The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-04 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

We yesterday, by invitation of Mr. Batty, the spirited
lessee of Astley's, visited the Royal Amphitheatre, for
the purpose of inspecting the numerous alterations and
improvements (and in this case all the alterations are
improvements) which have been made in . the interior
during the recess. Finding that during the last season
the theatre was not sufficiently commodious for the ac-
comnodatiOn of its numerous visitors (how many of our
metropolitan managers ' would be' glad to have
the same cause .of complaint), Mr. Batty during
the - recess engaged . Messrs: -Hayward and Nixon
to re-construct 'the whole interior of ' the theatre, and
the-result of their labours haabeen to nialce-Astley's one
of the most splendid; the most .commodious, and the
most comfortable of metropolitan theatres. The pit has
been entirely re-constructed, so as to afford increased
accommodation to a much greater number of visitors,
and this ivithout at all encroaching on the arena devoted
to the exhibition of feats of horsemanship. The seats
in the Pit are fitted up with backs, and screens are
i
erected to protect the visitors from . those unpleasant
draughts of cold, air to which they, were subjected hist
season.. The proscenium, too, is entirely reinodellell.
..
Twoelegant cemposite pilastres, with gilt Capitals
i
and bases, , arise on. each Side of the stage, and betwe n
thciu are the proscenium boxes, the-fronts of which a e
il
ornamentedivith velvet and- gold. New private—box s
have also been fitted up, and hung with rich and tastef 1
draperiei. That 'huge, lumbering, unsightly affair, wi
its heavy dust-collecting draperies, which occupied t e
centre of the' dress-circle, and which was denominat
the Royal boX, has been removed, thus rendering, t
appearance of-the theatre lighter and more tasteful, an
at the same time giving to the public some:twenty of th
best places in the theatre. The whole front of
the audience-part of the house has been brought
forward, and the space thus gained will afford tic.
-commodation to nearly two hundred persons additional
while at the same time the lobbies have been enlarged]
and t'he ipade ilevotcd to the.aceommodation of each in-
dividual has been increased. ''he visitors to the boxe -
will be no longer'" cribbed, Cabined,rand confined," a-
they were last season,, for ' even the generation of th:
long legs will now find " ample room arid verge enough'
to take.their case as they sit and witness the perform
antes. The galleries also have been enlarged, and ar•
so constructed 'as to command a perfect view of th•
circle and of the, stage,' even from the very back seats
The fronts of . the boxes and gallery-are elegantly-erna-
mented,with arabeSque paintings upon a light-colOtired
ground. Instead of the old entrance to the circle from under
the stage, a new entrance has been constructed on the left
hand of the proscenium. This new entrance is in the
form of an elegant Roman archway. , A new dome ceil-
ing has likev"vise been -erected. This ceiling is divided
into compartments, each containing a classical, tableau,
painted on a light-coloured pound. From the centre is
suspended kmagnificent new cut-glass chandelier, one
of the'most splendid we have ever seen; whilst fourteen.
elegant CutglasS lustres arc suspended from 'brackets
*pier-the:dress: circle. The boxeg have been entirely
' newly. papered in 'the most tasteful manner imaginable,
and Astley'g mayliOW be pronOunced one of the most
elegant, and, at the same- time, one of the most com-
fortable theatres in Europe. Great credit, is due to Mr.
Batty for the spirited and enterprising manner in which
he has hitherto conducted-AN theatre.. The last season
was a most successful one; and, he has shown'his gill,-
titude to his patrons,. in,:the „most , substantial manner
in - his:limier,' by providing them increased means
of accenithOdatien - and Comfort, of which they will no i
doubt, gladly ' avail themielveS. Vite have heard great
.
thingS of the grand, national speCtacle which is: to be
produced On Easter,Monday, and' ive rhaie no doubt;
from Mr. Batty's well-earned faMe as a successful caterer
for .the public 'aniuseinerit,_ that the must sanguine ex-
pectations will more than realised. ' ' '

DUTCH •PA_PERS. •
Ttik ITAGHh; MARCH 31.—Iler 'Royal Ilighness Prin-
cess AlbertsefauSSia arriveif here-this morning. . '
4/46yEBDA.1)1,* MARCH 30.1-The . Utrecht Morning
• Paper of to-day says that. it, had. received .information
tharefie lOan was net cinlY tilled up, but. that a larger
Sulu had. been sitlagnibed. than-WM "required. It sets
down the sums said to be taken by the.'several cities and
provinces, amounting in all 10 138 Millions: - ,
niejlandlesblad sys,. " We are authorised to declare
that this Statement' is entirely, incorrect. " •
THE HAdii, M`anau '29:—lt
is confidently' asserted
that, th the-day before yesterday; it was - known to the
Governmerit4tat aho_iit 73 inillionS. were subscribed to
the loan. The subscriptions maoe.in 444 town:yesterday
were very numerous. . • . ,
• ReTTERDA 31, MAiiCIT ?"9'.—•lt' Is said, that the sub-
scriptiOns; to the loan made here yesterday (the last
day)..were very. considerable... The 'total amount 'sub-
scribed hero, is supposed .to-.be about ten Millions.
Acebunts 'froth Batavia,np to the 20'pf Decemberreport
several encounters between his Majesty's naval force and
the pirates, many• of whom were taken prisoners, and
likewise •a: great -many persons whom they had.carried
off froM different islands were restored to' liberty.. - .
so.n, 44; 6th ,of :November, .it . five iif the morning,
loud. explosions, accomPanied by a subterraneous noise,
.wereotyard aiParOet and Banding, and a-column of frame
role froin lhOnountain of Goentoczrte the, height of
nearly-. 3,0411 feet, a.quiintity -of red -hot stones were
thr9wp til)by.,lthe7.vohattui, .on:thetth of:October there
was a violent eruption of -the mountain of Lamongan:.
four natives lAt their .liiii.-• . . • '
' AmST:FiRD.2Ot, t.A.PII.I'&I:---:-.A., -'general -conviction ' pre--
rails : oneChitnge -that, it will not: be' necessary to have
recourse to •tlke (tritottlinary tai pa property, and - this
conviction has again, led tt ex,tvostyc purchases, both
;for mOrky and rot:ft:MC.- All kinds 9£ st have ock ha accord-
inglisen -"- ''' ——7' ' - '''
• ' ' ',
' ' '
-.. .. .., .' ^ pi.aCit. /Fl./.Nl3t..AlisTEsnim, APRIL 1.111
.. , !
... ..,..
Irlgne7. Gilts. . r
1. . -Actinaltlebt, V.% per Cent - • . eo-i - 614 • '
Jitto, clitta,kpet ccia : .,,, - 100 ' 1.00% ,
,Alniart Synitic,lt per eau 'MN; • ' 9.7%
IJAtto., dittq,, 3.,i, per cunt , - .844/•-.185),(1-
'Commercial Cciaia.anY, 4' per cent 14514 5'.1
-L0aR1657, 5 per,cAnt.,.....i..::...........»....: 10136 ' 101.. ' - :
'Exchange orkLondon, Onemonth...., .....
-..:. ' - 'J..: 1) -i ' Two mOnths . ".. .. ...- l2 62%- . .
Hamburgh; One mmth :';.s 25
- Two months • ' 'FS •
' •
' • :.: lt.. ._.._Okt.ealgr,sic A ITU. 2- .: .: .. .
,• - - •
.1
lu-jrsl f ti•KpDar.E.,.., ._bigu29. :-
1... k. N:01,111 :,...;.1 ....... L, .: - .....--,i .is _.. money
St. Sehuld Sch., 4 per cent.
Prussian English Bond:, 1830, I per cent. lot A,
Exchange on London 6 544 0 2411 i
Prussian State Gazette, March 30.