A System of Pyrotechny / Comprehending the theory and practice, with the application of chemistry; designed for exhibition and for war.

by James Cutbush

The theatre was a building, forty feet square, with a pyramid of eighty feet in height, on which was placed a globe, containing artificial fire, and accompanied with sixteen large vases of different forms.

All the edifice was ornamented with a variety of decorations, combined with figures and emblems of peace, and painted on marble.

After several guns were fired, as a signal, the exhibition commenced, with the discharge of a large number of honorary rockets, fired three and three at a time. Nearly five hundred lances, and saucissons garnished, lighted the four sides of the body of the works. Thirty cases of artificial fire, furnished with fusées, and double marquises, were placed upon the large terrace, with 1200 pots à feu (fire-pots); and upon the ballustrade of the same terrace, forty jets, twenty of which were aigrettes, and eight, revolving suns, four in the middle, and four on the angles. Four large fixed suns were placed above the four which revolved, and four pattes d'oies, (geese feet,) were situated before the grand pedestal of the pyramid, with jets, and pots with aigrette.

At the foot of the pyramid, on the steps, were placed 1200 fire-pots, and upon the pedestal of the pyramid, twelve large pots of aigrette, on the extremity of which, were arranged aigrettes in groups, and three large luminous stars, formed of two hundred fire lances. The four faces of the pyramid were lined with about fifty other jets; after which there were cascades, or fountains of fire. The first horizontal wheel was composed of, or furnished with, six cases, and contained also two hundred and forty double marquises. The second wheel contained two hundred and forty fire-pots, and six cases, with upwards of three hundred fusées, all in stars, twelve air balloons in the middle, but placed at the bottom of the fire-work. To this was added, twelve artificial bombs, fixed in mortars, and placed near the cannon, which pointed to the works.

This outline of the brilliant exhibition of fire-works in 1739, will give the reader some idea of the taste and magnificence of the work at that period. We may here add, however, that the improvements, which have since taken place, both in the composition of artificial fire, and its arrangement, are such as to place the modern exhibitions of this kind far above that we have just spoken of. But the following account of the execution of fire-works, performed on the Pont Neuf, in August of the same year, is more extensive, as the exhibition appears to have been more grand.

The theatre, which represented the temple of Hymen, was an edifice of the doric order. It was square. A gallery of five hundred feet in length was supported by thirty-two columns, four feet in diameter, and thirty-three feet in height. In the interior, were two solid bodies, and also one or more stair cases. At the two sides of this temple, along the parapets of the Pont Neuf, were thirty-six pyramids, eighteen of which were forty feet high, and the others, twenty-six feet. They were joined by what is called, in architecture, a corbil, and carried vases on their summits.

The signal for the exhibition was given by the firing of cannon. Immediately, were seen, rising into the air from each side of the temple, three hundred rockets, fired twelve at a time. They were discharged from the eight towers of the Pont Neuf, which face the Tuileries, and were succeeded (upon the same towers,) by one hundred and eighty pots of aigrette. The Chinese trees were disposed in such a manner, as to form a pyramid. A succession of Chinese trees now appeared, immediately on the tablet of the cornice of the bridge; then followed a great fixed sun, sixty feet in diameter, which appeared in all its splendour, in the midst of surrounding objects. Under this, was placed a large illuminated cypher, thirty feet in height, which consisted of different colours, in imitation of jewels. At the sides, between the pillars of the temple, were also two other artificial cyphers, six feet high, and composed of blue fire, which had a surprising effect. There were placed upon the two walks of the bridge, on the right and left of the temple, beyond the illuminated pyramids, two hundred cases of fusées de partement, of five or six dozen each. These cases were fired, five at a time, and succeeded the rockets. They began, on each side, from the first near the temple, and in succession, as far as the extremities to the right and left. There appeared then cascades of red fire, issuing from the five arches of the bridge, which seemed to pierce the illumination, and so vivid was the light, that the eye could scarcely sustain it. The combat of the dragons next ensued; and the water-fire, or aquatic fire-works, covered almost the whole surface of the river. Eight boats, containing works for the display on water, were arranged in symmetrical order, with the boats of illumination. There were also thirty-six cascades or fountains of fire, about thirty feet high, which appeared to rise out of the water. This exhibition of the cascades, was preceded by a revolving water-sun, and a discharge of stars from one hundred and sixty pots of aigrettes, which were placed at the lower part of the terrace.

Four large boats, containing aquatic fire-works, were moored near the arches of the bridge, and four others were disposed on the side next to the Tuileries. The fire-works, which they contained, consisted of a great number of large and small casks, charged with gerbes and pots, which, when discharged, filled the air with serpents, stars, &c. There was, also, a large number of hand gerbes, and revolving water-suns.

When the exhibition of the cascades was finished, the grand chandelier, composed of six thousand fusées, and resting on the top of the temple, was lighted. Both extremities were set on fire at the same time. This was followed by two smaller chandeliers, previously placed on each side of the foot-way of the bridge, and containing five hundred fusées each.

The fire-works, exhibited at Versailles, in the same year, and on the same occasion, were also magnificent. The account we have of them is the following: There was a large building erected, representing the temple of Hymen, nine hundred feet in length, and one hundred and twenty in height, in the gardens of Versailles, in front of the grand gallery. It was in the form of a portico, with re-enterings and salients at the two extremities, which faced the two great basins; and, in the centre, were illuminated works.