NEW DRURY-LANE THEATRE, MARCH 12. This Theatre opened with an Oratorio, consisting of a Grand Selection of Sacred Music. Language can convey but a very inadequate idea of a spectacle, we will ven ture to say, the grandest ever displayed in this kingdom. The theatre combines, in the happiest manner, elegance and simplicity. It large, without the audience being in any one part of it too far from the stage. It is lofty, without offending the eye with too great a height; and so judiciously constructed, that in every part the lowest tones may be heard distinctly. It not being the province of a Magazine to record the transient entertainments periodically produced by selections of music, and which can scarcely be said to form any part of the drama, we shall proceed to give a particular DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW BUILDING. Although the foundations and great part of the main walls were finished some time since, and had, therefore, the advantage of drying and settling, the internal parts of the theatre have been completed with unprecedented expedition. The same circumstances which interrupted a while the forwarding the theatre, rendered it impossible to proceed on the buildings around, which, together with the theatre, will form one great and complete plan, standing foremost in the rank of public edifices in this metropolis. The convenience and safety of the public will, besides, be very effectually provided for by covering the footway with a colonade of the Grecian Ionic order (a part of which is executed) affording shelter below, and, at the same time, forming a terrace before the windows of the theatre above, which, when secured with ornamented iron-work, and lighted by a number of lamps, as it is intended it shall be, will contribute very greatly to the elegance of the appearance. The plan will include an area of upwards of 320 feet in length, by 155 in breadth, and the height of the building, measuring from the substruction to the roof, is 118 feet. The buildings which surround the theatre are faced with Portland stone, and will be finished with a ballustrade. The theatre, which rises above them, is to be faced with stone, and finished with a ballustrade. Through the roof rises a turret, masking a Jarge ventilator, and a staircase which leads to a terrace on the roof. On the summit is placed a figure of Apollo, more than 10 feet high, which is to be removed to the west front when finished, and replaced by one of Shakespear. The accommodations for the stage are upon a much larger scale than those of any other theatre in Europe. The opening for the scenery is 43 feet wide and 38 high; after which the painter and mechanist will have a large space of 85 feet in width, 92 in length, and 110 in height, for the exertion of their respective abilities. In the roof of the theatre are contained, besides the barrel loft, ample room for the scene-painters, and four very large reservoirs, from which water is distributed over every part of the house, for the purpose of instantly extinguishing fire, in any part where such an accident is possible: at the same time the greatest precautions have been used to prevent any such misfortune, by the application of every kind of security that expence and ingenuity can suggest. Besides other precautions, an iron curtain has been contrived, which, on any such occasion, would completely prevent all communication between the audience and stage, where alone accidents by fire have been known to commence, The audience part of the theatre is formed nearly on a semi-circular plan. It contains a pit, eight boxes on each side of the pit, two rows of boxes above them, and two galleries, which command a full view of every part of the stage. On each side of the galleries are two more rows of boxes, rising to a cove, which is so contrived as to form the cieling into a complete circle, The Proscenium, or that part of the stage which is contained between the curtain and orchestra, is fitted up with boxes, but without any stage door, or the usual addition of large columns. The boxes are furnished with chairs in the front rows, and behind with benches. The trimming and Covering are all of blue velvet. The corridors which surround the boxes are spacious, and communicate with each other by means of staircases in the angles of the theatre. At the west end of the theatre there is a very large semi-circular room, opening by an arch to the corridors, and having fire places in it and bar-rooms, from which the company may be supplied with refreshments. There are also large saloons on the north and south sides of the theatre, and also handsome square rooms; one of which is intended for the use of his Majesty, and the other for the Prince of Wales. These rooms are fitted up in the modern taste, with large handsome pannels and glasses, and are susceptible of a great deal of decoration, which is intended to be introduced, as soon as the ornaments can be obtained from the artists who are engaged in the preparation of them. The decorations of the theatre are in a style entirely new, and are intended to have a richness of effect, and, at the same time, a simplicity which may gratify the eye without interfering with any of the decorations which appear on the stage. With this view the cieling has been painted in compartments of one colour only, and the same style of painting prevails through the decorations of the galleries. The fronts and insides of the boxes have for the ground a clear blue colour, richly ornamented in chiaro obscuro. The different rows are supported by silver columns of antique forms, and the cut-glass lustres are attached to these columns by silver brackets. In the center pannels on the front of the boxes are introduced paintings, by Rebecca, from antique subjects. Besides the silver columns which support the boxes, there are four principal square, but small pillars, which support the cieling, and are decorated with lookingglass. The sound-board or cieling of the Proscenium is painted in compartments, and in the front of the Proscenium is introduced the royal arms, with trophies and other suitable accompaniments. The entrances to the theatre, while the bill in Parliament is pending, necessarily fall short of the convenience which is intended. From Russel-street there are two box entrances into a large hall, decorated with columns; another entrance which leads to the gallery-staircase, and also a private entrance for his Majesty. On the other side of the theatre, next Marquis-court, the same entrances are repeated: but, till the new street (which is intended to be called Woburn-street) is opened, these can only be approached by foot-passengers, or by company coming in chairs. As a chair-door, the box entrance on that side is at present more complete than to any other public building in London. There are five other entrances to the theatre also incomplete, one next Brydges-street for the pit, one for the boxes, two for the galleries, and one in Drury-lane for the stage. In these two streets will be the handsomest and most decorated fronts; besides the Ionic porticoes, these fronts are to be decorated with. pilasters, trophies, rich iron work, and other analogous ornaments; and will face buildings containing a coffee-house, tavern, library, shops of various sorts, residences for the performers, and others belonging to the theatre. According to the plan, it is proposed to be, in every respect, the first and completest edifice of the sort in Europe, and worthy the capital in which it stands. PHILOSOPHICAL EXPERIMENT, RESH water may be extracted from salt water by the following simple process A common hogshead is provid.d with a false bottom, about three or four inches above the lower head. This false bottom is perforated with a number of holes, and over them a filter of flannel.-The barrel is then nearly filled with the finest sand, beat down very hard; a tube, communicating with the space between the two bottoms, is extended to a convenient height above the top of the barrel. The sea-water is poured into this tube, and pressing every way, according to its altitudes, it endeavours to force its way through the sand to the top of the barrel, from whence, by this mode of filtration, it is drawn off fresh, and fit for use. Any other filter will do as well as flannel, which will stop the sand, and admit the water. The saline particles being eavier, and perhaps differently formed, meet with obstructions from the sand, and are left behind. The experiment is so easy that it promises to be of great utility, POETRY. FOR THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. ODE TO MASONRY. The Words by Brother Doctor BROWN-Set to Music by Brother SHIELD; AT THE DEDICATION OF THE PHOENIX LODGE, SUNDERLAND, B RECITATIVO. RING me, ye sacred Choir! the deep-ton'd shell, To which sublime ISAIAH Sung so well: TO MASONRY exalt the strain sublime, And waft her praises on the wings of Time. Thy lore to sing shall be the care of Fame And, hark! she gives assent, and chaunts each honour'd name, AIR. Sound the full harmonious song; TO MASONRY divine the strain prolong And first the grateful tribute bring To the great, the sapient KING; Who, inspir'd by Power divine, Made Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty, all combine To frame, confirm, and deck the vast design! II. And now we mourn, alas! too late, The sad, the melancholy fate Of him whom Virtue could not save! Cloth'd in virgin innocence, Attend ye CRAFTSMEN, and dispense Your choicest flowers around the Tyrian's grave. [From prudential motives, which will be apparent to the worthy Correspondent who contributed this article, we here suppress a verse, for which we hope to stand excused.] RECITATIVO SECUNDO. Hail, social SCIENCE! eldest born of Heaven, To fix the noblest purpose in the heart; THE ENQUIRY. AMIDST the myrtles as I walk d Love and my fighs thus intertalk'd: "Tell me," said I, in deep distress, "Thou fool," said Love, "know'st thou not this, In yonder tulip go and seek, There wilt thou find her lip and cheek: In the enamel'd pansy by, There shalt thou see her curious eye; And like these flow'rs thy joys shall die, M. N the 15th instant a desperate action took place off the height of Porto Vecchio between three Sardinian vessels and two Barbary zebecks. The Sardinians grappled and took one of 18 guns and 100 men, and also grappled and boarded the other of 12 guns and 96 men; but some of the crew, rather than yield, set fire to her, and she blew up, but happily not before the Sardinian vessels had disengaged themselves and picked up the people who had been blown up, amongst whom were some Sardinians. The crews of the Sardinian vessels were so enraged that they dispatched all the Turks and Algerines whom they had taken, consisting of 92. The loss of the Sardinians was 7 men killed, and 75 wounded. The war of the Creek nations against the United States of America was happily concluded on the 30th of November, by a treaty, of which official information has been received by the Congress. |