The National Register. — London, England, 1812-09-20 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. DRURY LANE THEATRE. Tuesday the paling was removed from before Drury•lane Theatre, on which occasion a multitude of people assem bled and gave three cheers, when the whole of the exterior of the Theatre was exposed to public view. The iron rail ing has been erected in the front, and four magnificent and lofty lamps have been placed on the pedestals. The interior decorations of this Theatre are now very nearly finisl.ed. The cicling is very finely painted, and the carved work on the fronts of the boxes has a very pleasing erect. In the construction of this edifice, the greatest at tention has very propel ly been paid to those essential re quisites, seeing and hearing; its plan being believed to be the best calculated for enabling the audience to see and hear what is passing on the stage. The audience part of the house forms three-fourths of a circle, which, making some little allowance for the deviation in the drop within the proscenium, may be said to be completed by the cir cular sweep which connects the outer wall of the boxes with the proscenium. The uccesary consequence, therefore, is, that as the spectators will all be in some part of the circum ference, they must unavoidably see all that passes in any point within the circle. It is only when the actors may have to per form any part of their duty farther back than the pro scenium on the stage, that an imperfect view is to be had in any part of the house ; and even in that case, more than three-fourths of the surface of the stage will be visible to the -xorst-circumstanced seats in the house. The view of the stage is relieved by the appearance on either side of two magnificent Herculean columns, repre stinting verde antique maible. Columns of a similar de scription ornament the grand saloon. The lustres, by which the house is to be lighted, are made from designs formed by the. architect. On the staircases, at each pillar, are to be placed antique lamps, of curious taste and exquisite workmanship, resting upon tripods de signed by Mr. WyATT ; and in the circular saloon there are some niches, in which the super b antique lamps, formed upon a model also constructed by the architect, are to be placed. Melpomene and Thalia are to be placed in the niches on either side of the proscenium, above the cornice, and the royal arms, with appropriate trophies and decorations, are to be painted on the semi-circular pannel formed by the arch which appears to surmount the two pillars over the proscenium. The uniform shape of the back wall of the boxes gives an unobstructed range to the sound, at the same time that its thickness (three feet) is an effectual security against the spreading - of fl unes. la the corridors which surround and lead to the boxes, the floors are formed of stone,•. and rest upon brick arches without any intermixture of timber. _Another• wall, nearly three feet thick, surrounds these corridors, so that in case even the stage or soeciatoty Wel C to take fire, there would lie a space of neatly nine feet, including two walls of three feet each in thickness without any combustible matter, to arrest the progress of the flames toward that part of the house through which the spectators would have to retire. The means provided for the extinction of fire, if it should ever take place, consist in the application of compressed air, by means of which water can be forced through pipes already iaid to every part of the building. In the centre of the ceiling these is a head of Apollo upon a circular board, u pon which the rays of the sun are painted, and which hangs a little lower than the rest of the ceiling round it. To this part of the ceiling a great pipe is conveyed, f:oin which, SS SEPT. co. over the ceiling, wat er may by the operation of the machi ner y be discharged in great abundance, and by the horizonta . l whirling of the circular board beneath, be spread in a heavy shower over every part of the pit and boxes. The quantity of water in the reservoir at all tines will be two hundred hogsheads, which will be sufficient to keep all the pipes fully supplied about half an hour ; aod in order to secure h constant supply, in case it should be wanted, the Directors of the York-buildings Water works are engaged, by contract, upon a moment's notice, to put their steam-engines in activity, and in twenty minutes to replenish the reservoir. This magnificent building will be completed for the sum of 112,0001. The expense, including lamps, lustres, stoves, grates, furniture of the most tasteful and costly description, and Architect's commission, will not exceed 125,0001.; and the whole amount of expenditure, including scenery, wardrobe, and all the other property necessary to he provided for open ing the Theatre for theatrical performances, will not exceed 150,0001. The following is, we believe, a pretty cor r ect List of the Theatrical Staff, under which the ensuing campaign will be opened on the Boards of New Drury LA D 1-. S—Mrs. Jordan, Miss Smith, Miss Duncan, Mrs. Mountain, Mrs. Bland, Mrs. Glover, Miss Bew, Mrs. Diekons, Mrs. sparhs, Miss Kelly. Mrs. Edwin, Mrs. Orger, Miss Villaney, and Mr:, llorhe. G Esrewt EN ----Messrs. Betntister, ‘V roughton, Pope, Lni.ton, Johnstone, D.lwton, Knight, Lovegrove. Oxberly, Powell, 11011m,d, Russel, Decamp, 'Terry, Smith, 1. Smith, li'aymond, Phillips, Py;le, Marshall, Horne, Wewitzer, Penson, and Palmer. Mr. Arno d, Manager; ME. Raymond, 6tuge Manager; Ai... T. Dibdin, Prompter. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. SELT-HANOING.—At the above Sessions, on Monday, Thomas Shelton was put to the bar, charged with having assaulted and violent. ly b ating Wm. Croker, an Officer of the Police, in the execution of his duty. Wm. Croker stated, that at a late hour of the night, as mentioned in the indictment, as he was going his rounds in company with ano ther patrole, he perceived a man hanging from a lamp•iroe. This was in the neighbourhood of Camden Town. The novelty of the sight brought him to the spot, and just as he had approached it, the rope, or bandage, by which the person was tied up, gave way, and he fell to the ground, when the witness came up and instantly seized hint ; upon which he assailed the prosecutor with fury, struck him, knocked him down, and, but for the intervention of another patrole, he must have been in the most imminent danger. He was secured, and it then appeared that he had consented voluntarily to be hanged, under the following circumstances :—lt seems that there was another man in his company, and it turned out that the two together hued been gambling, first fur their money, and at length for their c'otivs ; but the defendant having lost both tnoney and clothes, then staked his lite, and agreed, that if he should lose that, his opponent should have the PLEASU nr. of hanging him. He lost, and accordingly submitted to be hanged ; and his adversary having tied him up to a lamp-post, left hint to his fate ; but the noose not having been fixed in a work manlike manner, it give way, and the defendant was precipitated to the earth ; apd by the intervention of the prosecutor, and the other officer, saved from an untimely death. For this act of humanity the officer was assaulted as above-mentioned. The case being proved by other witnesses, the defendant was called upon for his defence. He eras a tall, well-looking young man, a labourer, and he acknowledged the material part of the tacts alleged against him by Croker, the pro secutor, and said, that he had been gambling on the night mentioned in the indictment, and lost his money and clothes, and then staked his lite, which he also considered forfeited, and believed that he was in honour bound to be hanged, and therefore consented. But he strong ly denied any assault being committed on the witness (Croke') until he (Croker) had first assaulted him. The Court and Jury expressed the utmost astonishment at the singular case, and, after a tew words from the Chairman, he was found Guilty. As soon as the defendant was found guilty, his wife ca me into Court and implored mercy for him, assuring their Worships that she would be answerable for it, that he should never desire to be hanged again. Thomas Fearnsworth was indicted for a libel on Thomas Yearns w 0-th, his father. The prosecutor, it appeared, was tortaterly a u able bricklayer, residing in Church-lane, Whitechapel, but bay. ng realised a handsome property, had retired from business. The Dc