New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-21
BURNING oFCoVENTG GARDEN THEATER

BLRNING OFCOtENT GAADEN THEA
At one time the burning of thester in England
or this country was no uncommon thing. Indeed
there seemed to be kind ot rivalry between the two
nations in the race Of theatrical burning Old Drury
and Covent Garden, and the Olympic were the tro-
phies of the flames on one side-the Park and the
Bowery, and Walacks old theater the other. But
of late years both countries have suspended FIRE. We
regret to say however, that the long armistce has
been broken by the destruction Of Covent Garden
Theater on the morning of the 5th Of March.
1t appears that on the night Of the 4h this great
temple Of the bistrionc art, perhaps the noblest in
Europe. which is situated not far from Drury Lane,
and near the market from which it takes its name,
was the scene Of much revelry. The great Wizard
of the North--to whom in the interregnum OF song,
it had been hred-had held in its magnificent saloons
a Carnival ball, and London's
"a Capital was gathered there,
And bright the lamps shone Ger fair and brave mon
And all went merry a marriage bell,
when the sound of fire came on the ear. How aud
whence it rose as ever in such cases, can tell.
MANY of the maskers had left the scene, and those
who still fingered about to join in the last verse
Of the National Anthem, when the first blaze flashed
in. The spectacle is represented as touched with q
udicrousness which even the sadness Of such loss
could not subdue The gas being turned of, all was
darkness and through the shadow were seen cropping
crowds of maskers mummers in the garb of Corsars,
nedders bnndtti sailors and Turks making their es-
cane through the flashes Of fire which illuminated
them from the outside In some minutes the whole
stupendous building glowing mass OF fire; and
as the flames rose in glowing columns to the sky even
the distant bills Of Surrey could in their reflection be
clearly seem After this came smoke and ruin; aud
Me milkman passing in the morning could see nothing
more of that temple in which Kemble and Siddonsso
long sang. and so many great artists have reaped
their glory, than few chaTed and broken pillars OF
sportico.
Coyept Garden is indeed house surrounded with
many glorious recolectiOns. The building that has
thus pershed was it is true, only fortysix years DID,
but the first house on the spot founded so far back
as 1882, by Manager Rich, the Harlequin Snowman
of whom Pope and Fielding speak, and Garrck acted
there in l7l6. In September 1905, it was accidentally
bupcd. and on its ruins rose the COvent Garden,
which has now met it's predecessors fate. OF how
many strange scenes, of hopes heightened aud hearts
depressed, of ennobug sadness and laughter-waking
nirth. do its ruins tell 1t was born in tempest.
Round its cradle the great o. p. riots surged
and syelled. Then followed the Kembles, and
crowds, night on night, hung with delight on
by Kemble, OF with terror on his unequaled
sister as Lady Macbeth. They passed away
but there came others to maintain the glory of the
name and sustain its traditional honcrs. The nilnita-
be Mercutio ard Benedict of Charles Kemble wi /
live long in the memory of all lovers OF the dramatic
art. nor will those who have witnessed them, soon
forget the Julia of Fanny Kembe, or the Norma of
Adelaide, who, during her short reign, drew larger
.tat fkar NTH in
Covert Gardens walls The next bright epoch in ts
story was the Macready management, under which
the immortal works Of Shakespeare were brought
out with completeness Of cast, splendor of appi-
ances, and classic oxquisitivenesss even to the
most minnie detail, such as never was equaed
ror is likely to be surpassed in the annals OF the
stage. After Macready it passed into the grace
full hands of Madame Vestris, who succeeded to
do for modern comedy what Maeready did Tor the
csssic drama. As an idea of the resources OF the
house have only 10 give part OF the cast oil Mr.
Bourcicaults comedy of London Assurance to impart
an idea of the perfection with which plays were pro-
duced: Sir Harcourt County, Mr.. Faueni Sir Max
Harkawsy, Mr. Barley; Charles Courtley, Mr.. An
desscn; Mr.. Dazzle, Mr. c. Mathews Lawyer Mr..
Harley Dolly Spanker, Mr.. keeleri Grace Harka-
way, Madame Vestris; Lady Gay Spanker, Mrs. Mes
biti Pert, Mrs. Humby. Notwithstanding the sttrac-
tion of such company and the brilliant direction Of
Veslis the funds fell and the drama gave way to pol
itics. Covent Garden became the Tcenter of agi-
tation Of the Anti-Con Law League, when the
head battle was at its hight, aud its
walls echoed to the shouts of the sturdy
laborers and excited Quskers, cheering on John
Bright as be thurdered at the gates of the aris-
tocIacy and called cut for cheap food With the tn
umph Of etrade, Covent Garden again sat silent,
and found no one who would venture to rate her up
About this time however there happened to be at her
Meesty s Thester of the Eaymarket in London some
Of these differences which sometimes take place even
among the beet regulated operate families. Out Of
this difference grew & ooOlness between the lessee, NJ
Luulev. and Mr.. Costa the distinguished leader Of
the orchestra, and out Of this coOlness grew the
sppoiptmtnt in Mr.. Costa's place Of Mr..
Bale the celebrated Irish operate composer. Mr..
C.sts. dismissed from his accustomed kingdom,
became possessed Of that demon Of hatred which
seises upon singers rah more fury tssR % 'a'ss 0'