| Citation |
SCG-C.749.019
17-24 Apr 1749:21 (781)
A Description of the Public Fireworks, to be exhibited on
Occasion of the General Peace, concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle,
October 7, 1748, taken from an authentic print beautifully
engraved in the London Magazine for December last.
The length of the whole will be 410 feet; of the grand
building in the middle 144 feet; the height from the
foundation to the top, where is placed the King's arms, will
be 100 feet, and from thence to a sun (32 feet in diameter,
which will burn several hours) placed between two others a
little lower, will be 50 feet more, so that upon the whole,
it will be 150 feet high.
At each end is a pavillion serving for storehouses to the
enginiers.
On the arcades, which run from the pavillions to the
center, will be planted cannon, which are to be fired at the
beginning and end of the fireworks.
There are handsome steps, which go up to a grand area
before the middle arch, where a band of 100 musicians are to
play before the fireworks begin, the music for which is to
be composed by Mr. Handel.
Just over them is placed the Duke of Montague's arms, as
master of the ordnance. . . [12 lines]
At the top of the building, from behind the two stars,
which are on each side the larger basso relievo, 1000
rockets will go off: The whole front of the building will
display fire-wheels, and many other devices in various forms
and colours, which will continue for three hours; at the
conclusion of which, from behind the King's arms at top, six
thousand rockets will go at once. After which the whole
building will be illuminated, & continue so 5 hours more.
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