CHRONICLE. 



329 



porters couchant) resting on its 

 center. In each spandrel of the arch 

 is an emblematical antique celestial 

 figure, holding the wreath, torch, 

 &c. excellently executed in relief. 

 The entablature, devices, and the 

 whole frontispiece, are in the same 

 light relievo as the cupola. 



The whole will be lighted by 

 patent lamps, suspended by brack- 

 ets. 



The ceiling is painted to resem- 

 ble a cupola, in square compart- 

 ments, in a light relief. In the cen- 

 ter is a lyre. The character of the 

 decorations is perfectly Grecian, 

 and every part is chastened and con- 

 trolled by a uniform tone of sim- 

 plicity. The artist appears to have 

 studied the simplex munditiis in the 

 general effect of the ornaments 

 which he has introduced ; and never 

 did artist more completely accom- 

 plish his object. An elegant simpli- 

 city, in which the antique tone and 

 character abound without pedantry 

 or quaintness, — a simplicity equally 

 remote from glare and glitter on the 

 one side, and crudity and coldness 

 on the other, prevails throughout. 

 The machinery of the stage is most 

 admirably contrived for expedition 

 and facility ofapplication — A scene, 

 once used and done with, is not suf- 

 fered to stand in the way, and block 

 up the lateral avenues of the stage — 

 It is thrown back into the rear of 

 the stage, and finds its place in an 

 orderly and capacious receptacle. 

 Thescenesare let down fromabove, 

 and lifted up again with surprising 

 facility, and most dexterous me- 

 chanism. There will be no more 

 clamour and confusion as formerly 

 behind the curtain. On each side 

 of the stage are rooms appropriat- 

 ed to the use of the performers, 

 fitted lip with great neatness and 



commodiousness. There are like- 

 wise three green rooms (as they are 

 termed) spacious, elegant, and 

 simple. 



The drop is peculiarly grand. 

 It represents a temple dedicated to 

 Shakespeare> in the back of which 

 is seen his statue copied from his 

 monument at Westminster Abbey, 

 supported by tragedy and comedy, 

 and between pillars on each side 

 are statues of jEschylus, Plautus, 

 Lopez de Vega, Ben Jonson, Mo- 

 liere, &c. &c. 



The Boxes, Pit and Galleries. 

 — There are three tier of boxes, 

 which are disposed in a semicircular 

 form, and afford a perfect view of 

 the stage from every point. The 

 front of the boxes are of a cream 

 colour, with Greek ornaments in 

 gold upon a pink ground and gold 

 mouldings. The boxes are also 

 supported by gold fluted columns. 

 In each box there are three rows of 

 seats, with light blue coverings. 

 The three circles of boxes are fur- 

 nished with large chandeliers, ele- 

 gantly mounted. — These splendid 

 ornaments were made by Collins, 

 at Temple-bar. They are chaste 

 and beautiful in their design, which 

 appears to be after the style of Pira- 

 nesi, forming a graceful canopy of 

 therichest cut drops, of which there 

 are at ieasi Jive and twenti/ thousand. 

 These were all modelled and cut 

 for the purpose on an entire new 

 fashion, and they produce a lustre 

 almost equal to the diamond. — The 

 mountings are also costly and ele- 

 gant, combining strength and 

 beauty. There are forty in num- 

 ber, suspended from a rich gold 

 bracket in front of the three tier of 

 boxes and over the stage doors; the 

 latter are large and magnificent, 

 bearing nine lights each ; those in 



front 



