ΤΟ VOL. CII. PART II. Embellished with Representations of several LEATHERN JETTONS from Terouenne, and an ANCIENT VESSEL found in Picardy. HEREWITH I forward you drawings of several curious pieces found some time since in France. They were dug up on the site of the ancient town of Terouenne (the Morinorum Civitas of the Romans), which was razed to the ground by our Henry the Eighth. They are of leather, and vary but little in thickness, which, in the largest, does not exceed that of our penny piece. They have, if I may be allowed to use the term, no reverses, nor is the leather dressed on that side as on the other; but there is no appearance of their having been used as buttons or ornaments, no traces of a shank being perceptible. I shall be glad to know the opinion of your readers respecting these curious pieces. I confess myself unable to explain, or even to guess, at their origin; and, though we have all heard of leather money, I cannot look upon these as intended for coin. The subjects of Nos. 1, 2, and 5, are female heads, and the costume certainly bears some resemblance to that of the time of Henry the Eighth. The armour in the bust on No 10 is very like that of the Emperor Maximilian, who assisted our Henry in his French war; but then the helmet is unlike those of that period, and resembles more the fanciful figures of Holbein and Van Leyden, who, in some of their designs, mingled Roman and Greek costume with that of the fourteenth century. No. 13 is remarkable as being a copy of the obverse side of one of the denarii of Cæsar. Some may be inclined to consider them as siege-pieces; for pieces of pasteboard were used by the Dutch for that purpose at a later period; but then there are no numerals or other marks indicating their value. However, whether intended as money, or its representative, or jettons, they appear to me worthy the attention of the curious. The ancient vessel (fig. 14.) was discovered about twelve months since by a labourer at plough in the neighGENT. MAG. Suppl. CII. PART II. A bourhood of Boulogne. The present possessor thinks it is a "porridge-pot," and that it was suspended over a table with a lamp beneath, to keep the contents warm. A vessel of this description was in use in Holland and the Netherlands many years ago. From the curvature of its spouts, it cannot be a lamp. Several dishes were discovered at the same time; but they are not of a peculiar shape. They have the letters J. B. on them in the Black Letter character, something in the style of those of the time of Henry the Eighth. Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN, J. Y. AKERMAN. Dec. 20. Hundredth Anniversary of the Opening of Covent-Garden Theatre. The present year is distinguished by two very remarkable centenaries connected with the public amusements of the metropolis, viz. the opening of Vauxhall-Gardens upon the modern plan, by Jonathan Tyers, on the evening of June 7, 1732, with a Ridotto al Fresco; and the original opening of a Theatre Royal in Covent-garden, on Thursday, the 7th of the following December.* As every generation should *Though the history of the stage be silent as to the existence of any theatre in Covent-garden before that erected by the Piazza Coffee-house, was in possesRich, yet the late Mr. Richardson, of sion of a ticket on which were the words "For the music at the Playhouse in Covent Garden, Tuesday March the 6th, 1704."-J. T. Smith's Additional Plates to the Antiquities of Westminster. Times. 586 make the most of such great anniver- with, and feeling at the same time that A space of ground at the back of Bow-street, Covent-garden,† was selected as a spot well fitted for the structure, it being then occupied only by some old buildings, said to have formed part of the ancient convent whence that part of London originally derived its name, which had been left standing by Inigo Jones when he constructed the piazza and colonnade in 1633. The design seems to have received immediate encouragement, since Read's Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer of Saturday, January 16th, 1731, states that the subscriptions then exceeded 6,000l., that the building would speedily be begun, and that the design had met with universal approval. It is added that the old house in Lincoln's-inn-fields was to be disposed of to the Crown for the Commissioners of the Stamp-duties. A removal of the old buildings was commenced in February, and the next The theatre was opened Dec. 18, by Messrs. John and Christopher Mosyer Rich, sons of the late Christopher Rich, who took the patent (granted by Charles II. to Sir W. Davenant and Mr. Killigrew, united to Sir W. Davenant in 1682) and other properties under the will of their father. The receipt on the first night was 1434, a sum not exceeded during the season except upon the performance of the "Island Princes" by the command of his Majesty, and a few benefit nights, where tickets being calculated as money, that might be disposed of in part at under prices, leaves the amount uncertain. There can be no doubt that in Bow-street a building or large room was well known and frequented, as a place of public amusement, for many years before the building of the theatre commenced. In 1690 Mr. Franks had a "Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music, at the two Golden Balls at the upper end of Bow-street.” In February 1691, this entertainment was removed next "Bedfordgate in Charles Street: " but again advertised in 1710 and 1711. In 1718, (at a period when lesser stars had to compete with the combination of musical talent, leading names, and occasional novelty of an Italian singer, usually brought forward at Stationers' Hall, at York Buildings, and other places of attraction,) we find a concert at the "Golden Balls in Hart-street, at the upper end of Bow-street," advertised 4 Feb. 1712" for the entertainment of the Prince Eugene." Whether this place of public resort was afterwards razed to the ground, and the site formed any part of that used for the theatre, is uncertain. To the above concert, Mr. Richardson's ticket probably referred, though he placed strong reliance upon the word 'playhouse;' which might locally mean "Punch's Theatre, under the Little Piazza," or even Drury Lane Theatre, that being occasionally called the playhouse in Covent Garden, but more frequently in Brydges-street. The site of Covent Garden was a There never was any convent on this spot. garden of the Abbey of Westminster; whence its name. notice appears in the Daily Advertiser of Tuesday, March 2d, announcing that "the new theatre which is to be built in Covent-garden will be after the model of the Opera-house in the Haymarket, and by the drawing that has been approved of for the same, it is said it will exceed the Opera-house in magnificence of structure." Passing over a mere newspaper report that Gibbs was intended to be the architect of both the theatre and the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, we find by the Daily Advertiser, of Thursday, April the 29th, “that a great number of workmen are daily employed in digging the foundation near Covent-garden, on which a new playhouse is to be very speedily built for Mr. Rich, the master of the Theatre Royal in Lincoln's-inn-fields, notwithstanding the various reports to the contrary. No doubt in these rumours the wish was father to the report; but that the works continued to advance prosperously, is proved by the same paper of Friday, August the 6th; which states that "the new Theatre building near Covent-garden for Mr. Rich, is carrying on with such expedition and diligence, there being a great number of hands employed therein, that it is thought it will be completely finished and ready to receive his audience next winter. Several persons of distinction resort thither daily to view the said works, and seem much pleased with the performance." This expectation, however, was disappointed; partly, perhaps, from the want of sufficient funds; but it is also probable that much of the subsequent delay was occasioned by the following notice of an accident which affected the security of the building: it appeared in Read's Weekly Journal for Saturday, November the 6th,-"Last Tuesday great part of the roof of the new playhouse which is building near Covent-garden fell in, when several of the men that were at work had their limbs broken, and one had his skull fractured, and died in about eight hours after." A more favourable and perhaps more accurate account appeared in the Grubstreet Journal of the following Thursday, which stated that "as the workmen were raising one of the rafters, the tackling breaking, it fell on the main beams, and threw down one man, who is since dead, and another was slightly hurt; but no damage what ever happened to the roof or any other part of the building." It will easily be supposed that Rich now confidently expected to open for the winter season of 1732 in the new building; and therefore, on closing at the Portugal-row house on Friday, June 2, in that year, his advertisement concludes with 66 being the last time of the company's acting in that theatre." When the time of opening arrived, however, this anticipation was again disappointed, since, in the Daily Journal for Monday, September 18, the following demi-official communication was inserted :-"We hear that Mr. Harvey and Mr. Lambert have been employed some time in painting the scenes for the new theatre in Covent-garden; and that Signor Amiconi, who painted the Lord Tankerville's excellent staircase in St. James'ssquare, is to show his art in the ceiling of that theatre; and in order thereto hath prepared a design, in which Apollo is represented in an assembly of the Muses dignifying Shakspeare with the laurel; and as the several hands employed require some time further to execute their undertakings, we are informed the theatre in Lincoln's-inn-fields will be opened in a few days; it being determined not to act in that of Covent-garden till the decorations are quite finished." The old theatre accordingly opened September 22, with Hamlet. At length the new edifice was completely ready, and was even intended to be opened on the 27th of November, though the following lines, which then appeared, or some other unknown cause, deferred the time for a few days longer. Thespis, the first of the dramatic race, Stroll'd in a cart, for gain, from place to place: His actors rude, his profits came but slow Awhile the gay machine attention drew, Lun was the feigned name of John Rich, under which he performed Har-, lequin in his own pantomimes. It is scarcely possible to conceive anything more simple and unostentatious than the advertisement for the original opening of the New Theatre Royal, Coventgarden; since, from the plainness of its language, it might be supposed that the house had been familiar to the town for the last half-dozen seasons. And though this part of the 18th century was by no means deficient in the art of writing flourishing advertisements, and though advertisements of a moderate length were then admitted into the principal papers at 2s. each!" yet those announcements which might be reasonably expected to have the most extraordinary display are, perhaps, the most distinguished by their simplicity. Thus, after Tyers had so richly and beautifully decorated Vauxhall, aided by the united pencils of Hogarth and Hayman, the public is informed of its opening in so unceremonious a manner, that some persons still doubt if the following earliest known advertisement be actually the first. "At the particular desire of several persons of quality. At Spring Gardens, Vauxhall, on Wednesday next, being the 7th of June, 1732, will be the Ridotto al' Fresco. The doors to be opened at 4 o'clock at night. No persons whatever will be admitted with swords, or without printed tickets." Even the known opening advertisement of Rich's new theatre in Portugal-row is equally plain, it being only as follows:-"By the company of comedians under letters patent granted by King Charles II. At the theatre in Lincoln's-inn-fields, to-morrow, being Saturday, the 18th of December, 1714, will be acted a comedy called the Recruiting Officer. Beginning exactly at 6. No person to be admitted behind the scenes, nor any money to be returned after the curtain is drawn up." The flowers of advertisement-eloquence were therefore in those days to be found principally in the notices of Winstanley's Watertre, Pinchbeck's Mechanism, Fawkes's Sleight of Hand, and the "great theatrical booths" of Bartholomew and Southwark fairs; and after the preceding curious instances of simple announcement, it is not surprising_to find the opening advertisement of Covent-garden Theatre as unostentatious as the following "By the Company of Comedians. At the Theatre Royal in Covent-garden, on Thursday next, being the 7th day of December, will be revived a comedy called The Way of the World, written by Mr. Congreve. The clothes, scenes, and decorations, entirely new. And, on account of the great demand for places, the pit and boxes, by desire, will be laid together at 5s., gallery 2s., upper gallery 1s. And to prevent the scenes being crowded, the stage half a guinea. N.B. All persons who want places are desired to send to the stage-door (the passage from Bow-street leading to it), where attendance will be given, and places kept for the following nights as usual.” In illustration of this advertisement * "Harlequin by Mr. Lun," was the common playhouse announcement, but on what circumstance that name was adopted by John Rich is unknown. His brother appears, from a register kept by him, to have probably taken some part in the house regulations and never acted; though certain nights were considered the joint benefit of the brothers. The name of Woodward was at that time inserted in the bills of Drury-lane Theatre, as performing Harlequin. The popularity of Rich occasioned Vander Gucht to engrave a scene print with the distich Shakspeare, Rowe, Jonson, uow are quite undone. + The puff (an evil without cure) of Tyers, was the time-serving one in the prefixture to the advertisement "at the particular desire of several persons of quality," and the admission was one guinea, for which three ferry-boats were to attend at Westminster and Lambeth gratis. The lure did not answer-"there was not half the company as was expected.”—In 1713 Nestor Ironside, to burlesque the puff of Nicolini Haym, "of great merit and skill in his profession, accompanied with so much modesty," who announced a concert at Hickford's Dancing Room by the Haymarket, directed his printer to insert Haym's advertisement "with all the stars, daggers, hands, turned commas, and Nota Bene's which he had in the house," and to adorn it with "two line Great Primer, two line English, double Pica, Paragon, Great Primer, English, Pica, Small Pica, Long Primer, Brevier, Nonpareil, and Pearl Letters." See Guardian No. 31 and 32. |