Star.
London, England, 1825-09-16 00:00:00

THE WINTER THEATRES.

The two Winter Theatres are now making the most
active exertions, preparatory to their intended opening,
on or about the 24th arid 26th instant. The interior of
each has been completely renovated. The gold orna-
ments on the fronts of the boxes, ceiling, Iltc. have been
cleaned and reburnished, And are quite restored to their
original lustre. The colour chosen for both houses is
a French white, which sets off the gold, and has a
very light and tasteful effect. The proscenium at Dray-
lane Theatre has undergone considerable improvement;
a circular shape has been given to the orchestra, and
welt alterations have been made in the avenues leading
to the pit as to secure the frequenters of that part of
the house from the currents of cold air to which they
were hretofore exposed, and which were so frequently
the subject of complaint. The scenic department of
each Theatre has been greatly augmented, and Covent-
garden, in addition to a new act drop scene, will re-
turn once more to the legitimate green curtain, for
which purpose a new one is putting up. An organ
also, of extraordinary power and dimensions, has been
erected under the stage by Bishop, and is now nearly
completed ; and gas is to be substituted insteaJ of oil.
for the foot-lights, which it is calculated will greatly
increase the stage effect. A scaffolding on a novel
plan has been elected by Mr. Saul, the michinist, (or
the purpose of redecorating the ceiling, which does
great credit to his ingenuity. Heretofore it has been
customary to have one erected in the ordinary manner,
at an expense of 1506. to 2001. whereas, on the present
plan, much less than the smaller sum has been expended,
and it will serve for any future occasion. It is of a
ci!colar form, in triangular compartments of uniform
dimensions, which meet and are secured at the centre
by clamps of iron, and is supported by three common
teairold poles lashed together, and perpendicularly
raised from the centre of the pit. Its construction is
simple, and, though light in appearance, is perfectly
secure. Covent-Garden; in addition to many of its old
favourites, has added Madame Vestris, and Power, of
the English Opera House. Mr. Warrle, of provincial
celebrity, who some years ago performed at the Hay-
market lheatre, is to take the lead in tragedy, in lieu
of Mr. Young, who, report says, is not engaged at
either Theatre. Mrs. Davison, it is stated, returns to
Drury-lane, and Messrs. J. Russell and Tayleure have
also been engaged there.

WednesdAy night, the metropolis was visited by one
of the heaviest showers of rain we ever witnessed. In
many parts the streets were, for a considerable time,
rendered impassable. nom the courts that empty
themselves into Fleet-street, the water rushed down in
torrents, and in some of the houses in Holywell-street
the lower parts were flooded. Under the archway at St.
Cle-ment's Church, the water was six inches in depth.
DEATH /ROM LIGHTNING.—A poor man, of the
name of llenness, in the employ of Mr. Body, a farmer,
near Hailsham, Sussex, was, on Tues3ay, struck dead
by a flash of lightning, whilst holding an ox-plough in
one of his master's fields. After the flash struck him
be did not move a limb, nor distort a feature.
Deranfut. Ftaa.—Between eight and nine o'clock
on )Monday night last, a particularly alarming and
destructive fire was discovered in a thatched cottage, in
Moor-lane, Hungerford, which, with seven others, was
entirely destroyed; the devouring element was so rapid
in its progress that Many of the inhabitants had difficulty
in escaping with their lives. The whole of their clothes
and furniture were entirely consumed in the short space
of one hour, and a little child which had died on the
preceding day was burnt with the coffin that inclosed it.
This calamitous fire was occasioned by the imprudence
of a woman sending a little boy with a lighted candle
near some leased corn.
A case of tea.bawking was decided at the Middlesex
Sessions yesterday. It was anoppeal from conviction;
but one of the witnesses proving that she received a
quarter of a pound of tea, without the vendors taking
the usual precaution of first soliciting orders, and after-
wards executing them, the penalty was confirmed.
At the Glasgow Police-Office, on Saturday, several
cases of assault were heard, arising out of the mobbing
in the neighbourhood of Mr. Dunlop's mill, by the com-
binators attacking the persons who were disposed to
pursue their employment. All the cases against the
refractory were dismissed, and the prisoners were loudly
huzzaed as they came out of Court. Several persons
afterwards implored the protection of the Magistrates,
as they said they were in hourly apprehension of being
murdered by the malcontents.
Some days ago, the body of a man named Furlonger
.was taken out of the Thames near Westminster Bridge,
with the head dreadfully fractured. The Jury who sat
on the body returned a verdict of Wilful Murder
against some person unknown ; but a watchman
who saw the account bas since come - forward, and
stated, that on the last night of Vauxhall Gardens he
saw a man ascend one of the balustrades to view the
fireworks, and, being rather inebriated, overbalanced
• hiMself, fell into the river, and was drowned. Several
circumstances tended to prove this conclusion; and a
. Gentleman named Tomkins, in whose service the de-
ceased's sister lived, having made inquiries respecting
the statement of a woman with whom Furlonger
liabited, that two men had declared their intention of
murdering him, and sending him home on a shutter,
found it to be erroneous and was satisfied that the de-
ceased had come by his death accidentally.
Friday evening, as the Wellington coach, from Scar-
borough to Hull, was passing through Nafferton, on
turning sharply round a corner, it was unfortunately
upset. There were several passengers, both inside and
outside. T.. Russel, the guard, was unfortunately
killed. A Gentleman on the outside had his thigh,
broken. Mr. Clark, of Spring-row, architect, is very-
n itch bruised ; and a Lady on the outside, since her
arrival at Hull, has been discovered to have her shoul-
der dislocated.

LtIERPoOL,

SIPPEAMER•it. .

A severe gale was *rperienced hoe ea Saturday
forenoon. It was felt by the vessels in the Channel
most severely, and has caused several melancholy dis-
asters among than. The American ship Superior,
which sailed hence on Friday, for New York, was
on Saturday driven ashore near to Killough, oa the
coast of Ireland, and she will, it is feared, prove a
total wreck. The American brig Evelina, which also
sailed on Friday for New York, had both ber topmasts
carried away in the gale; one of the crew, we have
been informed) being on the mast, was thrown into the
sea, by its breaking—two others put off in the boat to
endeavour to rescue him from destruction : they suc-
ceeded in getting him into the boat, but a heavy sea
swamped it, and all three unfortunately perished.

YORKSHIRE MUSICAL FE.SI7VaL.

YORK, SEPTEMBER 14.

The performance of the Messiah at the Minster to-
day, hits been of the most splendid kind, and the
audience exceeded by nearly 1,200 the numbers asserts-
bed on the corresponding day's festival of 1823. The
particulars it is not material to give you, but the
aggregate was 6,900 persons. Viewed from the orchestra,
the spectacle was one of the finest ever beheld. Con-
ceive such an assemblage in one of the most magni-
ficent buildings in Europe in full dress, and combining
all the rank and beauty of this principality. Rely upon
it, all the efforts made to decry and depreciate this fes-
tival, are ill-judged, illiberal, and founded in misre-
presentation. The conduct of the managing committee
does them honour ; and the objects to which the funds
are to be appropriated are not merely unexceptionable,
but worthy of the public countenance in the highest
degree. Though a voluminous pamphlet has been
published, denouncing the pe. formances as sacrilegious
invasions of the temple of GOD, so insignificant has
been their effect, that•the names of more clergymen
(persons who may be supposed to be pretty good judges
upon these points), appear on the register of the visitors
than were ever before found to support any extortion,
and it would not be saying too much to assert, that of all
. the various classes supporting the festival, no one class
is so numerous as the clergy. To-day the Archbishop
was present in the west gallery, and took his seat in the
centre of the projecting crescent, Yesterday the Duke
of Brunswick sat at the right of Earl Fitzwilliam, and
expressed, as he no doubt felt, wonder and admiration
at the scene before him. It was said that nine and
twenty families would be kept away by the recent death
of the Earl of Carlisle, but this was no doubt an
exaggeration ; and, from the appearance of the Minster
to-day, it may be fairly concluded that the number
of absentees has been very few indeed. Every seat in
the galleries, the aisle, and for many rows deep in the
transepts, was full; even the avenues were crowded,
and, towards the end of the four hours' performance,
Gentlemen :were seen ;reposing themselves on the
floor without seats, after the Turkish fashion, or rather
after the fashion of the visitors towards the end of a
long debate in the House of Lords. The Ladies pre-
ponderated in number over the Gentlemen considerably:
in the gallery nearly ten for one, many of the Gentle
men having relinquished their seats in their favour. It
is to the chastening influence and example of these
fair visitors that the festival is indebted for its high
polish, and for the absence of everything approaching
'to excess or disorder.
There is no want of strength in either the vocal or'
instrumental department—the latter is peculiarly full
and efficient ; but the distinguishing characteristic of
the Oratorios, is the power and melody of the chorusses,
the equal of which, it may be asserted with confidence,
has never before been witnessed in this country. That
effect is much heightened by the power which has been
imparted to the organ by additional tubes, which mul-
tiply and convey the sound in such a manner, as to
produce an effect little inferior to that heard in the ca-
thedral churches of the Continent, where the organs are
twice the size of that in the York Cathedral- The
chorusses of " Lift up your heads," by the principal
singers, and those of " Hallelujah" and" Worthy is Me
Lamb," by the united strength of the whole orchestra,
were transeendantly grand, and filled every part of the
stupendous edifice with melody. From some unex-
plained cause, Madame Caradori's song of ""Come uneo
Him all ye tat labour," was omitted, to the disap-
pointment of the audience. Knyvett's " Behold the
Lamb of God,'' was sung with admirable pathos and
effect ; and Braham, who evidently is labouring undee
an unpleasant feeling from having had Vaughan put
over his head, rallied his spirits sufficiently to-day to
give us " Thy rebuke bath broken his heart" in a manner
that reached the heart of every judge of music in the
assembly. " 7he trumpet shall sound" was more indebted
for its effect to the trumpets than to Bellamy. As a whole,
the performance was admirable, and a feeling of delight
pervaded the whole assembly.,
Of the first concert, performed last night in the new
room, and led by Mori, I have scarcely left myself time
to speak. The ball of Monday night was attended by
722 persons; and the concert of last night by about
1,200, nearly 200 fewer than attended the concert on
the correspondent night of 1823. There was some ex-
cellent singing and playing, but that was not the cha-
racter of the performance generally, which was so
injudiciously long, that Mademoiselle Garcia recited
" Naequi al dime° e al pianto" to deserted benches,
and Spentini's overture of Otinspia was performed to
an audience of eighteen persons.

The number of ships built at. Sunderland, in
the year 1824, was 72, carrying 15,657 tons. The
number built in 1825 will be considerably greater, the
carpenters having struck from work nearly four months
in the former year.
The principal grocers in Birmingham have, in com-
pliance with a Requisition signed by fifty.seven shop-
men, agreed to shut their shops at nine o'clock every
night except Saturday, and on that evening at eleven.
The late Earl of CARLISLZ was, in his youth, one of
the most accomplished and well-dressed Gentlemen of
his time. After he returned from his travels, having
received his education at Eton and the University, it
was his custom to promenade the streets in a full dress,
and with red heeled shoes. From hii early life he was
always distinguished for great urbanity, kindness of
manner, and love for the Arts, of which he was an
universal patron.
The Archbishop of Pans his issued orders for the celebradon
of Blass, and other services, on the 16th instant, the anniversary
d the death of Loan ZVI 11. Reports from Zante, dated August
11, speak of a new action said to have taken place On the 49th July,
near Tripolizaa, and in which thocaratos Yrsursrrt is said to have
distinguished himself. Inuanns NOM had returned to the pod-
• don wltich be occupied before the battle.

.

iIAPAL 11411ILLMENCHL
The Prince Regent, anited front Mara teadt, haibioastit die
Carta* Matego, and part of the crew of a piraticil vessel, captured
sons* dine on the Gold Cast.
Arrived of Dover, the Justin*, Yams, from -Grenada.
The HarkayLansts, from Liverpool to St. John's (N. 11.), Was
lost in Ihe of Andy. Crew saved.
The Leanardm, NIPOILDIN from Liverpool for Dora, tholuiefal
on the I Ith inst. at Point Lea*. Crew saved.
Fatasarrn, Sum 14.—Wind S.E.to N.R.—.Arrived the Skeltoti,
Canute, from the Havannah—sailed the 25th of June. Sailed the
Swallow packet, for America ; Marchioness of Queensberry
packet, for Jamaica; Ark, Rants% for Berbice; and Lusitania,
Grams, for
Ikrwouts, Sm I4.—Wind N.R.--Arrived the Henry Da-
vidson, Basary, from Jamaica; and the Diadem transport, from
Portsmouth.
Postmann, SEPT. Is.—Wind W.—Passed by, the Thomas
Alfred, from Grenada for London. Sailed the Baltic
Merchant transport, for Deptford.
Drag., Sarr. 15.—Wind S.—Passed through from the River,
the Sophia, Ruma, for Miramichi; Barbadoes packet, Laws, for
Smyrna; Nimble, Wascurrson, for Barcelona ; and Resolution,
Wiest, for Trinidad.

Laviarooi, 14.—Wind RR—Arrived the Alexander,
Nortamos; Agnes, Faaast.x ; and Mangrove Bay, lliveme, from
Jamaica; Pocahontas, Bums, from New Orleans; Mount Wol-
laston, Famicts, from Savannah ; Orleans, Dicumnom, from
Charleston; and Prince Regent, Rs.wm,frona Miramichi. Of the
port, the James and Henry Cumming, STANvou, from St. John's
(N. 8.); and Fisher, IPDowato, front Quebec.

CUSTOM-HOUSE, SEPTEMBER is. . .
SKIPS EIITIRID fuwasos—The Brevig. from Sundswall ; Aim.
well, Margaret, and Pladdia, from Hamburgh; Johannes, from
Gottenburgh ; Twee Gebroeders, from Rotterdam; Emilie, from
Ghent; Active, from Cadiz; President Mansell, from Messina;
Furst Hardenbourg, from Stettin ; Nautilus, front Jamaica ;
Rambler, from Odessa; Union, from Harlingen; Edward, from
Bremen; and Laurel, from Trieste.
ENTERED Ouvwaans—The Samuel and Sarah, for St Thomas's;
Britannia, for Hamburgh; Susannah, for Dublin; Britannia, for
Limerick; and Hope, fur Newry.