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

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

We yesteMay, 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-
commodation 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 has been to make Astley's one
of the most splendid, the most commodious, and the
most comfortable of metropolitan theatres. The pit ha,
been entirely re-constructed, so as to afford increased
accommodation to a much greater number of visitors,
and this without 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
erected to protect the visitors from those unpleasant
draughts of cold air to which they were subjected last
season. The proscenium, too, is entirely remodelled.
Two elegant composite pilastres, with gilt capitals
and bases, arise on each side of the stage, and between
them are the proscenium boxes, the fronts of which are
ornamented with velvet and gold. New private boxes
have also been fitted up, and hung with rich and tasteful
draperies. That huge, lumbering, unsightly affair, with
its heavy dust-collecting draperies, which occupied the
centre of the dress-circle, and which was denominated
the Royal box, has been removed, thus rendering tin
appearance of the theatre lighter and more tasteful, and
at the same time giving to the public some twenty of the
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 ac-
commodation to nearly two hundred persons additional
while at the same time the lobbies have been enlarged,
and the space devoted to the accommodation of each in-
dividual has been increased. The visitors to the boxes
will be no longer "cribbed, cabined, and confined," as
they were last season, for even the generation of the
long legs will now find " ample room and verge enough"
to take their case as they sit and witness the perform.
ances. The galleries also have been enlarged, and are
so constructed as to command a perfect view of the
circle and of the stage, even from the very back seats.
The fronts of the boxes and gallery are elegantly orna-
mented with arabesque paintings upon a light-coloured
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 likewise been erected. This ceiling is divided
into compartments, each containing a classical tableau,
painted on a light-coloured ground. From the centre is
suspended a magnificent new cut-glass chandelier, one
of the most splendid we have ever seen, whilst fourteen
elegant cut-glass lustres are suspended from brackets
over the dress circle. The boxes have been entirely
newly papered in the most tasteful manner imaginable,
and Astley's may now 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 this theatre. The last season
was a most successful one ; and he has shown his gra-
titude to his patrons, in the most substantial manner

in his power, by providing them increased means
of accommodation and comfort, of which they will no
doubt gladly avail themselves. We have heard great
things of the grand national spectacle which is to be
produced on Easter Monday, and we have no doubt,
from Mr. Batty's well-earned fame as a successful caterer

for the public amusement, that the most sanguine ex
pectations will be more than realised.

DUTCH PAPERS.

THE lIAGUE, MARCH 31.—Her Royal Highness Prin-
cess Albert of Russia arrived here this morning.
AMSTERDAM, MARCH 30.—The Utrecht Morning
Paper of to-day says that it had received information
that the loan was not only filled up, but that a larger
sum had been subscribed than was required. It sets
down the sums said to be taken by the several cities and
provinces, amounting in all to 138 millions.
The Ilandlesblad says, " We are authorised to declare
that thii statement is entirely incorrect.
THE HAGUE, MARCH 29.—1 t is confidently asserted
that, to the day before yesterday, it was known to the
Government that about 73 millions were subscribed to
the loan. The subscriptions made in this town yesterday
were very numerous.
ROTTERDAM, MARCH 29.—1 t is said that the sub-
scriptions to the loan made here yesterday (the last
dav) were very considerable. The total amount sub-
scribed here is supposed to be about ten millions.
Ace ;tints from Batavia up to the 2d of December report
several encounters between his Majesty's naval force and
the pirates, many of .whom were taken prisoners, and
likewise a great mae persons whom they had carried
off from different isla. s were restored to liberty.
Oa the 26th. of November, at five in the morning,
loud explosions, accompanied by a subterraneous noise,
were heard at Garoet and Banding, and a column of flame
rose from the mountain of Goentoez, to the height of
nearly 3,000 feet, a quantity of red hot stones were
thrown up by the volcano. On the sth of October there
was a violent eruption of the mountain of Lamongan :
four natives 13st their lives. _

AMSTERDAM, APRIL I.—A general conviction pre-
vail,: on 'Change that it will not be necessary to have
recourse to the extraordinary tax on property, and this
conviction has again led to extensive purchases, both
for money and for time. All kinds of stock have accord-
ingly risen
DUTCH FUNDS.—AMSTIIIRDAM, APRIL 1.1
Money. Bills.
Actual Debt, 254 per Cent ..... 604( 613(
Jitto, ditto 5 per cent.:
Anioi t Syndic,4% per cent ..... ..... 1'634 97%
D.ttc, ditto, a% per cent ......«.«.»....« BO6 : i 5534
Commercial Company, 4V, per cent 148% 50
Loan 1837, 5 per cent. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• NI% 101
Exchange on London,
Two months
Hamburgh, One month 35 25
Two months l5
Dutch Papers, April 2
PRUSSIAN FUNDS.—Bitaux, Mastcn 29.
Bills. Money
St. Schuld Sch., 4 per cent. lOl% 101%
Prussian English 130nd5,1830, 4 per cent. 10174
Exchange on London „. 6 2431, 6 24%
Prussian State Gazette, March 30.