History of the Royal Sappers and Miners, Volume 1 (of 2): From the Formation of the Corps in March 1712 to the date when its designation was changed to that of Royal EngineersConnolly, T. W. J. (Thomas William John)
History
History of the Royal Sappers and Miners, Volume 1 (of 2): From the Formation of the Corps in March 1712 to the date when its designation was changed to that of Royal Engineers
Connolly, T. W. J. (Thomas William John)
Great Britain. Army. Royal Sappers and Miners
To this the visitor adds a description of the model, which is adjoined
here, on account of the model itself having long since been destroyed.
“First then,” says the writer, “are the Spanish lines; then the
perpendicular rock, rising bold from the neck of the neutral ground,
which is not many feet above high-water mark. On the east, or left
hand, is the Mediterranean Sea; and on the west, within the mole or
pier, is the Bay of Gibraltar, in which the largest ships in the
British Navy may ride safe. The garrison, town, and forts, are to the
westward, whence the rock rises with a more gradual acclivity to the
summit,—the east side of which is also perpendicular, and inhabited by
monkeys. On the highest point is the Levant Battery, which is nearly
three times and one half the height of St. Paul’s church, or 1375 feet
above the level of the sea. The southern extremity of the model of
this rock towards Europa Point, being too large for the room, and less
important, is cut off. This description ought to fill a
volume.”—Gentleman’s Magazine, part 2, 1798, p.648.
-----
Nine years after its placement, the museum in the arsenal was fired by
an incendiary, and this celebrated model was unfortunately
destroyed.[56] The other two models, which held a place in Buckingham
Palace for about twenty-seven years, were presented in 1820 by George
IV. to the Royal Military Repository at Woolwich. They are now daily
exhibited in the Rotunda, and are, perhaps, about the best specimens of
workmanship and ingenuity in the place. That of the King’s Bastion is
finely wrought, and is really beautiful; that of the north front, bold
and masterly. Both claim the particular attention of visitors, exciting
at once their surprise and admiration.
-----
Footnote 56:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account