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Updated: June 24, 2025
Montgolfier temporised, the king forbade it, or rather only gave his permission on the condition that two condemned criminals should be placed in the balloon! "What!" cried Roziers, in indignation at the king's proposal, "allow two vile criminals to have the first glory of rising into the sky! No, no; that will never do!"
It was on these conditions that Montgolfier commenced his balloon of 126 feet high and 100 feet in diameter, made of a double envelope of cotton cloth, with a lining of paper between. A strength and consistency was given to the structure by means of ribbons and cords. The work was nearly finished when Roziers went up in his fire-balloon from La Muette.
"I wish to describe as well as I can the first journey which men have attempted through an element which, prior to the discovery of MM. Montgolfier, seemed so little fitted to support them. "We went up on the 21st of October, 1783, at near two o'clock, M. Roziers on the west side of the balloon, I on the east. The wind was nearly north-west.
The intrepid Roziers gave in this ascent a further proof of the facility he had in descending and ascending at will.
The debate became animated. The four voyagers cried to cut the ropes. The director of the Academy, to whom application was made in this emergency, admiring the resolution and the courage of the four gentlemen, wished to satisfy them in their desire. Accordingly the ropes were cut; but at that moment M. Montgolfier and Roziers threw themselves into the gallery.
Roziers placed the crown that had been given to him upon Montgolfier's head. When the actress who played the part of Clytemnestra, sung the passage beginning "I love to see these flattering honours paid." The audience at once applied her song to the circumstances, and re-demanded it, which request the actress complied with, addressing herself to the box in which the distinguished visitors sat.
On looking for Roziers I saw him in his shirt-sleeves creeping out from under the mass of canvas that had fallen over him. Before attempting to descend he had put off his coat and placed it in the basket. After a deal of trouble we were at last all right. "As Roziers was without a coat I besought him to go to the nearest house.
At length Roziers went to Boulogne, and announced the day of his departure; but, as if by a special Providence, his attempt was delayed by unfavourable weather. For many weeks in succession the little trial balloons thrown up to show the course of the wind were driven back upon the shores of France. During all these trials the impatient Roziers continued to chafe and torment himself.
"'What are you doing? Are you having a dance to yourself? "'I'm not moving. "'So much the better. It is only a new current which I hope will carry us from the river, I answered. "I turned to see where we were, and found we were between the Ecole Militaire and the Invalides. "'We are getting on. said Roziers. "'Yes, we are travelling. "'Let us work, let us work, said he.
"'If you look at the river in that fashion you will be likely to bathe in it soon, cried Roziers. 'Some fire, my dear friend, some fire!
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