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

knee, and appeared to be listening to the injunctions of the building are two—one of 8,0001. upon a portion of
Min( rva, who eat opposite to him. Between them was : the properties, and another of 2,0001. effected by Mr.
Bzcchus leaning on his fawn—typical of tragedy origi- Anderson when he entered on the occupation of the
tutting in honour of the rosy god. Behind Minerva theatre, for three months, ahicb insurance would, have
stood Melpomene, or tragedy, holding a sword expired on Saturday next.
and mask. The succeeding fi;ures were two The building itself is uninsured, and the loss will be
Furies, with snakes and torches pursuing Ores- terrible on those proprietors who bold a large number of
tee, represented stretching out his bands in shares. Among them may be noticed the Kemble
supplication to Apollo, v. ho, borne in the quadriga, the family of the late Mr. Harris—Mr. Staniar), Mr.
or four-horned chariot of the Sun, terminated the sculp- Robinson, Mr. Thos. Grieve, and others.
tore. In the centre of the compartment, at the south When all hope of saving any portion of the building or
of the portico, was Wiliam Shakspeare, sitting ; at hie its contents was at an end, Mr. Ponteau telegraphed the
feet the tragic and comic masks were grouped with the fact to Mr. Gye in Paris, which he did in a few expres-
lyre. With his right hand upraised he was summoning sive words. Mr. Gye is a man of extraordinary nerve
the bright creations of his imagination bofuro him. The and decision, but the intelligence must have been one of
dainty Ariel appeared, paying on a lyre in midway air the severest blows that could have befallen him. We
—Caliban laden with wood—Ferdinand sheathing his are enabled to state that all his engagements for the
sword—and Miranda supplicating Prospero—Macbeth forthcoming season were completed, and that he had
turning in horror from the corpse of Duncan, Lady Mac- brought together a company of artistes exceeding in
beth with the daggers, and Hecate in her car ditarn by attractiveness those of any previous campaign, with
oxen, terminated by this divkion. Next to Shakspeare whom he had arranged to open the opera on the 29th
was Milton, seated, and contemplating Urania in the inst.
clouds ; at his feet lay Samson Agonistes in chains. The
remaining figures represented the Brothers driving
Cowus and his attendant Bacchanals before them, whilst
their sister appeared transfixed in the enchanted chair.
Two of Comus's devotees, transformed to tigers, com-
pleted the subject.
The principal entrance to the boxes was under the por-
tico, and opened to the veitibule. To the left and cent r 3
of the vestibule was the grand staircase, which was
flanked by two rows of porphyry columns, of the lonic
order. This noble pile led to the ante-room, where was
a large statue of Shakspeare in yellow marble by Rossi.
The form of the auditory was that of a horse-shoe, the
width at the extremity being 51 ft. 2 in., and the depth
from the foot-lights to the boxes was 52 ft. 9 in. The ap-
pearance of the interior was very impressive.

OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is the official report made to Mr. Braid-
wood of the loss and damage resulting from the fire :

BOW STREET.

Theatre Royal Covent-garden. Burnt down. Pro.
pertiee and contents partially insured in the Phoenix
and other offices. Btulding—insurance unknown.
No. 5. J. Burrower, soda-water manufacturer, da.
maged by water and breakage ; contents and building
ineured in the Phoenix. _ _ _

No. 24. W. Rogers, builder, front scorched and glass
broken—contents insured in the Westminster, building
in the Sun.

No. 25. W. Bell, printer, front scorched—insurance
unknown.

N. 26. J. Snison, printer, front scorched--insurance
unknown.

The establishment of the Royal Italian Opera was
mainly doe to the well-known amateur and critic, Mr.
C. L. Gruneisen. So early as the year 1845, agents
applied to that gentleman on the part of Linari, the
well-known impresario, as to the chances of success of a
second Italian Opera. The intention was abandoned,
not so much from the opinions expressed against the
speculation, as from the impossibility of finding a
theatre sufficiently large for the purposo. Signor Galetti,
of Rome, having heard in Paris of Linari's project, took
it up, and persuaded Persiani, the composer, that a for-
tune was to be realised by such an undertaking. His
plan was confined to an opera buffo, on the smallest
scale, to bo given either at the St. James's or Drury-
lane Theatre. The assurances which were given that
unlimited capital was forthcoming for a second
Italian theatre eventually induced Mr. Gruneisen
to draw up a plan of management, to extend the exist-
ing Italian repertoire, and to widen the domain of art
by the production of the masterpieces by the French and
German masters—in short, to create an establishment
which should combine the essential attributes of the
Italian theatres, the Grand Opera and Opera Comique in
Paris, and the classic German opera houses. Persiani
and Galetti entered fully into these views, and offered
the post of musical director to Mr. Costa, who agreed
to accept it, provided Grisi and Mario should be induced
to accept engagements. This condition having been
accomplished, the organisation of the gigantic under-
taking was actively pursued, and on the 21st of August,
1846, the day after the curtain had fallen on the seaun
at her Majesty's Theatre. appeared the following start-
ling anrouncement irrone of the morning journals :

No. 27. W. Nokes, Royal Italian Opera Hotel, front
scorched, glass broken, and contents damaged by water
—contents insured in the .L\Torth of England ; building
unknown.

Nos. 28, 29, 30. W. Jones, gasfitter, fronts scorched,
roofs damaged, and glass broken—contents of buildings
insured in the Sun. 1
_ _

No. 31. J. Harrison, clothes salesman, damaged by
water and smoke—contents insured in the Sun.
No. 32. E. W. Themaq, japanner, front scorched—
contents insured in the Sun —bitilding unknown.
No. —. G. Gable, lodger, damage from breakage—
contents insured in the Sun.

" We are authorised to announce to cur readers that
the capitalists who have resolved to form an Italian com-
pany for Covent-garden Theatre, for the years 1847,
1848, and 1849, have engaged Mr. Costa as musical
director and conductor of the orchestra for that period,
and fur three years more, in all six years, at his own
choice. Mr. Costa, having received full powers to select
the band and chorus, bas engaged every lead:ng instru-
mentalist, native and foreign, now in this country, the
great majority having transferred their services from the
late orchestra of her Majesty's Theatre, as also the prin-
cipal choralists. The Covent-garden band and chorus
will be the largest ever collected within the walls of any
theatre in this country, and the resident chorus singers
are to be considerably reinforced by experienced
Continental artistes. The house is to be decorated and
fitted up on a scale of unprecer'ented splendour, with
every comfort and luxury. First-rate artists have been
secured for the embellishments. The principal vocalists
already engaged may be divided into three classes—first,
artistes of European fame now in this country ; secondly,
artistes of European fame who have visited this country,
but are no longer here ; thirdly, artistes of European
fame, who have never appeared in this count!), at all.
The subordinate parts in operas are to he tilled by
thoroughly competent ertistes.. The 'lithe en scene will he
carefully attended to in every department. Original
operas, composed expressly for this country, are to be
produced. The standard repertoire will be principaly
used for debuts, hut many works of Continental popu-
larity, never introdu,ed here as yet, will be performed.
The main principle of this undertaking is to elevate lyri-
cal art, and to place the Italian Opera on a basis of effi-
ciency in every branch never before attained, not oply
in Eugland but in Ennme."
On the 16th of Sept., 184 G, were published the names
of the company, and on the 15th of Oct. following ap-
peared a third announcement, as follows :
" We are authorised to announce that the capitalists
who have taken Covent-garden Theatre, for the forma-
tion of an Italian lyrical company, have appointed Mr.
Beale, of the firm of Cramer, Beale, and Co., the well•
. known music publishers, acting manager and chief ciirec
tor of the new undertaking. Mr. Beale having accepted
the post, has already commenced its responsible duties.
It will be scarcely possible to over-rate the value of such
an acquisition as the services of Mr. Beale ; his activity,
intelligence, and great integrity, and his popularity
with the continental artistes, as well as with tue musical
professors of this country, are guarantees far his future
efficiency."
Mr. Beale'e appointment was suggested by Mr. Gran-
eisen, who strongly urged the importance of having •
an English director, whose name would ha acceptable
to the musical public. Mr. Mitchell having declined
the position (which, by the way, was again offered to
him in 1848), Mr. Beale -xas nominated. Paring the
season of 1848 Mr. Frederick Gye became the acting
manager; and in April, 1849, Mr. Beale, acting during
Mr. lle,latield's absence, for the second time was
in
office, until the month of July, after;which the artistes
governed under a corninonNe;eith, which was renewed
for the season of 1850. In 1851 Mr. Gye began as
lessee and director, And now continues in authority.
Such is the rapid sueatnary of Mr. Gruneisen's connec-
tion with the Royal Italian Opera, as " prime mover
and originator." His plan, to depart from the ancient
regime, and to prodoco works by the greatest composers,
without distinction fl country, was the salvation of the
undertaking. At three different epochs of crisis the
Royal Italian Opera wag prevented from closing—
namely, by the production of Meyerbeer's " Huguenots
and ProphZ3`x," mad by Auber's " Ma3auiello."

THEATRICAL CONFLAGRATIONS.
The following are the principal theatrical COPflagra-
tions that have occurred :
DRURY-LANE THEATRE—Destroyed by fire in 1761 ;
rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren in 1764 ; rebuilt on a
large scale, and re.onened on March 12, 1794 ;
.burnt
down again Feb. 24,1809. The present theatre rebuilt
by Wyatt., and re-opened Oct. 16, 1812.
ITALIAN OPERA, HAYMARKET (The King'S Theatre)—
Opened 1704 ; burnt down 1789 ; rebuilt, 1791.
PANTHEON, OXFORD-STREET --Converted into an epera-
how) in 1784 ; burnt down 1792.
ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE.—Destroyed ly fire Feb. 16,
IE3O ; rebuilt by Beazley, and re-opened July, 1884, Iv
the Lyceum Theatre.
ASTLEY'S AMPIIITHEARE—Destroyed by firs Sept. 17,
1794 ; again, Sept. 2, 1803 ; and, for the third time,
June 10, 1841.
SURREY THEATRE (Royal Circus)—Destroyed by fire,
Aug. 12, 1805.

TIM GREAT FIRE AT COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.—In
the presence of a calamity almost unexampled in magni-
tude, almost incredible in the awful suddenness of its oc-
currence, almost incalculable in the devastation it has
caused, and the far greater misery and ruin it will entail
upon hundreds of industrious and deserving persons—it
has been deemed expedient by a number of gentlemen,
friends of Professor Anderson, and interested in many
ways in Covent-garden Theatre, to form themselves
into a committee for the purpose of receiving sub-
scriptions for the immediate relief of the sufferers by
the dreadful conflagration of Wednesday, March 5.
Not making this appeal specially on behalf of the enter-
prising and meritorious individual who has been at the
head of this colossal dramatic enterpriee since Christmas
last, and whose fortunes are shipwrecked in this dire
tempest ; not making it eo much in reference to the very
many tradesmen in the vicinity whose property has been
destroyed, and whose interests have been seriously af-
fected by this unlooked for event ; but making it speci
ally, earnestly, and respectfully in favour of the poor
and lowly, of those whose lot it is to labour, for the
hundreds of industrious artists and artisans who have
been thrown out of employment, for the numerous work-
people who have lost their clothes, their tools, every-
thing they possessed in the general ruin, to help those
who cannot help themselves, the committee confidently
throw themselves on the charitable sympatthiefficacious of the
public. Believing that mercy to be the mos es
which is the speediest, they have taken the initiative in
embodying in a practical form the expressions of sym-
pathy that be naturall terrible. yso terr evoked by a disaster so
great, so unlooked for, and Subscriptions
for the "Fire at Covent Garden Theatre Relief Fend"
will be received at the Royal British Dank, Strand ;
Sams',Royal Library, 1, St. Jamess-street; and at Mr.
Royal Library, 33, Old Bond-street.

A deputation of workpeople engaged in bleach and
dye works had an interview with Viscount Palmerstonyesterday on the subject of the Bleach Works, &c., Bill.
The deputation was headed by Mr. C. Sturgeon, and
consisted of John Waring (Bolton), C. W. Blatherwick
(Manchester), Alex. King (Glasgow), and Samuel Miller
(Hammersmith).
Among the passengers by the Euxine, which left
Southampton with the India and China mail, was Ad-
miral Sir Michael Seymour, the commander-in-chief of
the China squadr6n.
Despatches were received at the Colonial-office, yes-
terday, from the Governors of Australia and the Gover-
nors of the West Indies.
Report says that it is the intention of the Duke of
Norfolk to close Arundel Castle—at all events for a
year or two, if not permanenly.
The long vexed question relative to the claims of the
Military Knights of Windsor will be brought to a.final
issue in the course of a few weeks, as the case will
put down for hearing before Om Master of the Rolls in
Easter Term.
Lord Claud Hamilton bail left Howelain's Hotel, St.
James's-street, for the Barracks, Armagh, Ireland,