On perusing the above I have no doubt that you will pronounce it a dangerous plan, but so far from this being the case, it would be a safer machine than a gas balloon for inland excursions. I would not ascend near the sea with it. All the accidents that have happened with Montgolfier balloons have been through their taking fire, it is impossible for the above to do so. It would also be impossible for it to burst. Many accidents have happened through the bursting of gas balloons. It would be impossible for the machine to fail for want of gas or of being supplied with bad gas, its power would always be quite uniform. Ascents could be made from places which have no gasworks. Although the expense of this machine would be so trifling, still I have not the means of procuring the sum necessary. To tell you the truth I am but a clerk in the Post Office here at a low salary. I have not the slightest doubt that you and I could do well together, but you see the position I am in.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, October 8, 1849.
Lieutenant General (later General) Sir Edward Blakeney was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in Ireland.
I received your letter on my return to Dublin on the 7th. I am sorry to say that my ascent that was to take place at Clonmel did not come off though it had been announced by advertisement and bills. I had got the grant of the Barracks to ascend from, the Band and the patronage of the Mayor, Colonels, etc. as you will see by the bill I have enclosed. I have letters and other proofs that the gas had been promised me and I can also prove that they could have inflated the balloon had they had the mind to have done so, but three of the Directors refused to do so. I have been advised to ←44 | 45→bring an action against them for the amount I have lost by their breaking their promises, but perhaps this would not be wise, as I want the gas next summer.
I have had, as you will see by the bill, a lecture in Limerick, but owing to General Blakeney coming into Limerick to view the troops the same day my lecture was to come off, and dining with the officers in the evening, I did not do much, but it went off well and gave great satisfaction. Indeed I may say that I have only gained at one ascent this summer, but I have paved the way for good things next summer. Please God I live so long.
I shall now lay up for the winter here as I have a good place for my balloon and have many friends, but I think I shall go to London about Christmas. I now will reply to your letter which I have read with much pleasure owing to the straightforward manner you write. You kindly offer to send me some particulars of voyages, etc. I shall feel thankful for the same, in return you shall have from me all the assistance I can give you to bring you out as an aeronaut. But now let me give you a few words of advice. You say you have a wife and that you hold a situation at the Post Office. Let me beg of you to consider two things. The first; is your wife agreeable to your becoming an aeronaut and to give up your situation for that of the precarious life of a public man? These are two questions you ought to seriously consider. Do not think I wish to dishearten you; no to the contrary you shall, as I have before stated, have my best assistance should you think of keeping to your intentions.
As for you plan of the fire balloon I do not condemn it, on the contrary I think your ideas are good and I will feel much pleasure in meeting you and having some conversation on the subject, and to assist you as far as I can, and if agreeable I will call on you when I leave Dublin for London and have some serious conversations with you on all the points Respecting my ascent from Hackney, it took place in 1839. In 1838 I ascended from Canterbury. On both occasions I ascended on the hoop without a car, but I cannot give you the dates, as I have not the papers with me, they are in London. My second ascent with the Albion was from Gravesend a week after my first ascent in 1838, with my arm in a sling, it having been broke at my first ascent at the Eyre Arms Tavern, St John’s Wood. This ascent was made in my parachute car, the balloon not being able to take up the car of ←45 | 46→the balloon. My third ascent took place a few days after, about a week, and this was as fine an ascent as could be made. I was up about an hour and three quarters over the town and descended quite safe at Hoe, close to the Church. I was offered £20 at this ascent to take up a lady, but I refused, thinking I was not experienced enough. About a fortnight after I made my fourth ascent from the same place and this nearly was my last. I fell in the sea, about 15 miles below Sheerness in the North Sea, and had the top of one of my fingers pulled off, my balloon lashed to pieces by striking a brig that was beating up the Channel in the storm. This was on a Tuesday and on the following Saturday I made an ascent at Cremorne Gardens for Mr Glenny who had a grand Flower Show. It was ten shillings each to the gardens. I was paid £37.10.0 for this ascent. It was thought a matter of impossibility that I could have made this ascent, my arm being so recently broken and my finger off and the balloon so much destroyed, but myself and Mrs. Hampton with others, worked night and day and got into London on Saturday morning, and at four o’clock in the evening I made my ascent. I was so much exhausted that when I got the balloon fairly afloat I sat down in my car, and nature was so overcome that I fell off to sleep. After the balloon going about 15 miles it began to descend, owing to condensation, and I was awoke by the shouts of some farming men. I awoke, jumped up, threw out three bags of ballast, and went on five miles further and descended on the estate of Mr Walpole Esq, and after dining with that gentleman and some of his friends, I returned home about three the next morning. The dates of those ascents must be got from the papers in London. Any other information you want I will be most happy to give you. Let me hear from you soon, stating if I shall call on you, as I have stated. Keep your plans to yourself. Are you in communication with other aeronauts or not? Do not deceive me if so, as I would not wish to interfere.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street, Dublin, October 29, 1849.
I see by your letter that you are still determined to become an aeronaut and as you have got the consent of your good lady, and I have the same from her own lips, though mind I do not doubt what you state. When we meet we then will have some conversation on the subject. I must tell you I have been badly treated and much deceived, and shamefully so, by that ←46 | 47→fellow Coxwell that it makes me almost doubt all men. This will account to you why I put such questions to you as I have, and may still do so. One thing I will promise you that, please God, next summer you shall ascend with me and this is not all if things go well. As for any kindness, you have nothing to thank me for as yet. I wish men would be more just to each other and not think they are doing a kindness or a favour when they are only doing a duty. One thing I must tell you and Mrs. Brown, that myself and Mrs. Hampton will only come in on condition and that is that your house is to be to use the same as it would be to yourselves – no extras, mind this, if there are my stay with you will be a very short one. So you will take from this that I am a homely and plain man. As for Aerostation, plans, etc, must be left till I see you as I cannot handle my pen so freely as you, not but I shall be most happy to hear from you. I will drop you a line stating when I shall leave.
From Mr Hampton, [Not dated.] October, 1849.
In 1845 Sir John Franklin led an Artic expedition to explore the Northwest Passage. The expedition, consisting of two naval vessels and 129 crewmen, vanished. By 1848 the Admiralty, pressured by Lady Franklin and her influential supporters, undertook to mount a rescue mission.
I this morning received a newspaper from you which I thank you for. You will see by the enclosed that I wish to lay a plan to discover Sir John Franklin. Gale has been before me – but I wish still to lay my plan before the public and as I am somewhat deficient in my pen I would feel much obliged if you would put the enclosed in form by writing it plain, and where you can add do so, both in words and suggestions or improvements, and let me have it as soon as you can.12 Make it as plain as you can so that all may understand it. I fear you will have some trouble in making out my writing. Do you think you could get it in the Leeds paper or any ←47 | 48→others if I send you a copy of the Freeman, if it is put in? Let me know in your next. I have not spoken of a Montgolfier balloon as I wish to keep this to ourselves for the present. You may borrow some words from those papers that have been drawn out for me, of which I do not like the style, but you can make use of them in taking some parts of them.
From Mr Hampton, 23 Jervis Street. Dublin, November 17, 1849.
The French aeronaut, Francois Arban, famous as