Our 1862 Correspondent Writes: ‘War In The Air? It'll Never Take Off’

 

An article, from Littell's Living Age (13th September 1862), ‘A Voyage in the Air’, reports on two Victorian scientists, Henry Tracey Coxwell and James Glaisher, who ascended in a hot-air balloon to a height of some five miles.

These two gentlemen have ascended farther from the earth than any of their aëronautic predecessors; and Mr. Glaisher comes to the conclusion that “five miles from the earth is very nearly the limit of human existence.” Assuredly both he and his friend approached very closely the limit of their existence. Mr. Glaisher became utterly unconscious; Mr. Coxwell retained consciousness, but his hands were rendered black and powerless by the intense cold, and he could only turn the balloon downward by opening the valve with his teeth.

But the author of the article is unimpressed by this. The achievement is null, the stratosphere is a pointless arena for discovery, it will never be the site for trade or war.

It may be doubted whether Mr. Coxwell and Mr. Glaisher are doing much good by what, in newspaper English, are called their “Scientific Balloon Ascents.” They are incurring far greater risk than Blondin or Leotard. Their object is far nobler, for they desire to obtain some scientific information concerning the earth's atmosphere. But, is the game worth the candle? What real benefit can humanity possibly obtain from the knowledge that water freezes and pigeons cannot fly at five miles above the earth's surface? Luckily, we are none of us expected to live so far above that level. We are permitted to exist at a reasonable distance above the level of the sea. Notwithstanding Mr. Tennyson's rash prophecy, we cannot venture to believe that our posterity will do their trading and their fighting in balloons. They will suspect they will find the firm soil the most convenient place for a shindy. England has for many a year held mastery of the main

Ubicunque pontus est ibi Britannia est―

but we do not foresee a future of the nation which shall have the mastery of the air.

We do not know what special value may be attached to Mr. Glaisher's aërial observations; but, while we heartily admire the courage of himself and his companion, we doubt whether they have any substantial justification for their enterprise. Human life should not be foolishly risked. Risk it as you will for any heroic purpose-upon any enterprise whereby mankind shall profit. Is it, however, worth while to risk it in order to ascertain that the temperature is very cold at five miles above the earth? We cannot pretend to prejudge the effect of Mr. Glaisher's observations; but surely there is nothing of much consequence to be expected from them. Such balloon ascents as these appear to us to rank with our arctic expeditions; they show that there is nothing which a true Englishman fears to do; but they are entirely useless and futile so far as result is concerned. The temperature at six miles above us cannot be important to science, cannot certainly compensate the risk of the lives of two courageous and intelligent men. Messrs. Coxwell and Glaisher deserve admiration for their pluck, and reprobation for their foolhardiness.

That's them told. In other news, don't sign The Beatles in 1962: guitar bands are on the way out.

The Latin quoted is by Walter Savage Landor (from 1858's Dry Sticks, Fagoted) and means: ‘wheresoever is the sea, there is Britain.’