Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-11-15
From he Nietn- YORK. .lm'erica', Of Nor. o.
OR CANNL

VIVIAN ttNhL BAILiJ.
This splendid gala took place last night, and wortl,i!y
terminated the festivities tlrat have marked the wed
ding of the waters" The amphi,hcatre where il
was given, was for the first Time opened on this oc-
casion TO the public, and 1T will, We predict. become -
favourite resort for such celebrations. 1t consists Of
the whole building, known as the LAFAYETTE Circus, and
Of another, of scarcely Inferior size, directly in the rear
nf II, and fronting On Thompson street, built for a ma
nege, or riding school. This latter ediicc. of nearly
100 feet square, was lnnrcd over, as were the stage and
circus of the Lafayette Theatre, forming in one line
a continued level Of unbroken surface, of nearly 1870
feet IN length, anlvarying III brea It'll fro n 80 To so feet
The entrances inIo this vast and magnificent saloon
were from Thompson street. Iou were first ushered
into what was distinguished as the military hall, or the
square apartment formed by the mcnage. THIS was de-
corated with military trophies. guarded at each entrance
by a brass field piece, profusely ornamentcd with flags,
and presenting on the face opposite to the gracefully
Sweepihg circle @ Tie theatre, enormous mirrors, which
reelected back, IN a thousand dazzling images, the mauv-
coiored and eTer-noving tirong that trod the foors.--
Above these mirrors was a Transparency, representing
IN the foreground Tie Genius of The Western Waters
presenting TO Neptune the frlits of the western region.
In the back ground was caught a glimpse Of Lake Erie
with Bufaioc light house; and intern ediatcIv, sections
ot the Canal, with It's aIueducts, &c. Sc. 1t the oppo-
site end of this apartment, and above Tie colonnadc thai
separates II frOm tha theatre, were transparent paiaunrs
OF Schuyl Ter, DE WIT Citation, and Governor hIorris:
and u! each side Of IT, similar paintings OF Robert Full
ton, amt Brindiey, the great Canal engineer of Eng
land. - other parts were portraits of the Duke Of
Briisc"Atcr, Louis Ilth, Peter the Great, and c. Col
lis, connected, all bnt the last, with the construction
of the most celebrated canals Of Europe. Standing
with The back TO the mirrors, there was on the rrIi
side Of this apartment a large and powerfully appointed
orchestra, Opposite To which was tie ladies' dressing
room, and beneath il Il large refrCsilment room. The
light from four very large chandeliers, and from innu-
merabic lamps, was very brilliant: the ceiling was fcs-
TONED with flags and rennons, and the whole was set
with the standards OF the various societies that paralcd
on FRIDAY. AdYancInT from Tins apartmcnt you cutter
Ell on what is The Stage of the theatre. through a
coionnade tasicfuly adorned with arms and shields: the
D'or here narrowed 10 about 10 feet. On one side
was an orchestra occupied by the Westpoint band, in
the centre and front of which was a bust of De Wit
Clinton wreathcd with laurel; on the other a refresh
aren't room, into which was the entrance was through a
very prettily painted eastern scene. From tliis :ner-
mediate apartment, & passing beneath the proscenium,
You entered Cpon tue circus or riding ring, oGwiicI tic
floor was raised 10 the level Of the others, and terminate
ell by the circular sweep of the boxes. THIS was dis
tliguIshed rs the civic amphitheatre, and was not in lis
&iomment the least crcJitablc part Of the gcneI alpIan.
h5ove The proscenium were the names of HE engineers
'rho have been employed IN thc construction OF the ca
nal, VIZ. Briggs, White, Gcddes, Wright, Thomas-op-
posite these, and ia the centre OF the circle Of boxes
was a bust Of " as,iIngiOn surrounded with eyer@rcens.
and around were inscribed the names of the past and
present canal commissioners, Hart, Bouck, Holly, Del
W.T., worth, Livingston, Fuiton. Clinton, Van Rensa-
tar, Morris. Eddy. Young, Seymour, Porter, Cowper,
E!!icutL FROM the centre OF The doom. fcstoons oil
t~rc,gratn5 beautifully Iutcrmin9lcd with flowers, swept
Gracefully TO the pillars that support the boxes, termi.
mating al and around them. F!oo;is Of light were pour
I'd jDrih from every point, which was glanced back by
ie gIittoring array Of The military, and line brilliant
dresses, and yet brighter eyes Of The fair forms tiat an
ihoterth scene. OF the Enmbcrs assembled we have
beard various estimates. They may have amounted
perhaps TO $500. They commenced arriving about :
O'clock, and kept pouring in for several hours without
ia,ermlssion The music and refreshments were excel
lent. Tie dresses o! the ladies gcuorally, though with
sJ,ne striking exceptions, were in the best taste, and
10Y and pleasure chased the iocund hours till far into
tie night. Among The distinguished guests were the
governor AMI ijc1t. governor, lie western committees,
the officers OF the army and navy of the United States
on his station, including those from West Point, aud
i11ny foreigners and strangers.
Considering Tie difficulties Of the locality, which in
proportion 10 lis great length, (nearly goo lcct) wanted
elevation, the managing committee produced a surpri-
sing effect by their arrangements aud decorations. The
break or narrowing Of the door between tic circus and
the fnanegcw was we'll judged, as it relieved very much
what would otherwise have seemed tie oppressive wan.
Of height in -, long an auph'ticatre.