ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEATRES. 3Q5 



very neatly managed and light, being all cast in open work 

 and the fronts of the boxes might also be cast in scrolls, 

 GoJhic, or in trophies, in fact, in any way, figure, or shape, 

 fancy might invent, more tastefully, more light and elegant, 

 than it is possible to do it in any other way. Then, if it 

 was wished, the fronts of the boxes might be rendered warm, 

 if the open work was objected to as cold, by lining them 

 inside with cloth or velvet, which would form a very hand- 

 some ground, on which the scroll or fancy work of the boxes 

 would be seen to great advantage; the back of the boxes 

 and doors I would propose of iron laid in pannels, and taste- 

 fully painted or lined — a person would not be able to dis- 

 cover, whether they were made with wood or iron inside, if 

 well managed in the padding. The lobbies, the small stair- 

 cases, the railing, the supporters and framing of all kinds 

 should be iron, and all the floors should be laid on fire proof 

 flooringSl' The grand staircase might be made to have a 

 beautiful effect, if a man of fancy and genius was to dcbign 

 it ; and the whole of the grand entrance might be such, as 

 would strike the beholder with amazement at its novelty, 

 and the mind at the beauty and delicacy of its composition, 

 as in iron the finest specimens of antiquity could be intro- 

 duced. The supports of the galleries should be iron. The 

 gallery floor laid down fire proof, and the seats, if not iron, 

 should be on iron supporters — the gallery stairs and stair- 

 case all iron — and the roof should have no wood at all in it, 

 but be composed of hollow or solid iron, cast light, and if 

 each piece was graduated from bottom to top, would still 

 make it more light, and yet be equally as strong. A roof 

 of this description well secured together with screws and 

 bolts, &c., would not be considerably heavier than wood, as 

 the iron would possess strength equal to wood, at less than 

 half the thickness. 



Now it would be well to compare the advantages iron Comparison of 

 promises above wood, before it is adopted ; and in looking the advantages 

 at its advantages, all its possible disadvantages should he taires of iron"& 

 coupled with them, in order to see it in its true point of wood, 

 view. One objection might be urged, that it would be dif- 

 ficult to erect a theatre or great public building on this 

 plan. But I say there would be no difficulty in procuring 



VoL.XXV.— April, 1810. X men 



