Star.
London, England, 1828-11-19 00:00:00

ENGLISH OPERA-HOUSE.

As lea Like it was played last night, but not, we are
sorry to say, to an audience likely to render the specti•
)ation of the Covent garden Company vei y profitable.
Yet the play was extremely well .acted_perhaps'neser
better—and SHAKSPEARL'S line. s Fund most gracefully
in the area of this house: if we had the regulation of
such matters, instead t f giving patents to large over-
grown theatres, none should be opened where words
could not be heard not action seen.

The speech of Orlando on interrupting the Duke's
banquet, was delightfully delivered by ICESIBLE. with
energetic and grateful simplicity. Now and then he
seemed a little to forget himself, or rather his past,
when addressed, as it hib thoughts were wandering to
some more immediately pressing matter; and it was
very eicutable; on the whole, however, he did justiceto
the character, and w•e did not observe the slightest va
riation in Etwcarr's Touchstone; it had the actor's
wonted" alacrity and cheer of mind it only shows how
et sily performers, even i hen they have a real and severe
cause of sorrow, can lay it by with their evety-day
cl,thes, and put on the stage-dress cf their minds as
well as of their bodies: there, 44 all is but at cluing, and
they seem to seem." Miss JARMIN was, of course, the
Rosalind, and was very tespectable. Mrs. Gums played
Audrey has much btesclth. personal and verbal, as
we have seen displayed since the time when we wit '
tressed the petformance of ler Grace the Duchess of
ST. ALBANS in the pats.
Dosnbastes Furioso and Rosina, which followed, sent
off with only a moderate share of approbation.

• SENIOR UNITED SERVICE CLUB,
PALL-MALL

This magnificent new building has been erected in
a very short space of time, on the site where part of
Carlton House stood. With the exception cot the paint-
ing of sonic pins of the ground floor, it is already
finished, and, we May add, completely furnished from
top to bottorti. The furniture, convenierces, and de-
• mations, are f the most elegant description; splendid
without gaudiness, and comprising every comfort that
can be dented in such an establishment; but equally
remote froo► foppery and mere ostentation.
The ground floor is laid out in the different domes-
tic offices; kitchen, larder. botlery, and various ser-
vants rooms. The grand entrance halls opens—into,
Pall-mall.
On the first floor is the grand coffee-room, an apart-
ment of truly noble dimensions. being 101 feet long,
and of corresponding height. It looks into St..l.imes
Park. and towards the new buildings cn the margin
thereof. It has seven Windows. and three chimney-
pieces of white sculptured marble, surmounted with
1, fry pier glasses,• apparently ten feet high and six wide.
The furniture of the coffee-room cons.'s's of all the con-
eeniences for reading. refreshments, &c. Adjoining it
is a small dining-room. calculated for but a very limited
aun.ber, cot sidering that the subscribers are said to
amount to no It s • than 1 400; and adjoining this apart
anent is a Morning room, facing Pall-mall, and another
also comparatively small .!ining-toom, facing the Opera
Ilouse. The staircase is very spacious and elegant ; a
large flight of steps leads up in the middle, and then
branches out on both sites, lending to the second floor;
the whole forming a very handsome square. The rail-
ing is white, with embossed gilt flowers, and the top
of highly finished French polish.
• On the second floor, exactly above the coffee room,
is the library, a superb apartment, of the same dimen-
sions as the c -ffee room. It is provided with well
• stocked bor•k cases ; the chairs, arm chairs, c uches,
sofas, and ottomans, are of mahogany, with deep red
soft leather cushions. where the heroes may repose
their weary limbs and forget the fatigues of former
campaigns. The curtains are of what appeared to be
deep crimson florentWe silk (for we cannot be quite
sure as to the colt ur, having seen it by candle light)
to match the chairs and sofas. The carpets are of a
reJ flowery ground. with large yellow roses or clostres.
Hollow iron pillars, j penned in irritation of marble,
support the ceiling. Adjoining this enviable library is
a map room, or sort of bureau topographique, where,
no doubt, many a well contested battle will be fought
- over again, with all the pleasing ideas associated in the
glorious rec-,llection of its frequenters.
Next comes a card room, facing Pall Mall. and last
of all a billiard :than, fronting the Opera House, all
furnished en suite, with this only difference. that here
the chimney pieces are of beautiful. black instead of
white marble. The full length picture of Lord Lyne•
loch is seen over the mantle-piece of the elegant apart-
ment in the west corner. The walls are painted straw
colour, and the lustres or chandeliers throughout the
building are or-molu and bronze, with Grecian lamps.
Large fires are kept up in all the apartments to air
them, preparatory to the grand house warming. In
this hasty sketch we fear te have overlooked many par-
ticulars deserving of notice, having taken but a very
superficial and hurried survey; but when the whole is
properly lighted up, the effect it produces must be truly
grand, and worthy the distinguished individuals for
whose reception and entertainment the building bas
been constructed.

The Board of Customs mean to issue orders ;Game-
distely to all the Port Collectors in Leland, tope most
particular and minute in the examination flail vessels
and their cargoes landing in Ireland, as it has come
to the knowiedge of his Maiesty's Government that
some st ipping have recently imported several packages
and cisks of file arms to Ireland, without any license
or author icy, and securely made tip, without name or
ma k to distinguish such danger( us articles.—Livieriek
Ch,ohide.

LAMENTABLE CATASTROPHE AT COVENT-
GARDEN THEATRE.
We have the painful task of laying before our readers
the details of a very melancholy accident, which yes
terday occurred at Covent-garden TI cure, by the ex-
plosion of the gas.
Oct Saturday last there was a notice in the Daily
Papers, signed by Mr. Fawcett, the blanager of the
Theatre, stating that the House would be closed during
the present week, to enable the workmen to remove the
apparatus belonging to the oil gas (manufactured on
the premises), with which the House had for about two
years been lighted, but which, from its constant escape,',
had become so offensive as to be a nuisance to the'
audiences who attended the Theatre, and consequently
extremely injurious to the interests of the establishment.
The Proprietors of the Theatre had entered into an en,
gagement with the Westminster Chartered Coal Gas
Company to supply coal gas to the Theatre in future,
in lieu of the oil gas, and workmen have been ever since.
busily engaged in removing the old, and refitting the
new apparatus.
Yesterday morning some of the workmen belonging
to the Chartered Gas Company, several brickla)ers,and
other persons connected with tie Theatre, were in the
gasometer room of theTheatre continuing their labours,
when they found the gas escaped so rapidly as to occa-
sion a great difficulty of respiration, in consequence of
the atmospheric air becoming impregnated with the
carbutetted hydrogen gas. At half past one o'clo,k the
-following persons were in the gas room—Mr.Douglass,
the Steward and Storekeeper of the Theatre, an old and
very faithful and highly respected servant of the estab-
lishment ; Mr. Fennell, the gas master, sho had Vie ma-
nagement, with Douglass, of the oil gas ; Mr. Cooke,. f
Bedford street, a gentleman who was free of the Thea ire
and frequently visited the gas room., and offered his ad-
vice relative to the impr overnent of the mode of lighting
the house; C.Winner, a gas fitter ; T. Berry, a gas fitter;
Mr. M Iton, jun. the son of Mr. Milton, of Hart street,
Mr. Philp, who is connected with t:,e Theatre;
coalman to the Theatre; Ustord arid Ramsden, lamp-
lighters; and Pickering, a labourer. While the above-
named persons were employed in the gas room, Mr.
Robertson, the treasurer, M cdonnel, the constable,
and several actors, who happened to be in the lobby r f
the theatreand in the dressing rooms, were a.ar med by
a dreadful explosion, which made a report as loud as the
firing of a cannon, and which report was succeeded by
two others. One of the actors exclaimed, Gond GOD !
the gas his exploded." The' neighbourhold of Bow.
street. Harvstreer, and COvent-garden, in a very few
minutes was in a state of extreme consternation; and
in conse. uence of volumes of dense smoke and gas
effluvia issuing out of the workshops, which are si, irate,
over the gas rooms, in Prince's-place, Hart-street (ore:
which are a number of dressing rooms and depositories
for scenery and machinery), a.:cl also from the King's
entrance, it was ascertained that that pat t of the theatre
had taken fire.
Hughes, one of the Bow-stieet patrol, and Bond, ins
mediately came into the public office, Bow street. and
informed Sir Richard Bo nie that Covent-garden Thea-
tre was on fire, and that several lives were lo,t, and
many persons were dreadfully mutilated. Srs R. Burnie
instantly dispatched a number of oAcers to render vo at-
ever assistance they could on this distressing occasion.
A messenger was dispatched to the Sec• elm y cf State's
Office, to give information of the calamitous accidoct ;
and in less than half an hour a comp miry of the Foot
Guards arrived, under the command r f Lieutenant Ses-
moor, and they were placed at each rod of Hatt-street.
and at the ends of V e avenues leading into that street.
In addition to the Bow•street• police, officers of Marl-
borough-street and those of Queen-square arr ivi d on
the spot, and were usefully engaged in keeping the
bands of thieves which had collected from entering the
Theatre.
It was ascertained in a few minutes after the accident,
by those who had escaped destruction, that there were
still five persons in ti e 1,11 h... if not alreads
dead, must be dre of ally injured. Mr. Robertson, M.-
Macdonnel. and a coaclimaker, were the first to offer
their assistance to rescue the pa=tes. 'fi)e instant the
explosion took place, " Save himself who c in" was the
general feeling: ?Jr. Philp, who was beat ag must
the door by the explosion, fortunately rushed along
the passage and escaped without any iojury.—
Pickering escaped o ith part rf his hair bu.nt off ;
Ramsden was struck in the neck with a door, but
received no material injury. Milton's hands were
burnt. 11 rry's cli tires Were set on fire by t e ex, lea.
sion, an i the skin was torn off several parts or his
body. He, !rosette:, was able to get along the pas.
-age leading to the lobby entrance of the Theatre; arid
being in great bodily torture, he cried .for assistance.
Several pails of water were thrown upon him, and the
fire was extinguisned. He was carried t'k the Middlesex
Hospital immediately, in a most pate- to: condition. He
has a wile and several childr.n. Mr. Cooke and Charles
Skinner were assisted along the passages, o here they ran
after the expl si.in, and part of their clothes which were
on fire were cut off with knives. The appearance of
these unfortunate men was truly horrifying. and created,
in the bosoms of all present the most agonised feelings.
The neckerchief of Mr. Cooke was partly burn', and on
taking it off the skin of the neck adhered to it. The
hands and faces of both of them Were entirely flayed ;
the skin of their faces hung down at. the end of their
chins, and tie skin of their hands was suspended at the
ends of their fingers, and appeared to have been torn off
Altogether. A cloak was thrown over each if the
sufferers, and they were placed in a hackney coach.
and conveyed to Middlesex Hospital. While the most
prompt attention was paid to the sufferers, every exer-
tion was made to save the theatre from .ostructirtin. Mr.
Kemble and Mr. Fawcett were active in giving direc-
tions to the workmen.but the greatest confusion prevailed
for some time. for want of arrangement. Mr. Corder,
the Vestry Clerk of Covert gardens who arrived on the
spot soon after the explosion, rendered the most efficient
service. He several times put his life in extreme jeo.
,pardy, when endeavou'ing to effect the release of
Douglass and Fennell. Such was the terror of those
who were in the dressing rooms of the Theatre at the
time of the explosion, that they leaped through the
windows. The parish engines, the British, Globe, At-
las, and about six others, were very soon on the spot.
Ford. Mr. Thomas, the constable of Covent garden,
Stevens, and others made' their way along the passages
over the gas rooms, and found that the smiths' shop and
parts adjoining were in Line,. They were obliged to
retreat, in consequence of the smoke forcing its way. in
dense masses, against them. The stage and whole bd.,
of the Theatre were filled with • smoke, and. the most
alarming apprehensions existed for the arty of the'
building. Mr. Kemble was observed in a state of dread-
ful agitation:in fact, his countenance expressed the most
poignant grief. Mr. Corder directed that the ens ine.
should play with all their force into the smi hs' shop
and passages kading to the gas room. Fortunately Mr.
Anderson, the deputy inspector of the blew River Com-
pany, was on the Ott, and he with the utmost•prornri

tulle proceeded to the end of Tottenham Court Raad.
and opened tie main water pipe connected with the
Company's reservoir, so that in I ss than a quarter if an
hour the Main pipes•were Well supplied with water. It
was, however, stall() be feuetl, as. there were several
other tanks of gas, that if the fire should sprea.l ts the
gas' room, they night explode; and it required the
exercise of no ordinary degreiof courage to appose:
where the fire raged with thellose of the engines. The
firemen with their axes cut away the window frames o'
the smiths' ship, and soon .extinguished the wood work
which had taken file in that p art of the bu;cling. Mr.
Kemble anxiously inquired of the pti.lcipal firm an of
,he British Fire Office if the flames were likely to ex-
tend, and he expressed his decided opinion that they
would not, which appeared to afford much p'e.rsorre to
Mr. Kemble, Mr. Bartley, Mr. Fawcett, Mr. Ward, Mr.
Egerton, Mr. Evans, and others of the Corps Drarnatique
of the Theatre, who were all anxious to render every aid
' in their power which the calamitous event demanded.
After the flames were subdued very considerably,
Mr. Farmer, who is connected with the Chartered Ga.
Company, approached near-The gas-room, and said th ,t
he believed he had heard the voices of pea sons pro-
ceeding from an adjacent room. it was hoped that
Messrs. Douglass and Fennell, who were positive')
known to have been close to the gasometer at the
time the accident took place, were still alive; and
Mr. Kemble being asked if he conceived that et wis
possible the two men could have escaped? replied,
" My dear Sir, I fear OA poor Douglass is dead."
One of the firemen observed that it was impossible for
any rine to exist a minute in a row') filled with gas;
but it was thought proper, at the suggestion of Mr.
Corder, to send for a s.fety lamr, to enable some per-
son to enter the passages towatds the gas roam without
danger of another explosion taking place. Mr. FA
cea sent Macdotwel, the constable, to the Middlesex
Hospital, to ascertain it the three persons taken there
were in inanineut danger, and the metsenger brought
word that their-injuries were most serious. Mr. Kern
hie, to whom the fact was communicated, expressed
tiim,elt in a manner which did great credit to his
feelings. He said that he was satisfied the fire would
not extend ?maser, and he deplored the accident which,
he tea, eJ, had caused the loss human life. A Genie-
man asked him how the accident happened, and he re•
plied —" The workmen were cle.ering out the residue of
the gas, and they imprudently had a lamp or canile;
and the gas being mixed w th atmospheric air the light
cane in•cont set an; h it, arid it exploded, and caused the
shocking calamity —po.re fellows they are dreaJfully
injured.'"

The flames appear ed soon alterwards to have increased
considerably, and the pavement was taken up, and
persons were actively engaged with buckets in pouring
water irto the lower part of the building, and before
foui o'clock it was announced by the firemen that the
filmes were completely extinguished, and a great deal
of the gas had escaped. Mr. Corder, who li .d pro.
cured several safety lalnps, with , Mr. Beazeley, the
architect, itamsdeti, one l'f the latr pfighters to the
Thew le, and others, volunteered
,so go down into the
passages, and to exploie the gasometer rooms and
tne rooms adjoining, for the purpose of finding the
bodies el Messrs. Douglass and Fennell. They pro:-
ceeded, with handkerchiefs tied over their moue .s,
along the passages, which were knee deep . with water,
and the gas was so strong that several of them were
compelled to return, .-to breathe a purer air. Mr.
Corder and - Mr. Beazeley examined the gas rooln,
hat to their surprise they could not • fitid the bodies
of the men any ri-h..-te, and they re.urned to
have the benefit of treh air, intending to make
A further
-search as soon as they Is id somewhat re.
covered from the difficulty of respiration produced by
their first at erupt. A eery short time elapsed, and they
again ventured back to the gas- room ; -and Mm. Cot der,
who had waded sip to his.*middie in water, at the top of
A parr of it 'it, leading fiom the gai.ronm to a door
which opened un.!er the lower gallery (an I h lie found
locked), discovered' she body of Fennell, w th his lac.-
in his hands. I; appeared shit he had ruslied up the
step,, when the exist( son took place, with the intention
f escaping by alai door, and the probability is, that he
might have been .sa% ed, if any one who knew that these
was a door leading from the gas-room t-) that p rt of,
the Theatre hasi_intormed the fireman of tha• tact at t..e
time of the accident. Poor Douglass was found
with his face in a hole in the floor. The bodies were
brought into a loons leading from one of the lobby s, add
Mr. Brat ks, the surgeon of Bzdford-street, and anoth t
medical gentleman attended, but all their efforts to ri.
stole animation proved fruitless. The wile of Douglas
presented herself at the stage door of the Theatre :n a
state of dread el distress, which created- the general
sympathy oft re byttand.rse. She was ii formed " that
nue hopes were entertained by the surgeons that her
bushind vould recover," and she was taken home by
A friend ; but not without some de6ree of force being
u ed. Sae has lour children to laruent the death of an

affe,tionate parei.t. The hmplighter of the Theatre,
Rainstlen. a.sisted in bringing the bodies fri m the gas
riiom, and be being one of the persons present w! en.
the accident took place, we give his narrative of
11,e occurrence. He :tote;, that he was at the dour
u: the gas room at about half Fast one o'clock, and he
sa Mi. Douglass, Mr. Fennell, Charles Skinner, Mr.
Cooke, and t'ie's, close to the gasometer. They were
engaged in drawing off the nil gas, and some of it was
spilled on a lamp that was by the side t• in an instant
the room was filled wAli flames, and though he heard a
s• eneral rush of the parties towards the passage, yet he
could not distinguish any one till several minutes after-
wai dsa The bodies of the unfortunate deceased were
removed tat tavern opposite the Theatre, for an In-
quest to be held thereon. They were not burnt at all,
but appeared to have died by suffocation.

The neighbourhood, to a great extent around, was
scarcely bearable, from the stench of the gas which
eseaped'on'the accidrnt occurring.
The damage done to the Theatre is comparatively
trifling, perhaps much under 501. and might have been
les,, it, in the confusion of the moment, an unnecessary
removal of property horn one put of the Theatre to
another, had not taken plate.

There are three Gasometers in Covent-Garden
Theatre, each ,of which is capable of containing 10,0(X)
square feet of gas; two of the Gasometers have not yet
been touched.

The f Bowing is a correct enumeration of the extent
of the accident :
Mr. Douglass
Mr. Fenuell killed.
Mr. Cooke most dreadfully burnt.
Berry in the same situation.
Skinner severely burnt, but great hopes of his recovery.
Mr. Milton slightly burnt.
Mr. Cooke is a single man; but Berry, Fennel, and Skinner
have wives and large families.
Since writing the above, we have ascertained, that
one of ti)e unfortunate men, who was taken ti the Mid-
dlesex Hospital, has since expired ; but his name we
could not. ascertain. The remaining two are in a very
dangerous state.