The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-01 00:00:00

- -
OPENING OF THE PRINCESS'S
THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.

A new and exceedingly beautiful theatre, occupying
the site on which formerly stood the Queen's Bazaar,
in Oxford-street, nearly opposite to the Pantheon, was
opened to the public for the first time last evening. It
named the Princess's Theatre, by special permission
of the Queen, previous to her Majesty's accession to
the throne, and has been built from the designs of Mr.
Nelson, the architect, expressly for the performance of
operas and music. Long previous to the opening of the
doors, the crowd of persons waiting for admission was
immense ; and the rush, when they were opened, was
concequently tremendous. The lobbies, however, are
spacious and well ventilated, so thai there was none of
that unpleasant feeling of suffocation, wh;,:11-1, but for
the extreme attention that has been paid to venttia.!ion
in the erection of this theatre, must have been expe-
rienced. A flight of steps, of easy ascent, leads to
the boxes, to the left of which is situated the entrance
to the pit. The form of the theatre is that of the horse-
shoe. The tiers of boxes are four in number, the
lower and third circle consisting of private boxes, the
second and upper circles only being open to the pub-
lic. • The coup d'ceil, on entering the theatre, is
magnificent. The decorations, in the Renaissance
style, are profuse and gorgeous, and yet such is the
taste displayed, that, as a whole, they harmonize
exquisitely. The proscenium is one of the most superb,
and, at the same time, chaste pieces of ornamental
work that we have ever beheld. The roof is orna-
mented with medallion paintings and arabesques, and
from the centre is suspended by far the handsomest or-
molu chandelier in the metropolis. For elegance, mag-
nificence, and taste, there is no theatre in London that
can be compared to the Princess's. The same atten-
tion has been paid to ensure the comfort of its visitors
that has been exhibited in gratifying their taste. The
theatre is calculated to hold 3,000 persons, and con-
tained fully that number last evening ; in fact, so
crowded was it, that it at last became nece• eary to re-
fuse admission to those who sought it, and money was
actually turned away from the doors. Yet, notwithstand-
ing the crowded state of the theatre, the heat was by
no means oppressive or unpleasant ; and so admirable is
the method of ventilation by which this dreadful inconve-
nience is avoided, that there were no unpleasant draughts,
at least none that we could discover, and we visited, we
believe, every portion of the theatre for the express
purpose of ascertaining. Attached to the second tier
of boxes is the refreshment room, a spacious and lofty
saloon, the walls of which are decorated with medallion
paintings. Toking it as a whole, whether for elegance
or comfort, this theatre is far superior to any o• her we
have ever visited either in this country or on the con-
tinent; and the inhabitants of the northern and western
portion of the metropolis are under a great obli-
gation to Mr Hamlet, whose property it is, for
having provided for them such a delightful place
of amusement. The performances are to consist
for the. present of promenade concerts, until the com-
mencement of the opera season in January. The first
of these concerts took place last night and was fully
worthy of the theatre. Mr. Tutton is the Director and
Mr. Willy the Leader. The band consists of upwards
of sixty first-rate instrumentalists, and they last night
performed some of the finest compositions of Weber,
Beethoven, Reissiger, and Halevy, with a power, preci-
sion, and accuracy, which would have been remarkable in
a band the members of which had been used to each
others play for years, and which in a new band, perform-
ing together in public for the first time, is perfectly asto-
nishing. Mr. Willy, who was greeted with loud ap-
plause, performed a solo on the violin in a first-
rate style of excellence. He took for his theme
the air, " Oh ! no, we never mention her,' and after
delighting us with some of the most pathetic strain
that were ever " discoursed," he astonished us by his
rapidity and power of execution. His bowing was
masterly, and his harmonies the most exquisite we ever
heard. Every one in London who takes an interest in
either theatricals or music, should pay a visit to this
theatre : in fact, no one can now say he has seen Lon-
don, who has not seen the interior of the Princess's
Theatre.

The Lord Mayor gave a splendid entertainment
on Tuesday, at the Mansion-house. His Lordship had
between fifty and sixty guests.
BRITISH ASSOCIATION.—The meetings of
this Association have now closed in Glasgow, and a little
leisure is afforded for taking notice of some circumstances
which it was not before in our power to make the subject
of remark- It is generally admitted that this has been the
most successful meeting of the British Association ever
held, not merely in a pecuniary point of view, but in refe-
rence to those great objects which it has been formed to
advance. No great discovery, it is true, was announced,
for the first time, to the world ; but there was discussed
an immense mass of highly valuable and important matter
in all the sections, and many new and striking views were
brought out. The meeting was rich in statistical in-
formation ; in geology many new and useful discoveries
were made, while the mathematical and mechanical sec-
tions were frequently the theatre of very interesting con-
versations. One marked feature of the meeting just con-
cluded, was the countenance given to it by the nobility.
Thu D kes of Hamilton, St. Aiban's, and Argyle,
favoured the Association with their presence, the latter
acting au one of the Vice Pro,idents of the Mechanical
Section; and, besides the Marquis of Breadalbane.
there were present, dining the entire sittings of the
Association, we believe, the Marquis of Northampton,
Lord Sandon, Lord Monteagle, the Marquis of
Lorn, and Lord Teignmouth This tact is not to be
ovAoriked, as it has all along been the object of the Asso-
ciation to enlist in its service, and in the cause of science,
as many as passible of the nubility of the country. On no
farmer taic tston have i here:been so many foreigners present
at the meetines of the Association ; and we bdieve we but
trebly express the sentiments of one and all of there, when
we say that they were delighted, not merely with the
transactions of the Society, but with the reception they
every where met in Glasgow.—Glasgow Argus.
Madame Giuletta Grisi took her departure for
Dave?, on Saturday h.st, and remained one night at Wor-
thington's hotel, en route to Paris. All the principal ar-
tistes of her Majesty's Theatre, including the director, La-
porte, have quitted our shores for the Continent.
FATAL FIGHT.—On Tuesday forenoon an
inquest, which had been adjourned, was resumed for
the third time before Mr Wakley, M. P., at the Duke of
Wellington, Brighton-street, St. Pancras, on the body of
Thomas 13arkes, aged 25, a cab-driver, who was killed
in a pugilistic contest with a man named Presdce, a hair-
dresser, on the 18th inst. The adjournments were caused
by the Magistrate at Hatton garden Police Court refusing
to allow the man Presdee, who was in custody, to appear
before the Coroner, and hear the evidence taken. The
Coroner determined to have the man before him, and ad-
dressed a letter to the Secretary of State, who sent a
warrant to the New Prison for the man's attendance.
Yesterday he attended, and evidence was given. The jury
returned a verdict " That Thomas Barkes died by misad-
venture, and not otherwise."
HIGHWAY ROBBERY AGAlN.—These diver-
sions from the uniformity of "still life" are becoming so
common that we only infer one thing with certainty—a
large increase in the consumption of pocket pistols. The
last case is :—On Friday night, between nine and ten
o'clock, Mr. Samuel Parker, of Woodhouse Farm, Alves-
ton, when near Horfield, fell among four thieves dressed
in dark clothes. They knocked him down, stuffed his
mackintosh into his mouth, tied his legs together, and
robbed him of two sovereigns, a half sovereign, some
silver, a single-bladed penknife broken at the point, and a
Thornbury bank-note for 51., No. 1,828. They made off,
but a strict search is made after them. Within a few
months we have had five highway robberies, for which no
one is in custody, near this city, within the district of the
rural police. We do not believe that the men in this force
are deficient in diligence and fidelity; and this only the
more shows how utterly useless, to any good purpose, is
the system forced on the ratepayers, at an enormous ex-
pense, by our hopeful Government. But John Bull is a
very good-natured creature, and don't mind a few shillings
in the pound more or less for the honour of the Queen's
Government. —Bristol Journal.

THE LATE SIR WILLIAM GARROW.—The
late Sir William Garrow was a native of Monkton Had-
ley, in the county of Middlesex, where he was born on the
13th of April, 1760. He was the second son of the late
Rev. David Garrow, who resided in the above village for
many years, and who died on the 20th of March, 1805, in
the 90th year of his age. William Garrow, recently de-
ceased, at an early period of his life was placed under a
Mr. Southouse, a special pleader of the Temple, in which
Society being admitted a student, he was called to the bar
in 1780. He served the several offices of Solicitor and
Attorney. General to his Majesty George IV„ when Prince
of Wales, and represented the boroughs of Callington and
Eye in several successive Parliaments. On the appoint-
ment of the late Sir Vicary Gibbs to the bench of the
Common Pleas. be was promoted to the office of Attorney-
General, as also to the Chief Justiccship of Chester. In
1817 he was nominated to a barony in the Exchequer. In
1831 he retired from the judicial bench, since which period
he continued to live in perfect retirement at his marine
villa, Pegwell Cottage, in the county of Kent, until his
death. The late Sir William has been a widower for more
than 30 years, and has lefr but one daughter, the present
Mrs. Eliza Lettsom, who in 1804 married Mr. F. F Lett,
torn, eldest son of the late Dr. Lettsom, of Camberwell:
his (Sir William's) only ton, the late Rev. Dr. David
William Garrow, dyingin April, 1827.
The Post-mistress of Cappoquin, county Water-
ford, lately gave birth to a daughter which had a red raark
on its cheek. This, for a few days, did not attract any
particular notice, until the medical attendant, on minute
investigation, found in the mark an exact resemblance to
the new Post-office stamp.—Dublin Mail.
FESTIVITIES AT BRAEMAR.—On Monday
a ball and supper were given at Corricmulzie Cottage, to
the Highlanders, on the occasion of the birthday of Mr.
G. S. Duff, who has lately returned to this country after
an absence of some years. It took place in a spacious pa-
vilion, erected for the purpose, splendidly decorated
throughout the interior with evergreens. Besides a nu-
merous gathering of the Gael in their national cosntumthee,
the ball was attended by all the rank and fashion
neighbourhood, along with the numerous and dinisttihneguHisighehd
guests whom the shooting season assembles-
lands. Among the company were the Duke Durustchaensd
H
Darlington, Lord Alford, the Right
ands
of Leeds, the Marquis of Waterford E , _
Gordon, the Hon. Sir Alexanderarls Banadth
Lady Duff and the
an
Misses Duff, the Honourables .k
Howardd John Dundas,
Hon. Sir Robert
M. P., Sir Benjamin Hall, Bart, Sir Charles
ed about eight
Kent, Bart., &c. Dancing
spirit, to the sound of
o'clock, and was kept up with
greateaily hour the following
the violin and bagpipe
till an conunenc
)uorning.v.invernedd (Journal.