Morning Post October 5th 1824

Descent of a young lady in an Air Balloon

An extraordinary sensation was produced the other day at Cuckfield fair, in Sussex, by the descent of a large balloon in the midst of the crowd assembly at the fete. It being a horse and cattle fare as well as one of amusement, there was a vast assemblage of persons of all classes, and the aeronaut, whose name we have not learnt, descended in the very heart of the fair.

The first sensation produced on the crowd of peasants, many of whom have never seen a balloon before, was very great and their astonishment was considerably increased by seeing an elegant young lady step out of the car. The parties immediately set off in a post-chaise for London. We have not yet heard whence the balloon ascended. Going up in the air balloons has of late become a very fashionable recreation. It is a remarkable circumstance, that more ladies have ventured to make this, than almost any other novel experiment, in which there is certainly some little danger.

Upwards of 45 female aeronauts may be enumerated, out of which only two have met with any accident.