More than a month previously, however, attention had been
called to the fact that a Mr. Tytler was preparing to make an
ascent from Edinburgh in a hot air balloon, and in the London
Chronicle of August 27th occurs the following circumstantial
and remarkable letter from a correspondent to that journal:Ä

"Edinburgh, Aug. 27, 1784.

"Mr. Tytler has made several improvements upon his fire balloon.
The reason of its failure formerly was its being made of porous
linen, through which the air made its escape. To remedy this
defect, Mr. Tytler has got it covered with a varnish to retain
the inflammable air after the balloon is filled.

"Early this morning this bold adventurer took his first aerial
flight. The balloon being filled at Comely Garden, he seated
himself in the basket, and the ropes being cut he ascended very
high and descended quite gradually on the road to Restalrig,
about half a mile from the place where he rose, to the great
satisfaction of those spectators who were present. Mr. Tytler
went up without the furnace this morning; when that is added he
will be able to feed the balloon with inflammable air, and
continue his aerial excursions as long as he chooses.

"Mr. Tytler is now in high spirits, and in his turn laughs at
those infidels who ridiculed his scheme as visionary and
impracticable. Mr. Tytler is the first person in Great Britain
who has navigated the air."