" fully eleven I had completed these arrangements, and I immediately betook myself to bed, with full confidence efficiency invention Nor was I disappointed Punctually every sixty minutes was I aroused by my trusty chronometer, when, having emptied the pitcher bung-hole keg, and performed the duties condenser, I retired again to bed These regular interruptions to my slumber caused me even less discomfort than I had anticipated; and when I finally arose day, seven o'clock, sun had attained many degrees above the line horizon

"April 3d the balloon at an immense height indeed, earth's apparent convexity increased in material degree Below me ocean lay cluster of black specks, which undoubtedly were islands Far away northward I perceived thin, white, and exceedingly brilliant line, or streak, edge horizon, and I had no hesitation in supposing it the southern disk ices Polar Sea My curiosity was greatly excited, for I had hopes of passing on much farther north, and might possibly, at some period, find myself placed directly above the Pole itself I now lamented that my great elevation would, in , prevent my taking as accurate survey as wish Much, however, ascertained Nothing else of an extraordinary nature occurred during the day My apparatus all continued in good order, balloon still ascended without any perceptible vacillation The cold was intense, and obliged me to wrap up closely in an overcoat When darkness came over the earth, I betook myself to bed, although for many hours afterward broad daylight all around my immediate situation The water-clock was punctual in its duty, and I slept until next morning soundly, exception periodical interruption

"April 4th Arose in good health and spirits, and was astonished singular change which had taken place appearance sea It had lost, in great measure, the deep tint of blue it had hitherto worn, being now of grayish-white, and of lustre dazzling eye The islands were no longer visible; whether they had passed down the horizon southeast, or whether my increasing elevation had left them out of sight, impossible inclined, however, latter opinion The rim of ice northward was growing more and more apparent Cold by no means so intense Nothing of importance occurred, and I passed the day in reading, having taken care to supply myself with books

"April 5th Beheld the singular phenomenon sun rising while nearly the whole visible surface earth continued involved in darkness , however, the light spread itself over all, and I again saw the line of ice northward now very distinct, and appeared of much darker hue waters ocean evidently approaching it, and with great rapidity Fancied again distinguish strip of land eastward, and one also westward, but certain Weather moderate Nothing of any consequence happened during the day Went early to bed

"April 6th Was surprised at finding the rim of ice at very moderate distance, and an immense field same material stretching away off horizon north evident that balloon held its present course, it would soon arrive above the Frozen Ocean, and I had now little doubt of ultimately seeing the Pole During the whole day I continued to near the ice Toward night the limits horizon very suddenly and materially increased, owing undoubtedly earth's form being that of an oblate spheroid, and my arriving above the flattened regions vicinity Arctic circle When darkness overtook me, I went to bed in great anxiety, fearing over the object of curiosity when no opportunity of observing it

"April 7th Arose early, and, to my great joy, beheld what there no hesitation in supposing the northern Pole itself there, beyond doubt, and immediately beneath my feet; but, alas ! I had now ascended to so vast distance, that nothing could with accuracy be discerned Indeed, to judge progression numbers indicating my various altitudes, respectively, at different periods, between six . M second of April, and twenty minutes before nine . M same day ( the barometer ran down), it fairly inferred balloon had now, at four o'clock morning of April the seventh, reached height of not less, certainly, than 7,254 miles above the surface sea This elevation may appear immense, but the estimate calculated gave result in all probability far inferior truth At all events I undoubtedly beheld the whole earth's major diameter; the entire northern hemisphere lay beneath me like chart orthographically projected: great circle equator itself formed the boundary line horizon Your Excellencies may, however, readily imagine confined regions hitherto unexplored limits Arctic circle, although situated directly beneath me, and therefore seen without any appearance of being foreshortened, were still, in themselves, comparatively too diminutive, and at too great distance point of sight, to admit of any very accurate examination Nevertheless, what seen was of nature singular and exciting Northwardly huge rim before mentioned, and which, with slight qualification, called the limit of human discovery regions, one unbroken, or nearly unbroken, sheet of ice continues to extend first few degrees its progress, its surface is very sensibly flattened, farther on depressed into plane, and finally, becoming not little concave, it terminates, Pole itself, in circular centre, sharply defined, whose apparent diameter subtended balloon an angle of about sixty-five seconds, and whose dusky hue, varying in intensity, was, at all times, darker than spot visible hemisphere, and occasionally deepened most absolute and impenetrable blackness Farther than this, little ascertained By twelve o'clock the circular centre had materially decreased in circumference, and by seven P M I lost sight of it entirely; the balloon passing over the western limb ice, and floating away rapidly direction equator

"April 8th Found sensible diminution earth's apparent diameter, besides material alteration in its general color and appearance The whole visible area partook in different degrees of tint of pale yellow, and in some portions had acquired brilliancy even painful eye My view downward was also considerably impeded dense atmosphere vicinity surface being loaded with clouds, between whose masses only obtain glimpse earth itself This difficulty of direct vision had troubled me more or less forty-eight hours; but my present enormous elevation brought closer together, as it were, the floating bodies of vapor, inconvenience became, , more and more palpable in proportion to my ascent Nevertheless, easily perceive balloon now hovered above the range of great lakes continent of North America, and was holding course, due south, which would bring me tropics This circumstance fail the most heartful satisfaction, and I hailed it as happy omen of ultimate success Indeed, the direction I had hitherto taken, had filled me with uneasiness; for evident that, had I continued it much longer, there no possibility arriving moon at all, whose orbit is inclined ecliptic at only the small angle of 5 degrees 8' 48"

"April 9th To-day the earth's diameter was greatly diminished, color surface assumed hourly deeper tint of yellow The balloon kept steadily on her course southward, and arrived, at nine P M , over the northern edge Mexican Gulf

"April 10th suddenly aroused from slumber, about five o'clock , by loud, crackling, and terrific sound, in no manner account of very brief duration, but, while it lasted resembled nothing I had any previous experience needless that I became excessively alarmed, having, first instance, attributed the noise bursting balloon I examined all my apparatus, however, with great attention, and could discover nothing out of order Spent great part day in meditating upon an occurrence so extraordinary, but could find no means whatever of accounting Went to bed dissatisfied, and in state of great anxiety and agitation

"April 11th Found startling diminution apparent diameter earth, and considerable increase, now observable first time, moon itself, which wanted only of being full It now required long and excessive labor to condense chamber sufficient atmospheric air sustenance of life