that the machine in which the gentleman came down to earth
appeared to consist of two distinct parts connected together by
ropes, namely that in which the gentleman appeared to be, a
stage boarded at the bottom, and covered with netting and ropes
on the sides about four feet and a half high, and the other
part of the machine appeared in the shape of an urn, about
thirty feet high and of about the same diameter, made of canvas
like oil skin, with green, red, and yellow stripes.

NATHANIEL WHITBREAD.

Sworn before me this twentieth day of September, 1784, WILLIAM
BAKER.

It was a curious fact, pointed out to the brave Italian by a
resident, that the field in which the temporary descent had
been made was called indifferently Etna or Italy, "from the
circumstance which attended the late enclosure of a large
quantity of roots, rubbish, etc., having been collected there,
and having continued burning for many days. The common people
having heard of a burning mountain in Italy gave the field that
name."

But the voyage did not end at Etna. The, as yet, inexperienced
aeronaut now cast out all available ballast in the shape of
sand, as also his provisions, and rising with great speed, soon
reached a greater altitude than before, which he sought to
still farther increase by throwing down his plates, knives, and
forks. In this somewhat reckless expenditure he thought
himself justified by the reliance he placed on his oar, and it