The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-10 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTA-RY BUSINESS.

(From the Fetes and Proceedings ctf the Rouse of Commons.)
NEWSPAPER STAMPS.
Return ordered, "of the number of Newspaper stamps
issued, from the sth of January to the 31st day of March 1841
(in continuation of previous Returns)."—(Mr. Hume. )
MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
That they have agreed to, Burwell Fen Drainage and Navi-
gation 13i11—Elsing Inclosure (No. 2) Bill—Olveston lode-
sure Bill—Sedgley Road Bill—South Western Railway (No.
2) Bill—Birmingham and Hagley Road Bill—King's Lynn
Port Bill—Deanhead Reservoir Bill—Brimington Inclosure
Bill—Dewsbury and Leeds Road Bill—Birkenhead Church
Bill—Wells (Somerset) Market Bill—Belfast Harbour Bill—
Barnstaple and Braunton Roads Bill—Exmouth Market Bill,
without amendment—Bristol and Exeter Railway Bill—and,
Monkland Canal Bill, with amendments.
That they have passed a Bill, intituied, " An Act for carry-
ing into effect a contract between Edward Gresley Stone and
John Attwood, Esquir, s, for the sale of the Coptfold Hall
estate, in the county of Essex, to the said John Attwood, and
for investing the purchase money in other estates to be settled
to the same uses; and also, for authorising the exchange of
certain lands and hereditaments in the counties of Worcester
ar.d Gloucester, devised by the will of John Stone, Esq. , de-
ceased."
Also, a Rill, intituled, " An Act to remove doubts as to the
division of the parish of Winterbourne, in the county of Glou-
cester, into two pari.hes."
Also, a BM, intituled, " An Act for naturalizing Philipp
Jacob Passavant and Philipp Johann Passavant, Theodor Pas-
savant, Mary Magdalen Johanna Passavant, Jacob Rudolph
Passavant, and Henrietta Maryane Laura Louisa Augusta
Passavant, his ehildren."
Also, a Bill, intituled, " An Act to enable the Trustees of
the Hospital of Saint John the Baptist, in the city of Win-
chester, to effect an exchange with Sir Edmund Antrobus,
Baronet, under the authority of the Court of Chancery."
BILLS DROPPED.
The following Bills were put off for three months:—
County Coroners Bill,—order for Committee (9th June)
read, and discharged.
Factories Bill,—Committee.
Silk Factories Bill,—Committee.
County Courts Bill,—Further Consideration of Report.
Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Lunacy Bill,—Committee.
Registration of Voters (Scotland) Bill,—Committee.
Boroughs Improvement Bill,—Further Consideration of
Report.
Buildings Regulation Bill,—Further Consideration of Report.
Royal Burghs (Scotland) Bill,—Committee.
Parliamentary Burghs (Scotland) Bill,—Committee.
Drainage of Towns (No. 2.) Bill,—Second Reading.
ELECTIONS IN IRELAND.

" The following is the conclusion of a spirited letter which
Mr. O'Connell has just addressed to his countrymen :
" Liberal Protestants of Ireland—Catholics of Ireland—
I appeal to you all ! Is there—can there be one man
amongst you, so base, so profligate, so daringly venal and
corrupt, as to vote for a supporter of the scorpion bill—for
a supporter of the annihilation of the Irish franchise—far a
supporter of the tithe rent charge—for a supporter of the
insulting Corporate Bill—for a supporter of the degrading
attempt upon the Maynooth grant—for a supporter of the
repeal of the Reform Bill—for a supporter of the repeal of
the Catholic Emancipation Bill—for a supporter of those who
call the brutal savages' and ' a filthy and ferocious
robble'—for a supporter of those who call your venerated
clergy surpliced ruffians' and a demon priesthood'—for a
supporter, in one word, of those who call your sacred religion
by the hideous name of idolatry?
" Whoever votes for a Tory candidate at the approaching
elections votes for one and all of these.

" Arouse ye, then ! Men of lreland, arouse ! Be stirring—
be active—be at your posts, one and all arouse.
" Your liberties are threatened—your country is in danger—
your religion is menaced and insulted.
"Prepare for the coming contest. Non-electors, form in
every parish an election club. Canvass—beseech—intreat—
implore—every elector to do his duty—to country, to charity,
to religion. Canvass them every man—get their wives, their
daughters, their children, to canvass them.

"—Prepare, non-electors ! Prepare, according to your means,
funds to c!efr,,y the expenses of the electors ; and above all, and
before all, let an universal indemnity fund be prepared, to pro-
tect the electors from the cruel tyranny of landlords or agents.
" I have the honour to be, fellow-countrymen, your ever
faithful servant. "DANIEL O'CONNELL."

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
(LLoyus).
VESSELS SPOKEN WlTH.—Prospero, from Lisbon, 6th
inst. ; Talbot, London, for St. Andrew's, New Brunswick,
27th ult., lat. 39, long. 10 ; Lady of the Isles, Cardiff, to Lis-
don, 6th, lat. 48, long. 9, by the Calcutta, arrived at Dart-
mouth. Cane Grove of Liverpool, 28th Jan., lat 15, long.
87 E. ; Lancaster (ship) on the Line, 6th Feb., long. ME. ;
North Star, of Jersey, for Mauritius, 20th ; Ida, Ceylon to
Hull, 22d; Zue, Holmes, same day, by the Cherokee, arrived
at Cork. Elizabeth, London, to a merara, lat. 20, by the
Asia, arrived off Falmouth. Madelaine, Nassau, to Liverpool,
14th May, off Bermuda; Taguar, steering to the eastward,
24th May, off the Azores, by the Jane, Evareste, arrived at
Bordeaux.

LONDON, JUNE 9.—Wind this day at noon, light breeze
from the northward, cloudy.
DEAL, JUNE B._-Wind N. N. E., strong breeze. —A rrived
from the river and sailed the Newburn, for Mauritius; Miranda,
Antigua ; remains the Florentia, for Sydney.
PLYMOUTH, JUNE G.—Wind N.N.E.—Arrived the Ores%
Brown, from London fcr Port Adelaide ; William Turner and
Lady Kennaway, for Sydney.
FALMOUTH, JUNE 7.—Wind N.E. to N., fresh breezes.—
Arrived the Argo, Astrom, from Bahia, sailed 24th April.
Sailed the Royal Tar steamer, for Vigo.
PENZANCE, MAY 30.—Arrived off the Adolphe, Walter,
from Havannah for Bremen.
Orr TILE LAND'S END.—The Mary and Jane, New York
for Hamburgh.
DOVER.—AI rived off Pioneer, Clark, Ballanore for Bremen.
• CARDIFF, JUNE 7.—Sailed the Norfolk, Hero, for Constanti
nople ; Clifton, Malaga.
DARTMOUTH, JUNE 7.—Arrived the Arab, from London to
New Zealand, with lois of main and foretopmasts and jibboom,
during a squall this morning off the[: e of Wight.
LIVERPOOL, JUNE B.—Wind N.E. moderate.—Arrived'
the Rapid, Alexander, from Rio de la Hoche. Sailed the
Ulverstone and Hannah Kerr, for Bombay ; Coaxer, Cape of
Good Hope • Splendid and New York, New York ; Thomas
P. Cope, Philadelphia ; Clarborne, Boston ; Messenger,
ra
miehi ; Orontes' Newfoundland;
Notion, Labrador;
packet, Zante ; Eliza, Messina; Waterlily, Leghorn;
.Charles,
Quebec ; Daniel Grant, Lima; Racer, Hayti ; Patetina,
Messina. Arrived off, the Forth, from Buenos Ayres;
backyres leaky.
; Hors
Hors-
burgh. The Lotus, bound to Savannah, has p u
fraCmo icticaEa,JtUtaN.E 7.—Arrived the Crihmemrolere,e,forMseKt.eAllanr
drew's, New Brunswick.,
SailedtheElizoaffheth, Grimmer, -
-

LElTH.—Arrived the Tigress, Morrison, from Mauritius;
Guave, White, Grenada. _ .

HULL, June B.—Wind N.E.—Sailed the Samuel Spyoa,
for Lima.

WATERFORD, JUNE 4.—The Juliet, arrived here from New.
foundland, reports the Atlantic to be very full of ice; she was
as
fortnight locked up in it without seeing a drop of water.

The number of visitors to the British Museum
on Whit Monday, was 9,031, being 3,177 less than on Whit
Monday last year. On Tuesday there were 1,986 visitors, and
Wednesday 2,636. The Museum is now open until seven
o'clock in the evening.

The following historical account of this celebrated place of
public amusement will on this melancholy occasion be read with
interest.:—
This equestrian establishment derived its origin from the late
Mr. Philip Astley, an uneducated, but enterpriling and suc-
cessful adventurer. His history is so immediately, interwoven
with the subject that a biographical sketch of his life is a ne-
cessary adjunct to an account of the edifice.
Astley was born at Newcastle-under-Lyne, in Staffordshire.
on the sth of July, 1742. His father, who was a veneer-cutter
and cabinet-maker, brought him to London about the year
1754; and taught him his owa business. In 1759, after some
disagreement with his parent, he quitted him and enlisted at
Coventry in the 15th or General Elliott's Regiment of Light
Horse, commonly called the Tailor's Regiment, many of that
trade then serving in it. Here, by his bravery, he soon be-
came noticeable, and being a remarkably expert horseman,
was speedily made one of the rough riders, and teacher and
breaker to the regiment.
On the returu of the army to England he determined to
apply the skill which he had acquired in the menage towards
rivalling the equestrian performances of Price, Johnson, and
Old Sampson, who exhibited in the Jubilee Gardens, at the
sign of the Three Hats, near the turnpike at Islington • and
having solicited and obtained his discharge, General Elliott,
as a reward for his intrepidity and soldier-like demeanour, pre-
sented him with a fine charger,-which was afteniards known to
the public as the " Spanish Horse."'"
Conjoining with the three equestrians above-named, he com-
menced his career as .apublic exhibitor in au, oe9, #04.1„ Pear
Glover's Halfpenny-hatch, at -Lambecht .argsif given
him by hie General, andetnother horie, phribued in Smith-
'field, were then the only animals he possessed. Meeting with
eneoarage6ent at different fairs, till he became master of a
little property, he took a large piece of ground of a timber-
merchant, near Westminster-bridge, on the Surrey side (the
identical spot occupied by the late amphitheatre), and inclosi
it circularly with boarding, erected seats for an audience, with
a pent-house roof, covered with canvass. Mere his prices were
6d. for superior seats, and 3d. for children and servants. His
performances were displayed within a rope ring,. " under no
roof but the canopy of heaven." In 1770, perhaps from increase
of entertainments, his price was raised to Is. Astley continued
to improve his accommodations from season to season, and like-
wise to strengthen his company, having nowodmitted feats of
agility, vaulting, &c. In 1775 his admission prices being 2s.
to the gallery, and Is. to the riding-ground, it was announced
that the seats were covered, and that slight showers would not
prevent the performance.

Astley's landlord at this time became involved in pecuniary
difficulties, and Astley lent him 2001. on mortgage, the timber-
yard and timber forming his security. This mortgaged pro-
perty became his, he sold the timber, and with the produce,
increased by 601. resulting from the sale of a diamond ring,
which he had found at the foot of Westminster Bridge,
he erected, in 1778, a roofed edifice, which he adver-
tised to be opened in the beginning of the following year as
the Amphitheatre Riding House. Hitherto Astley's Nees.
trian feats had been performed in the mornings only, whilst his
evenings were appnipriated to the exhibition of Les Ombrea
Chinoises, sleight of hand, comic dancing, a conjuring horse,
dancing dogs, Rossignol's imitations of birds, fireworks, fee. in
a large room, at No. 22, Piccadilly ; bet in Passion Week,
1781, he performed by candlelight for the first time at the
prices of 2s. 6d. the boxes, Is. tid. the pit, and 6d. the side
gallery. In 1780, he commenced a winter season in the Am-
phitheatre, and the horsemanship of " Young Astky" became
much celebrated, and one or two females were engaged.
Balancing, the Polanders' tricks on chairs, and slack-rope
vaulting also formed part of the entertainments ; and a
" beautiful zebra" was exhibited in the Riding-school. In
the same year the curious notice was issued of "No persons to
bring dogs." At this time Hughes started a ride, which
was the forerunner of the present Surrey.
Astley, at the beginning of 1784, and in oppotition to Hughes,
began stage-performances, and
__erected a stage, re-decorating
his amphitheatre in a novel manner, and opening it under the
new title of the " Royal Grove." Astley had at this time also
an amphitheatre at Paris, dare les Rue et Faubourg dos
Temple, where his equestrians and voltigeura 'performed, and
young Astley, while there, was commanded by Louis X VI.
and the beautiful Marie Antoinette to perform before the
Court at Versailles. The manly agility of young Astley, his
symmetry of figure, and elegance of attitude and deportment, so
highly pleased the King and Queen, that they presented him with
a gold medal set with diamonds, and at the same time " dubbed"
him the "English Rose," in contradistinction to the elegant
dancer " Vestrit," who was then styled the " French Rose."
In 1792, Astley, from ill-health, resigned the Royal Saloon,
as this theatre was then called, to his son, under whose direc-
tion it continued to flourish till the 16th August, 1794, when
it was destroyed by fire, with all its scenery and property of
every kind. At that time the elder Astley was serving as a
volunteer in the Duke of York's army, but returned home to
retrieve, if possible, his heavy loss. He actively proceeded
to re-build his Amphitheatre, and such dispatch was exerted,
that it was re-opened on Easter Monday, 1795, under the new
appellation of the Amphitheatre of Arts. The superior ele-
gance, and more expensive performances, raised the prices to
4s. boxes, pit 2s. and gallery Is, No alteration has been
since made. In the year 1798, this establishment was styled
Astley's " Royal Amphitheatre," and half-price was began to
be taken.
On the 2d September, 1803, the theatre was consumed by
a second conflagration. On this occasion the loss was esti-
mated at 30,0001., of which scarcely more than one-sixth was
covered by insurance. The horses only were saved, and those
principally by the exertions of Mr. Searle, the boat-builder, of
Stangate-street, who had likewise been the cause of preserving
them at tke former fire. Unhappily, the mother- in-law of
young Astley perished in the flames. Astley, however, with
his accustomed celerity, immediately commenced the erection
of a new Amphitheatre, which opened en Easter Monday,
1804. Astley was his own architect, and it has been remarked
that his attendance was beyond all precedent. " Early or late,
hail, rain, frost, snow, or sunshine, impeded him not. There
he was, drilling the men at their work, as Mile bad been train-
ing a regiment of soldiers for the rigid ditties of a winter's cam-
paign." The designs fur the interior were by Mr. Grieve, sea.,
of Covent Garden Theatre.

Some rime after the Amphitheatre was rebuilt, Messrs.
Parker, Handy, Crossman, Smith, and W. Davies, all of whom
formed part of the company, were admitted to a half-share in
the concern, in conjunction with Astley the younger; and
during their united management Horse spectacles were first
produced upon the stage. At the end of the season in 1809
Smith retired. The next season was uncommonly productive,
chiefly from the attraction of an equestrian spectacle called the
Blood-red Knight; and it is said that the proprietors divided
18,0001. amongst them at its close. In 1806, the elder Astley
being tired of a quiet life, started a new theatre in Wych-street,
called the Olympic Pavilion, which, in a few years afterwards,
he sold to Elliston for 3,000 guineas, and an annuity of 1001.
daring life. That edifice was the last of nineteen which he
built in the course of his theatrical career.

In 1813, Astley, long afflicted with a phlegmatic disorder,
went to France, but his health gradually declining, he died at
Paris, on the 20th of October, 1814, in the 73d year of his age,
and was buried in the cemetery of Pere la Chaise. He be-
queathed a respectable and unincumbered property to his son,
Mr. J. Astley, during life, and in the event of the latter
dying without issue, one-sixteenth was devised to Mrs. J.
Astley, and the remainder to the children of his own sister,
Mrs. Gill, namely, fotar nieces and one nephew.
In 1817, Parker retired, and the other shareholders having
previously seceded, Mr. W. Davis became joint lessee with
Mr. J. Astley. This partnership continued till 1821, when,
on the 19th of October, Astley died at Paris, in the same
house, chamber, and bed in which, just seven years before, his
father had expired, and his remains were deposited close to
those of his parent in the same cemetery.
Mr. W. Davis was for some years the sole proprietor of the
horses, and conducted the entertainments with great success
till the end of 1824, when his interest in -the lease expired.
Under his management it was known as Davis's Amphitheatre,
and many splendid equestrian spectacles were produced, one of
which, the Battle of Waterloo, formed the grandest military
display that was ever exhibited.
The Amphitheatre has since been rented by she celebrated
equestrian performer Ducrow. The property belongs to Mei:
J. Astley, the two nieces of the elder Astley, Mr. W. Davis
as a creditor, and some other persons. The ground lease ex-
pired, we believe, about 1839, and we supple has been re-
newed. The annual rental of the last leaseOl,oool.
The general form of the interior was thaVof an elongated
lyre. The equestrian circle, or ride, was' shirtit forty-four feet
in diameter. The interior was fitted up by Mr),.Grievei sea.,
in 181 e, at an expense of about 4,000/. The-progisiebt was
'
about forty feet in width, and handsomely embellished. The
stage was probably one of the largest and most tenvenient in
London, and was provided with immense plistfarmli or fin"'
rising above each other, and extending entirely germ- Tias•
were of great strength, and were so constructed as to be
placed and removed in a short space of time, by manual lab"r
and mechanism. During exhibitions they were -masked by
romantic scenery, bridges, forts, mountains, anc1.?!,131 *vies'
suitable to the subjects represented.

• •"1.
" This docile animal lived to the age of fortY7tift' leant and
when, by the loss of teeth, he became unable to Masticate his
corn, Mr. W. Davis allowed him, generously, two balf.4uartern
loaves per day. His tractability was extreme; hilis perform-
ances he would fetch and carry a complete tpa-equipage, take a
kettle of boiling water from the fire, and wash' his own feet in
a pail of water. On his death, by a natural decay, Mr. Davis
caused his hide to be tanned and made into a thtinder4
which stood to the last minute on the prompt side of the am*.
theatre, and its rumbling sounds often served to: remind the
auditors of his parting knell.—Vidg De Castro's Memoirs, v. 36.

THE CHARTIST TORIES 1N NOT.
TING-11431 DISGRACEFULLY DEPEATED.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) -
NOTTINGHAM, JUNE 8, 1841.—The triumph of Mr.
Walter in Nottingham is at an end, and the disgrace whit% ap-
peared to have settled on the town for ever is now about to be
wiped off. All shades of party and all grades and sects of
political men, supported Mr. Walter at the last election, to
show to the Government that it was high time they brought
forth more decisive measures, and dared the Tory monopolists
to death. The Chartists united with the Tories for this pur-
pose ; they returned John Walter and gained their end, bet
having gained it they now return to the Ministers to aid them
in carrying their views out. The main body of the Chartists,
comprising all the influential men, have returned to the Li.
here's ; they have formed committees, and are using their ut-
most exertions in favour of the Liberal candidates. As as in-
stance of the re-action in the feelings of the poorer classes we
may mention the following which took place en Monday night :
Walter's friends called a Meeting to condemn the Minister',
and hear Mr. E. P. Cox, who had presented a ietition to the
House of Commons, deliver a philippic against the Whigs for
attempting to bribe one who had himself at the last election
bribed numbers. They prepared a waggon, and had every-
thing right to speak, but at the time appointed an immense
party of Liberals, with band playing, banners, and rceettea,
marched down in the Market-place, took possession of the
waggon, and there carried resolutions, unanimously, to support
tho Ministers, and to support Liberal candidates at the next
election. Many thousands agreed to it' amidst tremendous
cheering, and the Tories retired from the field, leiving it in
their undistuihed possession. The Chartists then aide a
rkeeh ayeeviddtiohstmetemr:Theoedafra r
roeneeradeit confidenceeatdoguren eand release
unanimously.
motion that
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