By these means- for they were
ignorant men- I found little difficulty in gaining them over to my
purpose.
Matters being thus arranged, I contrived, by the aid of my wife
and with the greatest secrecy and caution, to dispose of what property
I had remaining, and to borrow, in small sums, under various
pretences, and without paying any attention to my future means of
repayment, no inconsiderable quantity of ready money. With the means
thus accruing I proceeded to procure at intervals, cambric muslin,
very fine, in pieces of twelve yards each; twine; a lot of the varnish
of caoutchouc; a large and deep basket of wicker-work, made to order;
and several other articles necessary in the construction and equipment
of a balloon of extraordinary dimensions. This I directed my wife to
make up as soon as possible, and gave her all requisite information as
to the particular method of proceeding. In the meantime I worked up
the twine into a net-work of sufficient dimensions; rigged it with a
hoop and the necessary cords; bought a quadrant, a compass, a
spy-glass, a common barometer with some important modifications, and
two astronomical instruments not so generally known.
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