BALLOON ASCENT IN 1784.—On the 16th of October, in the above year, an immense concourse of people assembled at Mr. Lochee’s Military Academy, to witness Mr. Blanchard’s ascent in his balloon. The fields, for a considerable distance round the spot, were crowded with horse and foot, in consequence of which, a general devastation took place in the gardens, the crops being either trampled down or torn up; the turnip grounds were totally despoiled by the multitude; all the windows and houses were filled with company, and every roof and tree was crowded with spectators. At twelve o’clock Mr. Blanchard, and Mr. Sheldon, a surgeon, stepped into the car, and the cords being loosened, the balloon slowly ascended, when it was discovered that it would be requisite to throw out some ballast; but before this could be accomplished, it struck some trees and descended to the ground. Being lightened, it again ascended, and moved horizontally about a quarter of a mile, when it made a rapid direction towards Sunbury, where they alighted, and Mr. Sheldon reluctantly quitted the car. Mr. Blanchard re-ascended, and pursued his aerial excursion to Rumsey, Hants, where he descended, at half-past four in the afternoon, in a meadow, and still standing in his car. The balloon was first seen over Abbotswood Common, and appeared about the size of a small hogshead. Upon his alighting he was jovially entertained. The day being rather dark, and the atmosphere low, the balloon was out of sight in about thirty minutes.
About the year 1699, the Earl of Shaftesbury purchased an estate at Little Chelsea, which had formerly been the property of Sir James Smith, whose widow resided there in 1695. The Earl rebuilt the house, and generally resided in it during the sitting of Parliament. He was first charged to the parish rates in 1700. Locke here wrote part of his “Essay,” and Addison several of the Spectators.
Anthony Astley Cooper, third Earl of Shaftesbury, the learned author of “The Characteristics,” was born in 1671, in the house of his grandfather, who took such care of his education, that, at the age of eleven, he is said to have read with ease both Latin and Greek. In 1683, he was placed at Winchester School, where he continued till 1686, when he made the tour of Italy and France. About five years after his return from Italy, he visited Holland, where he passed much of his time in the society of Bayle, Le Clerc, and other ingenious men. Soon after his arrival in England, he became Earl of Shaftesbury, by the demise of his father, but did not attend the House of Lords during the first session after he had succeeded to the peerage; nor did he appear there till his friend, Lord Somers, sent a messenger to acquaint him with the pending partition treaty in February, 1701. On the accession of Queen Anne he retired to Chelsea, to continue his favourite course of study; here he resided till 1711, when he set out for Italy, and died at Naples in 1719. His lordship’s philosophical writings are generally known. Of his letters there are several extant, dated from Chelsea in 1708.