"One day, having given my creditors the slip, and feeling more than usually dejected, I continued to wander most obscure streets without object whatever, until I chanced to stumble against the corner of bookseller's stall Seeing chair close at hand, use of customers, I threw myself doggedly , and, hardly knowing why, opened the pages first volume which came within my reach It proved small pamphlet treatise on Speculative Astronomy, written either by Professor Encke of Berlin or by Frenchman of somewhat similar name I had some little tincture of information on matters nature, and soon became more and more absorbed contents book, reading it actually through twice before I awoke to recollection of passing around me it began to grow dark, and I directed my steps toward home But the treatise had made an indelible impression on my mind, and, as I sauntered along the dusky streets, I revolved carefully over in my memory the wild and sometimes unintelligible reasonings writer some particular passages which affected my imagination in powerful and extraordinary manner The longer I meditated upon these the more intense grew the interest which excited within me The limited nature education in general, and more especially my ignorance on subjects connected with natural philosophy, from rendering me diffident own ability to comprehend what I had read, or inducing me to mistrust the many vague notions which had arisen in consequence, merely served as farther stimulus to imagination; and vain enough, or perhaps reasonable enough, to doubt whether those crude ideas which, arising in ill-regulated minds, have all the appearance, may not often in effect possess all the force, the reality, and other inherent properties, of instinct or intuition; whether, step farther, profundity itself , in matters of purely speculative nature, be detected as legitimate source of falsity and error In other words, I believed, and still do believe, that truth, is frequently own essence, superficial, , in many cases, the depth lies more abysses where we seek her, than actual situations wherein found Nature herself seemed to afford me corroboration ideas contemplation heavenly bodies it struck me forcibly that distinguish star with nearly precision, when I gazed with earnest, direct and undeviating attention, as when I suffered my eye only to glance in its vicinity alone not, , aware apparent paradox was occasioned center visual area being less susceptible of feeble impressions of light exterior portions retina This knowledge, and some of another kind, came afterwards course of an eventful five years, during which dropped the prejudices former humble situation in life, and forgotten the bellows-mender in far different occupations But epoch I speak, the analogy which casual observation of star offered conclusions I had already drawn, struck me force of positive conformation, and I then finally made up my mind course which I afterwards pursued

" late when I reached home, and I went immediately to bed My mind, however, was occupied to sleep, and I lay the whole night buried in meditation Arising early morning, and contriving again to escape the vigilance creditors, I repaired eagerly bookseller's stall, and laid out what little ready money I possessed, purchase of some volumes of Mechanics and Practical Astronomy Having arrived at home safely , I devoted every spare moment perusal, and soon made such proficiency in studies nature as sufficient execution plan intervals period, every endeavor to conciliate the three creditors who had given me annoyance I finally succeeded -- partly by selling enough household furniture to satisfy moiety claim, and partly by promise of paying the balance upon completion of little project which them I had in view, and for assistance I solicited their services means -- for they were ignorant men -- little difficulty in gaining them over to my purpose

"Matters being thus arranged, I contrived, aid wife and greatest secrecy and caution, to dispose of what property I had remaining, and to borrow, in small sums, under various pretences, and without paying any attention to my future means of repayment, no inconsiderable quantity of ready money means thus accruing I proceeded to procure at intervals, cambric muslin, very fine, in pieces of twelve yards each; twine; lot varnish of caoutchouc; large and deep basket of wicker-work, made to order; and articles necessary construction and equipment of balloon of extraordinary dimensions This I directed my wife up , and gave her all requisite information particular method of proceeding meantime I worked up the twine into net-work of sufficient dimensions; rigged it with hoop necessary cords; bought quadrant, compass, spy-glass, common barometer with some important modifications, and two astronomical instruments not so generally known I then took opportunities of conveying by night, to retired situation east of Rotterdam, five iron-bound casks, to contain about fifty gallons each, and one of larger size; six tinned ware tubes, three inches in diameter, properly shaped, and ten feet in length; quantity of particular metallic substance, or semi-metal, which name, and dozen demijohns of very common acid The gas formed latter materials is gas never yet generated by person than myself -- or never applied to any similar purpose The secret make no difficulty in disclosing, but of right belongs to citizen of Nantz, in France, by whom conditionally communicated to myself The same individual submitted , without being at all aware intentions, method of constructing balloons membrane of certain animal, through which substance any escape of gas was nearly an impossibility it, however, altogether too expensive, and was not sure, whole, whether cambric muslin with coating of gum caoutchouc, was not equally as good I mention this circumstance, because it probable that hereafter the individual may attempt balloon ascension novel gas and material spoken of, and wish to deprive him honor of very singular invention

" spot which I intended each smaller casks to occupy respectively during the inflation balloon, I privately dug hole two feet deep; the holes forming manner circle twenty-five feet in diameter centre circle, being the station designed large cask, I also dug hole three feet in depth In each five smaller holes, I deposited canister containing fifty pounds, and larger one keg holding one hundred and fifty pounds, of cannon powder These -- the keg and canisters -- I connected in proper manner with covered trains; and having let into canisters the end of about four feet of slow match, I covered up the hole, and placed the cask over it, leaving the other end match protruding about an inch, and barely visible beyond the cask I then filled up the remaining holes, and placed the barrels over them in their destined situation

"Besides the articles above enumerated, I conveyed depot, and there secreted, one of M Grimm's improvements apparatus for condensation atmospheric air this machine, however, to require considerable alteration before it adapted purposes I intended making it applicable But, with severe labor and unremitting perseverance, I met with entire success in all my preparations My balloon was soon completed It would contain more than forty thousand cubic feet of gas; would take me up easily, I calculated, with all my implements, and, if I managed rightly, with one hundred and seventy-five pounds of ballast bargain It had received three coats of varnish, and the cambric muslin to answer all the purposes of silk itself, quite as strong and less expensive

"Everything being now ready, I exacted from my wife an oath of secrecy to all my actions day first visit bookseller's stall; and promising, on my part, to return circumstances would permit, her what little money I had left, and bade her farewell Indeed I had no fear on her account She was what people call notable woman, and could manage matters without my assistance I believe, the truth, she always looked upon me as an idle boy, mere make-weight, good for nothing but building castles air, and was rather glad rid of me dark night when I bade her good-bye, and taking with me, as aides-de-camp, the three creditors who had given me trouble, we carried the balloon, car and accoutrements, by roundabout way, station where the other articles were deposited We there found them all unmolested, and I proceeded immediately to business