Everything being in readiness, the machine was carried to
Moncuco, the splendid domain of Andriani, where the first
experiments were made; for this gentlemen knew that as the
populace are impatient, they are also often un-reasonable, and
jump to the hastiest and most inconsiderate conclusion when, in
witnessing scientific experiments, any of the arrangements happen
to be imperfect, and the results in any respect prove
unsuccessful.
Andriani did not deceive himself, for, sure enough, his first
attempt did not come up to expectation. The reasons for this
failure were the too great quantity of air which the fire drew
in, and the unsuitable character of the fuel used.
On the 25th of February, 1784, a second attempt was made. The
fire was lighted under the machine, at first with dry birch-wood.
and afterwards with a bituminous composition, ingeniously
concocted by one of the Brothers Gerli. In less than four
minutes the balloon was completely inflated, and the men employed
to hold it down with ropes perceived that it was on the point of
rising. The aeronauts then gave the order to let go. Scarcely
was the balloon let off, when it gently rose a short distance,
and then flew in a horizontal direction towards a palace in the
neighbourhood.
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