The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-29 00:00:00

BATTY's OLYMPIC CIRCUS.

As often as Astley's Amphitheatre has fallen a prey
to devouring flames, it has revived, like the fabled
pheenix, from its own ashes, and more magnificent and
attractive than before. It is true, indeed, that since the
destruction of the last edifice some fears have been en-
tertained by the lovers of equestrian feats and gorgeous
spectacles, that its power of reproductiveness had pe-
rished with the fabric ; but, thanks to the enterprise
and ability of Mr. _Batty, those-fears turn out to be
altogether groundless. Already the necessary measures
are in progress for the erection of a new building on the
Buttonto
assembleand the
dsatsnelieplsepsoot
fitivleleorfferetyheGaamdmbairdeorsweorfeli3lyt
so many years to learn the way
"To win the world with noble horsemanship."
To fill up the dreary interval from its commencement to
its completion, Mr. Batty, with creditable zeal and in-
genuity, has converted the area and appurtenances of
the National Baths in the Westminster-road into a tem-
porary, but at the same time capacious and elegant
theatre, wherein the same exhibitions which made Ast-
ley popular and Ducrow famous are successfully re-
enacted. The adaptation of these premises to the pur-
pose has been successful ; nor is it unclassical, for
baths made a part of the ancient gymnasia, and were
frequented more for pleasure than for health. There is a
spacious gallery here, which last night contained upwards
of 1,200 gods, the celestials, by this superior accommo-
dation, having a decided majority. The boxes are nu-
merous and comfortable, and have a commanding view
of the riding circle_; the pit possesses almost equal ad-
vantages. Altogether it is really an agreeable structure,
being well ventilated and .tastefully decorated, and, as
one of the clowns very properly observed to the riding-
master, like a punch-bowl, because it looks best when full.
The performances on Monday were multifarious. First,
there was the phenomenon rider, the volant Mr. T. Lee,
who while riding one or more fiery steeds, made " ex-
traordinary and wonderful leaps," as the play-bill says,
round the arena, and whose sinewy and symmetrical
form, and untiring activity, drew forth the admiration of
the audience. Next came " Herr Ludovic's celebrated
extravaganza of Jim Crow and his Granny," in which
the old trick of carrying " two faces under one hat" is
ludicrously exemplified. Mr. W. Walker followed with
" his wonderful feats on the flying rope and his celebrated
tourbillions," in which he proved himself to be anything
but a walker. He was speedily displaced by "M. Leo-
nard, the great French rider, on two fleet steeds," who
was miraculously adventurous. A group of ponies was
then introduced, and delighted the spectators with a va-
riety of amusing and sagacious tricks; they fought, they
leaped over poles, and through hoops, they sat down and
stood up at command, they wore cocked hats and cloaks,
lace caps and mantles, and supped with the clowns
on oaten pies, sitting at the table with all proper
decorum ; they fetched and carried, they played at
leap-frog, they marched, they danced, they walked on
their hind legs, they bowed, and they went down on their
knees, for here that was an accomplishment, and not a
detriment to any nag. A company of vaulters, each
having two legs fewer than their fellow-performers, next
performed some daring leaps and threw somersets ad
infinitum, backwards or forwards in rapid succession.
After all this, a little pathetic exhibition was made by
Miss C. O'Donnell, in the character of Agnes de ito-
salvi, or the Betrothed One. A series of gymnastic and
equestrian exhibitions, witha new piece called The Wan-
derers of Thonor and of the Sifitns, wound up the enter-
tainments of the evening, which were interspersed with
the witticisms and waggeries of two very clever clowns,
one of whom is a good punster, and the other a supple
posture-master, and a capital musician on—the penny-
trumpet.

----
COLBURN'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE,
AND HUMORIST, FOR JANUARY, 1842, EDITED BY THO-
MAS, HOOD, ESQ.—Amongst the admirers of true wit,
humour, and pleasant reading, Colburn's New Monthly
has always taken the first rank in periodical literature.
Under the editorship of Thomas Hood, and at the com -
mencement of a new year, its claims to the attention of
the public are redoubled. The January Number con-
tains an extraordinary variety of entertaining and amus-
ing papers by the most distinguished writers of the day.
The Editor himself has contributed no less than three
articles, " An Anacreontic for the New Year," " English
Retrogression," and " The University Feud ; or, a Row
at the Oxford Arms," all in his best style. Mr. Poole,
the author of " Paul Pry," has a most humorous paper
called " The School for Horse flay," and continues his
caustic story of " Phineas Quiddy.' Barry Cornwall re-
appears in these pages with some excellent verse, en-
titled " Weeds and Flowers ; " Mr. Laman Blanchard
furnishes a laughter-exciting sketch called " Wanted, a
Father, Mother, and a Few Sisters." The author of
" Rattlin the Reefer," presents us with a stirring story,
under the title of, ," The Sea Lawyer; " and Mr. Horace
Smith appeared to great advantage in his " Short Rides
in an Author's Omnibus ; the facetious " Peter Prig-
gins" continues his "Graduates and Under-Graduates
with unfailing spirit ; and besides all these attractive
papers we have several others of a more than usually ex-
citing kind, and which will attract much attention.
Amongst them some original letters of Dean Swift, now
for the first time given to the public ; " Recollections of
Eton," by an Etonian; an " Account of Lebanon in 1841;"
the "Reminiscences of a Medical Student;" and the re-
markable story, "A Strange Passage in the Life of
Charles Welford." Altogether the first Number for
1842 of Colburn's New Monthly Magazine may be said to
distance all its competitors, and give extraordinary pro-
mise of the future exertions of its distinguished editor
and his coadjutors.
The remains of the late Earl of Westmoreland
were deposited in the family vault at Apthorp, near
Peterborough, on the 27th instant. They were attended
by the Dowager Countess of Westmorland, who left
America fifteen months ago, in consequence of letters
from the Noble Earl, earnestly and affectionately entreat-
ing her to retail.