The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-06 00:00:00

COVENT GAISHEN PIAZZA.

Bedford Hotel, A. Warner proprietor, slightly damaged
by water—contents insured in the Globe, building in
the Sun.

Piazza Hotel, Harrison and Co. proprietors, slightly
damaged by fire and water—contents insured in Globe
and Westminster, and building in the Sun.
Tavistock Hotel, Harrison and Co. proprietors, back
front scorched and windows broken—contents insured
in Globe and Westminister, and building in the Sun.
No. 10, Piazza, E. Robin,,, auctioneer, skylight
coorched and gla,s broken—contents insured in the
Phoenix, and buildin' in the Sun and Westminster.
The New Opera Hotel, which is slightly damaged
from the effects of water, was insured in the North of
England Fire-office.

Covent-Garden Theatre was destroyed by fire on the
morning► of Sept. 20, 1808, when a great many lives were
lost, including seven firemen, who were crushed by the
falling of a stack of chimneys, rendered insecure by the
action of the flames. Handers organ and the valuable
st,ck of wine belonging to the Beefsteak Club shared in
the general ruin on that occasion. The first stone of the
new theatre (that whose destruction we now record) was
laid by the Prince of Wales on the 31st of December in
the .arne year. and the theatre was opened on the 18th.
of December. 1809. The architect was Sir B. Smirks,
FLA., and the statues of Tragedy and Comedy, and the
two bas reliefs on the Bow• treet front, were by Flax-
man. The staze was 5.5 ft. in length and 8S in width,
and the depth from tie c irtain to the back of the pit was
65 ft , and the theatre ha I a saloon, the dimensions of
which were 56 tt. by 19 ft. Alter being leased by va-
rious managers for many year, M. Jullien hired this
theatre for his promenade concerts in 1843-5. It was
subsequently hired by the Anti-Corn Law League as a
lecture hal!. But in 1846 the building was entirely re•
modelled by Mr. Albane, and converted into an Opera-
heuse. It was opened i n the 6th of April, 1847, but
with such an ex ravagant expenditure thst in 1848 there
was a loss of 34,756/., and in 1849 of 25 4551. In one
year th,, v0,..al department cost 33,349/., the ballet
8,105/., and the orchestra 10,048/.
The theatre has never lost any of its reputation, and
from these items, therefore, the public may be able to
appreciate what is now lost to them, at auy rats for a
lengthened period.

The original theatre in Covent-garden, or, more cor-
rectly, Convent-garden, the ground having belonged to
the Abbot and Convect of Westminster, was built by
Mr. John Rich Of harlequ;nade notoriety), and opened
on the 7th of December, 1732, with Congreve's " Way
of the World," in which Qiiti played Etinall. Various
alterations and improvement were made in this edifice
in 1782, and in 1792 it 'was rebuilt from the designs of
Henry Holland, architect, at an expense of 25,0001., of
which 15,000/. was advanced by the Duke of Belford,
whose successor, the present duke, is the ground land-
krd. On the night of the 20th Sept., ISO 3, the theatre
was burnt to the ground by an accidental fire, which
is supposed to have arisen from the ignited wadding
of the soldiers' muskets (which had been fired off
in the play of "Pizarro" tne previous evening) lodg.
ing among sonic of the irrtiammable decorations of the
scenery. Boaden, in his life of John P. Kemb'e, has
recorded the following as a real professional soliloquy of
that eminent actor :—" In the morning after the fire,"
says the writer, "I hastened to Great Russell-street,
and went into Mr. Elemble's dressing-room. He was
standing before the glass, totally absorbed, and yet at
intervals endeavouring to shave himself. His brother
Charles, wrapped up just as he came from the fire, was
sitting attentive upon the end of the sofa. I took a
chair and sat observing the manner and tho look of
Kernble. His mind was rather raised than dejected, and
his imagination distended with the pictured detail of all
the treasure that had perished in the conflagration. At
length he broke out in exclamati.m which I have pre-
served as characteristic of his turn of mind—` Yes, it
has perished—that magnificent theatre which for all the
purposes of exhibition or comfort was the first in Europe.
It is gone, with all its treasures of every description,and
some of which can never be replaced,—that library
which contained all the immortal productions of cur
countrymen, prepared for the purposes of representa-
tion,—that vast collection of music composed by the
greatest geniuses in that science, by _Handel, Arne,
an I others, most of it manuscript, in the original score.
—that wardrobe, sun., d with the costumes of all
nations and ages, accumulated by unwearied research
N.ed at an incredible expense,—scenery ! the triumph
of the art, unrivalled for its accuracy, and so
exquisitely finished that it might be the ornament of
your drawing-room?, were they only large enough to
contain it. Of all this vast treasure nothing now re-
mains but the arms of England over the entrance of the
theatre, and the Roman Eagle standing solitary in the
market place.'"
The magnificent theatre the destruction of which we
this day record, was commenced in the same year (180 E),
and on the 31st of December his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, who was then Grand Master of the
Freemasons, accompanied by the Duke of Sussex and
several distinguis!,.ed noblemen, with a large body of the
masonic order, laid sse foundation stone, his royal high-
ness having previously deposited under the same a brass
box containing two medals, one of bronze, on which was
a portrait of himself, and on the reverse the following
ncriptton

Georgina
Princepe Walliarum
Theatri.
Regie Instaurandi Anspiciis.
In Hortis Benedictinis
Imudoni.
Fundaments
Saa Mann Locavit
M DCCC.VIII.

On the other medal, which was of copper, WM the fot.
Lowing inscription :
Under tho Auspices of

His Most Sacred Majesty George 3,
sing of the Uoited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The Foundation Stone of the Theatre
Covent Garden
Was laid by his Royal Highness
George Prince of Wales.
M.DCCC.VIII.
Such great celerity was exercised in carrying on the
work that the theatre was completely finished in less than
a year from the time of the fire, and the performance/5
were recommenced on the 18th of September, 1809,
with " Macbeth" and " The Quaker." The expenses
of erectirg it are mid to have amounted to
150,0001., of which 44,5501. was received from the in-
surance offices, and 50,0001. raised by subscription shares
of 5001. each. At the opening of the theatre that most
memorable event in our histrionic annals called " The
O.?. Row," or " Riot," was commenced, and it con.
tinned with almost unabated vehemence during 50 nights.
It resulted in a compromise, the details of which are
known to the public.
The Temple of Minerva, called also the Parthenon,
and, from its dimes ions, the Hecatompedon, in the
Acropolis, at Athens, Wai the model adopted by the
building
architect in designed the
now laid in ruins. It w,es a noble specimen of the pure
principal front of the
Grecian Doric, and was one of the most classical elevae
tions in the metropolis, although of a character far too
solemn for a theatre. The front, which was in Bow-street,
presented a grand portico, elevated upon a flight of steps,
which was supported by four large
a out bases. On the upppp
er art of the
fithu et epd e
cd
oi nl
ua emn
nt s o
without
walls, at the sides of the portico, were two long panels
containing basso-relieve representations el the ancient and
modern drama by Flaxman and Rossi. In the centre
of that towards: the north sat three Greek poets—
namely, "Esehylus, the father of tragedy (his face to-
wards the Hart-street corner), and Aristophanes and
Menander, the fathers of ancient and modern comedy.
Thalia, with her crook and mask, stood before the comic
poets as the object of their incitation. Sho was followed
by Polyhymnia and Terpsichore, the muse of action or
pantomime. Three nymphs, crowned with the leaves of
the fir-pine, accompanying Pegasus, concluded that per.
tion cf the coulphrtreent. :Eichylus held a scroll on b;