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ninatoo wrote:You are right hollowhorn, I miscounted I think. But even so it could be (counting by odd numbers) that from number 15, number 23 would be just to the right of that corner.
I wouldn't mind a bit of a drink myself tonight (rough day - a good way to end it ) but I still have to work tomorrow and since I work with kids I had better be good. Next time you are on the way to the Library, maybe a pair of blinkers would be in order?
Nina
The Grand Air Balloon, which was made of 1500 feet of green, pink and yellow silk, was exhibited, "supended in its floating state" in the choir of Glasgow's cathedral for the admission charge of one shilling. On the 23rd November 1785, an immense crowd gathered in St Andrew's Square to witness the flight. The weather was fine and at around 2pm, Lunardi "ascended into the atmosphere with majestic grandeur, to the astonishment and admiration of the spectators" the flight path was not entirely visible because of cloud, but the balloon was seen passing over Hamilton and Lanark before finally making a good landing near Hawick in the Borders, where he landed at the feet of "trembling shepherds", the journey of 110 miles had taken 2 hours.
Lunardi's second ascent a few weeks later started off with a near calamity, when a character, known as Lothian Tam, in his eagerness to get a close view of the flight became entangled in the balloon's ropes and was lifted 20 feet into the air until he was released and fell to the ground with no serious injury. The weather on this trip was much more blustery and Lunardi made a hard landing, after 20 minutes, in Campsie Glen around 12 miles from Glasgow.
Vinny Lunardi was at his best playing to the crowd that always came to see him ascend. This is a painting of the balloon he created "in tribute to everything British".
The poles in the background held the balloon as it was inflated.
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraf ... o/info.htm
A writer in the Glasgow Advertiser thus describes the sensation caused by Lunardi's first ascent from that city:
'Many were amazingly affected. Some shed tears, and some fainted, while others insisted that he was in compact with the devil, and ought to be looked upon as a man reprobated by the Almighty.'
http://www.thebookofdays.com/months/sept/15.htm
Lunardi had previously ascended in his balloon
from St. Andrew's Square, then not built upon, but only a vacant
space of ground. This, however, had been found an inconvenient
place, as the public could view the process of inflating the balloon
from several quarters, which of course lessened the profits of the
aeronaut. The ascent from St Andrew's Square was most magnificent.
The balloon passed over the heads of the thousands
assembled in the Green of Glasgow, and was seen majestically
gliding along, in the full view of the wondering multitude, until
it seemed dissolved in the thin air of the distant atmosphere.
Lunardi descended in the vicinity of Hawick, a distance of 70
miles, and was upwards of two hours in performing his aerial
voyage. An accident had nearly happened in St. Andrew's
Square on this occasion; for the Rev. Mr. Lothian, teacher of
mathematics, being anxious to see the effect of inflating the
balloon from the gas generated by the admixture of oil of vitriol
and iron filings, incautiously got himself entangled among the
ropes which held down the balloon at the very moment of its
ascent. The consequence was that the rev. gentleman was thrown
down and dragged along by the foot for some distance ; and had
not the ropes uncoiled of themselves, he might have been carried
up with the balloon, suspended by the leg. As the rev. mathematician,
however, had received no hurt by the accident, his ludicrous
situation became a source of much merriment in the city. The
subsequent ascent from the garden of the Merchants' House was
not so successful as the one from St. Andrew's Square—the
balloon descending at the shorter distance of Campsie It passed
over the city, but was not so distinctly seen in its progress as it
was on the first occasion.
I was present in the Green of Glasgow viewing both ascents.
I was then in the Grammar School, and we got the play, as our
teachers said, in order that we might behold the wonderful
spectacle; but boys are sharp enough, and they, with a good
deal of jeering, alleged that the play was given, not on their
account, but merely because the teachers themselves were anxious
to see the exhibition.
http://books.google.com/books?id=tW8CAA ... 2hATNbuoJo
ST. ANDREW'S SQUARE dates from 1787, and in its early years was an aristocratic quarter. Later, only the wealthiest merchants could afford to reside in it. In my youthful days its mansions were surrounded by gardens, in which grew various kinds of fruit trees. St. Andrew's Parish Church was begun in 1739, but not finished till 1756. Standing in the centre of the square, with its lofty spire and clock, it has quite an imposing look, and adds dignity to the neighbourhood. The interior of this handsome ecclesiastical building is beautiful. On its western front there is a grand Portico with a flat arch, which has excited the wonder of antiquarians. The architect was Mungo Naismyth, grandfather of the founder of the Young Men's Christian Association. The Rev. Dr. Candlish, before he was settled in St. George's, Edinburgh, aspired to be its minister. But changed is the square: gone is its high estate. The stately buildings, erstwhile the abode of the honoured and wealthy of the city, *are now tenanted by humble toilers*, or turned into places of business. But though the square is not so celebrated as in days of yore, yet from its proximity to two of our most beneficent philanthropic and religious agencies, it is well-known to visitors.
Glimpses of Old Glasgow
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