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Hart-Street side, not even the walls are standing. The Ship-Tavern, and part of Mr. Brandon's, the box-keeper's, office, are all standing at that angle. The most painful part of this dreadful event still remains to be described. At an early stage of the fire, a party of firemen broke open the great door under the Piazza, on the western side, and having introduced an engine into the passages in the interior, they directed it towards the galleries, where the fire appeared to burn most fiercely, when, melancholy to relate, the part of the building over the passage, which they thought was a stone arch, but proved to be merely an imi tation of stone, fell in, and buried them, with several others who had rushed in along with them, in the ruins. It was a considerable time be fore the rubbish, which now blocked up the door, could be cleared away. When it was effected, a miserable spectacle presented itself. The mangled bodies of dead and dying appearing through the rubbish, or discovered in each advance to remove it.-At twelve o'clock eleven dead bodies had been removed into the church-yard of St. Paul's, on the opposite side of Covent-Garden. When the bodies were brought into the church-yard they were in a heated state, and covered with dirt; on some of them the flesh was burned to the bones. For the purpose of identifying the sufferers, several pails full of water were thrown upon them. Sixteen were sent to the hospital, miserably mangled, with broken limbs, and dreadful bruises.

The value of this great property is estimated at £.150,000, of which according to the corrected report, £.44,500 were insured.--The patent, land, &c. are included in the above valuation, therefore we cannot ascertain the loss.

The money and all the title deeds which were in the iron chest have been saved. The money was saved by the activity of Mr. Hughes, and the honesty of the old woman who awoke him. He ran to the Treasury on the first alarm, and loaded her with two bags of money, with which he sent her off, without any dress but her peticoat, to Mr. Boyce, a tax-gatherer in York-street. On her arrival at Mr. Boyce's, however, and knocking at the door, the servant seeing such a figure at such an hour, refused admittance, supposing her a mad woman. The poor wo man, thus excluded, and fearing to inform the passengers of the treasure, sat down upon the bags, at the steps of the door, and there remained until the return of Mr. Hughes, who had originally escorted her to the door. Of all the rest of this great property, such was the fierceness of the flames, scarcely any thing was preserved. The King's Arms, a Roman Eagle, Mother Goose, a few other pantomimic devices, and pieces of mechanism, and some pikes, halberts, &c. used in processions, were all that were preserved. They were brought out, and laid under the Piazza, where they were huddled together, presenting in the mixture a strange and whimsical appearance. Next to Mr. Harris, Mr.

Kemble, and the other proprietors of the theatre, the musicians are the greatest sufferers. The musicians are in the habit of leaving all their instruments at the theatre; they were all destroyed, with all the music, and other appurtenances of the orchestra, estimated at £.20,000 value. To aggravate the loss in this department, there are no copies of many of the best pieces. All the literary productions of the house are also destroyed, and of many of them also there are no copies. Mr. Brandon, the housekeeper, was so overcome, two men were obliged to assist him out of the house.

There are various conjectures as to the immediate origin of the fire. -Some suppose that the fire was occasioned by the wadding of the gun, in firing, the preceding night, at Rolla in Pizarro, which might have caught the top of the flies. Others apprehend that a spark might have communicated to the scenes in the Temple of the Sun, in the same piece, which survived the performance, and communicated to other matter in the course of the night.

There are not wanting many, however, who suspect that it was set on fire designedly. It is well known that the burning of the OperaHouse, and Astley's Amphitheatre in 1794 was not accidental. Several anonymous letters had been addressed to Mr. Kemble threatening to burn the theatre if Pizarro was performed.

The proprietors of the late Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden sent notice to the committee for conducting the subscription for the relief of the families of the unfortunate persons who perished in the fire of the 20th of September last, of their intention to give a benefit play in furtherance of this benevolent and charitable object. The subscription has been very liberal. His majesty under another name gave 3001. and the Duke of Bedford, 2001. &c.

Handel's celebrated organ, supposed to be worth a thousand guineas, and which that celebrated composer gave by his will to Covent Garden theatre, and was only heard in the Oratorios, is completely de stroyed.

Among the music destroyed at Covent-Garden theatre, were original scores of Handel, Arne, and other celebrated composers, that were never printed, and of which there are no copies extant.-Those of Handel in particular, were composed for the theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, and came as heir-looms to the proprietors of the original patent.

[To be concluded in our next.]

PROVINCIAL DRAMA.

Theatre, WORTHING.-The theatre here, under the management of Mr. Trotter, has been as usual exceedingly well attended. I say as

usual, because the nobility and gentry, who visit this part of the coast, patronize invariably every theatrical exhibition of merit. Several of the London performers have been here: amongst other stars, Mrs. Litchfield, who was very successful. Since the opening and destruction of Covent-Garden, Mr. Incledon has played here several nights. On the 17th Sept. he had his benefit, when he sung with other songs, "Tell her I love her," positively for this night only !

Sept. 25.

TISNTWILL.

Theatre, BRIGHTON.-This house has been sold to Sir Thomas Clarges, but is still rented by the Bruntons. During the absence of Mr. Brunton, the management is in the hands of Mr. Field, of CoventGarden theatre, who performs the office with great satisfaction. Here the folks are less play-going, than at Worthing, and other places, but the concern is still profitable. Scarcely any thing can induce the Londoners to pen themselves up in the theatre, if the weather is fine; and if it is foul, or the house by some accident fashionable, they go without much respect to what is played or how it is played. The present company is, with rare exceptions, admirably suited to these circumstances. Mrs. Brunton, Mrs. Penley, and Mr. Robson are entitled to respect. Mr. Takely, late of Drury-Lane theatre, shews a great deal of comic talent, and Mrs. James an equal quantity of awkward beauty. The London stars have also shone here. Mr. Young has just left us for Bath, after playing Octavian, Don Felix, Hamlet, Sir Edward Mortimer, and Penruddock. Hamlet was performed on the 21st Sept. for his benefit, when, though something worse than unsupported, he did wonders in the part.

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On Monday the 19th Mr. Bannister opened his Budget at the Old Ship Rooms, and imposed a pole tax amounting to 751. which was paid with much mirth and no grumbling. The theatre expostulated on this levy, and Mr. Bannister generously consented to play Lissardo and Tom gratis, the succeeding night, which he did, and with the assistance of Mr. Young, produced a receipt of 1201. Mr. Young shared the houses. Sept, 26.

WILKES.

NEW COMET,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MONTHLY MIRROR.

DEAR SIR,

I think I have found the comet which has been lately announced. But with great difficulty last night. Place between the back of the chair of Cassiopeia, and the right-hand and sceptre of Cepheus. If the

Edinburgh statement was right, it seems to be tending toward the pole, nearly in the line of the equinoctial colure, but very slowly. A right line carried upward from the Pleiades, into the S. E, side of the Milky Way, conducts the eye to it.

It was very nearly on the meridian at 12 last night,

It is extremely like a faint nearly circular nebula of not 10 deg, diam. I should have taken it for one; but I know of none in that position. If you think this worth noticing in the Monthly Mirror, it is much at your service, I am, dear sir,

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Yours, sincerely,

CAPEL LOFFT,

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

The second volume of Mr. Park's edition of the Harleian Miscellany will be published in the course of the present month, and the remaining volumes of this valuable collection of rare tracts, will follow in rapid succession.

Mr. Rippingham's Attempts at Literary Composition, are about to be published by Mr. Richardson, Cornhill. Subscriptions, half-a-guinea each.

The Prospectus of a new Review, to be conducted by Mr. Cumberland, has been sent forth by Tipper. Every article is to bear the name of the writer. The plan has been tried several times, but always failed. Take off the mask, and it's all courtesy and flatness.

Dr. Burney of Greenwich was a candidate for the Greek Professorship of Cambridge. We now think him “Græcorum longè doctissimus,” and the distance of his residence from the University, is said to have been the sole objection. Mr. Kaye, of Christ College, and Mr. Monk and Mr. Dobree of Trinity, were also proposed. The last of these is equally well qualified in learning, but being in Guernsey, he was unlikely to become the successor of Mr. Porson. The Electors are the vice-chancellor, the master, and the two senior fellows of Trinity; the provost of King's, the master of Chris Christ's, and the master of St. John's. The three electors of Trinity are of great weight, but a counterpoise is often obtained by the junction of the others. The election fell on Mr.

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