The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-09 00:00:00

THE OPERA HOUSE:

Ve Laic observed that pleasing alterations and
improvements have been made in this Theatre,
especially in regard to the ceiling over the magni-
&eat Apollo Lustre, and we agree with a cotem-
porary Journal in thinking, " that the whole is
" classically decorated with subjects as .creditable•
" to the choice of the Artist, as they are to his
" masterly execution of them." We only wish
to correct the rest of this statement, by observing,
that the Artist in question is not Mr. ZAaa, the
scene-painter of the Opera-house, as has been
-represented, but Mr. CARBONNIRR, of Leicester-
square, a young painter of
.promising faleate,
and who is, we understand, a pupil of DAVID.
The figures, twenty-four in .number, are ge-
nerally colossal in. size. The groupes were com-
posed by Mr. CARBONNIER, and drawn by him on
the ceiling in outline. The •colouring was ably
executed by Mr. ZARA, under the direction of,
and being subsequently retouched and finished,
I however, by the former Artist.

The whole may be considered as a personification '
of the Arts. The first groupe, which_represents
Poetry, consists of Apollo singing to his Lyre ;
on his right a young Poet, supposed to be VIRGIL,
seated and writing; and on the right of this last
is seen the Muse of Comedy. On the left of
Apollo there is a figure, supposed to- be TAsso,
and further on, the MUSE of Tragedy. At the
feet of these are scrolls inscriked with the names
of the great Poets of different nations, in which
we remark, to the credit of the Artist, that he
'has only inserted one of his own countrymen—the
celebrated MOLIERE.
The second groupe which represents the arts of
Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, has in
the centre a winged genius, holding the various
emblems of Painting on his tight, Sculpture,
also a winged figure, contemplating a bust of our
late lamented Princess, which has just been
finished ; on the left Mchitecture, an Old Man
sitting, and engaged in laying out a plan, and
beside him' a Disciple, who seems admiring one
of his master's designs.
The third groupe indicates the science and art
of Music. A winged figure, representing compo-
sition, sits in the centre, on the right of whom
another winged figure is playing the Bass Viol ;
while on the left of the principal figure Pastoral
and Vocal music is represented ; the former by a
little boy playing on the reed, the latter by three
females singing.
The fourth groupe, which is finely imagined,
consist, of old father Time, bound by -Cupid in
garlands of roses, and stopped in his flight, while
three Graces, in various attitudes, represent the
fascinating art 61 Terpsichore.
Upon the whole, considering the short time al-
lowed both for the design and execution, which,
we believe, was only a month, we think this part
of the decoration highly creditable to the Artist,
and a very agreeable substitute for the odious
• daubing by which the ceiling of the Opera had
been heretofore disgraced. 'We have thought it a
due tribute to talents to notice these improve-
ments in the King's Theatre, as it is denomi-
.nated, but we shall reserve our sentiments •on
the ITALIAN OPERA itself, as an Institution
sanctioned in this Country, to another occasion.

FOR THE SUN.

MR. EDITOR,—The principles of your Journal,

its arrangements, and, I would add, Its feelings,
render it the most obviously appropriate vehicle
for the expression of a national sentifflent.
Allow tue then to suggest, drat, although the
established Court etiquette has preciouly .regulat-
ed the period of the. General Mourning, for our

dear and lost Piincets, the extension o - that pe-
riod, not by an official order, but by a sponta-
neous feeling, would be among the highest tokens
of affection which could be paid to her blessed
memory. ' I will not, upotituch an occasion, en-
ter into the petty calculations of trade, and profit,
and convenience ; for I do, on behalf of THE
COUNTRY, demand, that as our Mourning andel--
paled the Court Order, so it should go beyorl'it,
though even but for a few days. Nothing else
can be purely and entirely the National. Mourning.
Whetht:r this object shoUld be effected by pub-
tic meetings, or by the silent act of individuals, I
leave to better judgments than mine. But-as the
Court Order has fixed the IStb, as the day for re-

[riling into colours, there is abundant time for

discussing the propriety of continuing our ex-
ternal symbols of internal sorrow. Though hut
for one week, let me plead, Sir, for this national
tribute :—and I hope you will aid my humble
pleading.

FIDELIS.

A FALSE PROPHET.

A most extraordinary circumstance occurred
yesterday at the Mansion-House. About two
o'clock a respectable looking young man rushed
into the Office, and disregat ding the interrogato-
ries of the attendants, advanced to the side of the
Lord Mayor.—Tne latter, surprised at seeing so
unexpected a visitor, demanded to know his
business. The Gentleman,: in a tone of loud
gravity, but with some trepidation of manner,
answered his Lordship as follows :
" My Lord, I came here to give you timely
warning against one of the most dreadful events
which ever befel a great city. I come to you, my
Lord, because you are the father of that city,
.and it is fit that you should circulate timely notice
to the people of what.is about to take place. My
Lord,. 1 am cotne here to announce to you, that
nothing less than an earthquake is shortly, even
this night, to befel this great city. The sins and
wickedness of the people have risen to the hea-
vens, and judgment is determined on. That
visitation will assuredly take place ; but 1 am
happy to say, that those who• take warn-
ing may be Saved. The judgment is appoint-
ed to extend only from the east of London,
on a line with the Monument, to the western ex-
tremity on a line with Temple Bar. Let ail,
therefore, within those boundaties beware ! Such
devat tation was never before witnessed : the ra-
vages by fire in 1666, and even the destruCtion of
Sodom and Gomorrah, will fall short, in compa-
rison, to the dreadful calamity which awaits Lou-
don this night. The Monument, aye, the famous
Monument itself, will sink for ever. Believe me,
my Lord, this is no phantasy, no raving of the
brain, but a solemn awful truth which Justice has
sworn to accomplish ; and I humbly implore you
and your fellow-citizens to take warning and save
yourselves !"
The LORD MAYOR.---" The City and myself,
Sir, thank you from our hearts for this timely cau-
tion against impending ruin ; but may it not be
hoped, that unlike Sodom and Gomorrah, we
may still find nine righteous persons' in the City
of London, for ►hose sake this overwhelming
calamity may be averted."
The Stranger.—" I cannot give you the slightest
hope as to that; and recollect, that in the case of
Sodom and Gomorrah, the whole of those places
were destroyed, whereas a part of London, wick-
ed London only, is destined to destruction."
The LORD MAYOR.--" May I be allowed to
know a little more of futurity, and be made ac-
quainted, as near as possible, with the time when
the dreadful yawning of the earth is to take
place."
Stranger.—" 1 am authorised to say about nine
o'clock, a few minutes before or after."
The LORD MAYOR..---" I have DOW only to ask
to whom I stand indebted for this divine warn-

ing;"
Stranger.—" I am from the North;my name is
David Jefferson Maynard, and I am at present re-
siding at the Hummums, Covent-garden."
The LORD MAYOR.—‘‘ 1 will instantly consult
with sonic of my philosophical and religious fel-
low-citizens as to the necessity of issuing a gene-
ral Proclamation, calling upon the eastern inba-
hitants of the metropolis, man, woman, and
child, to flee from their habitations to a place of
safety."
Mr. Maynard.—" I fear you have not many
wise 'nen in the East, and let those' who flee take
care that they 'scape not towards a district called
St. Giles's, for there, by angular means, e
wrath about to be poured out may extend lions
Temple-bar."
- " Gracious Powers !" said the Loan Maroa.
" Beware ! 'Beware !" said Mr. David Jeffer-
son Maynard; and, clasping his hands, and direct-
ing his .eyes upwards, departed.

An Anecdote of the late Rev, Dr. C. BURNEY.—
As the Doctor was returning' to Greenwich one
night from town, his carriage was stopped on the
road by several footpads, who robbed him of his
money and his watch. The thieves quitting the
carriage without shutting the doors, which they
had opened, the Doctor called them back, and
desired them to put up the steps and shut the
carriage door, which they did ; and no doubt were
not a little surprised at the Doctor's intrepidity.
On Wednesday there was a general Meeting of
the Subscribers to Lloyd's Coffee-house, to con-
sider of' a Resolution for granting a,surn from the
Funds of the Society, for the relief of the sufferers
by the late fire at St. John's, Newfoundland.