The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-12 00:00:00

PARTIAL OPENING op TUB COLOSSEUM.

phere of the streets. There is an immensely large
circular pavilion fitting up in an Oriental style, tie
outer lines of the galleries we have described, form-
ing, i❑ appearance, a sort Of pagoda. The whole
exhibition is dissimilar to any thing in Europe, and
we have no doubt will be a principal attraction to
foreigners visiting London. The panorama opens
to the pub!ic on Vir..dnesday for, one exhibition, in
which parties will be admitted by tickets, at a gui-
nea for four persons. Few will miss the opportunity
of witnessing this singular place of amusement, and
it will he extremely curious to compare its finished
state with its present condition. We believe Wed-
nesday will be the only day in which the public will
be let behind the scenes (if we may so speak), and
witness the arcane of the scientific and artificial con-
trivances by which will be produced a succession of
magnificent illusions, and scenes of beauty, surpass-
ing what imagination has painted in Caliph Vathek,
or in the most gorgeous scenery of any Oriental fic-
tic;,.---Observer.

This singular, ingenious, and magnificent place
of national arnostrecut was opentd on Saturday by
its liberal proprietor to a few literary gentlenwn
other persons eminent iu science or the arts. We
were favoured with this private admission, and we
are happy to say, that what is already finished is
sufficient to gratify the public, and to convince the
scientific and curious of results exceeding anything
which ingenuity had ever contrived. We personally
know that this grand design has been much can-
vassed abroad, even to the distance of Berlin and
St. Petershurgh. Had such a work been under-
taken on the Continent, it would have been the re-
sult of an extensive combination of capitalists, aided
covertly by Ministers, or ostentatiously by Govern-
ment. But in England this, like all other works of
splendour and utility, is the produce of individual
genius, enterprise, and exertions The
work is sufficiently advanced to indicate its splendid
fildeCtliS, and consequently to command the aid of
capitalists, and the patronage of every class. The per-
inanent impression is, that of wonder, if not of in-cre-
dulity, of such multiplied and varied effects being pro-
duced in comparatively so small a space. Every
illusion which optics can produce, which taste can
imagine, and the principles of the picturesque and
beautiful can effect, will be here witnessed in de-

ARCHBISHOP CURTIS.

(From tri -Dublirz 31,rning Register of Friday).

The Evening Post first published the letter of
the Duke of Wellington to Archbishop Curtis.—
The Morning Register first published the letter of
the Marquis of Anglesea to the most revered and
venerable Prelate. We shall answer for ourselves
and state, that the copy of the document we pub-
lished was not obtained from Dr. Curtis, or from
any person acting under his authority, or in com-
munication with him, and that his Grace (notwith-
standing the assertions of the Orange Press) had
no more to do, directly or indirectly, with the pub.
lication that appeared in our columns, than his Grace
of Wellington himself. The following letter from
the venerable Prelate appears in the last Evening
Post:—
TO THE EDITOR OF THE D. E. POST.

lightful and almost infinite variety. The whole of
these may be described under three classes—the
Panorama, with its machinery, and collateral orna-
ments and devices; the Subscription-rooms; and
last, though not least, the Grounds thrown open to
the public. We will begin at the Subscription
rooms. To these you must ascend by a flight of
steps, or over a rising ground thickly planted with
evergreens, in which we observe the old system of
studying the effect of different tinges of the foliage
has been attended to as much as this class of plant
admits of. The first object is a semi-circular rustic
viranda, overhung with ivy, forming Gothic arches.
This leads into a spacious reading or lounging-room
to be fitted up' in the style of a Turkish kiosk, or
summer-house. Out of this run several long rooms,
or vestibules of communication, leading to the grand
library, of spacious dimensions, and of proportions
that strike us as remarkably good. Deep recesses.
filled with books, and with immense windows of plate
glass, which produce a variety °flights and shades and
splendid objects. These, with a few other apartments
of great extent, and variously fitted, are for the use
equally of male and female subser;bers. We believe
each subscriber will have the privilege of introducing

Sin—As you were among the foremost, if not the first
Editor, that published his Grace the Duke of 'Wellington's
and his Excellency the Marquis of Anglesea's late letters to
me, with my reply to the former, I expect you will have
the goodness to acknowledge iu the Dublin Evening Post,
as soon as possible, that you neither lel, nor know that any
other has received, any sort of direct or indirect consent
from me for such publication. Indeed, I regret it ex-
ceedingly, and used every means in my power, though in
vain, to prevent it, as being an event that might lead, those
particularly who are unacquainted with me, into the erro-
neous opinion that I bad betrayed the confidence reposed in
tee by those eminent personages, and fallen into the puerile
weakness of giving uncalled for publicity to my own
answer. This was the only, but very cogent reason, that
could oblige me to complain that the three documents in
question had been published, which, in every other respect,
I should consider as a very desirable circumstance--for they
contained nothing that could give offence, but were, on the
contrary, calculated to produce, and have really done, a
great deal of good in society at large.
I was glad to see you assert, in the Dublin Evening
Post of Saturday last, that you had read the Duke of Wel-
lington's original letter alluded to above, and found it quite
conformable to the copies that you, and-others, had pub-
lished of it. But as you own, at the same time, that you
did not compare them together, I ndw request you will
please to see said original letter ag-; in (as you know
where to find it) and to transcribe, for the public eye,
its contents, with the most scrupulous tweuracy—and
should yen think it necessity, or expedient, I beg
you will have a legalised copy of it taken, the ex-
pence of which I shall cheerfully pay, for the satisfaction
of such as may feel annoyed by the ridiculous cavils of
bigoted and mercenary quibblers, w hose idle threats and
malicious sarcasms, I should not otherwise stoop to notice.
I am obliged to give you this trouble, because I have no
longer in my possession the Noble Duke's and Marquis's
letters, whirls I transmitted to a most respectable, safe, and
confidential friend in Dublin, better qualified than any
other for proving their authenticity, and communicating
their purport and meaning, with prudent cantion, to sin-
cere inquirers. Neither more nor less than this has been
done on the occasion by my sagacious friend, nor by myself,
while the letters remained in my Lands—and I never once
imagined that their benevolent authors could have any ob-
jection that their patriotic sentiments should be thus pru-
dently, though widely extended—for they were manifestly
not meant fur my personal information exclusively, but for
public utility and instruction; and, at all events, I wish
it to be known, because it is important, that I cannot,
ought not, never shall, carry on any absolutely exclusive
correspondence on matters of public concern—and I should
be deservedly censured if I acted otherwise, for which
there could not possibly be any just and honest motive.—
Should these terms be disagreeable to any, they have the
remedy in their own hands. Let them hold no corre-
spondence with me, but reserve that favour for others,
whom, however, I trust they will never find, among the
Roman Catholic Hierarchy of Ireland, capable of doing
any thing unworthy of their sacred character and station.
I have been reluctantly, but unavoidably, led to say
thus much, in order, if possible, to clear away the blame
most unjustly attached, by some, to me, of having pub-
lished the Duke of Wellington's letter—but particularly
for having elicited it, by one of my own, to which it ex-
preatA being an answer. On this subject I take leave
candidly to state, that said first letter of mine alluded to,
was read and approved here by several friends, at whose
urgent request, but contrary to my own wish and opinion,
I wrote it, praying his Grace to favour the Roman Ca-
thelie rause —but entertained so little hopes of its sue-
teas, or even of its being read, much less answered by his
Glace, that I did not keep so much as a copy of it. Yet,
I perfectly recollect its whole purport, and can, with truth,
declare, that his Grace's letter, that has made so much
noise, was not so much an answer to mine, as a cautious
and very limited exposition of his own generous senti-
ments, of which he himself has the whole merit, and I
neither do, nor can, claim any. His Grace's declaration
has been understood by some to mean much more than it
was probably intended to convey ; while others labour hard
to reduce it to almost nothing else than a sincere wish to
rivet our chains.

two ladies. Here a staircase leads to a suite of
apartments for the ladies only, whilst the floor
underneath will be appropriated to the gentlemen.
Here bill be a number of lounging-rooms, studies,
dining-halls,refectories, &c. &c. It is a feature of
the whole of the design, that it possesses capabilities
of almost infinite adaptations to what may be found
the taste or wishes of the public, or to what • future
higenuity may devise. This whole department,
however, is exceeded by the division intended for
the non-subscribers ; the enchantment here is totally
of another class. Room succeeds room, and avenue
leads to avenue, forming beautiful vistas between
exotics and native shrubbery, artfully reflected by
almost countless mirrors. At length you enter a
long conservatory, entirely of glass, with rich and
massive clusters of creeping and twining plants and
every species of shrub and flowers. In the centre
there is a magnificent shrubbery, consisting of
thirty-five distinct species of the Camellia Japonica.
Some of the specimens are truly beautiful, and will
gratify the most experienced botanist. This avenue

introduces you to what we suppose we must call
the Glass Saloon, the large dome of which can be
seen from the Regent's Park. This is, likewise, to
be ornamented with shrubbery and flowers, and an
alcove running from it is to be filled with birds,
either of the richest plumage or of the choicest mote.
In the centre of this saloon is a reservoir of orna-
mental water, in which there is to be ad hydraulic
contrivance, much smaller, of course, than the foun-
tain and water-works of Versailles, but exceeding
them in ingenuity of design and beauty of effect.—
The fountain is ornamented with the figure of a
water nymph. The central column of water is
thrown among a body of flowers, pendent from the
dome, and falls in rills from the circumference to the
reservoir. The next attraction is a Swiss Cottage,
fitted in a taste of what we may call the Rustic
Gothic. But the perfection is, the view from these
windows: they look upon a large arch of rock and
rusticated stone, which leads to a grotto. In the back
ground are three cascades, falling into a cave or pool
'from the height of 60 feet. What struck us as
surprising is, that although the arch, the grotto, the
cascades, and numerous other objects are seen

from these windows, contained in so small a
space, nothing appears small or artificial ; and, we
know riot how it can be contrived, but from no point
of view do you see the Colosseum itself, though this
pile of building is within a hundred yards of you, or
less. We forgot to mention, that in one of do:se
verdant avenues there is a Gothic lantern in the roof,
in which there is an optical contrivance of a kaleido-
scope. We now come to the Panorama. On en-
tering under the great dome, you may either ascend
by a flight of stairs, or may be introduced to a circular
chamber, which will contain about thirty persons.
This room is then raised, imperceptibly, by machi-
nery, to the height of the building, when, stepping
through a small door, to your astonishment, you find
yourself apparently on the top of St. Peel's, the
dome and cupola being immediately beneath your
feet, the freshness of the air surrounding you, whilst
the magnificent Panorama of London and its exten.
sive environs strikes upon the astonished vision—
nothing can exceed the effect. The spectator, as
soon as he has recovered llama his surprise, and can
withdraw his attention from the immense area of
space and the perspeciive around him, is again asto-
nished at the distinctness with which he can view every
street and building,and almost every individual house.
The area of canvas, we are told, would cover an acre
and a half of ground ; and being admitted to a close
inspection, we were surprised at the elaborate finish
of even the windows and blinds, and smaller fliiterise
of the houses. The whole exceeds description.
You May ascend still higher, and view the identical
copper ball which Sir Christopher Wren originally
placed on the top of St. Paul's. It is curious to see
the effect of the atmosphere of London on the metal
placed at such an immense height for more than a
century. But scarcely less an object of interest is
the Robinson Crusoe-like hut which Mr. Hornor, a
few years ago, contrived to erect round this ball,
when on the top of the Cathedral, and in which he
lived so many days suspended mid-way between
earth and heaven, intent upon his task, by which he
has produced the astonishing Panorama nosy before
us. By the bye, we must here do a service to our
fair readers, by warning them of the curious whis-
peting-bridges or echo gallery. Here you are in-
audible to' those around you, whilst all you say is
reverberated by about twenty echoes, and is_heard
in all directions round the spacious building. We
Would advise choleric old gentlemen to abstain
from their pshaws, or rounde, or oaths; and fat
old ladies not to mount the stairs too quickly,
and indulge in_ anhelations, vulgarly called puff-
ing. Thin ladies must not whine and sigh out their
" Oh, dear me's. Papas must not be objurgatory ;
and young ladies arid gentlemen, if they think soft
things, must express them by the eyes, and not by
the tongue, for every vibration of this organ will be
echoed to the very echo, which will re-echo it o'er
and o'er again. The Tower of Babel was nothing to
this. Only think of the effects of the thousand pshaws,
as many zounds, some few oaths of anger; vows of love,
bluff scoldings, petulant whinings, and ten thousand
silly compliments, popping like pistol balls in every .
direction round your astonished ears, not a personl
being seen from whom the sounds proceed. The ! The Duke of Clarence came to town on Sa-
unfreezing of the woods in Nova Zembht was not to - turday morning ' g
of the Princess Augusta, iu the King's Palace,
cross, ornin from his residence in Bushy-park, to the
be compared to it. On a gallery over this ball and residence
the sectator has a still higher bird's ey from St. James's.—The Surveyor-General of the Board of
p
iof the Panorama. Immediately above this ei is v ire, Works, and a gentleman from the Lord Chamberlain's de-
partment, waited on his Royal Highness, to receive his
i 1 outer gallery, over the dome seen from the Park, commands relative to the fitting up and furnishing his new
from which, in summer, persons may inhale the pure ' residence. His Royal Highness left town about half-past
breezes of the fields, in lieu of the smokey etmos- four o'clock, on his return to Bushy.

Both parties seem to be egregiously mistaken, or wish
to -:'lead others—while some torment themselves and
ti. •i- :'alert with guesses, at what has put been told us,
hut tai illy neglect what has been impressed and recom-
mended, in the most humane rind .sr.rnest manzasr, as al,-
solutely nser,ssary, both by his Grace of Wellington, and
by our p -7- otic Lord Lieutenant, namely, that violence,
insult, threats, and challenges to commence a bloody scene
of extera-tination, horrid personalities, invectives. and rile
abase should cease on all sides, as 00' -,erving to disgrace
and prejudice any cause, and to paralyse the effect of
sound reasons and useful measures, that, far tram being
forbidden, arc highly reecommended.
You, Mr. Conway, have always distinguished youtself,
and occupied a prominent place in the ranks of conciliation,
by your persevering and efficient endeavours to introduce
a kindly feeling _among cur countrymen of every descrip-
tion. I hope you will continue your exertions with re-
doubled zeal, and will meet with due co-operation from
your friends and worthy associates. For my own part, I
shall ever think it my bounden duty to afll3rd every aid ia
my power for a purpose F o characteristically essontid to
the Christian religion; and I am sure I can safely answer
for the well-known truly pastoral sentiments of all my ve-
nerable confreres, and for the enlightened zeal of our clergy.
Hoping you will find room in your useful columns fur this
letter, I have the honour to he, Sir, yoor most obedient
servant,
Drogheda, Jan. 6, 1829. t P. CURTIS.

♦UTHENTIC COPY OF THE LETTER OF THE DUKE.

" Londuri, Dec. 11, 15.28.

"My atsr Sir,--I have received your h.-titer of the 4th
instant, and I assure you that you do me justice in believing
that I a,n sincerely- anxious to witness a settlement of the
Roman Catholic question, which, by benefit;ng tile state,
would confer a benefit upon every individual belonging to it.
But I confers that I are net prospect of such a settlement.
Party has been mixed up with the consideration of tie
question to such a degree, and such violence pervades every
discussion of it, that it is impossible to expect to prevail upon
men to consider it dispassionately.
"If we could bury it in oblivion for a short time, and
employ that time diligently in the consideration of its diffi-
culties on -ill sides (for they are very great), I should not
despair of seeing a satisfactory remedy.
" Believe Inc, my dear Sir,
" Ever your must faithful humble servant,
" W ELLIN G TON."