scattered sons of misery who are ever in fear of being entrapped and sold, and, like Romulus, or Mahomed, set up a new state. Success, a zeal for liberty, and a confidence that there can be no greater glory or pleasure than establishing the freedom, and promoting the happiness, of mankind, might make me a Numa, and almost a Penn. Like the former, I could draw down fire from the clouds, if it were necessary, to cheat men into their happiness; like the latter, I am well acquainted with the agriculture of the country, with the trade, and with all the physical and mechanical methods which might be adopted to facilitate and secure success.

"Well said, Friend S!"

Dear Sir,

LETTER CLXXVII.

From the same.

Paris, Feb. 7, 1784. I have communicated my discovery to his Grace the Duke of Dorset, our ambassador here, who seems to be of opinion that it will certainly answer; and he has signed a certificate of having seen it described in a Memoir of the 2d instant. Thus much for securing my right to the discovery. I shewed it yesterday also to his Excellency Dr.

Franklin, who seems to be of the same opinion, and says, that he thinks it right to offer it to my own country.

On this account, I mean to send it to Sir Joseph Banks, to try whether he will patronize it; or finding it to be well founded, whether he will present it to his Majesty or the Government. I think if it were set off with such eclat, that the public would readily promote it by a liberal subscription; as has been done in Paris. Subscriptions, according to the sums, to entitle to certain rights of inspecting the machine at proper times, to see private experiments as well as public ones; and to admit to such places upon the grand experiments as may give certain advantages, &c. The inventor to have the first command or patent for the invention; the profits that may remain, and the balloons made by virtue of the subscription, to remain his property. This is nearly the manner in which Mr. Charles has made a very handsome profit by his aerial voyage. The French are very solicitous to know my secret. A new balloon has been proposed some time, and a subscription was opened the other day under the auspices of the Montgolfiers. Mr. Faujas has promised me, if I will make the first experiment here, that this balloon shall be made according to my plan, and to enjoy a third of the advantages, in conjunction with the Abbé Miolan and another. I am at present, however, determined to see what spirit there is in my own countrymen; and in case the Royal Society and

the Government should treat it with the same indifference they have hitherto done, whether a subscription may not be raised independent of them. Another scheme is also proposed, that two subscriptions should be opened, one here and another at London. The machines to part on the same day, hour, &c. one for London and the other for Paris, if, after the previous experiments, they may be expected capable of undertaking so long a voyage. My discovery depends upon a kind of paradox, which is, that animals could not fly if they were lighter than air-they would float with the wind-it is by means of their gravity that they project themselves through the air; and it is always on inclined planes. This is most evident in birds of prey they make long sallies upon one inclined plane, and when they oppose their wings to the air, in one of their rapid descents, they are suddenly thrown upwards again by the elasticity of it. Birds could never draw or force themselves through the air with that strength and continuance which we see. It is by its gravity that the swallow skims about with so much velocity; and it is the same with many insects, especially of the Lepidoptera class, more particularly such as take long and rapid flights. I therefore propose a vessel to represent a mixed form of a fish, a bird, and a bat, flat-bottomed, and presenting a large membrane on each side, and two wings of very simple construction, and a very broad tail or rud

der. Such a vessel, only a few pounds heavier than the surrounding medium, in an absolute calm and horizontal position, would descend perpendicularly very slowly; but a small inclination being given to it, it would begin to run on in the plane of that inclination, and consequently would be capable of being governed by its rudder or tail: therefore, if the gravity of the vessel were sufficient for that purpose, it might be projected against a storm-I mean only to say it is possible, mathematically speaking. Thus you find there is a power in nature capable of operating on an aërial vessel, as forcibly as the wind on an aquatic vessel; with this advantage, that we can increase its force at pleasure, and diminish it in case of danger very readily. And as the rapidity of our motion will be a combination of the degree of inclination with the degree of gravity, we may have a Montgolfier under much better government than a ship; from whence it appears probable that in time it will be much safer flying than sailing. I have communicated this secret in other words to my friend Mr. Cumberland: I think between you the public curiosity may be excited. On Thursday, by the Ambassador's leave, I hope to send the Memoir, with drawings, &c. by the King's messenger, to Sir Joseph Banks. If he take it up as President of the Royal Society, you will in a few days, I apprehend, by reflecting on the matter, be able to say it must succeed. As soon as

Dr. Franklin had read my Memoir, he launched half a sheet of paper obliquely in the air, observing, that that was an evident proof of the propriety of my doctrines. I shall be impatient till I have your approbation, being ever yours, H. SMEATHMAN,

LETTER CLXXVIII.

From the same.

*

Paris, Oct. 29, 1783.

This I know for fact, that the inhabitants of that part of Africa where I was, never spared some species of lizards, but caught all they possibly could. These they used frequently to bring, of four or five feet in length, with their feet tied behind like criminals, and sold them for about the same price as two or three fowls. We found them most excellent food, and not unlike turtle, for which the guana of the West Indies is often eaten by strangers till they are undeceived; and it is a little remarkable, that the flesh of the latter amphibious animal is esteemed as a great purifier of the blood. If the flesh of any species of lizard have any healing virtues, it