| Citation |
MG-A(G.763.038
25 Aug 1763:12 (954)
London. . . June 11. On Saturday last, in the morning,
their majesties went to St. James's, when her Majesty
proposed to her Royal Consort to stay there till Monday,
with which he complied. Soon after his Majesty's departure
from the Queen's Palace to St. James's, a great number of
persons were immediately in readiness, who worked on that
day, and all Sunday and Monday following, where they
compleatly finished the most superb pieces of transparent
scenery that ever were exhibited in England. The Queen, in
order to draw his Majesty's attention, and keep him longer
at St. James's, desired several ladies to appear at court in
their Masquerade dresses, before they went to the Duke of
Richmond's ball; so that by this tender stratagem his
Majesty did not go from St. James's to the Queen's palace
till near ten o'clock; when, on suddenly throwing back the
window shutters of her Majesty's Palace, his Majesty was
agreeable suprized with the view of the entertainment
concerted by his Majesty, in honour of the King's birth-day,
which was as follows: A magnificent temple, and a bridge
finely illuminated with about 4000 glass lamps, was erected
in the garden. The painting on the front of the temple
represented the King giving peace to all parts of the earth,
and at his Majesty's feet were trophies of the numerous
conquests made by Britain, and beneath them, were a group of
figures representing envy, malice, detraction, &c. tumbling
headlong like the fallen angels in Milton. In the front of
the temple was a magnificent orchestra, with above 50 of the
most eminent performers. All this machinery, paintings,
lights, &c. were designed and fixed by her Majesty's
direction, in so private a manner, that his Majesty had not
the least intimation of this most elegant mark of affection
of so amiable a Princess. An Ode, suitable to the happy
occasion, was wrote, and set to musick, by Dr. Boyce, who
conducted the Orchestra. The voices were Mrs. Scott, Miss
Brent, and Mr. Beard. A select band performed during the
summer, assisted by some suitable vocal musick.
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