144 BETTERS frROM A TRAVELLER AT BERLIN. 



mony fo confpicuous here ; as, but for it, they would 

 have people of eminence in this department. In ihort, 

 the opera, as it is conducted here, is tirefome to the 

 laft degree.— The exterior of the houfe I have already 

 mentioned with commendation in my former letter; 

 the interior is in correfpondence with it, and has" a 

 great lirnilarity with the opera houfe at Turin; It is 

 confiderably fpacious^ and is ornamented in a good 

 tafte ; but it really wants a little rubbing up. It has 

 no profcenium, and it is certainly a defect that the 

 boxes neareft to the flage incline backwards^ by which 

 the perfons within can never have a good view of the 

 performance. The boxes in general are too high, 

 and their four benches are too few for the fize and 

 loftinefs of the houfe. Were the boxes fomewhat 

 lower, they would conveniently contain five benches ; 

 they would thus be better filled, and much room 

 would at the fame time be gained. As this entertain- 

 ment is given entirely at the king's expence, confe- 

 quently nothing is paid at entering. However, a fo- 

 reigner fhould not truft too far to this. For, if he 

 Ihould get in without providing himfelf with a billet of 

 recommendation from fome of his acquaintance, he 

 will be no gainer by his clevernefs : as the door-keeper, 

 in that cafe, will make him pay handfomely for the 

 place he has taken. The king does the garrifon the 

 favour of allowing them to frequent the opera ; and the 

 parterre is allotted folely to their ufe. That part of it 

 which is even with the orcheftra, and is called the par- 

 quet, is only feparated from it by two rows of benches* 

 Here the king ufed always to fit, for the fake of being 

 near the mufic % and beneath his feat a fort of ftove was 



introduced 



