Abstract
“Balloon Madness”: Politics, Public Entertainment, the Transatlantic Science of Flight, and Late Eighteenth-Century America
Highlights
In this wild, romatic Age, What fantastic Whims engage! High and low and old and young
Declaring that Deeker “is perfectly acquainted with the nature and construction of AIR BALLOONS,” the broadside went on to announce that: “As the novelty of an exhibition of this nature may afford some amusement to the Public, at the request of a number of respectable characters in this city, he proposes to open a SUBSCRIPTION for supplying the materials necessary for constructing and filling one of twenty-five feet diameter.”[1]. Despite the anonymous author’s faith in the generosity, and curiosity, of the American public, Deeker’s visit to the new republic was not universally welcomed
“I am pleased in reflecting how much our countrymen have done to improve the various branches of science, and doubt not our being as much distinguished for works of genius in times of peace, as our patriot army have been for their success and sufferings during the war,” the correspondent enthused, before rather apprehensively noting of the balloon itself that: “So novel an appearance had an odd effect on the ‘gazing multitude’ – Silent admiration – the stare of surprise – the grin of ignorance – and a wild tumultuous joy – sufficiently indicated that all were pleasingly disappointed.”[3]. The Pennsylvania-born diplomat Jonathan Williams, Jr., expressed a similar ambivalence in his account of those carrying out the “late Aerostatic Experiments.”
Summary
Romatic Age, What fantastic Whims engage! High and low and old and young.
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