The National Register.
London, England, 1812-10-11 00:00:00

1;38

We have already described, in a former paper, the ave-
nues to the boxes, pit, and galleries, which arc made wide
alid commodious ; and the hall beneath the dome, with its
eight real marble pillars, and beautiful circular railing in
the centre. The grand saloon is also truly magnificent, and
tei initiated by two elegant coffee-rooms. The two grand
stone staircases, and the bold flight on each, hinted by a
bridge of iron, securely fixed in the will, but seentinJy
suspended in air, form some of the chief m trnnents of that
superb house, and display the bold genius of the architect.
Colonel CONGR EV Cs plan for conveying water to every part
of the building • has been' carried into execution, and the
a7pleduct at the ilussell-street cortitt furnishes a sufficient
flUalltity of water, to enable the numerous lion pipes,
branch out like unseen veins through the stage, pit, boxes,
and galleries, to play for a considerable time. The water,
which is supplied by the York-buildings Water-works, can
be forced to an altitude of 50 feet perpendicular, by the
power of steam, and its abundance, as well as the solidity of
the internal walls of this edifice, the back of the boxes con-
sisting of brick-work instead of -wood, as in our other
Theafres, renders all apprehension of fire unfounded. The
Grecian lamps beneath the dome, as well as those at the
external flout of the Theatre, ate all executed by Mr. DE
VILLE, and the fiont lustre and chandeliers by Mr,
Sheriff BLADES. Tile Upholstery is furnished by Mr.
OAK cry ; and in every part does the interior of this magni-
ficent- house display a classical taste and excellence of
execution, as well as of materials.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

splendid. pantomime, in three acts, ini,erspersed with
bombaoic dialogue and trilling sing-song, vas on Tuesday
performed as a romantic drama, from the pen of Mr. DI-
:,10N n, under the title of " The .Ethiop, or the Child of
the Desert."
Ar4ted►narturn A;r«sclrid •is the hero of this superb
pro( I Sill M • The 111,4 iS iin IC II sit the espolielits iesotted to by the
to prove the atleetion of a fat 'wide Sultana, and et the t.
t 1 peps
Al..nauzar to I (*4.114 C to the dominions of ris father, Oras://M, the s
of Ali, alto liatt ►reit dep sed and murdered h\ the tallier M. A Ireseltid
A sort of underplot is added. with the in.cutio.n t relict in!, the serious
scenes of the plav by comic action. Ili, part Of the drama is founded
no a French tale, w ht, h we :emenibcr to have teen in " Lc. Gen-ft,
?ounces.'' Airaschid introduce% himself to ..11,.!t0i;,,,r, Orasmin, and
their friends, its au .141h:a!), endowed with stiper-:.nanin p 0 .s e:, and im-
poses en their gew.e, by malting them believc, that an ivoty isaret
ttLith he carries, cull mai:e those viewless who are tinder its; protec-
tion, to those Whom the prophet loves i.ot. This is upparently proved
by the entvo,ce of his rmissat iv!, who affect not to see the consi,irators
with w hum the Caliph pretends to league himself. 1 his dereptitoi
canied 00, and by means of it Ana/tzar and Orusulipt are intro !need
pito the g:!rdetes Of the seraulio. There Oraintia, who has pledod
hile-
*elf to destroy Alrolchi,t, meets his sister, the Sattror. and communi-
eltes to her his de,ilto. ller mind is tutu by •eontl.cting emotions, as
she st., placed in that situation to which she is compelled to doom her
brother. aMt her uncle to death. Love for her husband
prevails, and 0, that apr ears resolved tosacritiee every thing. Abaan-
%al and Crosatin gain the chamber of the Culiph. The Sultqsta, in vain,
endeavours to rouse her husband from sleep, and at length interposes her
o II blr-01111 to shirld hint trout the meditated blow, when the C
stars from his e,tich, and the apartment is seen lined with armed men.
trolitelt curtains bud before concealed from Aireschid is smisficd
of the attectien and constancy of the .Bu/tersir, and- takes her broth, r,
Orasm;n, under his protection. Almautnr retires in despair.
Aftcr,this sketch of the plot, we think most of our, readers
will agree with as, that its extravagance ought to exempt it
from cliticism, however its intrinsic worthlessness may ex-
pose it to censure.- With this impression on our minds, we
shall dismiss it as briefly as possible. The characters arc as
miserably drawn as the play is injudiciously planned. A/-
frawzor, who is introduced as a personage entitled to respect
and veneration, dwindles into a cowardly bully, and a woutd•be