474 



PALAIS ROYAL. 



Paris, Sept. 20, 1789. 



IT was natural to imagine that the propensity of the 

 Pariiians to fpectacles and Ihows, muft here, where fo 

 many thoufands of them are daily affembled, require 

 gratification and variety. Accordingly, the walls of the 

 detached new buildings were fcarcelydry, before theatres, 

 great and fmall, of all kinds were opened. Marionettes 

 and children were the only performers at firft ; and it 

 was thought, that, as they had already the opera, the 

 theatre francois, and the theatre italien, no new ftage 

 could be fupported in Paris of full-grown actors ; but 

 it was not long before the Varietes amufantes fprung up, 

 and this flage is become no contemptible rival of what 

 are called the three principal theatres. They act there 

 every day, and it is every day full. 



The fecond of the larger theatres is occupied by the 

 petits corned iens ; who are always full, as they have 

 fome particularities that are not found in the Varietes 

 amufantes. I flmll give you ample accounts of them 

 both, when I come to the theatre and the theatrical 

 affairs of Paris. 



The Ombres Cliinoifes, that are here likewife ex- 

 hibited, have been fnut up this whole fummer, till a 

 few days ago, when they recommenced their exhibi- 

 tions. They are no longer in that vogue that they en- 

 joyed at firrr. ; as people in general are foon fatiated 

 with the frivolous amufernents that attract more by their 

 novelty than by intrinfic merit. A Mr. Seraphin is the 

 ibunder and director of this theatre, which is a very 

 elegant hall, but inftead of an orcheftra, has only a 

 harpfichord, for filling up the paufes between the acts. 



Tlw 



