The National Register.
London, England, 1814-08-07 00:00:00

E N IT;CINAL REGTSTER.

~.. r,. . _ ~.... at

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thnlistutie. Tile erow'l, who Were nrigittalty to be prevented from
lantelatirp, the Greett-park by finable better amusement in their
first Position, sitPllnsint they should tied Ilene aftri the battle, rushed
down,—in pert at least,—towards the l'emple, which was thee be-
ginning to twinkle in its tirst.lustres. Tbeir impetuosity, number,
and the insolence and übttinacy of the coachmen of all descriptions,
who in the teeth of the ff,,veriinietst order were suffered to take post
in the middle of the street, or chive about as they ',leased, gave rea-
son to fear verseserions accidents.
Some part of the crowd, then, as we have already stated, deserted
the two fleets on the close of their first contest, little judging of the
fite which was even yet to attend the defeated one—tio ether than
its final entifirgration. First, then, we saw a frigate from the
fleet sailing maje-tieally down the Serpentine, with the witel abaft
the boom, to attack two ships of similar force, which lay at anchor
also, detached from the Frinch fleet, under American colostrs
(the stripes.) She was soon after followed by anotlor of
out's of nearly the same force, and when they came within gun-shot
of the Americans re-opened their fire on them. This was returned
with intrre-t, anti after passing them our ships attempted to take
them on the ether tack, but the wind being right a-head. they were
dries n con-itlezably astern, and their intention was thus frustrated.
They then put out their boats. which towed them a head. mid after
a short conflict, between stern chasers and bow chasers our frigates
v ere liming t alongside, and a mast en. agement etre eI, which
ended by lowering the American colours, and hoisting the Enlists
over them. The frigates and their prizes were then towed up to the
t •p ef tt e Setts-Intim!, where the English fleet were moored.
The !vet twAitretivre that took place was that of the English neat
cowing down %ill a fair wind to :mac& that of the enemy lying at an-
chor; and as warm agthec came within gun shot a most tremendous can-
uonsde rtcoinntroiced, which was continued .with equal With on both
sides for iia:if an hour, when the Frence fi et were driven on sh-re,
and the Elvish ships were towed back to their original moorings. About •
ten o'clock the spectat •rs were suddenly surpliscd by the instareanemis ,
bunt on their sight of a ship on fire. This was at first beheld as a
caborFly ; hut in a lew inintitrs it was universal/1r perceived that she
was hearing &ern on the French fleet, previously driven on shore.
The misfiu grandeur and the sa'i'l increasing sniendour of the scene,
drew forth bursts of enthiliia‘tie acclamations from both the shore. of
the Serpentine ; and in a few minutes the first ship of the French R.:et
which lay in her line, and with which she came in conta,t, was set on
fire, arid added to the maenificence of a scei.e which iii is real occur.
rence has been universally allowed to exceed al others in terrific pomp.
viz. that of a fillip of. war on fire at sea. This first frigate was followed
by a second, aryl he the two the whole French, fleet were set on fire
lied demolished. The effect produced by this blase was such as to
inakr the whole water appear on fire. •
Soon after this. he fi -eworks began; but the snperior splen-
dour of tfloeexpirine fleet eclipsed, for a lone time, evety thine that
could belproditced by pyrotechnic ingenuity. Even afterwards
Hyde Pail( presented a phenomenon. no where else to be seen,
windy, the Water Rockets. They commence with a report, which
draws the attention of the spectators to them ; they are then seen.
whirling about with ere it rapidity on the surface of the water, imi-
tating the I otatory motion of it mill wheel. In a few seconds there
is an addition of a very beautiful fountain. which, after displaying
its decant vanities for some time, bursts forth with a loud report,
auto a variety of what are called water snakes. These, after flying
into the air, descended again into the water, into which they ins-
mesge tier second, or two, anti then ri eat the distance of a few'
feet and keep thus continually bounding its all directions, and, after
various immersions, till at last they expire in a loud explosion. With
these ti.e exhibition in Hyde-park terminated.
The Gieciepark at an early hour, began to display its attrac-
tions ; besides the balloon, an exhibition whose interest 14 custom
begins to state." it was hoe that the castle-temple was to be
seers ; here the Royal Booth displayed its crimson tapestry and its,
illminuated front ; and here the splendid bridge ',resented the
Denies of thee chief' naval heroes of the late war. About 6 o'clock the
Niloon was ready to start set its aerial voyage : Mr. Sadler stela
brio it ; the ropes were cut, and the machine sprang into the air
with it. usual velocity. Its motion was nearly perpendicular till it'
attained a considerable height : it then glided along in the direr.
tion of Kant.. Mr. Sadler carried up a vast moldier of the pro-
grammes of the Jithilee; but whether he thought them two heavy
.r his vehicle, or considered that they could serve Ito useful purpose
above flue clone's, lie soon fitly!: them clown aeain wills much
inelns-
try and prottisime When the eye "had been satisfied with con-
temple t ing this bearititill object till it %vas diminished to a mere point,
it began to look about for new pleasures. These were not imme-
diately tts be found, and this arrangement way certainly one di .the

AP(. 7.

deleets of the tele. From six o'clock tin no progress was •
Made in -the entertainment, as far as regarded this division of the
.emir. The pei:ple had leisure to walk meow and fatigue thrm-
seves : and what was worse. fatigue brought with it the never-tad.
and morality of spleen, 'shirt, deaneed them to view with Innen!,
indifference all the preparations made for their amusement. Ample
amends, howeviii, were made for this delay, and the pnblie quickly
resnmed its good humour. At soon as the dark began to overspread
the scene, the bridge and the booth were illuminated, and the Chi.
nese lanthorns here and there chewed their fantastic transparencies.
If these exotic ornaments had been more monstrous, the tffect
would have been highly gra( did and pleasing ; but here alone there
appeared to have been a beggarly economy. There were so few of
them, and those so scattily disposed, that they displayed neither
brilliancy nor unifiirtnity : they did not tend in the slightest &glee
to illume the scene, and were only pretty when viewed in detail.
The illumination did not pretend to any extraordinary magnificence
they merely exhibited, amidst a refuse blase of lamps the names
of all the illustrious companions of Wellington in the Peninsula war,
and of the principal naval heroes, dead and lisieg, who during the
last twenty years have upheld and increased the maritime Llory of
their country. At ten o'clock a loud and long rontimod discharge
of artillery announced the commencement of the fireworks, whittle
were, certainly. if not the most tastelid, yet on the grainiest Arne
most extensive scale that we have ever witnessed. Pions toe oat.
fitments of the castle, at one moment ascended the most erilliatia
lockets ; presently the wails disclosed all the rarest and most coin.
plieated ornaments of which the art is susceptible : the senses were
next astonished and enchanted with a pacific exhibition of those
tremenduous instruments of destruction invented by Colonel Con.
Breve. Some notion even of their terrible power might be formed
Groin the display of Monday night, and their exceeding beauty
could be contemplated divested of its usual awful associations.
• Each rocket contains in itself a world of smaller rockets : as soon
es it is discharged from the gun, it bursts and flings aloft into the
air innumerable parcels of flame. brilliant as the brightest stars: the
whole atmosphere is illuminated by a delicate blue light, which
threw an air of enchantment over the trees and lawns, and made
even the motley groups of universal London become intete.ting as
an assembly in romance. Throe several smaller rockets then bursa
again, and a shower of fiery light descends to the earth, and extends
over Many yards. Such was one of the beautiful fire works which,
during the space of two hours, amused and est-truistical the people.
Rid the pidle, who had been on their legs all clay, and were dot
sollaciently accommodated with seats. began at length to be tired
with the endless repetition even of the most striking heautie,, and
became impatient for the grand metamorphosis of the castle into a
temple. This was now the principal object to which the attention
of the spectators was awoke,—the conversion of a fabric designed
, for the purposea of war into a tempke of peace, and an illuminated
monument of victory. The metamorphosis took plate with somewhat less
than the celerity generally witnessed in our theatrical pantomimes; it re.
sembled the caut eine removal of a sereen,tather than the sudden leap eat*
ir new shape. When fully developed, however, it presented a spectacle
which for extent of splendour, and not less for taste ful,ess of arrange.
ment, deserved the edmiration, and satisfied the hopes which it had
iospi-ed. It represented • a structure not Jiff ring c,iisiclerably from
that from which it bad emerged, with the exception of a greater ro.
epidity in its first and seeono circles. The lanips were triaged
with blue and intermixed round the base ; the pillars girded
by fe-torms agreeably varied ; whilst two rows of transparencies aimed
their lustre with the general scene. The devices wire among others
" The Golden Aee,"—" Peace restored to Farth,"—" The ItegeneYs"
and the representations little more titan the orehiary figurative em.
blems of peace and good will among men. Undoubtedly no display
of artificial and ornamental light w4s ever condeased into a smull-r
compass. and heightened mkt more magnificent effect. 'l3tit'ulnueo
. the period when it 6r4 glared upon the already dazzled of the
they were for a time attracted to an iintereseen and melaii.
choty ealtibilion in the adjoining park. " and thronging millions to the
pagoda rate" Its shirt but portentous bis e. which; like the ride tees
that eclipses the regular splendours of the firMament, engrossed the
-general eye for its season, had no sooner abated than the It stormy
wave of the populace!' retired to its former station, end in various etti.
tildes hanquetted en the flood of light that posted itself around them.
Amidst the listlessness and riot of the scene, an itiquiring• eye some•
times found leisure to look towards the decorated galleries which the
public had been taught to consider as prepared for the ieception of
Illustrious and Royal guests. It was
,Mere that the chit f diuippoint•
went was expeeienced.; no person of distinction itveak orloltuce
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appeared.
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