Newspaper Page Text
s were holding it by the netting, when I went to
pour into the cistern the rest of the oil of vitriol deftmed for
the purpose ; this having caused a strong effervefcence gene
rated inflammable air with such rapidity, that fomeof itefcap
«d from two different parts at the lower end of the appara
tus, and spread among the feet of several gentlemen who were
holding the balloon, and who were so alarmed that, leaving
it at liberty, they ran from the spot. The balloon now rose
with great velocity, and carrying up with it a gentleman of
this town, 11 years of age.
«« This unhappy viftim held a strong rope, (which was
faftened to the crown of the balloon, and was to have been
the cable of my big anchor) and could not disengage him
felf when the other gentlemen fled ; he was of course ele
vated the height of St. Paul’s cupola, when the balloon turned
downward, the crown divided from it, and the unfortunate
gentleman fell to the ground.
“ He did not expire immediately, having fallen upon very
loft ground; he spoke for some time to his unhappy
parents, and to the surgeons who came to aflift him ; but his
internal vefl'els being broken he died about an hour and a half
after the fall.
“ Before this unhappy accident I had taken notice of the
young gentleman, and tyvice untwisted the fatal rope from
his hand, brought him to leave it loose, and give free expan
lion to the balloon, which was now filling apace : But, I think,
it was his destiny, and his appointed hour was come.—
« I can write no more, I am so affeded by the loss of this
unfortunate young man that my frame is entirely discomposed,
I never fuffered so much since I was born.
VINCENT LUNARDI."
By a variety of private letters from Newcastle, refpeding
the above unhappy accident, we find that the unfortunate
young gentleman was a Mr. Heron, son of a very refpedable
Attorney of that name, and who is Under Sheriff for the
county of Northumberland ; that he was clerk to his father,
the period of his servitude was nearly expired, and he was
upon the point of being married to a mod amiable v young
ladv, between whom and himfelf the tenderest affection had
subsisted from their earliest years.
It appears that the inflammable air, being generated with
great violence, burst from the apparatus with such rapidit y
as to cacth fire ; the alarm dispersed all the fpedators but the
ill-fated Mr. Heron, who either continued to hold the cord
or was entangled by it. Lunardi called for water, but none
could be procured ; the balloon being forcibly disengaged
from the cords afeended above 3000 feet, when it burst, and
Mr. Heron fell into a garden near the place of afeenfion.
The force of the fall was somewhat broke, by Mr. Heron’s
coming down almost erect upon a tree, and from thence in
the fame position upon a flower bed of foft mould, into which
be funk nearly knee deep, and then stuck faft t
It is impoflible to conceive the aftonilhmeqt that inrtantly
seized several thousand fpeCtators to behold a person suspended
only by his arm carried to such a prodigious height, and
immediately descended with greater velocity, while the
balloon was seen rent to pieces in the air, and exhibiting only
a cloud of black smoke.
Mr. Heron’s father, mother, Afters, and several other
relations, were on a fcaffold adjoining the balloon when this
dreadful catastrophe took place ; no person at firft knew who
it was, but the alarm was soon given of its being poor Mr.
Heron. The ground was deferred, and the outcry of the
fpeftators was diftreffmg. Every medical afliftance was ad
ministered in vain, and a few hours terminated his exirtence
in a manner so truly melancholy to his family, friends, the
town, and whole neighbourhood, Lunardi made a preci
pitate retreat from the fury of the enraged populace. *
Government are now about fettling a "colony in New-Hol
land, in the Indian seas j and the Commiflioiiers of the navy
are now advertising for 1500 tons of transports. The settle
ment is to be formed at Botany Bay, on the weft fide of the
island, where Captain Cook refreihed and flayed feme time
*n his voyage in 1770. As he firft failed round that fide of
the island, he called it New South Wales, and the two canes
at the mouth of the river were called by the names of Banks
.tnd Solander. There are 680 men felons and 70 womah
felons to go, and they are to be guarded by 12 marines and a
corporal m every transport, containing 150 felons. There
are several men of war and some frigates to go, but thev are
all to come back, but one or two of each, which are to re
main there some time to aflift in eftablilhing a gartifon of 300
men intended to be left there. The whole equipment, army
navy, and felons, are to be landed with two years provisions
and all fort* of implements for the culture of the earth and
hunting and filhing, and some flight buildings are to be run
up immediately, till a proper fort and town-house are ereft,
ed. This place is nearly situated in the fame latitude with
the Cape of Good Hope, and about eight months voyage front
England.
On the of August w?s arrested at Vienna, a man
about 73 years old, who had been married seven times. He
used to bury his wife every second year, and at the burying
of his last, being fufpeded of having poisoned them all, the
body was taken out of the grave, and examined by gentle
men of the faculty. There were visible marks of poison,
the wietch will undergo coqdign puniihraent for his horrid
crimes.
The French now eat beef and drink porter; they wear
broad cloth and bucklkin breeches; they play at fk ttles and
cricket. Alas, England ! where is now thy boasted pre
eminence ?
CHARLESTON, December Tp.
In conference of the late agreement between Great-Bri
tain and Spain, all Englilli troops will be withdrawn from
the Mufquito Shore, and that place left entirely in pofleffio.n
of the Spaniards.
Letters from Amsterdam, dated September 3, mention,
that Mr. Adams, who lately left London to sign a treaty of
commerce with the Pruflian Ambaflador at the Hague, is now
preparing to return to Great-Britain.
SAVANNAH, December 21,
Last Saturday, agreeable to notification, the (htferent lodges
of this Bate, either by Deputation or Representatives, met
the Right Worfliipful the GRAND LODGE, at their Lodge-
Room at the Coffee-houfe, when the permanent appointments
under the provincial regulations of England were by the
Grand Officers voluntarily abolished, and annual
adopted.
It is with regret to be communicated to the Craft, that the
Right Worfliipful GRAND MASTER of Georgia, the Ho
norable Major-General Elbert, rehgned his chair, when the
following Grand-Officers were elected for the Year of Ma
sonry 5787 :
The Right Worfliipful William Stephens, Esquire, Grand
Master.
The Right Worfliipful Brigadier General James Jackson,
Deputy Grand Master.
The Worfliipful Sir George Houftoyn, Baronet, Grand
Senior Warden.
The Worfliipful Thomas Else, Esquire, Grand Junior
Warden.
The Worfliipful James Haberlham, Esq. Grand Treasurer.
. The Worfliipful Samuel Stirk, Esq. Grand Secretary.
The GRAND LODGE taking into consideration the gene
rous and masonic behaviour of the late Grand Master, Brother
Elbert, unanimously hailed him Father of Independent Ma
sonry, and appointed a Committee to present him the thanks
of the Masonic State, with a Past Grand Mailer’s emblema
tical jewel, in teflimony of their refpeft and brotherly af
fection.
The different Lodges in the state being thus cemented un
der one common head, the day was concluded w : h harmony
and good fellowlhip.
December 28. Yesterday being the Anniversary Feast of
St. John, the different Lodges of this town met the Grand
Lodge at their room, and proceeded under their banner to
Christ Church, where an excellent masonic sermon was
preached by the Rev. Brother Nixon. After service the
whole of the Fraternity present dined with the Grand Lodge,
and spent the day with that harmony and feftlvity, which
might be expefted frpra a jundion of the Brotherhood under
one common head.
The Captains Dalher, Igle, and Tattnall, of this state,
have routed the Negroes from their camp in Carolina, and
destroyed, with their huts, quantity of provisions,
AUGUSTA, Jan. 13,
The following is a Copy of the letter from the Speaker qf the
House of AlTerably to the Governor Eleft;
SIR ,
IT is with pleasure I acquaint you, by the diredions of the
Legislature, of your appointment to the Supreme Magi
stracy of the Government of this State.
When they conlider the arduous struggles you have made
on behalf of the United States as a Soldier, they hope and
flatter themselves the fame exertions will not be wanting in
the important duties of your civil appointment as a citizen.
They are happy to fee the former inhabitants of other Hates