lion to sit down, and while in that posi- markably docile and temperate. She is tion opened the animal's ponderous jaws the property of Mr. T. Checketts, of Belwith his hands, and thrust his face down grave-hall, Leicestershire; and will be into the lion's throat, wherein he shouted, exhibited for a few days as above." and there held his head nearly a minute. This mare was well worth seeing. After this he held up a common hoop for Each of her hind legs, besides its natural the tigress to leap through, and she did it and well-formed foot, had another grow. frequently. The lion seemed more diffi- ing out from the fetlock joint: one of these cult to move to this sport. He did not additions was nearly the size of the natuappear to be excited by command or en. ral foot; the third and least grew from the treaty; at last, however, he went through same joint of the fore-leg. Mr. Andrews, the hoop, and having been once roused, the proprietor, said, that they grew slowrepeated the action several times; the ly, and that the new hoofs were, at first, hoop was scarcely two feet in diameter. very soft, and exuded during the process The exhibition of these two animals con- of growth. This individual, besides his cluded by the lion lying down on his side, notoriety from the possession of this extrawhen the keeper stretched bimself to ordinary mare, attained further distinchis whole length upon him, and then tion by having prosecuted to conviction, calling to the tigress she jumped upon

at the Warwick assizes, in August, 1825, the man, extended herself with her paws a person named Andrews, für swindling. upon his shoulders, placed her face side. He complained bitterly of the serious exways upon his, and the whole three lay pense he had incurred in bringing the dequiescent till the keeper suddenly slipped predator to justice; his own costs, he himself off the lion's side, with the tigress said, amounted to the sum of one hunon him, and the trio gambolled and rolled dred and seventy pounds. about on the floor of the den, like playful children on the floor of a nursery.

Show VI. Of the beasts there is not room to say more, than that their number was sur.

Richardson's Theatre. prising, considering that they formed a better selected collection, and showed in The outside of this show was in height higher condition from cleanliness and upwards of thirty feet, and occupied one good feeding, than any assemblage I ever hundred feet in width. The plaiform on saw. Their variety and beauty, with the the outside was very elevated; the back usual accessory of monkeys, made a of it was lined with green baize, and splendid picture. The birds were equally festooned with deeply-fringed crimson admirable, especially the pelicans, and curtains, except at two places where the the emew. This sixpenny" show" would money-takers sat, which were wide and have furnished a dozen sixpenny" shows,” roomy projections, fitted up like gothic at least, to a “ Bartlemy Fair” twenty shrine-work, with columns and pinnayears ago.

cles. There were fifteen hundred varie

gated illumination-lamps disposed over Show V.

various parts of this platform, some of This was a mare with seven feet, in a them depending from the top in the shape small temporary stable in the passage-way of chandeliers and lustres, and others in from the road to the foot-pavement, op- wreaths and festoons. A band of ten posite the George Inn, and adjoining performers in scarlet dresses, similar to to the next show : the admission to this ihose worn by beef-eaters, continually “sight” was threepence. The following played on clarionets, violins, trombones, is a copy of the printed bill :

and the long drum; while the performers " To Sportsinen and Naturalists.—Now paraded in their gayest“ properties” beexhibiting, one of the greatest living na- fore the gazing multitude. Audiences ratural curiosities in the world ; namely, a pidly ascended on each performance thorough-bred chesnut MARE, with seven being over, and paying their money to legs ! four years of age, perfectly sound, the receivers in their gothic seats, had free from blemish, and shod on six of her tickets in return; which, being taken at feet. She is very fleet in her paces, being the doors, admitted them to descend into descended from that famous horse Julius the “ theatre." The following “ bill of Cæsar, out of a thorough-bred race mare the play" was obtained at the doors upon descended from Eclipse, and is re being requested :

Change of Performance each Day. “Ginger beer, apples, nuts, and a bill of

the play,"were cried; the charge for a bill to RICHARDSON'S a person not provided with one was “a

penny.” The seats were rows of planks, THEATRE.

rising gradually from the ground at the

end, and facing the stage, without any disThis Day will be performed, an entire New tinction of “ boxes, pit, or gallery." The Melo-Drama, called the

stage was elevated, and there was a WANDERING

painted proscenium like that in a regular OUT L AW,

theatre, with a green curtain, and the

king's arms above, and an orchestra Or, the Hour of Retribution. lined with crimson cloth, and five violinGustavus, Elector of Saxony, Mr.Wright. players in military dresses. Between the Orsina, Baron of Holstein, Mr. Cooper.

orchestra and the bottom row of seats, Ulric and Albert, Vassals to Orsina,

was a large space, which, after the seats Messrs. Grove and Moore.

were filled, and greatly to the discomSt.Clair, the WanderingOutlaw,Mr.Smith. fiture of the lower seat-holders, was nearly Rinalda, the Accusing Spirit,Mr.Darling. occupied by spectators. There were at

least a thousand persons present. Monks, Vassals, Hunters, &c. Rosabella, Wife to the Outlaw, Mrs. Smith,

The curtain drew up and presented the Nuns and Ladies.

“Wandering Outlaw," with a forest scene

and a cottage; the next scene was a The Piece concludes with the Death of castle; the third was another scene in the

forest. The second act commenced with Orsina, and the Appearance of the

a scene of an old church and a marketACCUSING SPIRIT.

place. The second scene was a prison,

and a ghost appeared to the tune of the The Entertainments to conclude with a New “evening hymn.” The third scene was the

Comic Harlequinade, with New Scenery, castle that formed the second scene in the Tricks, Dresses, and Decorations, called, first act, and the performance was here HARLEQUIN

enlivened by a murder. The fourth scene

was rocks, with a cascade, and there was FAUSTUS! a procession to an unexecuted execution;

for a ghost appeared, and saved the OR, THE

“ Wandering Outlaw" from a fierce-lookDEVIL WILL HAVE HIS OWN. ing headsman, and the piece ended. Luciferno, Mr. THOMAS.

Then a plump little woman sung, “ He Dæmon Amozor, afterwards Pantaloon, drew up to “ Harlequin Faustus," where

loves and he rides away," and the curtain Mr. WILKINSON.-Dæmon Ziokos, afterwards Clown, Mr. HAYWARD.— Vio

in, after columbine and a clown, the most lencello Player, Mr. Hartem.-Baker, red face and hands, in a red Spanish

flaming character was the devil, with a Mr. Thompson.-Landlord, Mr. WilKINS.—Fisherman, Mr. Rae.-Doctor

mantle and vest, red “ continuations," Faustus, afterwards Harlequin, Mr.

stockings and shoes ditto to follow, a red SALTER.

Spanish hat and plume above, and a red Adelaca, afterwards Columbine,

“ brass bugle born." As soon as the fate Miss WILMOT.

of “ Faustus" was concluded, the sound Attendant Dæmons, Sprites, Fairies, Bal- these performances were, in a quarter of

of a gong announced the happy event, and lad Singers, Flower Girls, &c. &c.

an hour, repeated to another equally inThe Pantomime will finish with

telligent and brilliant audience. A SPLENDID PANORAMA,

Show VII.
Painted by the First Artists.

ONLY A PENNY.

There never was such times, indeed! BOXES, 25. PIT, 18. GALLERY, 6d.

NERO

The largest Lion in the Fair for a Has The theatre was about one hundred feet

dred Guineas ! long, and thirty feet wide, hung all round These inscriptions, with figured showwith green baize, and crimson festoons. cloths, were in front of a really good es

was

hibition of a fine lion, with leopards, and circle or ride was formed on the ground. various other "beasts of the forest." They The entertainment commenced by a mart were mostly docile and in good condition. dancing on the tight-rope. The rope One of the leopards was carried by his removed, and a light bay horse was keeper a pick-a-back. Such a show for mounted by a female in trowsers, with a only a penny" was astonishing. pink gown fully frilled, flounced, and rib Show VIII.

boned, with the shoulders in large puffs. “ SAMWELL'S COMPANY." While the horse circled the ring at full Another penny show : “ The Wonder- speed, she danced upon him, and skipped ful Children on the Tight Rope, and with a hoop like a skipping-rope; she Dancing Horse, Only a Penny!". I paid performed other dexterous feats, and conmy penny to the money-taker, a slender, cluded by dancing on the saddle with a “ fine lady," with three feathers in a flag in each hand, while the horse flew " jewelled turban,” and a dress of blue round the ring with great velocity. These and white muslin and silver; and within- and the subsequent performances were side I saw the “ fat, contented, easy" enlivened by tunes from a clarionet and proprietor, who was arrayed in corres. horn, and jokes from a clown, who, when ponding inagnificence. If he loved she had concluded, said to an attendant, leanness, it was in his “ better half,” for “Now, Jobn, take the horse off, and himself had none of it. Obesity had dis- whatever you do, rub him well down with qualified him for activity, and therefore a cabbage." Then a man rode and in his immensely tight and large satin danced on another horse, a very fine anijacket, he was, as much as possible, the mal, and leaped from him three times active commander of his active perform- over garters, placed at a considerable ers. He superintended the dancing of a height and width apart, alighting on the young female on the tight rope. Then he horse's back while he was going round. announced, “A little boy will dance a This rider was remarkably dexterous. In hornpipe on the rope," and he ordered conclusion, the clown got up and rode bis “band” inside to play; this was with many antic tricks, tiil, on the sudobeyed without difficulty, for it merely den, an apparently drunken fellow rushed consisted of one man, who blew a horn. from the audience into the ring, and bepipe tune on a Pan's-pipe; while it went gan to pull the clown from the horse. on, the little boy"danced on the tight rope; The manager interfered, and the people so far it was a hornpipe dance and no far- cried—“Turn him out;" but the man perther. “The little boy will stand on his sisted, and the clown getting off, offered head on the rope,” said the manager, and to help him up, and threw him over the the little boy stood on his head accord- horse's back to the ground. At length ingly. Then another female danced on the intruder was seated, with his face to the slack-wire; and after her came a the tail, though he gradually assumed a horse, not a “ dancing horse," but a proper position; and riding as a man “ learned" horse, quite as learned as the thoroughly intoxicated would ride, fell off; horse at Ball's theatre, in Show III. he then threw off his hat and great coat, There was enough for " a penny." and threw off his waistcoat, and then an Show IX.

under-waistcoat, and a third, and a fourth, « CLARKE FROM ASTLEY'S." and more than a dozen waistcoats. Upon

This was a large show, with the back taking off the last, bis trowsers fell down against the side of“ Samwell's Company,” and he appeared in his shirt; whereupon and its front in a line with Hosier-lane, he crouched, and drawing his shirt off in and therefore looking towards Smithfield- a twinkling, appeared in a handsome bars. Large placards were pasted at the fancy dress, leaped into the saddle of the side, with these words, “ CLARKE'S FROM horse, rode standing with great grace, reAstiey's, Lighted with Real Gas, In and ceived great applause, made his bow, and Outside." The admission to this show so the performance concluded. was sixpence. The platform outside was This show was the last in the line on at least ten feet high, and spacious above, the west side of Smithfield. and here there was plenty of light. The

Show X. interior was very large, and lighted by only a single hoop, about two feet six The line of shows on the east of Smithinches in diameter, with little jets of gas field, commencing at Long-lane,began with about an inch and a half apart. A large “ The Indian IVoman— Chinese Lady and

man.

Dwarf," &c. A clown outside cried, ladies and gentlemen present," and an
“ Be assured they ’re alive-only one evident desire to burry them off, lest
penny each.” The crowd was great, and they might be more curious than his own
the shows to be seen were many, I there- curiosities.
fore did not go in.

Show XII.
Show XI.

“ Only a penny" was the price of adOn the outside was inscribed, “ To be mission to “ The Black Wild Indian Woseen alive! The Prodigies of Nature !

- The White Indian Youth-and the The Wild Indian Woman and Child, with Welsh Dwarf.- Al Alive !” There was her Nurse from her own country. The this further announcement on the outside, Silver-haired Lady and Dwarf. Only a

“ The Young American will Perform af. Penny.”—The showmaster made a speech: ter the Manner of the French Jugglers at “ Ladies and gentlemen, before I show Vauxhall Gardens, with Balls, Rings, you the wonderful prodigies of nature, let Daggers," &c. When the “ Welsh me introduce you to the wonderful works dwarf” came on he was represented to of art;" and then he drew a curtain, where be Mr. William Phillips, of Denbigh, fifsome wax-work figures stood. “This,” teen years of age. The "white lodian said he, “ladies and gentlemen, is the youth” was an Esquimaux, and the exfamous old Mother Shipton; and here is hibitor assured the visitors upon his verathe unfortunate Jane Shore, the beautiful city, that “the black wild Indian womistress of king Edward the Second ; man” was “a court lady of the island next to her is his majesty king George the of Madagascar.” The exhibitor himself Fourth of most glorious memory; and

was “the young American," an intellithis is queen Elizabeth in all her glory; gent and clever youth in a loose striped then here you have the princess Amelia, jacket or frock tied round the middle. the daughter of his late majesty, who is He commenced his performances by dead; this is Mary, queen of Scots, who throwing up three balls, which he kept had her head cut off ; and this is O‘Bryen, constantly in the air, as he afterwards the famous Irish giant; this man, here, is did four, and then five, with great derThornton, who was tried for the murder terity, using his hands, shoulders, and of Mary Ashford; and this is the exact elbows, apparently with equal case. He resemblance of Othello, the moor of afterwards threw up three rings, each Venice, who was a jealous husband, and about four inches in diameter, and then depend upon it every man who is jealous four, which he kept in motion with simiof his wife, will be as black as that negro. lar success. To end his performance he Now, ladies and gentlemen, the two next produced three knives, which, by throware a wonderful couple, John and Mar- ing up and down, he contrived to pregaret Scott, natives of Dunkeld, in Scot. serve in the air altogether. These feats land; they lived about ninety years ago; forcibly reminded me of the Anglo-Saxon John Scott was a hundred and five years Glee-man, who “ threw three balls and old when he died, and Margaret lived three knives alternately in the air, and to be a hundred and twelve ; and what is caught them, one by one, as they fell ; more remarkable, there is not a soul returning them again in regular rotaliving can say he ever heard them tion."

quar

The young American's dress and rel." Here he closed the curtain, and knives were very similar to the Gleewhile undrawing another, continued thus : man's, as Strutt has figured them from a “ Having shown you the dead, I have MS. in the Cotton collection. This now to exhibit to you two of the most ex- youth's was one of the best exhibitions in traordinary wonders of the living ; this,” the Fair, perhaps the very best. The adsaid he, " is the widow of a New Zealand mission it will be remembered was “ only Chief, and this is the little old woman of a penny." Bagdad; she is thirty inches high, twentytwo years of age, and a native of Boston,

Show XIII. in Lincolnshire. Each of these living subjects was quite as wonderful as the outside of this show were, “ The White

The inscriptions and paintings on the waxen ones : the exhibition, which lasted about five minutes, was ended by court. eous thanks for the u approbation of the

• Strutt.

Negro, who was rescued from her Black
Parents by the bravery of a British Ofi-
cer- the only White Negro Girl Alive.
The Great Giantess and Dwarf.-Six Cu.
riosities Alive!-only a Penny to see
them All Alive!” While waiting a few
minutes till the place filled, I had leisure
to observe that one side of the place was
covered by a criminal attempt to repre-
sent a tread-mill, in oil colours, and
the operators at work upon it, superin
tended by gaolers, &c. On the other side
were live moukies in cages ; an old bear
in a jacket, and sundry other animals.
Underneath the wheels of the machine,
other living creatures were moving about,
and these turned out to be the poor neg-
lected children of the showman and his
wife. The miserable condition of these
infants, who were puddling in the mud,
while their parents outside were turning
a bit of music, and squalling and bawling
with all their might," walk in-only a
penny," to get spectators of the objects
that were as yet concealed on their “proud

Little Man.
eminence," the caravan, by a thin cur-
tain, raised a gloom in the mind. I was

I took my leave of this show pondering
in a reverie concerning these beings when on the different ends our fates assign,
the curtain was withdrawn, and there but the jostling of a crowd in Smithfield,
stood confessed to sight, she whom the and the clash of instruments, were not
showman called the tall lady,” and favourable to musing, and I walked into
" the white negro, the greatest curio- the next.
sity ever seen the first that has been

Show XIV. exhibited since the reign of George the BROWN'S GRAND TROOP, Second-look at her head and hair, ladies and gentlemen, and feel it; there's no

FROM PARIS. deception, it's like ropes of wool.” There This was “only a penny" exhibition, certainly was not any deception. The notwithstanding that it elevated the king's girl herself, who had the fai nose, thick arms, and bore a fine-sounding name. The lips, and peculiarly shaped scull of the performance began by a clown going negro, stooped to have her head examin- round and whipping a ring ; that is, maked, and being close to her I felt it. Her ing a circular space amongst the spectahair, if it could be called hair, was of a tors with a whip in his hand to force the dirtyish flaxen hue; it hung in ropes, of refractory. This being effected, a conjurer a clothy texture, the thickness of a quill, walked up to a table and executed seves and from four to six inches in length. ral tricks with cups and balls; giving a Her skin was the colour of an European's. boy beer to drink out of a funnel, makAfterwards stepped forth a little person- ing him blow through it to show that it age about three feet high, in a military was empty, and afterwards applying it to dress, with top boots, who strutted his each of the boy's ears, from whence, tiny legs, and held his head aloft with not through the funnel, the beer appeared to less importance than the proudest gene- reflow, and poured on the ground. Afterral officer could assume upon his promo- wards girls danced on the single and dou. tion to the rank of field-martial. Mr. ble slack wire, and a melancholy looking Samuel Williams, whose versatile and able clown, among other things, said they were pencil has frequently enriched this work, “as clever as the barber and blacksmith visited the Fair after me, and was equally who shaved magpies at twopence a struck by his appearance. He favours dozen.” The show concluded with a me with the subjoined engraving of this learned horse,