386 On the Construction of Theatres. 
openings in the floor that forms the stage : but this is of 
little consequence, for they might be contrived in a floor 
of iron, as well as in a floor of wood. To obviate the 
objection of increased expense, Mr. Cook brings against 
it the increase of duration, with the probability of larger 
audiences. But if we likewise take into consideration 
the saving of insurance, it would probably be found on 
calculation, that the use of iron would be by much the 
most economical. This saving, which does not appear 
to have been adverted to, probably from its amount not 
being generally known, will be considered as of no small 
importance, when it is understood, that the offices were 
paid forty shillings for every hundred pounds insured, 
previous to the burning down of Drury Lane theatre ; 
and that, since this event, they will not insure at a less 
premium than four guineas per cent. Now the proprie- 
tors of the theatre lately erected at Covent Garden state the 
expense of erecting it at one hundred and fifty thousand 
pounds ; the insurance of which against lire would amount 
to no less than six thousand three hundred pounds a 
year. If, as I suppose, scenery and dresses be not in- 
cluded in this estimate, the insurance w ould be still more 
to cover the whole. And to insure only one third of 
this, or fifty thousand pounds, as on the old theatre, the 
premium w ould be two thousand one hundred pounds a 
year. Would not the saving of such a sum annually 
more than repay the additional expenditure for render- 
ing the building proof against fire by the general use of 
iron? to say nothing of other advantages.— Nicholson. 
