Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-11-18

ter-rle Young Lion of he West" L. stands
proudly rock, where the most useful and no
blest Of streams iaves it's feet; such in youth, It's
age promises 10 attain The acme OF greatness
From The .Netp York American.
GRAND CANAL BALL
This splendid gala TOOK place las, night, s worhly
terminated the festivities that have marked the
- wedding ostbe waters" The emphitheare where
it was given was for the Hrst time opened on this
occasion TO the public, aud it will, we predict, be-
come favourable resort for such celebrations. 1t
consists OF the whole building, known the La
Fayeue Circus, and OF another, of scarcely inferior
size, directly in the OF il, aid fronting on Thorn
son-slree, built for a Inanege, riding school
This latter edihce, OF nesrly 100 feet square, was
floored ove;, were The stage, and circus Of the
Lafayette Theatre, forming Ia one iine continued
level OF unbroken surface, OF nearly 80 feet Ia
length, and varying in breadth from 90 to 50 feet
The entrances into this vast and maniEcen, saloon
ere from rhompson-st. You were first ushered
into what Distinguished as the military hall or
the square APP riment formed by the n,anese .-This
decorated with military trophies, guarded at
each entrance b, brass field piece proGusely
namented with flags, and presenting the face
opposite to the gracefully sweeping circle OF the
theatre, enormous mirrors, which reflected back,
IN thousand Dazzling images, the many colored
and everIaovins thrUns that tod the floors. Above
these mirrors as a transparency representing IN
the foreground The Genius of the Western Waters
presenting TO Neptune the fruits OF the western
gion In the back ground was caught glimpse
OF Lake Erie with Buffalo light house; and utter
medately, sections OF tire Canal, with its aqueducts
&c. Sc. a; the opposite end of this apartment, and
above the colonnade that separates 1t from the
stage of the theatre, transparent pain 'ings OF
Schuyler, De Wit Clinton, and GOuverneur
Morris: and on each side of il, similar paintings
Of Robert Fulton, and Brindler, the great cana
engineer of England. In other parts ere portraits
o. the Dixie of Bird Sewater, LoIs i4,h, Peter the
Great, and {. Coils, connected, all but the last,
with the construction of the most celebrated canals
o. Europe.
Standing with the back to the mirrors, there was
on the right side OF this apartment large and pow
erful!y appointed orchestra, opposite TO which wa>
the ladies' dressing room. and beneath it large re
reshment room. The light from four very large
chandeliers a from Innumerable lamps, very
brilliant, the ceiling lestoonel with flags and
pennons, and the whoewas set off iih the standards
OF the various societies that paraded o. Friday. =
Advancing from this apartment you entered on
what Is the stage OF the theatre, through colon de
asiefuy adorned with arms and shields: the floor
here narrowed o about 10 feet. Ga one side a.
an orchestra occupied by the West Point band, in
the centre and front ofwhich was bust of De Wit
Clinton wre.hed with laurel the other a refresh
very prety painted eastern scene
From this intermediate apartment and passing
beneath the proscenium, you entered upon the circus
or riding ring, of which the floor was raised to the
level OF the Others, and terminated by the circular
sweep OF the boxes Thi' was distinguished as the
civic amphlheatre, and wa not in its adornment the
least crediIable part cf the general plan. Above
the prosceniuni were the names of the engineers
who have been employed in The construction of the
canal, viz. Briggs, White, GedLes, Wright, Thomas
opposite these, and in the centre of the circle of
boxes, was bust OF Washington, surrounded with
evergreens, and around were inscribed the names OF
the past and present canal commissioners, Hart :,
Bouck, Holly, De Witt, North, Livingston, Full
on, Clinton, Van Rensselaer,, Morris, Eddy
Young, Seymour, Porter, Cowper. Ellicott. From
the centre of the dome, iesoons OF evergreens
beautifully to the pillars that supper, ed the boxes
terminating at and around them. Floods of lighi
were poured forth from every point, which was
glanced back by the glilterng array of the mill
tary, and Tie brilliant dresses, and yet brighter eyes
OF the fair forms that animated the scene. OF he
numbers assembled, have heard various estimates.
They may have amounted perhaps 10 $500. They
commenced arriving about O'Clock aud kept
pouring in for several hours without internssion.
The music and refreshments excellent. The
dresses of the ladies' generally, though with
stlking exceptions, in tile best taste, and
Joy and pleasure chased the jocund hours till far into
the night. Among the distinguished guests were
the governor and lieutenant governor, the western
committees, The officers of the army and navy OF
the United Sates this station, including those
from Yves. Point aud many foreigners and strangers
Considering the difficulties OF the locality which
in proportion TO its great length, (nearly 200 fee
wanted elevation, The managing committee pro-
duced surprising effect b. their arrangements and
decorations The break narrowing of the floor
betw cen the circus and The manege was well judged
a il relieved very much what would otherwise
have seemed the oppressive want of height in so
long an amphitheatre.