Mr. Malcolm has given a description, containing the follow ing particulars. Although there is nothing in the exterior of the theatre at Sadler's Wells worth defcribing, further than it is a strong brick building, fronted by a handfome houfe, its vicinity to the New River, and the number of trees furrounding it, give the place a decided fuperiority over every other theatre near London. Without doubt the fprings, afterwards known by the appellation of Sadler's Wells, were those of the priory of St. John of Jerufalem. An anonymous author has afferted, that the priests of St. John were accustomed to attend at them, and ferve the water to persons afflicted with various diforders; at the fame time addreffing certain prayers to Heaven for their efficacy. Although no reafon can be affigned why such ceremonies fhould not have been used at thefe fprings, it is probable they have been mistaken by him for the real Holywell. However, his affertion that they were entirely concealed from the public, by order of government, after the Reformation, to prevent fuperftitious perfons from frequenting them, seems to be corroborated by Mr. Sadler's accidental difcovery of them, when digging gravel on his grounds, for mending the highways, of which he was a furveyor. As the water was found to be ferruginous, though not fo much impregnated with iron as thofe of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, they were immediately recommended as ufeful in removing obftructions in the system, and purifying the blood. A petition from the proprietor to the House of Commons, many years paft, ftates, that the fite was a place of public entertainment in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. If this affertion is correct, but no proof is adduced, Sadler was far from being the firft poffeffor for musical purposes and drinking. Sadler's Wells was inclosed within a wall of confiderable extent, with feveral fine trees within it. A gate faced the New River, on which was infcribed Sadler's Wells, under a pediment. The house contained feven windows in front, on the first floor, with angular mullions; and probably the fame number below. Francis Forcer owned the Wells in 1735 by which period the proprietor appears to have been doubtful whether he should be permitted to proceed with his exhibitions, as he thought it neceffary to petition the parliament for a licence. In it he reprefented the place as having been used for mufic, rope-dancing, ground-dancing, a short pantomime, and the fale of liquor, for forty years before, before, which fhews the above entertainments to have commenced in 1695. His application was rejected. Sir John Hawkins obferves of the elder Forcer, that he was a compofer and musician, and author of feveral fongs published in the year 1685, 6, and 7. This man and his fon held the Wells many years. The latter is faid to have been remarkably handfome, tall, and athletic. Sir John adds, that the mufic performed at this and fome other places at that period, hardly deserved the name of a concert, as the inftruments were generally confined to violins, hautboys, and trumpets, confequently in unifon; or, if a bass inftrument was introduced, it was only for the ground bafs to divifions in old ballad or country dance tunes. Till within these few years, the pit tickets informed the fpectator, that an addi tional fixpence, to the two fhillings, the price of admiffion, would entitle them to a pint of wine or punch. The pit was at that time filled with high-backed feats, upon each of which was a little fhelf, for the fupport of bottles, and wine glaffes broken off in the midft were put into the mouth of the bottle; but the proprietors have lately, much to their honour, voluntarily removed thofe benches, and made the pit the receptacle of perfons full as refpectable as those who frequent that portion of the established theatres. The prefent building was erected in 1765. ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE. This, and fome fimilar places of amusement, had their origin in the long established taste of this nation for thofe exhibitions which difplay the fleetnefs, fagacity, and docility of the horse. Attitudes on horfeback, and the ingenuity of taught, or, as they are commonly termed, learned, horfes, are recorded among the popular amusements from a very early period; and were a conftant exhibitions at fairs and other meetings where numbers were collected, whofe curiofity might be rendered profitable. About the year 1768, Mr. Aftley was one of the moft celebrated performers in this way; he and a rival equestrian were used to parade the streets in adverse display, and in the afternoon exhibit their feats at large to an audi ence collected within an inclosure, and accommodated with feats, but open to the fky. The fpot chofen by Mr. Aftley was on the Surrey fide of Westminster Bridge; by degrees he gained the afcendancy over his opponent, improved his entertainment by adding to his horfemanship fantoccini, ombres chinoifes, artificial fire-works, mufic, finging, ropedancing, interludes, and pantomimes. The theatre was covered, and affumed beauty, regularity, and even fplendour. The projector, uniting with an enthufiaftic love of the profeffion to which he devoted himself a great portion of enter prize and a perfevering fpirit, has continued his exhibitions with annual improvements, although his premises have more than once been destroyed by fire, and has extended his exertions to other theatres on a fimilar plan, befides occasionally vifiting Ireland, and even France and Flanders. His efforts have been much aided by his fon, who was long celebrated for his agility and grace on horseback. THE ROYAL CIRCUS. The competitor of Mr. Aftley in his early feats was named Hughes, and he, after sustaining a long courfe of misfortune, was, about the year 1781, fufficiently patronized to establish in St. George's fields a theatre for exercises fimilar to thofe at Mr. Aftley's; but his houfe was, at firft, far more beautiful, and for fome time more fashionably attended. Since the opening it has been frequently unfuccessful, and was once deftroyed by fire, but rebuilt. Mr. Hughes, whofe affairs were always embarraffed, died fome years ago; but the theatre has affumed a more regular character under Mr. Ellifton, who has banished equeftrian exhibitions, and carries on a display of burlettas with Spirit and fuccefs. The three laft-mentioned places of amufement, always open on Easter Monday; and they, as well as those which follow, are licensed pursuant to the ftatute, in order to enable them to give musical entertainments. OLYMPIC PAVILION. This is a fmall, fubfidiary theatre, erected by Mr. Aftley in Wych-street, near Drury-lane, and appropriated to exhibitions fimilar to those at the Amphitheatre. ROYALTY THEATRE. This building was erected as a regular theatre for dramatic exhibitions, by John Palmer, a celebrated comedian, and opened in 1787. Only one play was performed, which was Shakspeare's As you like It, for the benefit of the London Hofpital. The further exhibition of regular dramas was prevented by the magistrates, at the intervention of the managers of the established theatres, Disappointed in his principal hope, Mr. Palmer, with the affiftance of an excellent company, carried on the undertaking for two years with exhibitions of mufic and pantomime; but his expences greatly exceeding the revenue of the theatre, he was obliged to abandon it, and it fell into the hands of various undertakers, fome of whom still keep it open during a great portion of the year. It is fituated near Well-clofe-fquare in the liberty of the Tower Hamlets, a circumstance which led Mr. Palmer inconfiderately to flatter himself that he could play there by means of a licence from the governor of the Tower; buti n this he was griev ously deceived. ! VAUXHALL VAUXHALL GARDENS. This elegant and cheering place of fummer refort is fituated near the Thames, in the parith of Lambeth, in the county of Surrey, about a mile and a half from Weftminster bridge. It is denominated from the manor of Vaux-hall, or Faukeshall; but the tradition that this houfe, or any other adjacent, was the property of the popith confpirator Guy Fawkes, is entirely fictitious. The premifes now generally called Vauxhall, formerly Spring Gar dens Vauxhall, were in 1615 the property of Jane Vaux, wit dow the manfion-houfe upon the eftate was then called Stoce den's. Jane Vaux left two daughters, one of whom was wife of Barlow, bishop of Lincoln. The moieties of the eftate, which was divided between them, paffed through various hands till the middle of the last century. Jonathan Tyers, Efq. purchased one moiety of George Dodington, Efq. for the fum of 3800l., in the year 1752, and a few years afterwards bought the remainder. There is no certain account of time when thefe premises were first opened for the enter tainment of the public. The Spring Gardens at Vauxhall are mentioned in the Spectator, as a place of great refort. Mr. Tyers was proprietor of the Gardens as tenant, at least twenty years before he purchafed the estate, which is ftill vefted in his reprefentatives. It was formerly little more than a tea garden, enlivened with inftrumental mufic; but its rural beauty and easy access rendered it fo much frequented, that the proprietor was encouraged to fpeculate on public patronage, and to augment the attractions by the introduction of vocal mufic. These gardens are beautiful and extenfive, and contain a variety of walks, brilliantly illumi nated with variegated lamps, terminated with transparent paintings, and difpofed with excellent tafte. Facing the weft door is a large and superb orchestra, decorated with a profufion of lights of various colours. The whole edifice is of wood, painted white and bloom colour. The ornaments are of a compofition something like plaifter of Paris. In fine weather the mufical entertainments are performed here by a felect band of the best vocal and inftrumental performers. At the upper extremity of this orchestra, a very fine organ is erected, and at the foot of it are the feats and desks for the muficians, placed in a femi-circle, leaving a vacancy at the front for vocal performers. A curious piece of machinery has of late years been exhibited on the infide of one of the hedges, which is announced at ten o'clock by the ringing of a bell, fituated in a hollow, on the left hand, about half way up the walk; by drawing up a curtain, is fhewn a molt beautiful landscape, of a fine open hilly coun try, try, with a miller's house, and a water mill, all illuminated by concealed lights; but the principal object that strikes the eye is a cascade or water-fall. The exact appearance of water is feen flowing down a declivity, and turning the wheel of the mill, it rifes up in a foam at the bottom, and glides away. Several moving figures are introduced, particularly a mail coach, the guard of which blows his horn and fhoots a robber; and a mad ox who toffes and gores feveral perfons to the vast delight of the fpectators. Fronting the orcheftra is a large pavilion of the compofite order, which particularly attracts the eye by its fize, beauty, and ornaments. The different boxes and apartments of these gardens are adorned with paintings, many of which are executed in good style. The labours of Hogarth and Hayman are the most confpicuous. Hayman has chosen his subjects from the works of Shakspeare. In cold or rainy weather, in order to fhelter the company, the mufical performance is in a great room, or rotunda, seventy feet in diameter, and containing an elegant orchestra. The roof of this rotunda is fo contrived, that founds never vibrate under it; and thus mufic is heard to the greatest advantage. Next is a piazza of five arches which open into a femi-circle of provifions, with a temple and dome at each end. In the middle of the piazza is a grand portico of the Doric order, and under the arch, on a pedestal, is a beautiful marble statue of Handel, in the character of Orpheus, playing on his lyre, done by the celebrated M. Roubiliac. Fire works of the most ingenious kind have lately been introduced, to increase the allurements of this charming spot. These entertainments keep the company engaged three times a-week during fummer till midnight; and the parties who fup are well fupplied and accommodated in the boxes, while others dance to the light mufic played by fmall bands in various parts of the gardens. Foreigners acknowledge that no country on the continent exhibits a scene at once so splendid and tasteful. TEA GARDENS. The patronage extended to Vauxhall was probably among the firft caufes of the establishment of Tea Gardens with mufic. In the abstract nothing can be confidered more innocent and proper than places of refort where the tradesman and his family may indulge in their accustomed afternoon beverage in the open air, enjoying the beauties of the country, and cheered by the found of a welltouched inftrument. In practice, however, it has been found that these Gardens have often become the refort of the moft profligate and licentious characters, the worst of prostitutes, and |