The Sun.
London, England, 1823-05-20 00:00:00

VAUXHALL GARDENS.

This old, popular, and attractive public amuse-
ment opened last night for the season. The public have not
forgotten the spirit with which the amusements were conducted
last year by die new Proprietors, and the votaries of pleasure
will be delighted to find that success has not made the Mana-
gers negligent, but, on the contrary, increased zeal, and still
more costly efforts to please than heretofore, meet the eye in
every direction, and promise a season of unexampled splendour.
The whole of the boxes have been newly embellished—the
trees replanted—the walks fresh graVelled—and in a word, no
expence has been spared to elevate and diversify the scenes here
prepared to gratify the eye and the ear.
Several perfectly new erections have been constructed during
the recess. Among these is a completely formed stage of very
large dimensions, covered in at top, with dressing-rooms,, and
other suitable conveniences at its back, on which, it appears,
ballets, under the direction of a regular ballet-master, are to
be performed by a set of dancers expressly engaged for that
purpose.
The ballet of last night was Cinderella; or The Little Glass
Slipper. Nothing could be better managed than the whole of
the performance. Cinderella found a very agreeable represen-
tative in Miss L. COURT. The ball was admirably arranged,
and the elegant equipage of the fairy favoured Cinderella,
drawn by two remarkably pretty ponies, called forth shouts of
applause.
Previous to the ballet, we ought to have remarked, Mr.
BLACKMORE exhibited with infinite grace and agility on the
slack rope.
Besides the theatre which we have mentioned, there is an
erection for the descent ala Saqui. This terminates the grand
south walk, and may be truly called from its vast height, size,
and solidity of construction, a noble finish to the fine vista
here. It repreaents a fortress or palace in the Moorish style,
the front of which is composed of an embattled parapet, flank.
ed by two circular towers, and the back by an appropriate
centre building, crowned at top with an open Monaco arch,
through which the descents on the rope are made.
There is also a Musical Temple constructed by a Mr. Putt-
LIPS, at an expense of fourteen hundred pounds. This is a
most ingenious piece of workmanship. It is of considerable
dimensions, and assumes various forins, embracing the five
orders of architecture, and surmounted by a dome, on which is
elevated a figure of Fame. The body, steps, &c. are of ma-
hogany, and the compartments of each portion of this varied
building are occupied with paintings by IIowARD,STOTHARD,
and TOWN'.

Among the improvements we-must not forget the new en-
trance from Kennington-lane, opening into the Chinese walk.
The mechanical Theatre has been heightened and improved ;
there is a variety of new chandeliers and lamps, (and the Gar-
dens being now Royal), are all surmounted with elegant crowns.
A grand view of Mount Vesuvius by moonlight occupies the
large space of the Sub-marine Cave. Several new Cosmora-
mas, viz. one of Paris, Rottenlam by moonlight, North Pole,
Bombardment of Algiers, and Artificial Fire-works.—Two
new Octoedrical supper rooms; from one the company can see
the Ballet, Hydraulics, Slack Rope, &c.; and from the other,
the Tight. Rope, Ascent, and Fire-works.
A Concert, Vocal and instrumental, was given in the course
of the evening, in which the following performers assisted:—
Miss Tunstall, Miss Noel, Miss A. H. Neville, Master
Longhurst, Miss Williams, of the King's Concerts ' Mr.
Collyer, Mr. Goulden,?Mr. Clark ; Mr. illallinson, from Bath ;
—Composer,.Mr. Parry ; Leader, Mr. Wagstaff; Organ, Mr.
Watson ; Leader of the Military Band, Mr. Hopkins.
Their united exertions were all that could be wished. Se-
veral pleasing imitations were supplied by Mr. H. Ilitowx,
from the York and Newcastle Theatres. A superb display of
beautifully varied fireworks took place at twelve o'clock, ac-
companied by the ascent ala Sagas. This from the wetness of
the night it had been feared must be dispensed with. It was
however successfully accomplished. By some accident the
lights were extinguished when he was near-the top, but this,
though it caused momentary apprehension, produced no tied
-
dent, and Mr. Bratcxi.ocx went through the difficult task in
excellent style. The attendance was remarkably good for the
opening night. It was, in fact, it we may use the language of
the place, 44 A great Garden."
An accident had nearly occurred in the ascent. The rope
was observed to be remarkably slack. It turned out that the
carpenter, thinking it could not take place, had loosened it.—
Mr. BLACKMORE, however, as we have already stated, went
up to the top—an ascent to such a bight on a slack rope was
perhaps never perfumed before. • ,

WINCH MTH, MAY 17.---On Wednesday some
labourers working in a field belonging to H. NOYES, Esq.
of Thruxton, near Weybill, discovered about two feet un-
der the ground, a most beautiful tesselated pavement, sup-
posed to be the flooring of a tent, used by some Roman General.
The land is cleared away, and, with little exception, it presents
a most perfect picture of antiquity. The pavement is corn.
posed of small checquers, about half an inch square, of ra.
nous colours, and, according to the different compartments,
varying in size ; the workmanship is beautifully shaded, anti
the figures, which are mostly preserved perfect, shew great art
of delineation. In the centre is placed the General, with the
right arm extended, clasping a goblet—in the left is a spear—
over his shoulder hangs a skin of a wild beast, and his feet are
resting on the back of a leopard. The whole is delightfully
ornamented, and certainly offers to the curious a choice spe-
cimen of early days. The inscription, which is as perfect as at
first, is on the upper margin of the pavement, and is as follows :
QYINTVS NATALVS IVAIALINAS ET VODENI
At the upper side of the square, indeed just above the let-
ter Q, is a piece of free stone about two feet square. The
labourers are still employed removing the earth, and tracing
foundations of buildings which no doubt belonged to this re-
markable spot. This ancient curiosity being in the immediate
neighbourhood of Weyhill, and close to the road side leading
to Fonthill, will no doubt attract numerous visitors.--(Hamp-
shire Chronicle.)