gentlemen made final arrangements included adventure informed for what reason the two seamen were also included party - but, course of , put our readers in possession minutest particulars respecting this extraordinary voyage

"The balloon is composed of silk, varnished liquid gum caoutchouc of vast dimensions, containing more than 40,000 cubic feet of gas; but as coal gas was employed in place more expensive and inconvenient hydrogen, the supporting power machine, when fully inflated, and immediately after inflation, more than about 2500 pounds The coal gas is much less costly, but is easily procured and managed

"For its introduction into common use for purposes of aerostation, indebted to Mr Charles Green Up discovery, the process of inflation was exceedingly expensive, but uncertain Two, and even three days, have frequently been wasted in futile attempts to procure sufficiency of hydrogen balloon, it had great tendency to escape, owing to its extreme subtlety, and its affinity surrounding atmosphere In balloon sufficiently perfect to retain its contents of coal-gas unaltered, in quantity or amount, for six months, an equal quantity of hydrogen maintained in equal purity for six weeks

"The supporting power being estimated at 2500 pounds, united weights party amounting only to about 1200, left surplus of 1300, again 1200 was exhausted by ballast, arranged in bags of different sizes, with their respective weights marked upon them - by cordage, barometers, telescopes, barrels containing provision for fortnight, water-casks, cloaks, carpet-bags, and various other indispensable matters, including coffee-warmer, contrived for warming coffee of slack-lime, so dispense altogether with fire, judged prudent All these articles, exception ballast, and few trifles, were suspended hoop overhead The car is much smaller and lighter, in proportion, one appended model formed of light wicker, wonderfully strong, for so frail looking machine Its rim is about four feet deep The rudder is also larger, in proportion, than that model; screw is considerably smaller The balloon is furnished besides with grapnel, and guide-rope; which latter is most indispensable importance few words, in explanation, will here be necessary for such readers as conversant details of aerostation