Page images
PDF
EPUB

phanes, may claim their rank in the grateful testimonials of modern theatric sculpture, but not to take up quite so much space. Might we not have had more of Shakspeare, not that he wants it for his reputation, whom Milton thus apostrophizes

"Dear son of Memory, great heir of Fame,

What need'st thou such weak witness of thy name?"

The sculptor ought, with a poetical master of criticism, to

"Consult the genius of the place in all."

Our great bard had surely other characters, offsprings of his unrivalled genius, that might have employed the chissel of the British sculptor, besides those in Macbeth and the Tempest. Is there nothing in the Third Richard, in the melancholy of Ophelia, in the raging madness of Lear, in the disappointment of Shylock, in the fairy creations of Midsummer Night's Dream, in the unimitated and inimitable Falstaff? One would think that the Shaksperian attachment would not have been drawn off by the classic persuasions of Mr. Smirke, Mr. Rossi, or Mr. Flaxman. A slight view of the figures in Garrick's Jubilee procession would have suggested a fund of hints for the illustrations of the English drama, and the uses of an English playhouse.

The statues of the Tragic and Comic Muses are both praised and censured. Though possessing, I think, considerable merit, they have a coldness which makes them, to a modern eye, more like Contemplation and Complacency than Tragedy and Comedy. Garrick, and other eminent actors, might have been discovered in the perso-nification of characters on the tablets.'

It was intended to crown the building with a cupola, but that was given up.

The house within is somewhat larger than the late one, and is therefore larger than it ought to be for those who wish to see and hear a play, as a play ought to be seen and heard. I understand, however, that experiment has proved it to be favourable to hearing:-I do not allude to the nightly experiments of the first week. The form approaches to a circle; that of the late theatre (and of the Opera-house) resembled the lower part of a lyre; that at Drurylane was square, the galleries forming at the end a segment of a circle. Those of the ancients, it is known, were all semicircular. The shape of the new house is a kind of revival of the old shape in Shakspeare's time, who says, in the first chorus of Henry V.

"Can this cockpit hold

The vasty fields of France, or may we cram
Within this wooden O the very casques

That did affright the air at AGINCOURT?

I have not time at present to enter into any particulars respecting. the best shape. The tiers of boxes are three in number, with two rows of side-boxes above them, one on each side, on a level with the two-shilling gallery. These upper side-boxes are without roof or canopy. Immediately behind them rise the slips, their fronts forming a perpendicular line with the backs of the upper side-boxes.* The one-shilling gallery in the centre ranges with the fronts of those slips; the whole assuming the circular form, and upholding a range of moderately sized arches, which support the circular ceiling. The great disfigurement which occurs in our theatres, from the awkward effect of the deeply recessed galleries, is thus avoided, as the gallery is made an ornamental part of the design. It is divided into separate compartments of seats adapted to the arches, through which arches the higher portion of the audience in the gallery and slips must see the play.

The ceiling is painted to resemble a cupola in a light relief, and is sparingly ornamented. The box-fronts are not inclined as they were at Dury-Lane, nor bowed out as in the late Covent-Garden, but perpendicular as at the Opera-House. Each circle is supported by light carved and gilt pillars. The prevailing colour is a light pink, the ornaments are from Grecian designs, and the gold is not profusely used. The box-seats are covered with light blue. All the doors of the boxes, principal lobbies, &c. are of mahogany.

The stage is of an admirable size in height and breadth, but especially so in depth. No side-boxes are permitted to obtrude upon it, except those over the side-doors. On each side of the proscenium are two lofty pilasters of yellow sienna, with small gilt capitals, (taken, I think, from the ante of the Athenian temple of Minerva Polias,) having between them the stage-doors, manager's box, &c. These support an elliptic arch, from which descends the crimson drapery over the curtain. The drapery is large, and after the Greek style. Above is a bold simple entablature, with the royal arms (supporters couchant) resting on the centre. In each spandril of the arch is an antique celestial figure, holding the wreath, torch, &c.

* Since this was written, these slips, which are inferior to the one-shitling in point of seeing, are opened at box-prices, and known by the name of Pigeon-holes.

extremely well executed in relief. The entablature, soffit, devices, and the whole frontispiece, are in the same light relievo as the ceiling. The lustres, by which the house is lighted, are very beautiful.

[ocr errors]

The grand entrance is from under the portico in Bow-street. Turning to the left from the vestibule, which is a ball supported hy plain square pillars, you ascend the grand staircase, which forms the central third part of an elegant hall, divided into three parts by two rows of columns, beautifully finished in porphyry, of the Ionic order. The capitals are, I believe, from the Athenian Ionic temple on the Ilissus. Thence you enter the anti-room, adorned with porphyry, pilasters in the same style, and with a statue of SHAKSPEARE on a porphyry pedestal. The folding doors on the right open into the grand saloon (box-lobby), which is in a similar style of decoration, and is very classical and elegant. There is another handsome though inferior entrance, from Covent-Garden, by a stair< case with a double ascent,

One of the novelties of this Theatre is a tier of private boxes, or, as they call them, annual boxes. This is the third tier; which is exclusively devoted to the private subscribers to the twenty-eight boxes which it contains. The boxes are separated by partitions, as at the Opera, painted a dove colour, and the entrance to each is through a close square antichamber, which is lighted by a lamp. There is a superb saloon attached to this tier, after the manner of the grand saloon, but finished in a light kind of verd antique instead of porphyry. Space appears to be left on the sides of the pit for making more private boxes on some future occasion. Private entrances for his Majesty, and for the private subscribers, are in the court yard, next Hart-street.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE,

We understand that a work of considerable merit is about to be published, by subscription, in two vols. octavo, under the title of "Travels through Lower Canada, and the United States of North America, in the Years 1806, 1807, and 1808," by a gentleman who accompanied a relation to Canada in the service of His Majesty's government, for the purpose of introducing the culture and manufacture of hemp in that country. From the nature of his pursuits the author possessed many advantages unattainable by others, and

his great object has been, to delineate without partiality or preju dice, the real state and condition of the countries in which he re--sided; the character of the people, their manners, customs, andɔ amusements; arts, sciences, and literature; agriculture, commerce, and manufactures; laws, government, and religion. He has also stated many important facts concerning the attempts that have been made to introduce the culture of hemp in Canada; from which it appears, that there has existed for several years, and still exists, a secret party whose agents are actively employed in counteracting the measures of the board of trade in their endeavours to render Great Britain independent of the Northern Powers for her supplies of hemp and other naval stores.

A Quarterly Magazine, THE REFLECTOR, will appear on the 1st of April. The diligence, learning, and genius of the editor will ensure it a highcharacter amongst periodical works of the age.› Following the example of the Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews, ten guineas a sheet will be given to contributors.

A History of the Inquisition in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, illustrated with numerous plates, is in the press. It will form a large volume.

An exquisite Portrait of Mr. Walter Scott has just appeared; it is engraved in mezzotinto, and is esteemed a correct likeness of the Northern Minstrel. Mr. Scott has announced a Poem, to be published in the ensuing spring, intitled, "The Lady of the Lake;" and rumour has already presented the author with two thousand: guineas for the copyright of it.

[ocr errors]

The Rev. Mr. Dibdin, after an indefatigable and laborious prepa ration of three years, has produced the first volume of his Туроgraphical Antiquities of Great Britain.". The volume before us contains the whole of Ames's historical introduction of Printing into England, as well as that of his annotator Herbert, and proceeds to the conclusion of Caxton's career, the father of English printers The work abounds with valuable biographical illustrations by the present editor, and is enriched with numerous specimens of the types and devices used by our earlier printers, engraved on wood,

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE answer of the Rev. M. Noble and A. F. G. to Percontator has unfortunately been mislaid and lost.

Many excellent articles received shall be inserted or acknowledged next month.

MONTHLY MIRROR,

A PORTRAIT OF

FOR

FEBRUARY, 1810.

Embellished with

MRS. EDWIN, ENGRAVED BY FREEMAN, FROM AN ORIGINAL PAINTING.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS,

By Harding and Wright, No. 38, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell:
And published by Vernor, Hood, and Sharpe, in the Poultry;
J. Murray, Fleet-Street; A. Constable and Co.

Edinburgh; and sold by all the Booksellers

in the United Kingdom.

« PreviousContinue »