The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-06 00:00:00

THE ALHAMBRA.

For mine weeks past the inhabitants of the me-
tropolis and its suburbs have had their curiosity excited by
immaw coloured representations upon all the blank walls
large enengh to admit them, of certain impossible feats of
herwriding and emboli= executed In an arena of dimen-
sions scarcely less limited than those at the Colimum at
Rams. Yesterday the scene of these extraordinary per-
ibramaces was discovemal to be the new building on the
eastern side of Iwieseter•egnase—originally known as the
Penopticon, and devoted to exhibition.] purposes connected
with the arts and sciences generally which, at the
commencement of the present year, changed its name
to the Palace of the Alhambra, to become for a
short time a temple of music—?d which, under-
going another mutation, has become an equestrian
circus. However convenient it might have been for either
of the former purposes, for that for which it is now employed
it is without exception the most commodious and in
every way appropriate building in London. Circular In
its interior form, lofty, capacious, and at the same time light
and airy in its character, it affords ample space for a riding
ground, about as large as that of Maria, with room for
spectators on the ground door and in the spacious galleries
which tower up one above another almost to the beautiful
dome roof, far exceeding that of any theatre we
have. Yesterday not less than 3,500 spectators
visited the opening performances, yet there was no
crowding, but, on the contrary, many hundreds more
might have found comfortable sitting room, while from the
form of the building, and the admirable arrangement of the
mats, the arena is commanded from every part of the interior,
It is the equestrian company of Messrs. Howes and Cushing
of the United finites (who have, we are informed, beets*
making quite a sensation in Liverpool and some of our greet
provincial towns), by whom the Alhambra has been chosen
as the Leek in which they hope to win metro-
politan favour. The troupe is extensive, and the members.
bipedal and quadrupedal, fully up to their work ; and, if the
results of a first representation be sty criterion, the managers
will have little cause to regret the speculation into which
they have catered. The riding of Master James Madigan,
Messrs. Batchelor and Holland, and especially Mr. James
Robinson (who is not altogether new to London, having ful-
filled a short engagement last year at Astley's with great
success), was something wonderful, and marked by all that
daring which characteriees American horsemanship. Meows.
Murray and Holland also execute some extraordinary and
classically grouped acrobatic feats ; and the clowns
of the ring, Messrs. Pentland and Myers—the former
being one of the best horsemen and the most
daring matters of the whole company—are quite as
amusing as their motley brethren, whose wit is of cockney
origin, and their jokes quite as familiar. An American-bred
horse, "Black Eagle," deserves mention for the ireuty of his
form and his extreme docility, as exhibited in a variety of
polkas and waltzes, which he dance' with the master of the
ring, keeping time with singular precision, and attitudinising
with the grace of an accomplished dancer. And a couple of
mules, Peter and Barney—the equine clowns—are entitled to
hare their names recorded as being in their mulish obstinacy
the hilliest of their race.