The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-15 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS--ROYAL GALLERY

The Royal entrance in New Palace Yard,
froi;ting the Peers'. entrance, has undergone
some changes and improvements. The former
outer iron gates have been removed, so that the
pdblic may pass under the portico, while, on the
_other hand, there is nothing to obstruct, or to
eildanger the obstruction of the Royal carriage,
when the King may go to open or dose the Par-
The glass in the windows, which was
heretofore - yellow, like what appears in
the domes above the new Law Courts, is now
changed into grey, so as to represent ground
Mass. The staircase, which is beautifully and
'elaborately decorated with plaister-work, re-
mains much the same as heretofore.

;hying ascended this fine, wide staircase, the
navelties commence. There is a grand landing,
sufficiently spacious fcr the assembling of the
Officers of State, &c. around his Majesty. Be-
sides minutely tasteful decorations—ail the de-
corations are plaister-work--there are remark-
ably-, welt-finished columns at the several points
of this landing. Turning to the left, the new
GallerY is then in front. This Gallery, it will
be borne in mind, is on the site of the old House
of Lords. but it is not near so wide as was
that ancient building; much of the space is
occupied in buildings for the new Parliamentary
Offices, the dip6ts for the Parliamentary Re-
cords, &c. This Gallery leads in straight and
dirett line .to the Painted Chamber. The en-
trance into this Callery, however, is much, and
it is to be feared it will be found inconveniently,
narrowed by the raising and projection of two
sitinuins. on each side of it. The columns are

large, and occupy much room, so (noel' that the
space left is only about five or six feet. Now,
it will he remembered that the King, when he
goes to the ffoese, proceeds thither in proces-
sion, that he. hae an Officer of State on each side
Of ,him, generally, the Duke of Wellington on
one, and the Earl of Liverpool on the other side
of him ; so that there will be three persons
abreast, bearing insignia of State, &c. For them
to paSs'comfortably the raising of the columns
leaves very limited room.
Mow this Gallery, on each side of it there are
some exquisitely fiuished Scaglio/i columns, form-
ing-recesses in which highly decorated chairs are
to be placed for the accommodation of the most
distinguished company. There are also several
lielitly'arrnaged fire-places. The Gallery is very
lofty. There is wainscoting to the height of
about six feet, and thence to the ceiling is occu-
pied with tasteful and variegated plaister deco-
rations ; and the arched ceiling is alike richly
finished, being crowded with similar ornaments.
Over the centre of the Gallery is a grand dome,
of the full width of the Gallery, and rising to
the height of nearly twenty feet from the roof.
There is a small gallery round it shove the ceiling,
and thence ornamented columns to the cupola's
roof. Around it is coloured glass ; and lay such
means the Gallery is uncommonly well lighted.

The several works and decorations are of a
highly orwarnental character, mostly fanciful, but
chiefly formed on the Grecian model ; and the
general effect is elaborately pretty and very im-
posing. Tt e. floor of the Painted Charr►ber is to
be raised about ono foot, to be on a level with
that of the new Gallery; but it is contemplated
that next year the Painted Chamber will be taken
down in further completion of the divers im-
provements about the House of Lards.

THE LATE MURDER,
AND TflE COBOURO AND SURREY MEATRES

Nn. Eamon,-Considering the enormous ex-
pences attending a -theatrical, concern, Mana-
gers .are no doubt justif.ed employing any,
method to attract the publik ; .leat;surely 'they
ought to keep in vieW,.kivate feelings, moral
rectitude, and the honour of the country. That
all those have been, . and are now, openly vio-
lated at some of the minor Theatres, by the re-
presentation of pieces founded upon the -late at-
-trocious and melancholy event, it. is impossible
to deny. A first attempt to make the Hertford-
shire murder a sulkjeCt of theatricai representation
was immediately put dn'ivn. But scarcely has the
convicted criininal'undeigeme the awful and just_
sentence of the law, when-the whole of the atro-
cioas- transaction is, in mockery of justice, and in
defiance of decorum, exhibited' upon the stage,
in the metropolis of one of the most decorous
and enlightened nations in Europe'. Such a re-
presentation may awaken the sympathy of the
lower orders of the community, but it can surely
awaken only sentiments-of disgust -amongst the
more enlightened classes, and should .be repro-
bated by every true Englishman. What will
our Continental neighbours think of the state of
morals and of civilization in this country when
they find a foul murder, and all its disgusting
circumstances, brought forward upon some of the
stages, of this metropolis, at the very time when
they are' mostly frequented by the rising genera-
tion ? Is such a transaction the most fitting to
be presented .to the infant mind ?
The wretched criminal has under:„one the sen-
tence of human laws, and has, long ere this, re-
ceived the award of Diviae justice. Ile is now
no more, and he died for his crime : but he has
left behind relatives of respectability, whose dis-
tress every feeling heart must commiserate. Is
it not enough that they should haVe to bear the
odium of being connected with a criminal, with-
out having their feelings harrowed by the idea
that his fate, and their misfortune are now an
object of amusement to thousanela of idle, or
-dissipated, und heartless beings ! True it is that
the Managers have attempted to justify their con-
duct by endeavouring, at the head of 'their play
bills, to persuade the Public that this represen-
tation must have a moral tendency, and must pro-
duce beneficial effects. The truth of this doc-
trine may be reasonably doubted ; but event sue-
posiog it to be correct, I still think that however
desirable the end may be, in itself, the means
employed to attain it are highly objectionable,
and such as no moral man, however otherwise li-
beral, can possibly approve.
Jan. 14, 1824.

A. P.

*,,* We insert the foregoing letter from our valuable Corre-
spondent, though his opinions differ from those which we have
expressed on the same subject. Atrocity cannot be too much
exposed and branded, and the vivid impression of theatrical
performances operates more forcibly on the mind than written
exhortations, however eloquent and persuasive. We have seen
the representations alluded to by our Correspondent, and in
our remarks on them we have maintained these opinions, he_
cause they appeared to us to excite in the audience deep com-
miseration for the sutierers and indignation and horror against
the offenders.