by Egdar Allan Poe

BY late accounts from Rotterdam, that city in high state of philosophical excitement Indeed, phenomena have there occurred of nature so completely unexpected -- so entirely novel -- so utterly at variance with preconceived opinions -- leave on my mind that long ere this all Europe is in an uproar, all physics in ferment, all reason and astronomy together ears

It appears that -- -- day of -- -- ( not positive date), vast crowd of people, for purposes not specifically mentioned, were assembled great square Exchange well-conditioned city of Rotterdam The day was warm -- unusually so season -- hardly breath of air stirring; multitude were in no bad humor at being besprinkled with friendly showers of momentary duration, that fell from large white masses of cloud which chequered in fitful manner the blue vault firmament Nevertheless, about noon, slight but remarkable agitation became apparent assembly: the clattering of ten thousand tongues succeeded; and, in an instant afterward, ten thousand faces were upturned toward the heavens, ten thousand pipes descended simultaneously corners of ten thousand mouths, and shout, which compared to nothing but the roaring of Niagara, resounded long, loudly, and furiously, through all the environs of Rotterdam

The origin hubbub soon became sufficiently evident From behind the huge bulk of one sharply-defined masses of cloud already mentioned, was seen slowly to emerge into an open area of blue space, queer, heterogeneous, but apparently solid substance, so oddly shaped, so whimsically put together, as not in any manner comprehended, and never sufficiently admired, host of sturdy burghers who stood open-mouthed below What could it be ? name of all the vrows and devils in Rotterdam, what could it possibly portend ? No one knew, no one could imagine; no one -- not even the burgomaster Mynheer Superbus Von Underduk -- had the slightest clew to unravel the mystery; so, as nothing more reasonable , to man replaced his pipe carefully corner mouth, and cocking up his right eye towards the phenomenon, puffed, paused, waddled about, and grunted significantly -- then waddled back, grunted, paused, and finally -- puffed again

meantime, however, lower and still lower toward the goodly city, came the object of curiosity, cause of smoke In very it arrived near enough accurately discerned It appeared -- yes ! undoubtedly species of balloon; but surely no such balloon had ever been seen in Rotterdam before For who, let me ask, ever heard of balloon manufactured entirely of dirty newspapers ? No man in Holland certainly; yet here, under the very noses people, or rather at some distance above their noses identical thing , and composed, it best authority, precise material which no one had ever before known used for similar purpose an egregious insult good sense burghers of Rotterdam shape phenomenon, even still more reprehensible Being little or nothing better than huge foolscap turned upside down And this similitude was regarded as by no means lessened when, upon nearer inspection, perceived large tassel depending from its apex, and, around the upper rim or base cone, circle of little instruments, resembling sheep-bells, which kept up continual tinkling tune of Betty Martin But still worse Suspended by blue ribbons end fantastic machine, there hung, by way of car, an enormous drab beaver hat, with brim superlatively broad, and hemispherical crown with black band and silver buckle , however, somewhat remarkable that many citizens of Rotterdam swore to having seen the same hat repeatedly before; and indeed the whole assembly seemed to regard it with eyes of familiarity; while the vrow Grettel Pfaall, upon sight of it, uttered an exclamation of joyful surprise, and declared it the identical hat of her good man himself Now circumstance the more observed, as Pfaall, with three companions, had actually disappeared from Rotterdam about five years before, in very sudden and unaccountable manner, and date narrative all attempts had failed of obtaining any intelligence concerning them whatsoever , some bones which were thought human, mixed up with quantity of odd-looking rubbish, lately discovered in retired situation east of Rotterdam, and some people went imagine that spot foul murder committed, and sufferers were in all probability Hans Pfaall associates But to return

The balloon (for such ) had now descended to within hundred feet earth, allowing the crowd below sufficiently distinct view person occupant in truth very droll little somebody more than two feet in height; but this altitude, little as , sufficient to destroy his equilibrium, and tilt him over the edge tiny car, but intervention of circular rim reaching as high breast, and rigged on cords balloon The body little man was more than proportionately broad, giving entire figure rotundity highly absurd His feet, , seen at all, although horny substance of suspicious nature was occasionally protruded through rent bottom car, or more properly, top hat His hands were enormously large His hair was extremely gray, and collected in cue behind His nose was prodigiously long, crooked, and inflammatory; his eyes full, brilliant, and acute; his chin and cheeks, although wrinkled with age, were broad, puffy, and double; but of ears of any kind or character not semblance discovered upon any portion head This odd little gentleman was dressed in loose surtout of sky-blue satin, with tight breeches to match, fastened with silver buckles knees His vest was of some bright yellow material; white taffety cap was set jauntily on one side head; and, to complete his equipment, blood-red silk handkerchief enveloped his throat, and fell down, in dainty manner, upon his bosom, in fantastic bow-knot of super-eminent dimensions

Having descended, as before, to about one hundred feet surface earth, the little old gentleman was suddenly seized with fit of trepidation, and appeared disinclined any nearer approach to terra firma Throwing out, therefore, quantity of sand from canvas bag, which, he lifted with great difficulty, he became stationary in an instant He then proceeded, in hurried and agitated manner, to extract from side-pocket surtout large morocco pocket-book This he poised suspiciously hand, then eyed it with an air of extreme surprise, and was evidently astonished at its weight He opened it, and drawing there from huge letter sealed with red sealing-wax and tied carefully with red tape, let it fall precisely feet burgomaster, Superbus Von Underduk His Excellency stooped it up But the aeronaut, still greatly discomposed, and having apparently no farther business to detain him in Rotterdam, began moment busy preparations for departure; and it being necessary to discharge portion of ballast to enable him to reascend, the half dozen bags which he threw out, one after another, without taking the trouble to empty their contents, tumbled, , most unfortunately back burgomaster, and rolled him over and over no one-and-twenty times, face of every man in Rotterdam supposed, however, great Underduk suffered this impertinence little old man off with impunity said, contrary, that during each and one-and twenty circumvolutions he emitted no one-and-twenty distinct and furious whiffs pipe, he held fast the whole time with all his might, and he intends holding fast until the day death

meantime the balloon arose like lark, and, soaring far away above the city, drifted quietly behind cloud similar it had so oddly emerged, and was thus lost forever wondering eyes good citizens of Rotterdam All attention was now directed letter, the descent , consequences attending thereupon, had proved so fatally subversive of both person and personal dignity Excellency, the illustrious Burgomaster Mynheer Superbus Von Underduk That functionary, however, failed, during his circumgyratory movements, to bestow thought important subject of securing the packet , seen, upon inspection, fallen most proper hands, being actually addressed to himself and Professor Rub-a-dub, in their official capacities of President and Vice-President Rotterdam College of Astronomy accordingly opened dignitaries spot, and found to contain the following extraordinary, and indeed very serious, communications

Excellencies Von Underduk and Rub-a-dub, President and Vice-President States' College of Astronomers, city of Rotterdam