Physicians – Undertakers, sextons, &c., almost ruined – Industry of the
apothecaries._
THE FROLIC.
This famous sling makes the possessor equal to any task he is desirous
of performing.
I made a balloon of such extensive dimensions, that an account of the
silk it contained would exceed all credibility; every mercer’s shop and
weaver’s stock in London, Westminster, and Spitalfields contributed to
it: with this balloon and my sling I played many tricks, such as taking
one house from its station, and placing another in its stead, without
disturbing the inhabitants, who were generally asleep, or too much
employed to observe the peregrinations of their habitations. When the
sentinel at Windsor Castle heard St. Paul’s clock strike thirteen, it
was through my dexterity; I brought the buildings nearly together that
night, by placing the castle in St. George’s Fields, and carried it
back again before daylight, without waking any of the inhabitants;
notwithstanding these exploits, I should have kept my balloon, and its
properties a secret, if Montgolfier had not made the art of flying so
public.
On the 30th of September, when the College of Physicians chose their
annual officers, and dined sumptuously together, I filled my balloon,