In an exhibition of Artificial Fire Works extraneous light is excluded as far as is practicable, but in the display exhibited at the City Hall, on the evening of the Grand Canal Celebration, it was illuminated by twenty-three hundred and two brilliant lights, consisting of fifteen hundred and forty-two wax candles, four hundred and fifty lamps, (giving effect to a large Transparency) and three hundred and ten variegated lamps, so that the front of the Hall presented a lustre of peculiar splendour and brilliancy, which rendered the task of giving relief to the Fire Works very difficult.

It therefore required extraordinary means to meet this difficulty, which could only be effected by the preparation of such Fire Works as would not only be proportionate to the size of the edifice, but also be capable of counteracting, or rather overwhelming, by their brilliancy, the power of the Illumination.

The artist accomplished this by means of thirteen gerbes (each six inches in calibre, and containing fifty pounds of composition) which alternately changing into Chinese, Diamond, and other fires, produced a most striking effect; whilst these were operating auxiliary works were placed in the rear, and being fired at the same moment, formed a background which gave relief to the brilliancy of the gerbes, and, at the same time, projected fifteen hundred large fire balls, crossing and intersecting each other at different angles, forming portions of concentric circles. A succession of reports from the powder, while projecting, rendered the discharge similar to feu de joie; the effect of this combination was singularly magnificent - sometimes ejecting brilliant sparks in the form of a willow decorated with stars, at others they resembled the poplar, each being accompanied with showers of gold and silver rain. These combinations so far eclipsed the other Illuminations as to draw repeated bursts of applause from an immense multitude of spectators.

The rockets used on this occasion were remarkable for their size and effect. During the exhibition three hundred and twenty rockets of four pounds each - thirty of nine pounds - and twenty-four of twenty pounds were projected - the heads of these tastefully diversified with scrolls, serpents, snails, silver rain, star composition, &c. and were fired from both wings so as to intersect each other in their flight, the larger rockets being discharged at an angle of forty degrees, so as to fall into the North River. These rockets left a beautiful peacocks' tail from the moment of their flight till their disappearance. The manner in which the rods were fixed, was such as to be disengaged in the air, and fall in pieces apart from the case, so that not a single accident occurred. The artist is entitled to the highest credit for the splendid effect he produced, and the great care taken to avoid accidents. It is believed a more magnificent exhibition of Fireworks was never witnessed on this side of the Atlantic.

----------------------------------------

Transcribed from the original text and html prepared by Bill Carr, last updated 5/21/99.