PLACES OF AMUSEMENT AND PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.

THIS town can boast of having an extensive Theatre, very commodious, and well fitted for the purposes of the drama; the stage is spacious, and well adapted to convey the voice intelligibly to the ear; the gallery large, the boxes, &c. tastefully decorated, and well arranged for the accommodation of the numerous visitors who frequent it during the race week, and other seasons of the year. It is hoped that this place will be resorted to during the ensuing guild year, 1822, by those ladies and gentlemen visiting the town during this grand fete; no doubt remains but able performers will be brought down from the motropolis, for the purpose of giving eclat to this festival, celebrated every twentieth year. We know that certain persons of morose and narrow minds, view theatrical representations as abuses that ought to be expelled from society, as tending to feed the passions, and thereby nursing vice. This knowledge of the world, they call knowledge of vice and folly; and they seek for those communications and instructions in books, which they think it is in vain to look for from representations of a scenic nature. By such arguments have many reasoned themselves out of society, and have left a world which their extensive abilities, exemplary integrity, and gentleness of manners, might have adorned and improved; by retirement from places of amusement man neither benefits himself nor others; his virtue is of that useless, untried kind, which, like the seeming courage of a coward, is suspected by all men. Let us not relinquish the pleasures of the drama too hastily; nor allow the milk of human kindness to be soured by goomy reflections or absurdities, which human nature is perpetually liable to. Let us take a calm review of every scene passing before us; it strikes our mind with some historical evidence of the pride

of the human heart, of the sordid miser, the proud coxcomb, the spendthrift, and the prudery of the female sex. The mind is not only lightened of its burdens, but is somewhat improved by seeing the human character exposed in such a variety of stages. Those who avoid the theatre, or other places of rational amusement, never fail to become selfish and avaricious; perhaps full of vice, ignorance, brutal and unfeeling, full of resentment, quarrels, gaming and intoxication. More may be gathered from a play well performed, in one hour, than what may be learnt from reading one month. In this opinion I am certain many men will agree; but exceptions there are in all cases.

THEATRE ROYAL.

'Tis pleasant through the loop holes of retreat To peep at such a world; to see the stir

Of the great Babel, and not feel the crowd."

Eligibly situated on the south side of Fishergate, may be seen that commodious brick building called the Theatre, embellished with a pedimental stone portico, supported by four Tuscan columns, and possessing three entrances to the front, viz. to the boxes, pit, and gallery, (although the middle, or box door, answers at present as an entrance to the whole house.) The inside consists of two tiers of boxes on each side, whilst the lower boxes run round in an eliptic form, and are well adapted for the purpose of viewing the scenic exhibition. The pit and gallery are capacious, the scenery is good, and the whole house is well ornamented, but as yet wants the gas introducing, which it is hoped will be put in execution by the ensuing guild year.

This edifice was built by subscription, in shares, and was finished by the last guild held in 1802. The subscribers are entitled to what is termed a silver ticket, which gives them free admission to any part of the house during the performance.

The drama does not seem to be much encouraged here, as in the populous towns of Liverpool and Manchester; the Prestonians seemingly think that the productions of many of our dramatic writers, who have written expressly for the stage, are in some degree mutilated by those histrionic amateurs (if they may be so called,) who frequent our Theatre. Indeed, upon some occasions, many excellent tragedians and comedians, together with vocal performers,

have paid a visit to this town, in order to exhibit their marvellous powers to the criticism of a Preston audience, and have been duly received by a warm encore, and rewarded too for their eminent services. Mr. Ryley, the witty author of the Itinerant, in 6 vols., occasionally pays a visit to this place, and exhibits his New Brooms to a crowded and admiring audience.

Mr. John Stanton was formerly the manager of a company of Thespians here; he was highly respected, but met with unforeseen difficulties in the course of his theatrical career; his talents were exerted, and admired by his friends at all times, in giving additional lustre to the drama by his pencil being displayed in the scenic art. He was an excellent painter, and took a view of Stonyhurst college, a seminary used as a place of education for gentlemen professing the Catholic religion; from this an engraving was published, one of which may be seen at the house of our respected fellow-townsman the Rev. Joseph Dunn, who resides upon the Parade or Terrace.

The old Theatre was originally up Woodcock's-yard, going out of Fishergate, but was deemed too small for the increasing population of the town, and which gave rise to the present one we have been describing.

ASSEMBLY ROOM.

"In the smooth dance, to move with graceful mien,
Easy with care, and sprightly though serene,

To mark th' instructions echoing strains convey,
And with just steps each tuneful note obey."

This elegant and remarkably capacious room, built at the sole expense of the Earl of Derby, is situate down the court of the Bull Inn, (the front of one of the main windows may be seen from Church-street, on looking down the court.) This room measures in length thirty-two feet, by twenty-four in breadth; excepting the anti-chambers, &c. appended thereto; and is lighted by five windows in all; two of the centre ones have Norman or round heads, in the centre of the square, and are supported in the inside by four fluted Ionic pillars in all, that is, two pillars to each window. It is embellished with three grand glass chandeliers, the middle one considerably larger than the other two, which have a glittering appearance when lighted up, and dazzle the eyes of the beholder, at first sight; these are suspended from a rich variegated

stucco ceiling. There is a broad orange coloured cornice runs round the room, intersected with bucks' heads cabosed argent, being emblems of part of the charge of the bend in the coat armour of the Derby family. At each end of the room the crests of the Earl of Derby and the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon appear, inserted inside square frame-work of stucco; which are as follows: the Earl of Derby's crest-On a cap of maintenance, an eagle and child, with wings expanded, topaz, preying upon an infant in its cradle, proper. That of the Duke's crest as follows-In a ducal coronet topaz, an oak fructed and penetrated transversely in the main stem, by a frame proper, the frame or.

The curtains to the five windows are of an orange colour, and are disposed of in broad folds, and produce a fine effect when drawn, on the evenings of amusement. There is an attic orchestra at the head of this room, for the accommodation of the musicians. Balls are held here during the race week, the winter season, and other public occasions. The ball for the Ladies' Charity, which is held here, generally produces £40 and upwards; this is laudable in itself, inasmuch as it tends to administer comfort to many who are afflicted by the hand of distress.

Sedan chairs are in constant requisition during the winter assemblies; as well as for the purpose of conveying ladies to card parties, balls, and routes, held at private houses. These portable chairs are under the immediate patronage of the Queen of the Assemblies.

BILLIARD ROOMS.

There is a public room appropriated to this purpose, in Cannonstreet, ornamented with an excellent table, made by Gillows, of Lancaster. This is well attended by many gentlemen of the town, and seems to be a fashionable amusement. Terms may be known on application to the owner, Mr. Wm. Poole.

There is a private billiard table, in a room up Woodcock's-passage, going out of Fishergate.

COCK PIT.

This large building, built of brick, and well lighted, is situate upon the right hand side going down Stonygate, entrance through the Eagle and Child yard, Mrs. Yates's Church-gates; and is very capacious inside, and every way calculated for the purposes of that

amusement termed cock fighting. It is used only during the race week, under the immediate patronage of the Earl of Derby. This place is now used as a Sunday school, and seems to be well attended.

MUSIC ACADEMY.

The science of music has been cultivated of late with much success, in this populous town and vicinage, by many ladies and gentlemen of the first distinction, and others. Indeed this sweet science forms a part of instruction so liberally bestowed upon those who receive their education in the various boarding schools situated within the precincts of the town, where youths of both sexes are taught the nature and sensibility of harmonious sounds,

It is with pleasure that we here state that a Music Academy is erected in Cannon-street, going out of Fishergate. It is built of brick, two stories high, containing in all six windows to the front, and embellished with a pediment. This building is every way adapted for the purposes it was erected; the upper room measures 14 yards in length, by 9 in breadth. This academy is conducted by Mr. T. Clough, Professor of Music, Organist of the Parish church (St. John's.)

The Musical Society of this town did, with great propriety, project a concert, for the benefit of Mr. Clough, in January, 1819, which was numerously attended. Great merit was due to the performers, for they exerted themselves in a manner which called forth general satisfaction from the numerous auditors of the first respectability, assembled upon the occasion.

Mr. Clough's success in teaching Logier's new system of musical education has fully answered the expectations of his friends. The most respectable boarding schools in the town and vicinity have adopted it, and in fact this town has surpassed all precedency.

THE COLD BATH.

This bath is situate at the foot of Spa-brow, near the bleachworks of Mr. Davies, going to the Marsh, and consists of a good dwelling-house, and bath, walled in. This bath consists of a square recess, well flagged at the bottom and sides; the water lodges inside this reservoir, and is perpetually filled by fine spring water issuing out of the side of the hill above. There is every

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