Master Betty performed Romeo was 6347. exclu. sive of renters and persons on the free list.

The expences of this house to a performer, on a benefit night, are near 2007.

The principal lobby, or lounging-room, to this theatre, is of an octagon form, and is thirty-eight feet each way. In this place women attend with tea, coffee, and fruit.

There is a room elegantly fitted up for the reception of their Majesties, which is twenty-two feet square, and situated near the King's entrance in Hart-street. The stage-box, when occupied by their Majesties, is most superbly decorated with rich silk, and velvet hangings, which are fancifully adorned with gold fringe and tassels.

The Covent Garden stage is ninety-two feet in length, and thirty-four feet in breadth, between the stage doors, and is decorated with expensive and splendid scenery. Mr. Richards, secretary to the Royal Academy, and Mr. Phillips, are the principal scene painters of the theatre, who stand high in public opinion from the excellent labours of their pencil. The box book is kept by Mr. Brandon, a gentleman extremely attentive to his duty, and accommodating to the public.

The amusements of this theatre are supported by authors, performers, and machinists, of the first excellence.

Mrs. Siddons, who so many years graced the boards of Drury Lane, has within these three seasons, employed her great talents in the service of this theatre. It is here we see her come to the highest pitch of scenic excellence in Lady Macbeth, Desdemona, and Mrs. Beverly; and a long list of other parts might be named in which she at present stands unrivalled.

Mr. John Kemble is deservedly ranked the first tragedian of the age; his Macbeth, Penruddock, Hamlet, Othello, and Orestes, have stood the test

of rigid criticism, and gained him the highest enco miums ambition could possibly aspire to.

Mr. Cooke must be considered as a performer of the first-rate talents; his lago in Othello, and his Sir Pertinax Macsycophant, in the Man of the World, are the most finished performances known to the stage.

Mr. Murray, in parts of strong natural feeling, particularly in those of fathers, always finds his way to the heart; and, as the grave and dignified gentleman in genteel comedy is, perhaps, without a competitor.

Mrs. Litchfield displays that justness of conception, and force and chasteness of action and expression, which have long placed her in the first rank of her profession.

Mrs. H. Johnston exhibits powers which, in tender and pathetic scenes, never fail to powerfully affect the audience.

The impressive manner of Mr. H. Johnston also merits our notice, while Mr. Rock is not an indifferent substitute for Mr. Johnstone, late of this theatre.

Among the comic performers in the company, we have to name Mr. Munden, whose strong, though just cast of humour, gives him the decided superiority over every other performer in his circle of parts; Mr. Fawcett, whose broad style of acting gives a marked colouring to his characters; Mr. Lewis, whose high comic talents, both in action and expression, have long rendered him an established favorite of the public; and Mr. Emery, whose truly natural représentations of simple and rustic characters, give him so high a distinction in his profession.

To these may be added the respectable perfor mers Messrs Blanchard, Liston, and Simmons; while in the vocal department we have to subjoin the names of Incledon and Hill. Mr. Colman,

Mr. M. G. Lewis, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Morton, Mrs. Inchbald, and Mr. T. Dibdin, are the chief writers at this theatre. Dr. Busby, Mr. Mazzinghi, Mr. Morehead, Mr. Davy, and Mr. Reeve, are the composers. The ingenious Mr. Sloper is at the head of the machinists, and Mr. Kemble is the acting manager.

The price of admission the same as at Drury.

lane.

N. B. The half price at both these theatres commences at the end of the third act of the play, generally a little after eight o'clock. Places for the boxes may be previously engaged, on paying the small fee of one shilling, or sending a servant to keep them. Either theatre may be seen behind the scenes for a small compliment, on proper application at the stage door, and to persons who never saw the machinery of a theatre, they afford a most interesting spectacle. Constables always attend at the doors, to take improper persons into custody.

Theatre Royal, Haymarket.

This theatre, though not so elegant and spacious as either of the winter houses, is fitted up in a neat and tasteful style, and is capable of containing a numerous audience. The patent by which it is held, was formerly granted to Mr. Samuel Foot, of whom it was purchased by the late Mr. George Colman, the father of the present proprietor. It is opened during the summer months, for the representation of plays and English operas. The term of its patent extends from the 15th of May to the 15th of September.

This house contains three tiers of boxes, a pit, . and two galleries. The price of admission to the boxes is five shillings; to the pit three shillings; to the first gallery two shillings; and the second gallery one shilling. The doors open at six o'clock, and the performance begins at seven. Half price is not taken at this theatre.

The Royally Theatre, Wellclose-square.

This theatre was built by subscription about 1786, for the representation of plays, agreeably to a scheme of the late Mr. John Paimer, by whom it was for some time afterwards conducted. The proprietors, however, not being able to obtain a patent, or licence, for the intended performances, the undertaking failed, and the house, after being kept open a season or two, was shut. It has lately been occupied by the company who performed at the Circus previously to that theatre being burnt down, in August, 1805.

Saaler's Wells.

This theatre is situated at the south end of Islington, the amusements of which are limited to the representations of burlettas, ballets, panto. mimes, rope or wire-dancing, tumbling, and other feats of activity, had its origin in the salubrious qualities so well famed for extraordinary cures effected in certain diseases; the concourse of visitors had induced the proprietors to have music at the house, and concerts are constantly performed there; but which at the reformation was stopped up by the authority of government, to check the impositions of the priests of the priory of Clerken well, who extorted money from the people by making them believe that the virtues of the water proceeded from the efficacy of their prayers. well, however, being closed, the place declined, the music ceased, and the virtues of the waters grew out of remembrance. In the year 1653, one of the labourers of Mr. Sadler, a surveyor of the highways, who had lately rebuilt the music house there, discovered, as he was digging in the garden, the once celebrated well, (now under the stage of this theatre) the water of which is of a ferrugi Pous taste, resembling that of Tunbridge, but not

The

so strong of the steel. Here Mr. Sadler renewed the former diversions of the spot, and engaged posture masters, tumblers, and rope dancers, whose performances were generally in the open air, and without any expence' to the visitors, unless they volunteered their sixpence a piece to any favourite exhibition. These amusements, which were at first but a secondary, now became the principal inducement to the public to visit Mr. Sadler, who, thus encouraged, raised a temporary theatre, which continued to prosper, and after his death the property got into the possession of a Mr. F. Forcer, a musician and vocal composer; at whose decease it was conducted by one of his sons, who was a barrister, and managed these amusements till the year 1730, when he died in an advanced age. It was then taken by Mr. Rosomon, who rebuilt the pres mises, and made his fortune by the concern. He afterwards built Rosomon's-row, and other houses in the parish of Clerkenwell.

During this gentleman's management, the public paid one shilling and sixpence each for an admis sion to the theatre, and received a ticket which entitled every visitor to a pint of wine.

From Rosomon, the theatre descended to Mr. Arnold, (now living, but very old) who gave a share of the property to his son, and had also for a partner Mr. King, the comedian, of Drury-lane Theatre, who had the management of the stage for several years; at that time Mr. Dibdin (father of the present gentleman of dramatic fame) was poet laureat of the place. When Mr. King retired from the concern, Mr. Wroughton, Mr. Side dons (husband of our Melpomene), Mr. Hughes, and a Mr. Coates, purchased shares of the property, and in those hands, with various success, it continued some years, during many of which the average profits were five thousand pounds a year→ one year above seven.