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One of the earliest reported flights of a hot air balloon... On the Treaty of Peace... The capital at Williamsburg?
One of the earliest reported flights of a hot air balloon... On the Treaty of Peace... The capital at Williamsburg?
Item # 638501
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September 13, 1783
JACKSON'S OXFORD JOURNAL, England, Sept. 13, 1783
* Very early hot air balloon flight
* Revolutionary War peace treaty
* Williamsburg, Virginia as capital ?
Page 2 has a report headed: "The Areostatic Sphere" with details, from a letter from Paris dated Aug. 29, of a very early flight (preceding other reports) which happened on August 27. It begins: "A flying globe of near 13 get diameter, weighting between 25 and 30 pounds, committed to the winds in the Champ de Mars, the 27th of August, 1783, at five o'clock in the evening, in rainy weather. It is constructed of...." with much detail on it, and further on: "...It is the invention of Mr. Montgolfier d' Anonai en Vivaray, executed by Mr. Robert...It was restrained from mounting till the signal given by cords fastened to four stakes in the ground." and then it notes; "Saturday 30th, there was a report spread that on Thursday evening the artificial globe had fallen near St. Dennis. This day the fact is confirmed..." with more. This flight precedes the first "passenger" flight on Sept. 19 (sheep, a duck & a rooster), and the first manned flight on Nov. 21.
Also on pg. 2: "...arrived in town from Paris, David Hartley with the Definitive Treaty from America." Also: "A letter from Paris says, The Commercial Treaty with America is vanished in Smoke..." with more on this with mention of Ben Franklin and others.
The back page has a wealth of fine content under the heading: "American News--From Rivington's New York Royal Gazette" including details of an offer from Virginia to locate the federal capital in Williamsburg (see). Also some content concerning the Treaty of Peace.
Category: Revolutionary War
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