LONDON. 



aclrcflesof the prefent age poITcfs very cotifiderable drama- 

 tic powers; particularly melMamts Jordan, Edwjn, Duncan, 

 C. Kemble, Gibbs, S. Booth, Davenport, Lillon, and 

 Storace. The Englidi (lage has many other performers of 

 merit ; but their talents are of a more limited nature than 

 the preceding. In the operatic department, or finging, it 

 has long been the faftiion to introduce Italian, or foreign 

 fingers to the London boards; although many of our native 

 performers unite to fine and powerful voices much fcience. 

 Mrs. Billington, Mr. Braham, Madame Storace, Mrs. Moun- 

 tain, Mifs Bolton, Mrs. Martyr, Mrs. Bland, Mrs. Dickons, 

 Mifs Kelly, Mr. Inclcdon, Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Bellamy, 

 are julUv admired, and have acquired much profeffional fame. 

 In aftiori or pantomimic represent ations, many eminent per- 

 formers are to be foimd on the London boards. Bcfides 

 thefe there are many others very little inferior. Indeed it 

 may be juilly obferved, that the companies at the principal 

 theatres confill in general of highly refpcftable performers. 

 The misfical votary never had the means of gratiiying his 

 tafte with a higlicr relifh than at the prefent period. New 

 compofitions of confidcrable merit daily ifTue from the prefs. 

 The hll of our vocal performers comprifes the names of 

 fome of the firft fingers in Europe. Our mllrumental per- 

 formers are no lefs celebrated ; and our bands in general ex- 

 hibit fpecimens of the higlieil talle and manual ikill. 



Appropriated chiefly to dramatic performances are the 

 theatres of Drury-'ane, Covent-garden, the Lyceum, and the 

 Haymarket. Of thefe, the two firll are upon a ftyle of mag- 

 nificence and grandeur, fcarccly to be furpaffed by any theatre 

 in Europe. The lall is on a fmall fcale, and opens in fummer, 

 ■when the others clofe. The King's theatre, or Opera-houfe, 

 fituated in the Haymarket, was originally intended folely for 

 the reprefeiitjtion of Italian operas. Of late years, however, 

 dancing has conRituted a promment part of its amufements, to 

 the great injury of the operas, which are generally curtailed 

 of an aft to allow time for the ballets. The decorations of 

 this theatre are fplendid, and its band isconlidercd as inferior 

 only to that of the Opera-houfe at Paris. The concert of 

 ancient mufic, generally called the King's concert, is held in 

 the great room Kanover-fquare, ei'ery week from the begin- 

 ning of February to the end of May. It owes its origin to a 

 fecefiion from the Academy of Alufic, another celebrated 

 inufical inftitution. The following is a lift of the theatres, 

 and other places of public amufement, now occupied in Lon- 

 don, and open to (he public ; a more particular dei'cription 

 of fome of thefe will be given in fubfequent parts of this 

 work, under the heads Theatke and Westminster. 



Covtnt-garden Theatre is the mod eminent for fize and 

 dramatic exhibitions. The prefent building was erefted in 

 thevear 1809, from defigns by Mr. S.mirke, jun. arcliiteft. 

 It occupies the fcite of a former theatre, with connecting 

 houfes, which were confumed by fire in September 1808 ; 

 and it is worthy of remark, that the whole ot the prefent 

 edifice was railed and finilhed within one year. It is on a 

 large fcale, and the whole ftage management is veiled in Mr. 

 John Kemb e, who has certainly made many improvements, 

 and interefting reformations in the internal economy, fcience, 

 and coftumic reprefenration of dramas. 



Drurylane Theatre is now in the progrefs of building 

 from deiigns by Mr. B. Wyatt, architect ; whofe model 

 evinces much fl<iU and judgment. Though not on fo large 

 a fcale as th? theatre of Covent-garden, it combines many 

 conveniences and advantages not to be found in that b. aiding ; 

 and for feeing and hearing it promifes to be very fatistatt.iry 

 to the audience. Mr. Whithread has taken a very aCtive 

 part ii caufing this theatre to be rebuilt. A former theatre, 

 built by Mr. Holland, was burnt in 1809. 



Theatre Rnyal Hayinarltt is a fmall, inconvenient houfe, 

 and is allowed to be opened to the public from the ijth of 

 May to the i Jth of Sejjtember. 



The Lyceum 'Theatre, called the Englifh Opera-houfe, is at 

 prelent occupied by the Drury-lane company of performers, 

 under the management of Mr. Arnold and Mr. Raymond. 

 Operas and c<miedies are chiefly reprefented liere ; and fome 

 of thefe are afted in the bell ftyle. Many new dramas have 

 been produced at this houfe. 



The Opera-houfe, in the Haymarket, is appropriated to Ita- 

 lian operas, fpettacles, and dances. The management of this 

 houfe has occafioned feveral legal litigations, and is dill in- 

 volved in difpute. Its principle is uncongenial to the Englilh 

 cliaradler, and it would be a memorable and laudable adt to 

 abolilh it. Another fimilar cllablifliment, arifing out of the 

 cabals of the former, and originating with fome fpeculating 

 adventurers, has lately been opened at 



The Pantheon in Oxford-road ; but aft»r a few night? re- 

 prefentation, and after debts of fome thoufands of pounds 

 had been contrafted in fitting up, and Adapting the houfe to 

 the purpofc, the theatre is again clofed. 



Sadlcrs Udells is a theatre appropriated to pantomimes, 

 burlcttas, fpetlacles, dancing, &c. andcommences its feafon 

 on Eafter Monday. The ftage performances are inverjted and 

 written by Mr. C. D'.bdin.jun., who has difplaycd a peculiar 

 and original talent in this fpecierof compofition. The mulical 

 department is condufted by Mr. Reeve, and the fcenei% 

 painted by Mr. Andrews. A novelty has been introduced 

 at this theatre, /. e. of filling the whole ipace beneath the 

 llage with water, by which means fome Iplendid and curious 

 aquatic exhibitions have been diiplayed. It partly refemblcs 

 the naumachije of the Romans. 



Afilef s ylmphttheatre, near Weftminfter-bridge, is alfo a 

 fummer theatre, where pantomimes, buricttas, and various 

 fetes of horfemanlhip are difplayed. This houfe alfo com- 

 mences its feafon on Eafter Monday, and generally doles in 

 October, when the company remove to another theatre, 

 called 



Afiltfs Olympic Pavilion, in Newcaftle-ftreet, where the 

 fame fpecies of entertainments are exhibited. 



The Surrey Theatre, in St. George's-fields, is devoted to a 

 fimilar clafs of dramatic reprefentations; but fim-c Mr EMif- 

 ton has been proprietor and manager of this houle, he has 

 adopted anovelty,in abridgingand verfifying many celebrated 

 dramas, and playing the fame with the accompaniment of 

 mufic. 



Another theatre in Wellclofe-fquare, called the Royalty 

 Theatre, is occafionally opened ; and others are fituated ia 

 Tottenham-ftrect, in the Strand, and in Bridges-llreet, Co- 

 vent-garden. 



Fauxhall Gardens are opened twice a week in the fum- 

 mer months, when they are ornamented with an imnienfe 

 number of lamps, and a large concourfe of vifitors are en- 

 tertained by vocal and inftrumental mufic. Befides the fore- 

 going, London abounds with many other places of amufe- 

 ment ; Inch as tea-gardens, exhibitions for ingenious inven- 

 tions, and dilplay of works of fancy, &c. 



Among the places of public amufement or exhibitions, 

 may be i'pecified — 



The London Mifeum, in Piccadilly, the property of Mr. 

 W. Bullock, who has devoted many years, much exertion, 

 and a grent expence, in col'efting and arranging the moft 

 comprchenfive and interelling afit-mblage of natural and arti- 

 ficial curiofities that was ever before amaffed in England, or 

 perhaps in Europe. Hi? mufeum was originally com- 

 menced at Liverpool ; but it has been progreilively enlarged 

 and improved Its preferved fpecimens in natural hiftury 

 are feled, in the higheil piefervation, and arranged accord- 

 ing 



I 



