■3O16 ON THE COXSTttUCTlON OF THEATRES. 



men competent to undertake the erection of tbetn, and wn» 

 are able to plan, get made, and put together, all its seve- 

 ral parts; and in those parts where there was a field open 

 for genius and taste to shew Itself, in the entrances, boxes, 

 and other conspicuous parts of the house, the most beauti- 

 ful and unique ornaments might be made, and finely cast in 

 iron, and afterwards touched up with the tool, and painted 

 to imitate whatever fancy might dictate. There would be, 

 especially in a theatre, the greatest scope for genius; thus 

 might be constructed the most elegant one in the world ; 

 and one that no accident, iio misfortune, no incendiary 

 could destroy — that would brave the utmost efforts of time 

 to destroy it — that would endure for ages. Another disad- 

 Expense. vantage might be supposed, and that is the additional ex- 

 pense in the erection. This might be something more, es- 

 ' pecially if beauty was suffered to lead, and genius permit- 



ted to exercise itself in the ornamental part ; but suppose 

 it was to cost ten thousand pounds more, what is it, in a 

 public national building? especially when you are certain 

 in constructing it in this way, you are constructing a work 

 that will endure for ages. If you use wood, how can you 

 assure yourselves, but by some unforeseen accident it may 

 meet with the fate of the other theatres ? Money must not 

 be put in the scale as a competent balance against security. 

 After considering the subject, and examining the way Co- 

 vent Garden is built and fitted up, I am more and more 

 convinced in my mind, that iron might be substituted for 

 all the timbers, and for fitting up a theatre complete in the 

 way I have before hinted, as cheap, 6r nearly so, as though 

 it was done with wood. It is then self evident, it would be 

 more durable, perfectly safe from fire, and much more ele- 

 gant, if raised under the auspices of a man of genius and 

 good taste. 



I am, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



Caroline Street, B. COOK. 



Feb, 20, 1810. 



RBMARKS. 



