time (1847), and are very beautiful. The theatre derives its name from an academy or exhibition room, built 1765, for the Society of Arts, by Mr. James Payne, architect. It was first converted into a theatre in 1790, and into an English Opera House by Mr. Arnold in 1809. The preceding theatre (also the work of Mr. Beazley) was destroyed by fire, Feb. 16th, 1830. This theatre is under the management of Madame Vestris and Mr. Charles Mathews, and during the season never fails to produce attractive pieces. Prices of admission:-Dress Circle and Boxes, 5s,; Pit, 2s. 6d. There is no half-price,

The PRINCESS'S THEATRE is in OXFORD STREET, nearly opposite the Pantheon. It was opened 1840, and is one of the best theatres in London for the purposes of a manager and the interests of the public. The present lessee is Mr. Charles Kean. Prices of admission:-Dress Circle, 58.; Boxes, 48.; Pit, 28.

SADLER'S WELLS THEATRE, long a well-known place of public amusement: first a music-house, and so called from a spring of mineral water, discovered by one Sadler, in 1683, in the garden of a house which he had newly opened as a public music-room, and called by his own name as "Sadler's Music House." The New River flows past the theatre, and on great occasions has been carried under the stage, and the flooring removed, for the exhibition of aquatic performances. Here Grimaldi, the famous clown, achieved his greatest triumphs. This admirable little theatre (for such it now is, under the able management of Mr. Phelps, the actor) has for some years maintained a well-deserved celebrity for the performance of the plays of Shakspeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, Massinger, &c., in a way worthy of a larger theatre, and a richer, but not a more crowded or enthusiastic audience.

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD, a theatre and circus, under the management of Mr. Batty, well conducted and well patronised, and the fourth building of the same nature on the same site. The first amphitheatre on this spot was a mere temporary erection of deal boards, built (1774) by Philip Astley, a light-horseman in the 15th or General Elliot's regiment. It stood on what was then an open piece of ground in St. George's Fields, through which the New Cut ran, and to which a halfpenny hatch led. The price of admission to the space without the railing of the ride was 6d., and Astley himself, said to have been the handsomest man in England, was the chief performer,

assisted by a drum, two fifes, and a clown of the name of
Porter. At first it was an open area. In 1780, it was con-
verted into a covered amphitheatre, and divided into pit,
boxes, and gallery. In 1786, it was newly fitted up, and
called the "Royal Grove," and in 1792, "The Royal Saloon,
or Astley's Amphitheatre." The entertainment, at first, was
only a day exhibition of horsemanship. Transparent fire-
works, slack-rope vaulting, Egyptian Pyramids, tricks on
chairs, tumbling, &c., were subsequently added, the ride
enlarged, and the house opened in the evening. It is now
both theatre and amphitheatre. Astley's amphitheatre has
been thrice destroyed by fire-in 1794, in 1803, and in 1841.
"Base Buonapartè, fill'd with deadly ire,
Sets, one by one, our playhouses on fire.

Some years ago he pounced with deadly glee on
The Opera House, then burnt down the Pantheon;
Thy hatch, O Halfpenny! pass'd in a trice,

Boil'd some black pitch, and burnt down Astley's twice."

Rejected Addresses. Mr. Ducrow, who had been one of Astley's riders and became manager, died insane soon after the fire in 1841. Old Astley, who was born at Newcastle-under-Line in 1742, died in Paris, Oct. 20, 1814. For the equestrian performances in the circus (the leading attraction) you need not go before 9 at night.

The VICTORIA THEATRE is in WATERLOO BRIDGE ROAD, LAMBETH. It was originally The Coburg, and called The Victoria for the first time soon after the accession of William IV., when her present Majesty was only heir presumptive to the crown. The gallery at the "Vic" (for such is its brief cognomen about Lambeth) is one of the largest in London. It will hold from 1500 to 2000 people, and runs back to so great a distance that the end of it is lost in shadow, excepting where the little gas-jets, against the wall, light up the two or three faces around them. When the gallery is well packed, it is usual to see piles of boys on each other's shoulders at the back, while on the partition-boards, dividing off the slips, lads will pitch themselves despite the spikes.

The SURREY or CIRCUS THEATRE, in BLACKFRIARS ROAD, was built (1805-6) on the site of a former edifice destroyed by fire in 1805. Elliston leased it for a time; and, subsequently, the late Mr. Davidge acquired a handsome fortune by his management. John Palmer, the actor (d. 1798), played here while a prisoner within the Rules of the King's Bench. The large sums he received, and the way in which he squandered his money, is said to have suggested the clause in the then Debtors' Act, which made all public

houses and places of amusement out of the Rules. This house is chiefly supported by the inhabitants of Southwark and Lambeth.

The ST. JAMES'S THEATRE is a small neat edifice, on the south side of KING STREET, St. JAMES's, built by Beazley for Braham, the singer. During the summer it is usually appropriated to the performances of a French company of actors, and in the height of the London season is well frequented. The prices of admission vary every season.

The SOHO THEATRE (late MISS KELLY'S) is in DEAN STREET, SOHO, and is let to private parties for amateur theatricals. The house will hold 700 people.

EXETER HALL, in the STRAND. A large proprietary building on the N. side of the Strand, built (1831) from the designs of J. P. Deering, but altered in the ceiling and lengthened about 40 feet, in 1850, by Mr. S. W. Daukes. The Hall is 131 feet long, 76 feet wide (i. e. 8 feet wider than Westminster Hall), and 45 feet high; and will contain, in comfort, more than 3000 persons. It is let for the annual "May Meetings" of the several religious societies, and for the concerts of the Sacred Harmonic Society, in which the unrivalled music of Handel is at times performed, with a chorus of 700 voices accompanying it. Tickets may be had at the principal music-sellers, and at offices adjoining the Hall.

ST. MARTIN'S HALL, LONG ACRE. A place for monthly concerts, &c. Erected in 1850 for Mr. John Hullah.

ALMACK'S is a suite of Assembly-rooms in KING STREET, ST. JAMES'S, built (1765) by Robert Mylne, architect, and called Almack's after the original proprietor, and occasionally "Willis's Rooms," after the present proprietor. The balls called "Almack's," for which these rooms are famous, are managed by a Committee of Ladies of high rank, and the only mode of admission is by vouchers or personal introduction. Almack kept the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's-street, on the site of which stands the Conservative Club. The rooms are let for concerts, general meetings, and public balls.

The ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, in REGENT'S PARK, belong to the Zoological Society of London, a Society instituted in 1826, for the advancement of Zoology, and the introduction and exhibition of the Animal Kingdom alive or properly preserved. The principal founders were Sir Humphry Davy, and Sir Stamford Raffles. Visitors are admitted to the Gardens of the Society without orders on Monday in every week, at 6d. each; on the following days at 1s, each; children at 6d.

The Gardens are open from 9 in the morning till sunset. The rooms of the Society are at No. 11, Hanover-square. A member's fee on admission is 5l., and his annual subscription 31. These Gardens are among the best of our London sights, and should be seen by every stranger in London. The giraffes and rattle-snakes are very rare and fine, but the recent attractions of the Gardens have been the Hippopotamus, presented by the Viceroy of Egypt, the first ever brought to this country, the Elephant Calf, the Uran Utan from Singapore, the Apteryx from New Zealand. The collection of stuffed humming birds, the property of Mr. Gould, author of the "Birds of Europe," "Birds of Australia," &c., allowed by ornithologists to be the finest in the world. Mr. Gould's collection consists of about 2000 specimens of 300 species, arranged in upwards of 40 glass-cases, each of which contains a genus, and every pane or compartment a species in different states of age and colour. The collection of living snakes is the largest ever formed in Europe. The Society is about to exhibit fish in large glass reservoirs, and will thus materially add to the attractions and scientific character of these Gardens. The band of the First Life Guards is often to be heard here on Saturday at 4. The pelicans are fed at half-past 2; otters at 3; eagles at half-past 3 (Wednesdays excepted); and lions and tigers at 4.

The SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, two miles from Waterloo Bridge, contain the menagerie of Mr. Cross, by whom the grounds were laid out (1831-2), after the demolition of Exeter 'Change and the Mews at Charing Cross. The collection in some respects is superior to the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park. The fêtes and exhibitions in the summer months are among the attractions of the Surrey side of London. The grounds are about 15 acres in extent, with a sheet of water of nearly 3 acres. Admission 18.

LEARNED INSTITUTIONS.

The ROYAL SOCIETY, in SOMERSET HOUSE (on your left as you enter the vestibule), was incorporated by royal charter in 1663, King Charles II. and the Duke of York (James II.) entering their names as members of the Society. Like the Society of Antiquaries, and perhaps all other institutions, this celebrated Society (boasting of the names of Newton, Wren, Halley, Herschel, Davy, and Watt, among its members) originated in a small attendance of men engaged in the same

pursuits, and dates its beginning from certain weekly meetings held in London, as early as the year 1645. The merit of suggesting such meetings is assigned by Wallis (himself a foundation member) to Theodore Haak, a German of the Palatinate, then resident in London. The Civil War interrupted their pursuits for a time; but with the Restoration of the King, a fresh accession of strength was obtained, new members enlisted, and the charter of incorporation granted. The Society consists at present of about 766 "Fellows," and the letters F.R.S. are generally appended to the name of a member. The present entrance money is 107. and the annual subscription 47.; members are elected by ballot, upon the nomination of 6 or more fellows. The patron saint of the Society is St. Andrew, and the anniversary meeting is held every 30th of November, being St. Andrew's Day. The present President is the Earl of Rosse, distinguished for the discoveries he is making with his great telescope. The Society possesses some interesting portraits. Observe.Three portraits of Sir Isaac Newton-one by C. Jervas, presented by Newton himself, and properly suspended over the President's chair-a second in the Library, by D. C. Marchand and a third in the Assistant Secretary's Office, by Vanderbank; two portraits of Halley, by Thomas Murray and Dahl; two of Hobbes-one taken in 1663 by, says Aubrey, "a good hand"-and the other by Gaspars, presented by Aubrey; Sir Christopher Wren, by Kneller; Wallis, by Soest; Flamstead, by Gibson; Robert Boyle, by F. Kerseboom, (Evelyn says it is like); Pepys, by Kneller, presented by Pepys; Lord Somers, by Kneller; Sir R. Southwell, by Kneller; Sir H. Spelman, the antiquary, by Mytens (how it came here I know not); Sir Hans Sloane, by Kneller; Dr. Birch, by Wills, the original of the mezzotint done by Faber in 1741, bequeathed by Birch; Martin Folkes, by Hogarth; Dr. Wollaston, by Jackson; Sir Humphry Davy, by Sir T. Lawrence. Observe also. The mace of silver gilt (similar to the maces of the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker, and President of the College of Physicians), presented to the Society by Charles II. in 1662. The belief so long entertained that it was the mace or "bauble," as Cromwell called it, of the Long Parliament, has been completely refuted by Mr. Weld producing the original warrant of the year 1662, for the special making of this very mace.-A solar dial, made by Sir Isaac Newton when a boy; a reflecting telescope, made in 1671, by Newton's own hands; MS. of the Principia, in Newton's own handwriting; lock of Newton's hair, silver white; MS. of the Parentalia, by young Wren; Charter Book of the Society,