381 
On the Construction of Theatres . 
could begin and communicate itself round the house with 
such rapidity as to endanger the lives of the auditors * 
but what is as bad* or worse* on the first appearance or 
cry of fire* instantly would the audience rush from their 
places to the doors* and hundreds of lives would perhaps 
be lost; for the very idea of a fire deprives a man of that 
command over his reason* especially if he conceives the 
danger imminent* that at the first scream of fire* all 
would press to escape* so that numbers would be suffo- 
cated* crushed* or trodden to death. The second view I 
would take is* that on such immense piles of building be- 
ing in a blaze* if the wind should be high* vast danger 
might be the consequence ; and in the attempt to extin- 
guish fires of this sort* we have a recent instance in Co- 
vent Garden* how dangerous is the employment of the 
firemen and assistants. I will suppose* that a theatre 
was constructed of iron instead of wood. If the scenery 
during the midst of the performance was to take fire* and 
the whole in a blaze* the spectators might rest quiet* it 
could not extend to reach them ; and I do think* that* ah 
though the whole house resounded with the cry of fire, 
the idea would fix itself on the mind so strongly* that they 
were sitting on iron* that the alarm would not so much 
affect them* if it did at all* as to produce any mischievous 
consequences. The very thought of the theatre being 
incombustible would draw to it many persons* who* from 
a fear of accident, might now keep away. The security 
it promises to the proprietors not only from real danger* 
but from the alarm of danger* would* I should suppose* 
(especially if it can be made appear* that it would be 
erected as cheap* or nearly so* as of wood) induce them 
to adopt this plan. 
I will give a brief description of the mode* and although 
imperfect* yet all I wish is to strike the mind with the 
idea, and induce the proprietors to give it due considera- 
