1835. It proved a ruinous speculation for poor Braham. At present it is chiefly heard of as a place for the production of French dramas. Rachel and Ristori have appeared here.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE (Italian Opera House), Haymarket. Sir John Vanbrugh's was the first house on this site, opened in 1705. This having been burned down, the present house, designed by Novosielski, was built in 1790. The exterior arcades were added in 1820. The freehold of a box in this theatre has sold for £8000; and a rent of 300 guineas has been paid for a single season for one box. Very large sums have been expended by the management in keeping this theatre open, and it has been in difficulties for some years past. It will hold about

3000 persons. Its size, compared with other large theatres, will be seen from a preceding table.

THE LYCEUM THEATRE, Wellington Street, Strand, is so called from a former house having been erected (1795) as a lyceum or academy for a society of artists. Garrick afterwards bought the lease with the view of preventing its being converted into a rival theatre. After this time it was enlarged and English operas were performed in it. In 1816 it was pulled down and rebuilt; the new edifice having been destroyed by fire, the present house was built from Beazley's designs in 1830 at a cost of £35,000. The much-admired decorations of the interior were executed in 1847 in Madame Vestris' management.

MARYLEBONE THEATRE, Church Street, Paddington, built in 1842, enlarged in 1854, will hold 2000 persons.

THE OLYMPIC THEATRE, Wych Street, Strand, stands on the site of a house built by Philip Astley for equestrian performances. That house having been burned in 1849, the present house was built the same year. This is the theatre at which Mr. Robson shews his great powers as an actor.

THE PAVILION THEATRE, Whitechapel Road, was erected in 1859. It will hold 3500 persons. Nautical pieces and farces chiefly performed here.

PRINCESS' THEATRE, Oxford Street, stands on ground belonging to the Duke of Portland, who has granted a lease of it for sixty years from 1830, when the theatre was built from Nelson's designs, at a cost of £47,000. When in the hands of Mr. Charles Kean, Shakspere's historical plays were brought out with great splendour at this theatre.

SADLER'S WELLS THEATRE, Islington, derives its name from

the fact that one Sadler built a music-house here in the neighbourhood of a mineral spring, in the reign of Charles II. In 1764 the present house was built; it is the oldest theatre in London. The Grimaldis were clowns at this place; and here Belzoni was posture-master before setting out on his travels. The New River, flowing close by, has been employed to fill a tank under the stage, where aquatic performances were exhibited. Mr. Phelps, the actor, is the present manager, and has won a name for this little theatre by the excellent mode in which Shakspere's plays, and other pieces of the classic drama, are represented.

STANDARD THEATRE, Shoreditch, opposite the Eastern Counties Railway station. Melodramas and nautical pieces are prin

cipally performed here.

THE STRAND THEATRE, 169 Strand, was originally built for the exhibition of a panorama, but was altered in 1831 into a theatre.

THE SURREY THEATRE, Blackfriars' Road, was erected in 1806 on the site of an older house, which dated from 1782, and was originally used for equestrian performances.

VICTORIA THEATRE, Waterloo Bridge Road, Lambeth, originally styled "the Cobourg," from the first stone having been laid in the name of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg, 1817. Some of the stones from the old Savoy Palace was employed in its construction. The name was changed to its present form in 1833, and the Queen, then the Princess Victoria, visited the house. The gallery is very large.

CONCERT ROOMS.

EXETER HALL, Strand, erected 1831, from the designs of Gandy Deering, is a proprietary establishment. In the Great Hall, 131 feet long, 764 feet wide, and 45 feet high, oratorios by Handel, Haydn, and other great composers, take place, performed by the Sacred Harmonic Society, to whom the organ and orchestra at the east end belong. The hall will accommodate about 3000 persons. There are also two other halls here, one accommodating about 600 persons, the other 250; twenty-one other rooms, used as offices and committee-rooms, and also an extensive range of vaults. The whole cost about £36,000. During the months of April and May, annually take place the

meetings of religious and benevolent societies, one of the leading features of the London season.

HANOVER SQUARE Rooms are now perhaps the most comfortable concert-rooms in London, having been recently refitted; here is a concert-room 90 feet by 35 feet, where the concerts of the Philharmonic Society and of the Royal Academy of Music take place. Balls are also occasionally given here.

ST. JAMES' HALL (entrances both from Piccadilly and Regent Street) is 139 feet long, and 60 feet high. It was designed by Owen Jones, and is lighted by gas drops from the roof. It is a proprietary establishment, and is let for concerts, and other public entertainments.

ST. MARTIN'S HALL, Longacre, designed by R. Westmacott, was opened in 1850. It was lately much damaged by fire, but has been repaired. It will accommodate 3000 persons.

Hullah's concerts were given here.

Mr.

WILLIS' ROOMS, King Street, St. James', were built in 1765, from designs by Robert Mylne. For a considerable time they were called "Almack's," after the original proprietor, a Scotchman. The great ball-room is about 100 feet long by 40 feet wide. It was here that the well-known exclusive balls took place. The rooms are let for concerts, lectures, etc.

The principal musical performances, in additition to the opera, are

The Philharmonic Society's Concerts, at the Hanover Square Rooms. Addison and Co., 110 Regent Street, agents.

The Sacred Harmonic Society's Oratorios at Exeter Hall.
The Crystal Palace Opera Concerts.,

Ella's Musical Union Concerts.

Instrumental music.

The Popular Concerts at St. James' Hall.

The following are the principal places of public entertainment which exist in or near the metropolis, in addition to those already noticed :—

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION, 309 Regent Street, and 5 Cavendish Square, open, on payment of 1s., daily from twelve to five, and from seven to ten. Contains small machines in motion, scientific apparatus, a tank with diving-bell, a collection of pictures, etc. Here is a theatre capable of holding 1500 persons, where dissolving views are exhibited, and musical entertainments take place.

A smaller theatre, where lectures with experiments on chemistry, electricity, etc., are delivered. Mr. J. H. Pepper is the managing

director and lecturer.

CREMORNE GARDENS, Chelsea (formerly the property of Lord Cremorne), occupy a large piece of ground, and are laid out with shrubberies, winding walks, etc. Dancing, concerts, rope-walking, balloon ascents, and fireworks, are amongst the entertainments. Dinners and suppers are served in public or private rooms. Admission to the gardens 1s.

SURREY GARDENS, Kensington Road, are a large piece of ground, ornamentally laid out with a sheet of water, etc. Here is a music hall, where concerts are given. Rope-walking, fireworks, etc., take place here. The wild animals, for which the gardens were once renowned, have been disposed of.

THE ALHAMBRA PALACE, east side of Leicester Square, a building in the Moorish style, with minarets, and a dome 150 feet high, was originally intended for a place of popular scientific entertainment. There is a small theatre where lectures are delivered. Music, dancing, rope-walking, etc., are now the stock performances. Open every evening.

BURFORD'S PANORAMA, Leicester Square.

dusk. Admission 1s.

Open from ten to

COLOSSEUM, Regent's Park (east side), is a building forming a polygon of sixteen faces, commenced in 1824, from the designs of Decimus Burton. It is lighted by an immense dome. Here are exhibited dioramas, and there are conservatories, fountains, waterfalls, casts after the antique, etc., with concerts, and scientific lectures, to please the varied tastes of visitors. Open daily, admission 1s.

CANTERBURY HALL, AND FINE ARTS GALLERY, Westminster Road, Southwark. Musical entertaiments, chiefly operatic concerts, and a good collection of modern pictures. Open every evening, admission 6d.

Royal GallerY OF ILLUSTRATION, 14 Regent Street. Musical performances. Various charges for admission according to accommodation.

POLYGRAPHIC HALL, King William Street, Charing Cross, where Mr. Wooden amuses his audience in the evening by acting in various characters.

"THE OXFORD," 6 Oxford Street. Musical entertainments every evening. Refreshments obtainable. Admission 6d. and 1s.

There are also several "Music Halls" in various parts of London, which will be seen advertised in the newspapers.

TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION OF WAX WORK, Baker Street, Portman Square. Admission 1s. Open daily from 11 to 6, and from 8 to 10 in the evening. Here are upwards of 200 well modelled figures, in appropriate costume, of many celebrated persons of modern times. One of the rooms is 240 feet long by 49 feet. There is also a curious collection of relics of Nelson, Napoleon, and others. George IV.'s coronation robes, that cost £18,000, are shewn. This is one of the most popular exhibitions of London.

BAZAARS and ARCADES for the sale of millinery, table ornaments, toys, music, and other small articles, are to be found at various places at the west end of London. Admission free; usually open from 9 to 6. The stalls are mostly attended by young women. Singing and fancy birds are on sale at the Pantheon and Portland Bazaars; and photographic establishments are attached to some of them. At the Pantheon there is a collection of pictures, chiefly copies, but containing some originals of B. R. Haydon.

Soho Bazaar, west side of Soho Square.

Pantheon Bazaar, 359 Oxford Street, with an entrance in Great Marlborough Street.

London Crystal Palace Bazaar, north side of Oxford Street, near the Circus, with an entrance in Great Portland Street. Chiefly built of glass and iron, from the designs of Owen Jones, with a roof of coloured glass.

Portland Bazaar, or German Fair, Regent Street, nearly opposite the Polytechnic Institution.

Baker Street Bazaar, Baker Street, Portman Square.

Burlington Arcade, between Piccadilly and Burlington Gardens, west of Burlington House; 600 feet long, with shops at each side. Closes at 8 in the evening.

Lowther Arcade, between West Strand and Adelaide Street; 245 feet long, with stalls on each side.