The Sun.
London, England, 1809-01-02 00:00:00

THE TIIEArRE.

. ~The ceremohy •Of laying the 'first stone a The
New Theatre, in Covent Garden, took place on Sas
terday, and 1-tarnished a very grand and interesting
spetiscle: The whole was under the threelion of
who paid every possible attention, as
well to the. accommodation of those who were ad-
mitted to see the-formalities, as to the ceremony it!.
self. The streets surrounding the Theatre were
lined by 'the Life Guards, and detachments of In-
fantry-were placed in situations to secure a facility Of
ac.41;48 to the doors of admission, and keep off the
crowd. Covered platforms were Ersed within the
interior of the building, for the accommodation of
the tipeelators, and an, open platform, froM the
grand entrance in 1i:1w-street to the North East part
of the building,- where the stone wits laid, was
railed otl,. and the flooring covered with green cloth,
.bordered with crimson, directing the progress of thi.
Masonic Brethren to the spot where the ceremony
was to take place. At the North-East' extremitfof
this platform, in a raised gallery, were placed the
bands of the. Life Guards; and-of the Coldstream ;
and at the opposite side of the plata) •t he Duke of
York's Band was stationed, and played, alternately;
the most' admired martial pieces. A marquee was
also steeled, provided with refreshments; and a
covered way built up for the Masons- to retire to in
case, of rain,- The Grenadier Companies of the
Fate Guards were stationed at. the grand entrance
sloor,,flags werehoisted- at the four cornets of the
building, alit! about forty Lift Guards, who were
Masons-, lined the space along which the procession
was to pass. The company began to 'assemble as •
early as ten o'clock, and before twelve the seats Were
crowded with elegant females, the gentlemen atsnd-
lug on a raised plsttOrm behind them. The Other
parts of the stage, erected for public accommoda-
tion, were also crowded, and the workmen employed
.upon the •building were placed-on scaffolds at •a
greater distance. • .
At twelve o'clock, deputations front all the Ma-
sonic Lodges in town, assembled at the Freema•
sons' Tavern in Queen-street, and at hall•past
,welked in procession to the-Theatre,-each wearing
the insignia of a. Mason, to meertheir Gland, Mas-
ter, his J. flighne'ss the Linde of .Wsces;,
.their arrival. at the "!'heat re, they were welettmed-M
.the places Assigned them by the Bands, play log the
old time attached to the song of::.d.Free anti Accepted
Mawr. The Grand Officers, preceded by the Cheve
lier' -11.1:51)1N1,, as Grand Tyler, proceeded,•to the
etererice, to receive the PitiNeit --Whell he shuuld
srritrer
Shortly' after the arrival of the-Pattsce was an-
notmeed, she ,Guards ordered arms; and the hind
plied Gad:bavo tir4 King. . •
Mr. HAflats and • me, KIitABLK, the latter of
whom was made a Masora only the preceding even-
ing, :both wearing the :• insignia -of Masons, re-
ceived his Royal Kgbness as he. alighted trout his
carriage, and conducted him •tothe Mat quer,
,w hoe
the Grand Officers were waiting his arrival, the
band playing the Grenadier's March, The PltiNca
wastaccompatied by the Dt-ke of Sessgx, the only
Wand) of the Royal Fumily who is a Mason, except
iris Royal. Highness, and. Bart Molltit, as 'Deputy
Grand Marten - • Colonel 111.0051F1:1.3.1), one , of lass
Royal Highnessi's•Household, was also of the pa! y,
dreSstt it) tie-tvld untform— • • • •

he company all rose as his ItoyabHighnetts
ed along the platform, the Gentiertacir4einsihod
etivercd, and the workmen wive threw-term, the
.bnnd playing " GEO sage the- A Ituy.ii
Saline of twenty-one gluts was then tired from the
carronades placed in the huiltliflg, and the upp,r port
of the stone was raised for the [impose ot the cere-
many.

. :Mier the Pititvcit had passed a short time with
the .Gratid Officers and others in the mattliteet he
carne forward uncovered, ttßt prepued tci I,fy the
!.tone : the Grand Tic:Hut-yr of the Superior 1.41:1;;;e
deposited a bronze box, containing dig rs coiris,,autt
medals, of the present reign, in, the cavity of the
foundation stone, and the cement, being prepared,
,the Patrice, as Grand. Master
.spread the gunge
abroad with his silver trowel, and the stone, v.eigh-
Ing.upwards of three tons,. was then let 00,4), ;:tire
,bands continuing to pia) a martial air, The Senior
'and Junior Wardens, and the Deputy Graticl NlasieT,
,the Earl of MotuA, having severally, pre et:tett lits
Rciyal Hightlits whit the plumb, the level, at,d the
square, and the PaiNce having applied thew to the
fribitic,•and-pronou-ncing the work corre6Lhe 11;ive
the stone three knocks with his mallet, and the cere-
mony of placing'the stonelinished.
Three cups were then given to his Royal High-
ness,, coat:lining corn,, wine, and oil, which lie scat-
tered and poured upon tholtone ; then, placing 'a
plats of the building in the hands of 'Mr. 'SNIt KKR,
the'Architei*, he desired hint to Complete he st tic-
lure; 'ifs:L.l4%l4lg to that plan', 'His. Royal Ilightwo
-then turning to Mr. Haunts and Mr. Kititat..it,
wished prosperity to the buildlitg, and the objeds
contieted with it; andsprosperity 'and happiness to
the Proprietors and Managers..
The ceremony being tioislieir, the band plaved
flak Britannia, and iht—pkwc ,, the Doke of
Susisti, and the Earl ‘k ere escort,ed
back to the PalNCitsi carriage by the Mmlagers and
the Grand Wit:els, uadei -a second saline of gt
guns.
• Thearathers of the Masonic Lo' dge4 then returned •
to .their! Hall,. in Queen-street, and • the Grand
Lodge was closed, 'after making a torrwil infinite of
the proceedings.. Sirlonts it:AM ER- HMI Mr. Alder-
man NawN tr tto were among the Gran 1 Officers.-- .
The Patm.4.. looked extremely well, and wine Ole
insieie 01 Grand Master of the. Masons. The Duke,.
.of ,hussas, also appeared in good health and Npirits,*
and walked side .by side- with his Royal Orothif.
-The servants of the Peltide wore their fell dyes,
livertes,.and he was attended by the Gentlemen of
his Household, in the same way as when he goes
to Court. .
.A.nlOug the articles depositidin the box, inclosed
in the folndation, is a bronze medal, stating, in
La*, that GEORG*, Prince of Wa4.is, laid th,-,
foundaiihn of the Theatre with his own hand ; and
on the reverse is a bust of his Royal l'lighness, and
the year 180 a. Also another medul,„o-1 the same
size, of copper, with the fedowing incriptitro

44 Under the Agtecca at
}ls;4i 41,4j;sty • () AGE 111.
Kitig of the United Kingdom, of t: teat Isrltafn and ir:111 4
The Foundation Stone of the l'heatre, Covent.(;attlen,
btici by his Royal them 14',,
Priotm W 4
ACOCCC. VIII "

On the ievene . . ,
Rosiiev.

Amidst the tnithittide ec 110 attended, it WaS ;tn.%
possible to distinguish inditidirai.:,- itioott-1) t7t-rer
:weft: many 1;;s!lion prts,:nt. Ahuo%t Alt
the abort and aefortMiCi, mcloding- ;\lr4. o:.0
were theN the fir‘r r otave
ooisensed tikstipy,:ves of all the Rref‘rable
Mrs. SI P DONS looked extremely well; and wore a
large plume or hl,ick
.feathers. She expressed a
great deal of anxiety for.her brother, Mr. Kamaiar,
who, from having ti ett confined N) In cnarnher for
above a month, Viirne forward upon the occasion.,
iiceommodating his.firess to the ceremony, and stood
bare-he:died under the: rain,

Mr. Kr.smix. was indefatigable in his exertions;
be tea full dresc'd lu :doe and white, with white
silk stockings., Mr. S:4IIME, the
MC r. 014'4.0;44 Builder, wore also present.
The honses •in the streets adjoining thy t tits
were crowded to fhe-roof tops; and not withstand'.
lug a crowd of many t,bonsands Wit 3 the
outside, we did not hear of a singW accident.
A dinner was given at Freemasons' Tavern, aria
'conviviality brought in the new yrar.