"At half past nine I tried the experiment of throwing out handful of feathers valve float as I had expected; but dropped down perpendicularly, like bullet, en masse, and greatest velocity -- being out of sight in very few seconds at first know what extraordinary phenomenon; not being able that my rate of ascent had, of sudden, met with so prodigious an acceleration But it soon occurred atmosphere was now far too rare to sustain even the feathers; actually fell, appeared , with great rapidity; I surprised united velocities descent and my own elevation

"By ten o'clock that I had very little to occupy my immediate attention Affairs went swimmingly, and I believed the balloon going upward with speed increasing momently although I had no longer any means of ascertaining the progression increase I suffered no pain or uneasiness of any kind, and enjoyed better spirits than I had at any period since my departure from Rotterdam, busying myself now in examining the state various apparatus, and now in regenerating the atmosphere chamber This latter point I determined to attend to at regular intervals of forty minutes, more on account preservation health, than from so frequent renovation being absolutely necessary meanwhile help making anticipations Fancy revelled wild and dreamy regions moon Imagination, feeling herself for once unshackled, roamed at will ever-changing wonders of shadowy and unstable land Now there were boary and time-honored forests, and craggy precipices, and waterfalls tumbling with loud noise into abysses without bottom Then suddenly into still noonday solitudes, where no wind of heaven ever intruded, and where vast meadows of poppies, and slender, lily-looking flowers spread themselves out weary distance, all silent and motionless forever Then again I journeyed far down away into another country where all one dim and vague lake, with boundary line of clouds And out melancholy water arose forest of tall eastern trees, like wilderness of dreams And in mind shadows trees which fell lake remained not surface where they fell, but sunk slowly and steadily down, and commingled waves, while trunks trees other shadows were continually coming out, and taking the place brothers thus entombed "This then," thoughtfully, " very reason why the waters lake grow blacker with age, and more melancholy hours run on " But fancies such the sole possessors brain Horrors of nature most stern and most appalling would too frequently obtrude themselves upon my mind, and shake the innermost depths soul bare supposition possibility Yet suffer my thoughts for any length to dwell upon these latter speculations, rightly judging the real and palpable dangers voyage sufficient undivided attention

"At five o'clock, p m , being engaged in regenerating the atmosphere chamber, that opportunity of observing the cat and kittens valve The cat herself appeared to suffer again , and I had no hesitation in attributing her uneasiness chiefly to difficulty in breathing; but my experiment kittens had resulted very strangely I had expected, , them betray sense of pain, although in less degree than their mother, and this sufficient to confirm my opinion concerning the habitual endurance of atmospheric pressure But not prepared them, upon close examination, evidently enjoying high degree of health, breathing greatest ease and perfect regularity, and evincing not the slightest sign of any uneasiness whatever only account for all this by extending my theory, and supposing highly rarefied atmosphere around might perhaps not be, as I had taken for granted, chemically insufficient purposes of life, person born medium might, possibly, be unaware of any inconvenience attending its inhalation, while, upon removal denser strata near the earth, he might endure tortures of similar nature I had so lately experienced It has since been matter of deep regret that an awkward accident, , occasioned me the loss little family of cats, and deprived me insight into which continued experiment afforded In passing my hand valve, with cup of water old puss, the sleeves shirt became entangled loop which sustained the basket, and thus, in moment, loosened it bottom Had the whole actually vanished into air, it have shot from my sight in more abrupt and instantaneous manner Positively, there have intervened the tenth part of second disengagement basket and its absolute and total disappearance with all contained My good wishes followed it earth, but , I had no either cat or kittens would ever live the tale misfortune

"At six o'clock, I perceived great portion earth's visible area eastward involved in thick shadow, which continued to advance with great rapidity, until, at five minutes before seven, the whole surface in view was enveloped darkness of night not, however, until long time rays setting sun ceased to illumine the balloon; and this circumstance, although fully anticipated, fail an infinite deal of pleasure evident that, morning, behold the rising luminary many hours citizens of Rotterdam, situation farther eastward, and thus, day after day, in proportion height ascended, would I enjoy the light sun for longer and longer period I now determined journal passage, reckoning the days from one to twenty-four hours continuously, without taking into consideration the intervals of darkness

"At ten o'clock, feeling sleepy, I determined to lie down rest night; but here difficulty presented itself, which, obvious as it may appear, had escaped my attention very moment now speaking If I went to sleep as I proposed, how could the atmosphere chamber be regenerated interim ? To breathe it for more than an hour, farthest, matter of impossibility, or, if even this term extended to an hour and quarter, the most ruinous consequences might ensue The consideration dilemma no little disquietude; and hardly be believed, that, dangers I had undergone, look business in so serious light, as up all hope of accomplishing my ultimate design, and finally make up my mind necessity of descent But this hesitation was only momentary I reflected that man veriest slave of custom, many points routine existence are deemed essentially important, which are only so at all by his having rendered them habitual very certain that do without sleep; but easily bring myself no inconvenience from being awakened at intervals of an hour during the whole period repose It would require but five minutes at most to regenerate the atmosphere fullest manner, only real difficulty was to contrive method of arousing myself proper moment for so doing But question which, willing to confess, occasioned me no little trouble in its solution , I had heard student who, his falling asleep over his books, held in one hand ball of copper, the din of whose descent into basin same metal floor beside his chair, served effectually to startle him up, if, at any moment, overcome with drowsiness My own case, however, was very different indeed, and left me no room for any similar idea; for wish awake, but aroused from slumber at regular intervals I hit following expedient, which, simple as it may seem, was hailed by me, moment of discovery, as an invention fully equal telescope, the steam-engine, or the art of printing itself