You will have heard of the late Aerostatic Experiments in this Country, and I dare say be heartily sick of the puffing Part of them. I think it very much to be regreted that this Pursuit has been undertaken by so many ignorant Adventurers in England. It seems to have shut the Door against men of Science, for Balloons and Aerial Travellers are now on a footing with Rareshows and Ropedancers. While the Question was here, whether a man should break his Neck or not, it is not to be wondered that only such People whose Necks were worth nothing should engage, but now the Safety of the navigation is demonstrated, it is a pity Men of Science do not pursue the Improvements. On the Contrary they seem to content themselves by saying it can never be usefull and so leave it to Adventurers. I met the other Evening at the Bishops, Sir John Cambridge who seemed a very ingenious and well informed man in naval affairs, as well as mechanics. He told me one Fact which was new to me and which I cannot admit ’till I see it tried but which he had seen he says a thousand Times. He says a large Body such as a Coal Barge going down a stream without Sails or oars, in a dead Calm, and without any impulsive motion being given to it, will go faster than the Fluid in which it swims, so that it realy will have steerage Way, will pass by smaller Bodys that go down the stream also, and visibly leave A Wake behind itself. The Reason of this he did not attempt to explain. I do not think that to be the Case on the Seine, and indeed I was informed the Contrary by Several Bargemen that I questioned. Perhaps the depth of the River may occasion an under Current, and the Boats being no so flatt as the french ones may be carried by the under Current which has hold of their Bottoms.

You will see by the Papers that Lunardi has failed by his Ignorance and Presumption. He had made his Balloon very heavy by extraordinary Paintings, and by way of securing his success he took great Care to have his inflamable Air cold and filled the machine in the night; fearing the upper Regions would condense it still more, he filled the Balloon as plumply as an orange, and went up with great difficulty with twice the quantity, and consequently twice the weight of Air in that condensed state, than he need have had in the natural state of dilatation. It seems he reckoned the rarification by the rays of the sun at noon day, as nothing, and seems to have allowed as little for the lesser weight of the Atmosphere in the upper Regions, and the consequent dilatation by the spring of the Air within his Balloon, the consequence of which was that as soon as he gained any tolerable heighth, the machine Bust, and down he came on an Ale house. Blanchard bears the B? now, and has all the Reputation of an Inventor by his imitative Experiments. I dined yesterday at Mr. Paradise’s, and was very much surprised at the activity and lively conversation of an old military man. He danced about the Room with gaiety; kissed and said pretty Things to all the Ladies, and seemed to feel all he said as much as any young man could do. He put me in mind of your cribbidge old Lady when he talked of being an ensign in the Guards in Queen Anns reign. This youthfull old Gentleman, was General Oglethorpe whom I believe you know. He spoke of you with the strongest marks of Esteem.

Please to give my Love to Billy and believe me ever most dutifully and affectionately Yours