Star.
London, England, 1818-03-24 00:00:00

EASTER MONDAY.

Yesterday being Easter Monday, the LORD MAYOR
proceeded from the Mansion House to Christ Church,
New ate-street, in procession, in the state coach, pre-
ceded by about eight hundred of the scholars of
Christ Hospital, and followed by the Sheriffs, in
their state chariots, the Recorder, Alderman BIRCH,
the Chamberlain of the City of London, and City
Officers. The procession, as usual, passed round St.
Paul's Church-yard and up the Old Bailey, with the
street-keepers and marshalmen, two and two. When
arrived at the Church, an Anthem, composed'for the
occasion, was sung by the boys in grand solemn
style. The Sermon was preached by the Reverend
Father in God the Bishop of PETERBOROUGH, who
took his text from the 16th chapter of St. Luke, and
the 9th verse : from which he made a most excellent
discourse, suitable to the occasion. This Sermon is
preached annually before the Steward and Governors
of this excellent Charity, after which the proceedings
of the Hospital for the year are read.
The procession returned to the Mansion House,
where a splendid dinner was provided for between
four and five hundred, in the grand Egyptian Hall,
which was fitted up on the occasion with great splen-
dour. The Hall was most beautifully illuminated
with gas, displayed from the most brilliant glass
chandeliers. The tables were most elegantly set out,
four long ones, and orie at the top, at which sat the
LORD MAYOR, the LADY MAXORESS, and the Nobi-
lity of both sexes.
The table was ornamented by a beautiful temple,
above twelve feet high; supported by eight elegant
golden pillars : the two middle tables were orna-
mented with two smaller temples, elegantly orna-
mented with pillars; all the other tables were taste-
fully festooned, and the desert and sweetmeats were
plentiful and in great perfection.
The dinner consisted of the choicest dishes the sea-
son could produce ; the grand baron of beef, which
weighed 1701bs. was placed upon a pedestal at the
bottom of the Hall, which was cut up by two car-
vers—besides this emblem.of old English hospitality
there were many other costly and rare dishes.
Amongst the company were :
Their Royal Highnesses the Dukea of York and Cumber-
land,
the Prince of Hesse Homberg, the Austrian, French, and
Spanish Amb:L.:adors, Lord and Lady Mountnerris, Lord Cran-
boorn, Marchioness .of Salabury, Bishop of l'eterborough, Al-
dermen Sir William Curtis, Sir Charles Flower, Sir John Per-
riug, Messrs. Birch, Ainslie, Goodbehere, Wood, the Sheriffs,
and all the other members of the Corporari,m.
The Ball was opened by the AUSTRIAN AMBAS-
SADOR and Miss Ssi int, daughter of the Loan MAYOR,
ar.d the dance was kept happily up till a late hour.

DPURI-LAKE THEATRE.—The entertainments of
yesterday evening were the Comedy of John Bull,
the serious-Pantomime of O6i, or Three Fin-
ger'd Jack—both performed with the highest drama-
tic skill : the latter piece has some excellent music in
it. The new chandelier was lighted on this occasion.
It is a truly splendid article, and answers perfectly
the most sanguine wishes of those by whom it was
projected. The festoons, tassels, and other glass or-
naments are tasteful and superb—and infinite ele-
gance is displayed in the fabrication of the brass-
work. The pipes by which the gas is conveyed are
covered with glass, beautifully wrought, in a spiral
shape, which has a rich and striking effect. The ap-
pearance of the house is very much improved. It
formerly had rather a dark and heavy appearance,
particularly about the upper boxes—but the flood of
light which the chandelier sheds ever it, gives it a
brilliant aspect. The greatest improvement is in the
saloon, and that is caused not by adding, but b
taking away—the Chinese lanterns, temples, pagodas,
with all their appendages of monstrous and non-
tio,,cript ornaments, have vanished, and have left not
a wreck behind," but one of the handsomest and
best proportioned rooms that this or any other city
can boast.
COVENT-GARDEN.—Rob Roy was performed for
third time to a crowded audience, with if possible
increased effect. It is certainly a most attractive
Drama, an!. cannot fail proving a permanent fa-
volrite of the public. A change has been made in
thz manner of ventilating the house. The air hitherto
was rendered sufficiently warm, but it was not suf-
ficiently pure. It was sometimes oppresssive, and
even unhealthy. A greater quantity of fresh air is now
admitted, so that a constant, though imperceptible
current, is preserved, and at the same time the de-
gree of genial heat is never diminished.
SADLER'S WELLS.—The performances at this place
were well attended last night ; and it is justice to say
that they all well merited the warm approbation they
received. . . . . .

•
SURREY THEATRE.—Two new and original pieces
at this house were last night received, from beginning
to end, with most flattering and unequivocal success,
and re-announced amid thunders of applause from a
crowded and delighted audience.
ROYAL AmPIIITHEATP.E.—The performances at this
place were also very meritorious, and were received
with general applause. Some material alterations
have taken place in this Theatre. The new proscenium
or frontispiece, forms a picture-frame, richly orna-
mented with oak leaves, rosettes, Bcc. &c. fancifully
&splayed in gold. Over the tablet are the PRINCE
REGENTS and the Duke of YORK'S arms, also in
gold. The audience part of the house is much wi-
dened, which has given greater space for the Riding
School (or circle), which is painted as stone-work,
to form a base to the whole. The front of the two
tier of boxes and gallery are chastely designed in a
running ornament of diamonds, formed of laurel
leaves, a rosette in the centre, and tied together with
true-lovers knots, all in gold, on an azure blue
ground, light lemon colour, and white styles, which
arc the prevailing colours throughout the Theatre.—
The ceiling represents a Dome, supported by pilas-
ters or trellis work, in the centre of which, the new
and superb Chandelier, illuminated by Gas, descends.
The new ventilators in the ceiling ate kept in conti-
nual motion by the accumulation of air in the Theatre.

A singular circumstance occurred in Newbury last
week. Mr. Nias, ironmonger, had placed for the
purpose of drying-, in his shop window, a quantity of
gunpowder, when it suddenly exploded, destroying
the whole of the window. It is supposed to have been
occasioned from the sun's rays falling on a spot or
a bladder in the glass, which converging, caused the
accident.