He brought six of them, with their chief, "Ma Caust", to London, and was scarcely distinguishable from his companions.
Sir Augustus Frederick D'Este had become interested in them, and procured Gale an appointment as coast blockade inspector in the north of Ireland.
He had a balloon manufactured at the old Montpelier Gardens in Walworth, and made his first ascent successfully from the Rosemary Branch tavern at Peckham in 1848.
He made many ascents, the 114th of which was from the hippodrome of Vincennes at Bordeaux, with the Royal Cremorne balloon, on 8 September 1850.
For some time after his death his widow, who had frequently made ascents in his company, continued to gain a livelihood by ballooning.