*This is exclusive of Savings' Banks and Loan Societies, vide p. Does not include Libraries, modern Colleges, or Proprietary Schools. This apparently large amount comprehends the sale of publications, &c. ... 31|| 55,466 25,549 291 ... 1 10 10 15,000 78,112 328 4 4,000 9,300 ... 36 3 1 40 159,853 158,336** 357 35 ... CHAPTER XVIII. THEATRES AND OTHER AMUSEMENTS. DIVISION I.-THEATRES. DIVISION II.-PUBLIC GARDENS. DIVISION III.-MISCEL LANEOUS AMUSEMENTS. As the British metropolis contains street, nearly opposite the Eastern Counample means for improving the mind ties Railway. The architect was Mr. and mending the heart in its religious Samuel Beazley. Lessees, Mr. Johnson and scientific establishments, so it and Mr. Nelson Lee. Doors open at affords sufficient opportunities for all half-past 6 o'clock, performances comclasses to enjoy recreation and innocent mence at 7. Admission- - boxes 18. amusement. The principal of those we pit 6d., gallery 3d. shall now enumerate; and, as standing DRURY-LANE THEATRE.- This is a at the head of all amusements, as at noble edifice, situated in Russell-street, Coonce the most rational and intellectual vent Garden, extending from Drury-lane of all entertainments, we give the first to Brydges-street. In the reign of Elizaplace to the Drama. There are in beth a cock-pit stood on the spot; which London, exclusive of Her Majesty's in that of James I. was converted into Theatre and Italian Opera-house, (for a theatre, under the name of "The which, as being more particularly connected with music, see Chap. XV.) the following: DIVISION I.-THEATRES. Which we arrange, not according to their importance or professional rank, but alphabetically. Phoenix." After the Restoration, Thomas Killigrew, to whom Charles granted a patent, built a new theatre, which was opened in 1662. In 1671 it was burnt down, but it was rebuilt by Sir C. Wren; and this edifice, in 1793, was taken down and replaced by a magnificent building in 1794, by Henry Holland. The theatre ADELPHI THEATRE, ROYAL. This was destroyed by fire on the 24th of theatre is in the Strand, opposite Adam- February, 1809, five months after Covent street. It was projected by Mr. John Garden Theatre had experienced the Scott, colour-maker, Strand; he was same fate. The present edifice was the original proprietor, and opened it erected from the designs of Mr. Benjamin in 1806, when it was called the "Sans- Wyatt, and opened on the 10th of pareil." A new front was added in October, 1812. It extends, from east 1841; and it was greatly improved in to west, 237 feet; and from south to the interior last year. Mr. Benjamin north, 131 feet. The principal entrance Webster is the lessee; Madame Celeste is in the west-front, by a noble portico the manager, who has been fortunate of the Doric order, approached by a in retaining, for several years, Paul flight of steps, which lead through a Bedford and Wright, two of the greatest spacious hall, supported by five Doric favourites of the London public, as columns, to an elegant rotunda, from comic performers, who ever trod the stage. whence staircases leading to the boxes Doors open at half-past o'clock, and ascend. The hall contains statues of performances commence at 7. Ad- Shakspeare, Garrick, and Kean. mission-boxes 4s., pit 2s., gallery 1s. interior of the house is well adapted for CITY OF LONDON THEATRE.—Erected theatrical purposes. Entirely rebuilt 1837.-In Norton Folgate, Bishopsgate- by Mr. Peto in 1822, under the direc The tion of Mr. Beazley, it presents an area compact and elegant little theatre is of about three quarters of a circle, the situated in the Haymarket, nearly opstage being the base; and has, when posite the "Queen's Theatre." A theatre clean and properly painted, a very stood on the site, built by Potter, a handsome appearance. The diameter carpenter, on speculation, in 1702. The of the pit measures 56 feet; the stage present theatre was erected from designs is 43 feet wide and 80 deep; the height by Mr. John Nash, in 1821. It was from the pit floor to the ceiling is 65 erected in less than four months, and feet. The audience part of the house is opened on the 12th of July in that year. principally lighted up by an elegant glass The front presents a lofty portico, supchandelier suspended over the centre of ported by six columns of the Corinthian the pit. Over the portico there is a statue order, over which are nine circular of Shakspere, but this front has been windows. The interior is smaller than disfigured by the erection, a few years that of any of the regular theatres ; since, of an Ionic colonnade. The house from which cause the audience can see, will hold upwards of 3,600 persons. and hear, and appreciate the acting The legitimate drama, which Drury- better than in most of them. It is exlane theatre was intended to promote, ceedingly commodious in every respect; languished within its walls, more, we and the box and ante-room, recently apprehend, from the large sums de- constructed for Her Majesty, under the manded by, and paid to, the actors and direction of Mr. Manley, are cited as actresses, than from a want of support by models of elegance and comfort. The the public. Gradually the theatre de- present lessee is Mr. Benjamin Webster, clined, and at length no manager would under whose admirable management it undertake it, and it was appropriated has for several years been one of the to a variety of purposes. At length most attractive theatres in the metroMr. James Anderson was found bold polis. Doors open at half-past 6 o'clock, enough to engage it; and it is now open performances commence at 7. Adunder his management. The prices are mission-boxes 5s., pit 3s., amphitheatre reduced, during the Exhibition, to the 2s., gallery 1s. following:-Private boxes 27. 12s. 6d., THE LYCEUM, North Wellington-street, 27. 2s., il. 11s. 6d., 1. 1s.; stalls and Strand.—The first place of public resort dress circle 5s.; boxes 3s., half-price built where the Lyceum theatre now 1s. 6d.; pit 2s., half-price 1s.; gallery 1s., stands, was a species of academy, or second gallery 6d. exhibition-room of the Society of Arts, EAGLE.-A popular tavern amongst built in 1765 by Mr. James Payne, the tradesmen in the City-road, Old- architect. It was converted into a street, and in that neighbourhood is theatre in 1790, in which year it was "The Eagle." It has been licensed for occupied by Charles Dibdin with his dramatic performances; and the late entertainment called "Sans Souci." In landlord, Mr. Rouse, built a very pretty 1809 Mr. S. Arnold, son of Dr. Arnold, theatre, in which operas, vaudevilles, and farces are performed in a style that would not disgrace theatres of higher pretension. Admission 1s. converted it into an English Operahouse; and some of the best modern English operas were brought out there. In 1829 it was destroyed by fire; and GREAT NATIONAL STANDARD THEATRE, the present theatre was erected by Mr. Shoreditch.-Lessee, Mr. John Douglas. S. Beazley. The works were commenced Doors open at 6 o'clock, performances in 1831, and the theatre was opened on commence at half-past 6. Admission-- the 4th of July, 1834. The front is boxes 1s., upper boxes 9d., stalls 8d., formed by an elegant portico of six pit 6d., gallery 3d. Corinthian columns, surmounted by a HAYMARKET THEATRE, ROYAL.-This dome and balustrade; and the interior, - refitted-up in 1847, under the direction a theatre; and at present Mr. Charles of Madame Vestris, is the most elegant Kean and Mr. Keeley are the lessees; in London. Mr. Charles Mathews is and light comedy, farces, and occasionthe lessee; and the performances are the ally tragedies, are performed most reopera-buffa, vaudeville, farce, &c. The spectably. Doors open at half-past 6, doors open at half-past 6, performances performances commence at 7. Admiscommence at 7. Admission dress- sion-boxes 4s, half-price 28.; dresscircle 48., upper boxes 3s., pit 28., gal- circle 5s., half-price 2s. 6d. ; pit 28., halflery 18, No half-price. price, 18.; gallery 18., half-price 6d. MARYLEBONE THEATRE, Church-street, THE QUEEN'S THEATRE, TottenhamEdgeware-road, Paddington.-This is a street, Tottenham-Court-road.-Is open small, but neat house, in which the for melodramas, &c. Lessee, Mr. James. drama has been very respectably and Prices-boxes 18. 4d., half-price 18.; successfully sustained. The present pit 8d., half-price 6d. ;_gallery 4d. lessee is Mr. Stirling. Doors open at ROYAL PAVILION THEATRE, Whitehalf-past six, performances commence chapel-road. A commodious little at 7. Admission-boxes 2s. 6d., pit 1s., theatre for the performance of melogallery 6d. dramas and burlettas. The prices of OLYMPIC THEATRE, Wych-street, Drury- admission are low. lane. This theatre, built in the most SADLERS' WELLS THEATRE, New River awkward place for access of any theatre Head, St. John-street-road.—There is a in London, and not in a very respect- curious history connected with this able neighbourhood-being so near theatre, from its first origin, as a Holywell-street, and the worst parts of " Musick-house," built by a Mr. Sadler, Drury-lane-has, nevertheless, attracted who discovered near it some mineral some of the most fashionable and elegant springs, said to have belonged to the audiences. It stands on the garden Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, ground of old Craven-house, and was through its various gradations of a originally built by Philip Astley, the place for the performance of pantowoodwork being composed of the tim- mimes, when "for an additional 6d. bers of a man-of-war, the Ville de Paris, every spectator was allowed a pint of in which William IV. went out as a either Port, Lisbon, Mountain, midshipman. Under Elliston, and par- punch,"-then for burlettas, waterticularly under Madame Vestris, it was pieces, &c., during which time Griwell attended; but it declined greatly maldi flourished as clown, and Belzoni, after the latter gave up the lesseeship. the celebrated traveller, exhibited feats On the 29th of March, 1849, it was burnt of strength,-to the present era when down; but was expeditiously rebuilt, and Mr. Phelps, by his excellent managereopened on the 26th of December. It ment, and by the attractions of a good is at present leased by that old favourite company, has created a taste for the of the public, and admirable comedian, legitimate drama amongst a population Mr. William Farren. The performances who, it was imagined, could never have commence at 7. Admission-boxes 48., been brought to appreciate anything of pit 28., gallery 18.; half-price at nine. the kind. Mr. Phelps, as he deserves, PRINCESS'S THEATRE, ROYAL, North has been very successful: we hope his side of Oxford-street. This theatre was success will continue. Doors open at formerly the "Queen's Bazaar." It was half-past 6; performances commence at converted into a theatre about 1837, by 7. Boxes 28., pit 1s., gallery 6d.; halfMr. T. M. Nelson; but was soon shut price to the boxes, 1s. up, and in the summer of 1840 was re- ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, King-street, opened for promenade concerts. Sub- St. James's. - Erected in 1836, from sequently Mr. J. Maddox reopened it as the designs of Mr. S. Beazley, for or Mr. Braham, who performed English site of this theatre, by Messrs. Hughes, operas there; but they were extremely and Dibdin, in opposition to Astley's unremunerative. The interior has been amphitheatre. This building was burnt re-decorated in the Louis Quatorze down in 1805; and the present theatre style by Messrs. Crace. Open for the was then erected, from designs by performance of French plays, under the Mr. Cabanel, jun., and opened at Easter, management of Mr. Mitchell, during 1806, under the present title. "They burnt the 'Royal Circus' in a hurry. the season. Admission-stalls 10s. 6d., boxes 58., pit 38, gallery 28. Three mornings in the week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Mrs. Kemble gives readings of Shakspeare at this theatre. Messrs. Shepherd and Creswick are the Reserved seats 7s., unreserved 3s. The present lessees; and the performances other three mornings Professor Ander- are "tragedy, comedy, opera, farce," son exhibits his system of modern ne- respectably rendered. Doors open at cromancy. half-past 6, performances commence at SOHO THEATRE, Dean-street, Soho.-7. Prices-boxes 2s., pit 1s., gallery 6d. This theatre was built by Miss Kelly, VICTORIA THEATRE, Waterloo-road, who so long delighted the public as one Lambeth. This theatre was built from of the most truthful actresses of parts the designs of Mr. Cabanel. It was in domestic life, requiring great pathos called "The Cobourg," in honour of and intense feeling. The patronage the Princess Charlotte of Wales, having she expected was not awarded, and been erected under the patronage of after losing large sums she gave up her Royal husband, Prince Leopold the struggle. It is now frequently of Saxe Cobourg. It was opened May opened for amateur performances. The 13, 1818. After the accession of her prices are always high. present Majesty, the name was changed THE STRAND (PUNCH'S) THEATRE, to "The Victoria." Dramas of domesStrand. Was projected about twenty- tic and romantic interest, are represix years since, by the late Mr. Rayner, sented here by a numerous and efficient the comedian, and erected chiefly at company. Doors open at 6 o'clock, the expense of Mrs. Waylett, the exqui- performances commence at half-past. site ballad-singer, and lively actress, on Admission-boxes 1s., pit 6d., gallery the site of Baker's panorama. There 3d. Private boxes 17. 18. have been many managers since that period, the most successful of whom was the late Mr. W. J. Hammond. The present lessee is Mr. W. R. Copeland, THEATRES FOR EQUESTRIAN PERFORMANCES. ASTLEY'S ROYAL EQUESTRIAN AMPHIbrother-in-law to that gentleman, and THEATRE, Westminster Bridge-road. to Mr. Douglas Jerrold. He opened it First established by the eccentric Philip with two sparkling pieces, a comedy- Astley, about 1778, as an open ridingproverb, "Living in Glass Houses," by school; he having acquired a complete the author of "Time Tries All," and mastery of equestrian science by his "Illustrations of the Exhibition," by training in the 15th Light Horse. He Shirley Brooks. He has a good com- had previously exhibited feats of horsepany. Doors open at half-past 7, per-manship in the open fields. In 1780, formances commence at 8. Prices- the "school" was covered in, and formed stalls 48., boxes, first circle, 3s., second circle, 2s., pit 18.; half-price to boxes only, 28. first circle, second circle 1s. SURREY THEATRE, Blackfriars-road.In 1782, a "Circus" was opened on the into a regular theatre for equestrian exhibitions. It was continued open as the "Royal Grove," and "Royal Saloon," till 1802, when the name of "Astley's Royal Amphitheatre" was given to it, |