following is from the Morning Herald, the organ of the ultra-monopolists:—
"Notwithstanding the very unfavourable state of the weather, and the high price of the tickets of admission, the attendance at the doors was very numerous, and the staircase, saloons, and lobbies—even the body of the house itself—was soon full to overflowing. The arrangements to prevent confusion appeared, however, to be very excellent, and to be well carried out by the stewards, so that, although visitors were almost subjected to the peine forte et dure during their transit, there was no complaint, but each appeared content to bear it. The public were only admitted through the chief entrance in Bow-street, from whence they ascended, as during the dramatic exhibitions at the theatre, up the grand staircase to the Shakspere saloon, now fitted up with tapestry, carpets, shawls, &c. so as greatly to resemble the show room of a mercer. In this place also is a magnificent mirror, one such as giants only should survey themselves in, also an interesting stall of chemical preparations; and a box from Darlestone, in Staffordshire, containing coal and iron, the latter in its various stages from the rudest ore to the most polished and tempered metal, which is capable of being wrought by human ingenuity. In the box lobby on the left is a stall for Miller's glass works, containing many remarkable curiosities, and also the apparatus at work by which they are produced, and glass thread is woven into soft and beautiful fabrics. Passing on to the centre of the lobby we find two boxes are removed, and come suddenly upon a scene so novel and romantic, so incongruous and grotesque, that for a moment we could fancy ourselves transported to the east, and about to deal with Turks and Mussulmans. Certainly, in its palmiest days, no visitor to Covent Garden ever witnessed on its stage a more complete transformation.
"The whole area of the pit and stage is boarded over, and transformed into a 'Norman Gothic Hall,' with an
