Title
[Document, 1783 December 02]
Library Location
Name
Munro, Peter Jay, 1767-1833 (Author)
Jay, John, 1745-1829 (Addressee)
Format
correspondence
Digital Project
Papers of John Jay
Date
December 02, 1783
Language
English
Physical Description
4 pages
Subjects
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Summary
Promised to give an account of the balloon. Saw M. Charles himself and M. Robert at the Tuileries yesterday. The balloon is exactly the shape it appears in the ticket sent by his aunt (Sarah Livingston Jay). It was carried to the Tuileries and filled there. The globe was made of the same material as that of the Champ de Mars. Afraid of tying it in one particular part for fear the silk would tear, so a net was made that covered half the balloon. The car was fixed to the net by ropes. Charles and Robert ascended at a velocity of 40 pounds, and traveled for two hours, letting out air or sand when they wanted to descend or rise. M. Charles stayed in the longest because he wanted to do experiments. He came down to have lunch with the Dukes de Chartres and Fitz James. Apparently the balloon trip was contrary to the orders of the King. Mr. Charles also sent up a balloon of four feet diameter; Mr. Montgolfier cut the cord. It landed in a yard of the prison at Vincennes. Ignorant of the experiments they made, as they have not yet returned.
Identifier
columbia.jay.00379