BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 83
Mr. Lunardi again visited Edinburgh the year following (1 786), and ascended
the third time from Heriot’s Hospital Green, on the 31st of July. On this
occasion a lady (Mrs. Lamash, an actress) was to have accompanied him, and had
actually taken her seat in the car ; but the balloon being unable to ascend with
both, Lunardi ascended alone. In consequence of little wind, he came down
about two miles distant. On his return to the city in the evening, he was
carried through the streets in his car by the populace, and received other
demonstrations of admiration,
Very little is known of Mr. Lunardi’s personal history, save that he was a
native of Italy, and some time Secretary to the then late Neapolitan ambassador.
In 1786, he published an account of his aerial voyages in Scotland, which he
dedicated to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. This small volume, although
proving him to be a man of education, and some talent as a writer, throws very
little light upon his history. It consists of a series of letters addressed to his
guardian, (‘ Chevalier Gerardo Compagni.” These letters were evidently written
under the impulse of the moment, and afford a connected detail of his progress in
Scotland. They are chiefly interesting at this distance of time, as showing;the
feelings and motives of one, who, whether his “labours were misdirected” or
not, obtained an extraordinary degree of notoriety. In short, the volume is
amusing in this particular, and adds another proof to the many, that few, very
few, seek the advancement of society, or of the sciences, for humanity’s sake
alone, Fame is the grand stimulus. A portrait of the author is prefixed, which
corresponds extremely well with Mr. Kay’s sketches of him. Lunardi must have
been at that time a very young man.
The young adventurer, on his arrival in the Scottish capital, is much pleased
with its ancient and romantic appearance. He expresses himself with great
animation on all he sees around him, and apparently with great sincerity. As
a specimen of the man and his opinions, we are induced to make one or two
extracts. In the first letter, after describing his arrival, he says :-
“ I have apartments in Walker’s Hotel, Prince’s Street, from whence I behold
innumerable elegant baildings, and my ears are saluted with the sounds of
industry from many others similarly arising. It
vibrates more forcibly on the chords of my heart than the most harmonious
notes of music, and gives birth to sensations that.1 would not exchange for all
the boasted pleasures of luxury and dissipation.”
These sentiments would have done credit to one less gay and youthful than
Lunardi. In another letter he says, ‘‘ I am now happy in the acquaintance of
the Hon. Henry Erskine, Sir William Forbes, and Major Fraser.” True to his
clime, however, the letters of Lnnardi betray in him all the volatility and passion
ascribed to his countrymen. At one moment he is in ecstasy, the other in
despair, He had chosen George Square for his first display, and had contracted
with Isaac Braidwood of the Luckenbooths, who had actually begun to enclose
the area, when an order from the Magistrates stopped farther proceedings. The
Hail to the voice of labour !
