The Sun.
London, England, 1809-09-11 00:00:00

COVENT GARDE'. THEATRE.

The following' description is given of the interior
of this magnificent new. edifice .
The pit is very spacious, and the two galleries are
comparatively small, there not being accommoda-
tion in the upper for more than 150 or 209 persons.
The upper gallery is di% ided into five compartments,
and may be tiibs considered a tier of five boxes, with
a separate door at the back to each ; these doors open
into a spacious lobby, one side of which is the back
of the gallery,•and the other the exterior wplr of the
Theatre, with the windows into the street. The
lobby to the middle gallery.
.beneath is similarly si7--
waled. One great advantage attends this construc-
tion : in summer, the doors of the.galleries and the
Windows of thelobbies being left open, the audience
16 those parts cannot be oppressed by the heat, as
in the turner Theatre. Under the gallery is a row
of private boxes, constituting the third tier., Tliey
consist of '6 in number, with a private room behind
each. access-to these boxes is by a beautiful
stairecie, exclusively appropriated to them, and not
connected with any other part of the house, with
also a lobby, exclusively--spacious and Magnificent
in the extreme. The, carpetting,.was laid down in
these boxes, on Saturday last; but the furniture of
each; 'and also of the adjoining room, will be ac-,
cording to the taste of the several occupants, among
whom' are some of the! Royal Dukes, and the lead-
ing persons of rank and_ fashion in the country.
Th e lower boxes appear Id be upon the same plan of
those in the old house. There i an additional seat
each box will thus hold twelve persons, bring three
more than in the old house. The ;rand stair-case,
from Bow-street, to the boxes, is most superb,
and, in extent, greatly exceeds that of the Opera-

House.
The pit is formed on a new constru6liona In the
Old Theatre many seats in the centre frequently re
mained unoccupied, whilst the sides appeared
crowded.' This was occasioned,by the endeavours
of persons to keep seas in the middle, and the diffi-
culty which occurred in getting through the body of
people who sat next the doors. A passage is now
left open through the middle, like that of the. gal=
lery of the Opera.
The front of-the Stage is surmounted with the
,Roy-al Arms, and the pillars at the sides are plain
and elegant. This is the cliaratteristic Style of the
whole house. The artist appears to have studied the
simpler munditiis ; and never did artist more Corn..
pletely realize the principle. An elegant simplicity,
equally remote from glare and glitter, on the one
side, and crudity and coldness, on the other, prevails,
throughout. The fronts of the boxes are of a colour
•between bronze and stone, with a Chinese flower in
continuation between the tiers, and parsethe with
stars. There are no mirrors or refleaors attached
to the supporters, between the tiers ; and the house
is lighted by glass chandeliers, bidding lamps lighted
with- oil. They are of a very peculiar Construction,
and the effect is said to be very brilliant.
There is not a point of the house, before the cur=
tain, that does not command a complete view of the
stage ; nor a point in which a word distinaly
spoken on the stage is not perfealy audible to the
remotest extremity. The stage is also adapted, it:
a peculiar degree, for the display of scenic procession,
having extraordinary depth in the retr, as also large
spaces at the sides, to an extent greatly exceeding
those of the late Theatre.

The artist hai been also particularly attentive to
the comfort and accommodation of the performers.
The Gentlemen's dressing-rooms are on one side,
and those of the Ladies on the other. There are
three green-rooms, all of them on the side of Bow,.
street. The ward-robe room is spacious and su-
perb ; in the centre is a sqbare table,, of immense •
size—the surface mahogany, highly polished ; the
presses which line the room are in wainscot, finish-
ed with the most exquiste taste. In the con-
stru6tion of this splendid edifice, the calamitous
fate of the late two great winter theatres has not
been forgotten. Every means of safety against
fire or other accident, that ingenuity could de-
vise, has, been' adopted. At all convenient in-
. tervals, are strong party walls, with iron doors
by which, if a fire were to break out, it would
be confined within that particular compartment,
and be prevented from spreading through the house.
The fire-places are also made with the grates turn-
ing upon a pivot, by which means the front can be
moved round to the back, and the fire, is thus ex-
tinguished,, without the possibility• of accident.—
Water-pipes are also insinuated into every part of
the house, through which they are- spread, --like
veins through the human body. Great brass cocks,
which, when turned, would poUr the contents into
ti'e house, present themselves to the eye, in the-
lobbies, and other open places. The flight of stairs
to the upper gallery consists of 120 steps, and the
.ournber of bricks laid down, in seven months,
amounted to seven millions; a tircumslance which
may afford an idea of the magnitude of the edifice,
and the celerity with which it has been built. The
materials are of the best.quality, and the building is
most substantial and secure. Last' week its strength
was tried by immense leaden weights, placed on
the several tiers, greatly exceeding the weight of
the most crowded audience that.could be compressed
into the house, and yet the building did not, in any
point, give way, in the slightest degree possibly
ptrcept7ble. This experiment \vas., totally useless
to any ptrson competent to form an opinion of the
work. To weak and timid people, it may, how-
er, be satisfaetory.

past
We Lieutenant-General England reviewed
the Ist Somerset Militia, at Berry-head, commanded
by Major JOLLIITE The General expressed his en-
tire approbation of -the soldier-like appearance and
discipline of the Regiment.
The Duke of Bedford has presented a Gentleman
at Birmingham with .the premium of 20 guineas,
for an improved plan of erecting buildings, by the
introduttion of cas:-iron roofs and floors, which im-
provement was considered by the Agricultural Meet-
ing at Woburn, to be of great utility, and national.
importance..

- CORN EXCHANGE, SEPT.: 11.—The arrivals of
Wheat this day make but a short supply, and sales
are readily etExted at an advance of about 3s, and
4s. 4s. per loaner ; Barley and Malt in short supply, and
dearer ; Pease and Beans of the two kinds likewise ;
there are short supplies of Oats, and this article is
also dearer ; Flour ss. per sack higher ; tine Ame-
lean 54:. to 58s. per barrel. •

From the LONDON GAZETTE, Sept. g, i8o9:

Downing-street, qept. 7, 1809.

DiSpatChes, of which the following are Copies and
Extracts, were this day received at the 'Otfice of
Viscount Castlereagh, one of his Majesty's Principal
.Secretaries of State, from Lieutenant-Geo. Viscount
Wellington, K. B.

ivlY LORD, , Truxillo, Aug. 2,1, tBc9.
I wrote some days ago a letter to the French
Commander in Chief, which I sent to him by Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Walters, to request his care and at-
tention to the wounded Officers and soldiers of the
British army, who had fallen into his hands, in re-
turn. for the care and attention which 1 IL-td paid to
the French Officers and soldiers.WhO had fallen into
my hands at .dirfeient times ; and that he would,
allow money. to be sent to the Officers ; and that
Officers, who should not be deemed prisoners of
war, might be sent to superintend and lake care of
the soldier:;, till they should recover from their
wounds, when the Officers should be sent to join
the British army. •
I received a very 661 answer from Marshal IMur-
tier, promising that every care should be taken, and
every attention paid to the British Officers and sol-
diers who wete wounded ; but stating, that he could
not answer upon the other demands contained in my
letter, having been obliged• to refer them to the COM'
manderin Chief.

Since the receipt of this letter, Mr. Dillon, the
Assistant-Commissary, has arrived from ralavera,
having been taken prisoner ne.ir Cevolla on the 27th
of Juiy, previous to the action, and having been al-
lowed to con: away.
He reports that the British Officers and soldiers
who are wounded, are doing remarkably_ well ; and
are well fed and taken care of; iudeed.he says,pre-;
ferabiy to the French troops.
•- propose to send Carmel Walters with another
flag of truce to-morrow morning, and a letter to the
Commander iu Chief of the French army, request-
ing that a sum of money which I shall send, may be
given to the Officers; and I shall endeavour to esta-
blish a cartel 01 exchange as soon as possible.

I have the honour to be,
ARTHUR WELLESLEY.
Lord Viscoitnt Castlereagh, &c. &c. &c.

MY LORD;

Truxillo, Aug. 2r, 1809.
,

When I maiched` from Talavera on the 3LI in-
stant, with a view to oppose the French corps which
we had heard had passed through the Puerte de Banos,
and had arrived at Plasencia, Sir Robert Wilson was
detached upon the left of the army, towards Esca-
lona and before I marched on that morning, lfput
him in communication with the Spanish General
Cuesta, who; it had been settled, was to remain at
Talavera. I understood that General Cuesta put•
Sir Robert in communication withhis advanced
guard, which retired from Talavera on the night of
the 4th.

Sir Robert Wilson,. however, did not arrive at
Valaca till the night of the 4th, having made. a long
March through the mountains : and as he was thin
six leagues from the bridge of Arso Bispo, and had
to cross the high road hum Oropesa to Talavera,
of which lilt cuelny was in possession, he conceived
that he was too late to retiie to Arzo Bispo, and he
determined to wove by Venta St. Julien and Cent i-
neiln towards the Tietar, and across thit river to-
wards the n:ountains ti hick separate Cas,tde from
Est rernadora. _

Some of Sir • Robert Wilson's dispatches having
missed me, 1 am nut aware by which of the passes
he went .through the mountains, but I believe by
Tornavacas. He arrived, however, at Banos on the
I I pi, and on the 12th was attacked and defeated by
the French corps of Marshal Ney, which, With that
of Soult, returned to Piasencia on the 9th, iOth, anti
11th, that of Ney having since gone on towards Sa-
lamanca.
I inclose Sir Robert Wilson's 'account of the
action. He has been very active, intelligent, and
useful in the command of the Portuguese and
Spanish corps with which he was detached from this
army.
Before the battle of the 28th of July, he had
pushed his parties almost to the gates of Madrid,
with which city he was in communication; and, he
would have been in Madrid, if I hai nut'thought
it proper to call him in, in expectation of
general aaion which took place on the 24„ivotrjrily.'
He afterwards alarmed the enemy on the right of his
army ; and throughout the service, skewed himself
to be an active and intelligent, partizan, yell ac-
quainted with the country in which he was acting,
and possessing the confidence of the troops whicn
he commanded.

Being persuaded that his retreat was not open by
Arzo Bispo, he acted right _in taking the, road he
did, with which he was well.acqUainted,l and al-
though unsuccesful in the action which he fought,
(which may be well accounted for,,.b.y the superior
numbers and description of the enemy's troop4',, ale
attin, in my opinion, does him gieat credit.

• 1. have tie honour to:ne, &c.
(Signed) AR ria.un WELLESLEY.

SIR,

Miranda de Castenar, Aug. 13, 18:9.

I have the honour to acquaint you, that I was on
march yesterday morning on the road of Grenadelia
from Aldea Neuva, to restore iny cumniunication
with the allied army, when a peasant assured us, that
a considerable quantity of dust v‘ hich we perceived
in the road of Plasencta, proceeded from the march
of a body of the enemy. -
I immediately returned and took post in front of
Banus, with my pickets in advance of Aldea Neuva
selecting such points for a defence as the exigency di,
the time permitted.
The enemy's cavalry advanced on the high road,
and drove back my small cavally posts ; but
a picket of Spanish infantry, which L had con-
cealed, poured in upon the cavalry a steady and well-
direCted tire, that killed and wounded many. of
them.

The two hundred Spanish infantry in advance of
Aldea Neuva, continued, under the direction of
Colonel Grant and their officers, to maintain their
ground most gallantly, until the enemy's cavalry
and Chasseurs a Coeval, in considerable bodies, ap-
peared on both flanks, when they were /obliged to
retreat.

The enetny's Chasseurs a Cheval and Cavalty ad-
vanced in great numbers in every direction, and
pushed to cut off the legion posted between Aldea
Neuva and Banos; but, by the steady conduct of (Ai-

certr:-And' nien,- 'the erienir eon d- only advance
gr.:On:ldly, and with a very ievere loss Eli the corn-
Manding fire thrown on them.-
The Merida- ()Allanon; however, having given
way on the right, the 'road was laid.apen,, which cut
be;.tntl our po,ition, and I was obliged to order a
jrvireit 'on the heights above Banos, when I was
again necessitated to detach a corps, in order to
scour" the roads' of NlOnte Major, by which I saw
the enemy dire ling a' column, and which road
turned altogether the Puerto de Banos, a league in
our rear.

At this
.fame, :Don Carlos Marquis de Estragne
ctimelbp with his battalion of' light infantry, and in
the niost gallant manner.; took post along the heights
commanding the toad of 'Banos, which enabled me
to send some of the Merida battalion on the Moun-
tain otr our left commanding the main road, and
which the enemy had, tried to ascend.
The battalion of light. infantry, the detachment
of the legion on its right continued, notwithstand-
ing the enemy's fire of artillery and musketry, to
maintain their ground; but, at six o'clock in the
evening, thiee columns of the enemy mounted the
height on our lett, gained it, and poured such a fire
on the troops below, that longer defence was imprac
ticable, and the whole was obliged to retire on the
mountains on our left, leaving-open the 'main road,
along which 'a considerable column of cavalry lin--
mediately poured. ,
The battaliOn of Seville had been left at Bejar
with orders to follow me next day, but when
.was riblAgect- to" return, and the aetion-connitenced,
I ordered it to Puerto. Banos, to watch the Monte
'Major toad and 'the heights in the _ rear of our
left.
„,
When the enemy's cavalry came near, an Omer
and some dragoons called out to the commanding
Officer to surrender,,but a volley killed hinrand his
party, and then the battalion proceeded to mount-
the heights', in which movernent it was attacked
and surrounded by tr column of cavalry and a column
of infantry, but cut its way and cleared itself, •
ing a great many 'of the enemy, especially of his
cavalry.
The enemy is now passing to Salamancaitvith.great
expedition ; I lament that I could no longer arrest
his progress, but, when the enormous superiority of
the enemy's force is considered, and that We had to
artillery-, and that the Puerto de.Banos on the Estre-
madura side, is not a pass of such strength as ou.the.,
sidi,lof Castile, especially without gun's, I hope that
a resiitance for.nine hours, which must have cost'
the•enemy a great many men, will not be deemed
inadequate to our means.
I have to acknowledge the services rendered me
on this occasion by Colonel.. Grant, Major Reiman,
Don Fertnen Marquis, -Adjutant-Major of the Dra-
goons of Captain Charles and Mr. Bolman ;
and to ,express the greatest approbation of two
companies .of the Merida Battalions advanced in
front, and of the ComManding Officer and soldiery
of the battalions of Seville, and the-Portuguese brie
gade. I have already noticed the, distinguished con-
dud .of Doi Carlos, and his battalion merits the
highest encomiums, •
I have nut yet been able to colle& the returns of
our Ibss. From the nature of mountain warfare,
many men are missing who cannot join for a day or
two, but I believe the enemy will only_ have to
boast: that he, has achieved his passage, and his
killed a4id wounded will be a great diminution of his
vi6torv. •

I have the honour to be, &c.
ROBERT WILSON,

Sir A. Wellesley, &c.• &c. &c.

'fruxillo, Aug. 21, 18:9.

General Cuesta moved his head-quarts :s friam the
neighbourhood of the bridge of Arcobispo on the
night of the 7th instant, to -Peraleca -de Garbin,
.leaving an advanced 'guard, consisting of two divi-
sions of infantry,, and the Duke 'D'Alburquerque's
division of cavalry, for the defence of the pas‘sage of
the Tagus at this point.
The French cavalry passed the Tagus at a ford
immediately above the bridge, at halt past one in
the afternoon of the Bth, and surprised this advanced
guard, which retired, leaving behind them all their
cannon, as well as those in the-batteries construeied:
for the defence of the bridge.
The General then moved his head-quarters to
the IVleia-d'lbor on the evening of the Bth, having
his advanced' 'guard at BOhural. He resigned the
command of the army on the i 2th (on account of
the bad state of his health), which has devolved upon'
General Equia. Tie head-gitarteis 6f the Spanish
army are now at Deleytosa. '
It appears that a detachment Of Vanegas's army
had some success pgainst the enemy, in an attack
made upon it in the . neighbourhood of Aranjuez,
on the sth instant. Gerteral Vanegas was then at
Ocana, and he bad determined to retire towards the
Sierra Morena ; and after,the sth, he had.moVed in,
that direction. He returned, however, towards
Toledo, viah .an intention of attacking the enemy
on the 12th, but on the 1 the enemy attacked
him' with Sebastiani's corps, and two divisions of
Victor's, in the heiehbouthood of Almoraind. The
action appears to have lasted some hours, but the
French having nt list gainesi an ~-advantage on
Ge-
neral Vanega,'s left, he was obliged:io'relire, and
was about to resume his poshitM, in the Sierra

Morena.
On the gth, toth, and 't ith; large detachments of
the French troops which bad come front Placencia,
returned to that quarter, and' on tie 11111, they at-
tacked and defeated Sir Robert WilsOn,in the Puerto
de Banos, on their return to Salamanea.
It appears now that the French force in this part
of Spain is distribut,ed as follows ; Marshal Vidtoes:
corps is divided between. Talavera and La Mancha
Sebastiani's is in La Mancha ;• Marshal Monier's
at Oropesa, Arzobi,po, and Natialmoral ; Mar-
shal Souk's at. Plasencia; and' Marshal Ney's at
Sala thanta.
Distress for want of pros isions,and its effeas, have
at last obliged me to move 'toWards.the Frontiers of
Porttigal, in order to refresh.my troops.- In my for-
mer dispatches I have informed your Lordship of
Our distress for the want uf provisions and the means
of transport. • Those urns, 'which were the first
Cat Lie of the loss of many advantages after the 22d of
July, which was made known io the Government,
and Was attually known to them on the 29th of last
month,
,still. exist in an aggravated degree, and
under these circualstances 'determined to break up
on the 2(31111'froal JaraiCejo, • where I had had my

hc6d-quarters, since the t ith:, vitth the advanced
pests on the-Tagus near-the bridge of -Alrnarez, an I
to 01 back upon the Frontier of fortrigal,
I hope I shall be suOphed eery thipB
want.