The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-05-12 00:00:00

VAUXHALL GARDENS.

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The preparations made for the opening of this charm-
ing place ofautaseuient for the present season, are of the
moat extensiveand costly description; not only are the
whole of the boxes, together with the Orchestra, being'
repainted, gilded, and ornamented, but a variety of new
erections ere formed for the exhibition of different kinds
Al 4 entertainments, in order "to increase and vary the at-
tractions of the evening ; so that there sill not he now,
. as heretofore, merely a concert, with the little extras of
fire-works, Panacea bands, &c.. but stage performances.
rope-dancing, theatrical imitations, and several other
ituveities to delight its visitors.
The first and most prominent of the additional build'
Tugs mentioned, is a completely-formed stage of very
1 rye dimensions.eovered in at top, with dressing-rooms
and other suitable conveniences at its back, on which it
• appears ballets, under the direction of a regular ballet-
master, are to be performed by a set of dancers expressly
engaged for the purpose. This stage measures nearly 50
feet in height, and upwards of four feet in width ; is tour
. wings deep, and furnished with a complete set of scenes,
•beautifully painted by Messrs. Thorn, jun. Meyrick,
Morris, and Hollogan. The proscenium and drop cur-
tain, by the firstmentioned artist, contain a fine represen-
t tatiun of the lake Albano, in Italy, the subject of which
• very agreeably harmonizes with the gardens. Nearly op-
posite this building (which stands in the cross-walk, a
. a little to the left of the entrance avenue) is erected an
elevated octagon pavilion, from which select parties can
are the performances. Another stage, on a small scale,
is built in the Rotunda, where the orchestra stood, on
which the theatrical imitations and other entertainments
• will be given in Matthews's style.
A second spacious erection is for the representation of
the Costnoraina, tight rope dancing, and the descent ale
Sayui. This terminates the grand south walk, and may
be truly railed from its vastheigt, size, and solidity of
construction, a noble finish to the fine vista here. It re-
presents a fortress or palace in the Moorish stile, the
front of which is composed of an embattled parapet,
flunked by two circular towers, and the bark by an appro.
priate'centre building, crowned at top with an open Mo.
retro arch, through which the descents on the rope are to
be made. The entire height of this erection from the
ground to the summit, is more than seventy feet, and its
width upwards of fifty-seien. The top of die parapet is
laid out in a platform excellently floored, and is thirty-six
feet deep. Ilya door or gateway opening into the building
at its back, you ascend by a staircase of two stories to a
large inclosed apartment running nearly across the
building, at :he extremities of which arelarge open spaces
r..ileel in, end their floors sobstantiallo leaded, so that a
eansidcrable party, if they timid so elevated a situation,
might be ac:ornmodated in each ; which, however, we do
not understand to be the intention of teem. The top of
the fabric is two stories higher, and forms a stage on
hich the tight-rope is fixed for dancing. From this stage
or area, which is at present open, but will be enclosed
when the pefortnances commence, there is a most de.
lightful panoramic view of the surrounding country,
which, on a line day, one might look at with delight
far bouts. The tops of the tallest trees are sur-
'veyed a ith ease, and the descent to the gardens beneath,
which is to be made from here, on a rope two hundred
feet long, appears tremendous. The Cosmorama, which
will he exhibited through large openings in the parapet
described, at the bottom of the building; the illuminated
stage and its performances at so great a height above, at
right, and with the glow thrown over the whole by what
ere technically called the Bevel lights, must, we think,
altogether, give a most curio* and novel effect to this
part of the emertainments.
A magnificent Musical Temple, constructed by a Mr.
Phillips, at an expense, as he asserts, (and we think
with probability.) of fourteen hundred pounds, is the
next new attraction. This is really a wonderful piece
of workmanship. It is of considerable dimensions, and
assumes various forms, embracing the five orders of ar-
chitecture, anal surmounted by a d 0..., on which is ele-
vated a figure of Fame. The body, steps, &c. are of
mahogany, and the compartments of each ',onion of
this varied building are occupied with paintings, by
Howard, Sttehard, and Town. The angular positions,
which are very numerous, and are ornamented with
beautiful white warble colnmns, support various sped-
meets of light Italian sculpture, copied in . transparent
rturhle from the antique. The basement is guarded by
!oar large coucbact lions, elegantly carved and gill ;
and the internal part of the Temple contains a remark-
ably fice-toned self-acting organ ; an autoliarmicon, or
seltacting piano-forte, anal a musical clock ; all of which
can be alternately put inlay, and petition fifty-four dif-
ferent pieces. 'I he diversified beauty and • general ex-
cellence of this fine specimen of taste and ingenuity,
both in the relation of the parte, and the graceful har-
mony and interest of the whole, are well worth jasper-
tien.
The other improvements consists in the formation of
a new entrance from Kennington-lane, opening into the
Chinese walk. The end of this walk, which crosses
the gardens about the middle, is terminated by a repre-
sertstion, on a very large scale (being upwards of 80
feet long), of the bay of Naples, taken from Fort St.
Elmo. with an eruption of Mount Vestivins. The ef-
fett of the fire and moonlight in this piece, which
are to be illantinated, will be very striking on first coin-
ing into the garden this way. It is composed of set
pieces. and vary finely painted. In this walk also, a
new illuntinatetnilydraulic Temple Lisa been set up, with'
a central revolving column. This is supplied with real
water from springs beneath, which will assume various
fanciful fortes, and uniting with the lights, produces a
very pleasing effect. • Besides the above, the interior of
the Rotunda is being entirely new painted and deco-
rated; the fine Pavilion fronting the Orchestra is also
new painted in a series of beautiful landscapes; the va-
rious pictures by Hayman and Bogar', at the backs
of the boxes, are taken out to be cleaned, and all the
other ornaments and buildings in this charming re-
treat, are undergoing a general renovation.
These numerous alterations and additions, we are as
anreti, will cost several thousand pounds. Upwards of
two thousand pounds Las been expended for timber
alone. A considerable number of carpenters, &c. have
been at work during the whole of the winter in building,
and the number of artists, mechanics, and labourers at
waspiat employed (and many of whom have been there
for the last five or six weeks), is such. as would scarcely
be conceived. The gardens appear, after having been
for several years suffered to open and re-open nearly in
their old state. to have at length got into the hands of
spirited proprietors, who are determined to try what li-
d ably effect. This is absolutely necessary at the
present time, both with amusements and business. The
public wilt not encourage where they see little or no
effort made to please them ; and we anxiously wish. in
the cas t of this place of entertainment, that they may
meta with success. There indisputably is no spot near
town that can compare with this for rural beauty ' • many
of the trees are more than a century old, and all of them
so line, that such a growth of Blair, in so small a space,
is nut to be matched ; and it would be a pity that any
mismanageweut (as was some time ago threatened)
should occasion the destruction of so delightful a place.

There is every premed of a greater crop of various
kinds of fruit iu the I icinity of Arundel, than has ever
been known.

We have been tredibly informed, by persons from
tie countiy, that the show for fruit is moo abun-
dant, and that, should the Weather continue favourable,
the produce will be exceedingly plentiful.