The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-12 00:00:00

BURNING OF THE ROYALTY THEATRE.

!FURTHER PARTICULARS.]
The great destroyer, lire, seems resolved to wage eternal warfare
against Theapia, Melpomene, and the Mime. What are styled
the Royal Ilnusee hove long since submitted to its ravage'—this
Surrey, at that time the Royal Circra, also, it, the year 1806, fell
a axon' to this devourer, and the largest of the Minors has now
'hared the same fate. All that remains of the Royalty—the pride
bf the East Londoners—are the bare roofless walls, not a particle
of the interior having escaped destruction. This theatre was built
by the late John rainier, who was part-proprictor of it for
several seasons, and under his management the Royalty contested
the palm of excellence, both in performances and actors, with the
beet theatres of the day. Since that time, however, it has been
rather on the wane in these respects, and consequently did nut
enjoy that same liberal share of patronage which it was previously
accustomed to receive. The present proprietor, Mr. Dunn, had made
every exertion to retrieve its character, and under the superintend-
ence of Mr. Vickers, the spirited renter, genius and taste once
more found " a local habitation" at this house. The performances
have been chiefly confined to the melo-dramatic department, in
which sonic clever actors and actresses were engaged, and from time
to time Its horizon was illuminated by the appearance of home bril-
liant star in well-arranged burlettas, many of which were got up
with great propriety and good effect.
The last illumination has perhaps been the most brilliant, and,
at the same time, the most deplorable of all, for it has left behind
only a dark and dreary trace of its light. For some weeks past
the chief attraction has been Mr. Booth, the tragedian, whose
merits and demerits have been too often discussed to claim any par-
ticular comment in this place. At all events, the Emu Londoners
did not seem to think unfavourably of his talents, and the treasury
of the theatre certainly was not ivitirt4 by their exertion. On
Tuesday eveniog lie played Gloucester here to a very crowded au-
ditory, and the evening's entertainments concluded with the
grand military spectacle of 71sr Burmese War, in which,
course, there was a great deal of fireworks exhibited.
At a little after twelve o'clock the company retired, alai
the house was finally closed about s quarter before one. The
stage-manager and some of the machinists went over the stage,
agreeably to their usual custom, to see that every thing welt safe,
and nothing was discovered in the inspection to justify a contrary
opinion. Lvery one departed, with the exception of a man whose
business was to turn on the gas for the next day. In emitting
underneath the stage, this person imagined there was something
like a smell of fire, and, on ascending, he perceived the wings en
the left of the stage completely enveloped In flames, which were
rapidly communicating to the scenery above. Any attempt to have
arrested the progress of the fire, without the aid of engine'', would
then have been wholly fruitless, as every thing around was of a
peculiarly combustible nature. The man immediately rushed into
I the street, and communicated the circumstance to the watch.
Messengers were despatched in every direction for the engines,
and in a few minutes that belonging to the Phtenix, with
a large body of firemen, was in attendance. Some difficulty
occurred in procuring a sufficient supply of water, during which
time the conflagration had made tremendous strides cn the stage ;
the wings, scenes, and machinery, being completely In flames.
Several other engines were now on the spot, but owing to the insu-
lated style of the building, which ha, no windows in front, except
a few which are placed at the very summit, they could be brought
only partially into action, and the fire was then discovered to have
communicated to the side boxes and pit. The clouds of smoke
which issued forth at every aperture, together with the intense heat,
precluded the possibility of advancing to the interior, except at the
altruist certain risk of scorching or suffixation. Some men belong.
ing to the Phtenix, however, courageously made the attempt, but
were speedily compelled to retreat without doing any good. A
breach was then made in one of the bricked windows over the pit
entrance, commanding the stage mid opposite range of boxes. The
hose of several engines were introduced through this opening, and
they played for nearly an hour without intermission, but to no pur-
pose • nothing could check the fury of the devouring element,
which was now raging in every quarter with rather increased power.
Those who have seen the memorable fires at Covent.garden and
Drury-lane may form some idea of the terrific appearance presented
at this time. The butte*, galleties, pit. and stage, were then
blazing furiously, the more V) from the flames being compressed,
the roof nut having yet given way. Several persons endeavoured
to catch a glimpse through the entrances, but were speedily re-
pelled by the gusts of flame which broke through them. At about
two o'clock the root tumbled in with a tremendous crash ; and the
lire receiving an accession of strength from the quantity of timber
which sustained it, seemed to threaten destruction to the whole
neighbourhood. The horizon was illuminated to a vast extent, and
large flakes of fire were observed floating in the air, far above the
roofs of the surrounding buildings, many of which were carried
acrnerthe River, and a considerable quantity were found in the
yards of the Tower the next morning.
The firemen, perceiving that their exertions were now hopeless
with respect to the Theatre, very prudently, and indeed vrry effi-
ciently, directed their efforts to the preservation of the adjacent
premkp particularly those In the rear, from which great danger
was to be apprehended, should the conflagration reach them. These
were the warehouses of Messrs. Croucher and Bishop, the eminent
sugar-bakers, and Mr. Hineken's cooperage. on the opposite side
of Dock-street, both of which fortunately escaped. About four
o clock in the morning, the fire having consumed Per If, no further
danger existed, though the engines continued playing to a much
later hour. We have already said that all the interior of the
Theatre was totally consumed, in which may be included a valu-
able wardrobe got together by Mr. Vickers at considerable expense.
The premises and property contained in them has been estimated ,
at from 15,0001. to 20.0001. value, of which only 11,500/. was Insur-
ed with the Phoenix Fire-office. It is supposed that from ISO to
200 persons have been thrown out of employment by this terrible
calamity, but happily no personal injury was sustained. Crowds
of persons were flocking to the spot during the whole day, but
nothing was to be seen except the mouldering ruin.