380 On the Construction of Theatres. 
desirable thing, to have them erected in such a way, that, 
for safety^s sake, the frequenters may not be in danger 
from any accident or other cause. We have seen the 
two national theatres destroyed entirely, and that with a 
rapidity that no human exertion could put a stop to. 
Their destruction arose no doubt from an unpardonable 
neglect, or a worse cause: one has risen like a phoenix 
from its ashes, more beautiful than before, but is it not 
risen with all the dangers of destruction in itself? It 
ought to have risen immortal; it ought, as a national esta- 
blishment, to have been composed of such materials, as 
would mock a second dreadful devastation. A fire once 
commenced, would it not, in this new theatre, communi- 
cate to all its parts? Would it not put at defiance the 
power of man to suppress it, and in a few hours would it 
not again be a heap of ruins ? Drury Lane is still in this 
situation ; and as it is in contemplation to raise it to its 
former splendour, and as another theatre is about to be 
erected also, I do hope, before they are erected, that the 
proprietors will carefully consider how absolutely neces- 
sary it is to compose them of such materials, as will en- 
dure for ages, and that cannot be again consumed with 
fire. The destruction of Covent Garden was accompa- 
nied with the loss of so many lives, that no care or ex- 
pense can be too much to guard against so dreadful an 
accident. I mention not the loss the proprietors sustain- 
ed, I take not that into the scale, for what is the loss of 
property, when compared with life? The nation ought 
to superintend the erection of its public buildings, espe- 
cially those buildings set apart for amusement. The 
lives of his majesty’s subjects ought to be as carefully 
provided for by the legislature, in their meetings together 
for amusement, as it provides for them from their enemies 
from without. I always have considered all such places 
as extremely dangerous, not that I suppose that a fire 
