"MORE WONDERS IN ATKINS'S ROYAL MENAGERIE Under the Patronage of HIS MA JESTY. good condition, with content of mind, in SHOW III. The inscription outside was, R. "Wonderful Phenomenon in Nature! The singular and hitherto deemed impos sible occurrence of a LION and TIGRESS cohabiting and producing young, has actually taken place in this menagerie, at Windsor. The tigress, on Wednesday, the 27th of October last, produced three fine cubs; one of them strongly resembles the tigress; the other two are of a lighter colour, but striped. Mr. Atkins had the honour (through the kind inter- | vention of the marquis of Conyngham,)" of exhibiting the lion-tigers to his majesty, on the first of November, 1824, at the Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park, when his majesty was pleased to observe, they were the greatest curiosity of the beast creation he ever witnessed. "The royal striped Bengal Tigress has again whelped three fine cubs, (April 22,) two males and one female: the males the female resemare white, but stripe singular to observe, she fondles them with all the care of an attentive mother. The sire of the young cubs is the noble male lion. This remarkable instance of subdued temper and association of animals to permit the keeper to enter their den, and introduce their young to the spectators, is the greatest phenomenon in natural philosophy. Here I saw a man who balanced chairs on his chin, and holding a knife in his mouth, balanced a sword on the edge of the knife; he then put a pewter plate on the hilt of the sword horizontally, and so balanced the sword with the plate on the edge of the knife as before, the piate having previously received a rotary motion, which it communicated to the sword and was preserved during the balancing. He then balanced the sword and plate in like manner, with a crown-piece placed edge wise between the point of the sword and the knife, and afterwards with two crownpieces, and then with a key. These feats were accompanied by the grimaces of a clown, and succeeded by children tumbling, and a female who danced a hornpipe. A learned horse found out a lady in the company who wished to be married; a gentleman who preferred a quart of beer "That truly singular and wonderful anito going to church to hear a good sermon; mal, the AUROCHOS. Words can only a lady who liked to lie abed in the morn-convey but a very confused idea of this ing; and made other discoveries which he was requested to undertake by his master in language not only "offensive to ears polite," but to common decency. The admission to this show was a penny. SHOW IV. Atkin's Menagerie. This inscription was in lamps on one of the largest shows in the fair. The display of show-cloths representing some of the animals exhibited within, reached about forty feet in heighth, and extended probably the same width. The admission was sixpence. As a curiosity, and because it is a singularly descriptive list, the printed bill of the show is subjoined. animal's shape, for there are few so remarkably formed. Its head is furnished with two large horns, growing from the forehead, in a form peculiar to no other animal; from the nostrils to the forehead, is a stiff tuft of hair, and underneath the jaw to the neck is a similar brush of hair, and between the fore legs is hair growing about a foot and a half long. The mane is like that of a horse, white, tinged with black, with a beautiful long flowing white tail; the eye remarkably keen, and as large as the eye of the elephant: colour of the animal, dark chesnut; the appear ance of the head, in some degree similar to the buffalo, and in some part formed like the goat, the hoof being divided; such is the general outline of this quadruped, which seems to partake of several species. This beautiful animal was brought over by captain White, from the south of Africa, and landed in England, September 20, 1823, and is the same animal so frequently mistaken by travellers for the unicorn: further to describe its peculiarities would occupy too much space in a handbill. The only one in England. "That colossal animal, the wonderful performing Elephant, Upwards of ten feet high!!-Five tons weight!! His consumption of hay, corn, straw, carrots, water, &c, exceeds 800lbs. daily. The elephant, the human race excepted, is the most respectable of animals. In size, he surpasses all other terrestrial creatures, and by far exceeds any other travelling animal in England. He bas ivory tusks, four feet long, one standing out on each side of his trunk. His trunk serves him instead of hands and arms, with which he can lift up and seize the smallest as well as the largest objects. He alone drags machines which six horses Cannot move. To his prodigious strength, he adds courage, prudence, and an exact bedience. He remembers favours as long as injuries in short, the sagacity and knowledge of this extraordinary animal are beyond any thing human imagination can possibly suggest. He will lie down and get up at the word of command, notwithstanding the many fabulous tales of their having no joints in their legs. He will take a sixpence from the floor, and place it in a box he has in the caravan; bolt and unbolt a door; take his keeper's hat off, and replace it; and by the command of his keeper will perform so many wonderful tricks, that he will not only astonish and entertain the audience, but justly prove himself the half-reasoning beast. He is the only elephant now travelling. "A full grown LION and LIONESS, with four cubs, produced December 12, 1824, at Cheltenham. “Male Bengal Tiger. Next to the lion, the tiger is the most tremendous of the carnivorous class; and whilst he possesses all the bad qualities of the former, seems to be a stranger to the good ones: pride, to strength, to courage, the lion greatness, and sometimes, perhaps, adds to clemency; while the tiger, without provocation, is fierce-without necessity, is cruel. Instead of instinct, he hath nothing but a uniform rage, a blind fury, so blind, indeed, so undistinguishing, that he frequently devours his own progeny; and if the tigress offers to defend them, he tears in pieces the dam herself. "The Onagra, a native of the Levant, the eastern parts of Asia, and the northern parts of Africa. This race differs from the zebra by the size of the body, (which is larger,) slenderness of the legs, and lustre of the hair. The only one now alive in England. "Two Zebras, one full grown, the other in its infant state, in which it seerns as if the works of art had been combined with those of nature in this wonderful production. In symmetry of shape, and beauty of colour, it is the most elegant of all quadrupeds ever presented; uniting the graceful figure of a horse, with the fleetness of a stag: beautifully striped with regular lines, black and white. "A Nepaul Bison, only twenty-four inches high. “Panther, or spotted tiger of Buenos Ayres, the only one travelling. "A pair of rattle-tail Porcupines. Striped untameable Hyana, or tiger wolf. "Pair of interesting Sledge Dogs brought over by captain Parry from one of the northern expeditions: they are used by the Esquimaux to draw the sledges on the ice, which they accomplish with great velocity. "A pair of Rackoons, from North America. "The Oggouta, from Java. "A pair of those extraordinary and rare birds, PELICANS of the wilderness. The only two alive in the three kingdoms -These birds have been represented on all crests and coats of arms, to cut their breasts open with the points of their bills, and feed their young with their own blood, and are justly allowed by all authors to Change of Performance each Day. RICHARDSON'S THEATRE. "Ginger beer, apples, nuts, and a bill of the play,"were cried; the charge for a bill to a person not provided with one was "a penny." The seats were rows of planks, rising gradually from the ground at the end, and facing the stage, without any dis This Day will be performed, an entire New tinction of " boxes, pit, or gallery." The Melo-Drama, called the WANDERING OUTLAW, Or, the Hour of Retribution. Gustavus, Elector of Saxony, Mr. Wright. Messrs. Grove and Moore. St. Clair, the WanderingOutlaw, Mr. Smith. The Piece concludes with the DEATH of ACCUSING SPIRIT. The Entertainments to conclude with a New Comic Harlequinade, with New Scenery, Tricks, Dresses, and Decorations, called, OR, THE DEVIL WILL HAVE HIS OWN. Luciferno, Mr. THOMAS. Dæmon Amozor, afterwards Pantaloon, Mr. WILKINSON.-Dæmon Ziokos, afterwards Clown, Mr. HAYWARD. Violencello Player, Mr. HARTEM.-Baker, Mr. THOMPSON.—Landlord, Mr. WILKINS.-Fisherman, Mr. RAE.-Doctor Faustus, afterwards Harlequin, Mr. SALTER. Adelada, afterwards Columbine, The Pantomime will finish with BOXES, 28. PIT, 18. GALLERY, 6d. The theatre was about one hundred feet long, and thirty feet wide, hung all round with green baize, and crimson festoons. stage was elevated, and there was a painted proscenium like that in a regular theatre, with a green curtain, and the king's arms above, and an orchestra lined with crimson cloth, and five violinplayers in military dresses. Between the orchestra and the bottom row of seats, was a large space, which, after the seats were filled, and greatly to the discomfiture of the lower seat-holders, was nearly occupied by spectators. There were at least a thousand persons present. The curtain drew up and presented the "Wandering Outlaw," with a forest scene and a cottage; the next scene was a castle; the third was another scene in the forest. The second act commenced with a scene of an old church and a marketplace. The second scene was a prison, and a ghost appeared to the tune of the "evening hymn." The third scene was the castle that formed the second scene in the first act, and the performance was here enlivened by a murder. The fourth scene was rocks, with a cascade, and there was a procession to an unexecuted execution; for a ghost appeared, and saved the "Wandering Outlaw" from a fierce-looking headsman, and the piece ended. Then a plump little woman sung, “He drew up to Harlequin Faustus," where loves and he rides away," and the curtain in, after columbine and a clown, the most flaming character was the devil, with red face and hands, in a red Spanish mantle and vest, red "continuations," stockings and shoes ditto to follow, a red Spanish hat and plume above, and a red "brass bugle bern." As soon as the fate of "Faustus" was concluded, the sound of a gong announced the happy event, and these performances were, in a quarter of an hour, repeated to another equally intelligent and brilliant audience. SHOW VII. ONLY A PENNY. There never was such times, indeed! NERO The largest Lion in the Fair for a Han dred Guineas! cloths, were in front of a really good er SAMWELL'S COMPANY." Another penny show: The Wonderful Chudren on the Tight Rope, and Dancing Horse. Only a Peasy!" I paid my pency to the money-taker, a slender "fine lady," with three feathers in a "jewelled tarban," and a dress of blue and white masin and silver; and withinside I saw the fat, contented, easy" proprietor, who was arrayed in corres proding magnificence. If he loved leanness, it was in his better ha f," for himself bad one of it. Obesity had dispalfed tium for actory, and therefore a la mmensely tight and large satin acket, he was, as much as possible, the active commander of his active perform ens. He supermended the dancing of a young female on the tight rope. Then he annonced, A lime boy will dance a boppe on the rope," and be ordered ls "bad" aside to play; this was obeyed without & ficulty, for it merely sisted of the man, who blew a bord pipe tune on a Fa'sproe; while it went deme beg'sauced re the tightrope; 10 for was a coropipe dance and so far fer. The ime so w stand on his ted on the rope,” said the manager, and the use by snood on his head accordET Then anocher female danced co de dark-wre; and aber ber came a bone, not a = daneng horse," but a *ected ione, que as learned as the base at bus theatre, in Show III. There was enough for a penny." SET L circle or ride was formed on the ground. The entertainment commenced by a mar dancing on the tight-rope. The rope was removed, and a light bay horse was mounted by a female in trowsers, with a pink gown fully frilled, flounced, and ribboned, with the shoulders in large puffs. While the horse circled the ring at full speed, she danced upon him, and skipped with a hoop like a skipping-rope; she performed other dexterous feats, and conciuded by dancing on the saddie with a flag in each hand, while the horse flew round the ring with great velocity. These and the subsequent performances were enlivened by tunes from a clarionet and horn, and jokes from a clown, who, when she had concluded, said to an attendant, "Now, John, take the borse off, and whatever you do, rub him well down with a cabbage." Then a man rode and danced on another horse, a very fine ap mai, and leaped from him three time over garters, placed at a considerable beight and width apart, alighting on the horse's back while he was going round. This rider was remarkably dexterous In conclusion, the clown got up and rode with many antie tricks, tui, on the sodden, an apparently drunken fellow rushed from the abdience into the ring, and began to pull the clows from the bone. The manager interfered, and the people cried-Timbim out," but the man pere sired, and the clown getting of, offered to help him sp, and threw him ever the borse's back to the ground. At length the intruder was seated, with his face to the tall, though te pridially amo zed a proper position; and nding as a horny tooleaned would hide, fels¤; be then threw of his hat and get crat, and threw of his wistorat, and then an under-wscat, and a third, and a foor and more than a donen walkscacs. Upon taking of the last, his trowers ku dowa 20 and be appeared on: wherencon be crouched, and drawing ha sin sể là a twinkling, appeared in a handao me foes dress, raped to the saddle of the horse, mde standing with great price, **ceret pret appanie, made a bow, and so the performance concluded Tus was the hut in the line on the west side of Smithfeld. Snow XV. Another, and a very good menagerie the admission "only a penny!" It was "GEORGE BALLARD'S Curavan," with "The Lioness that attacked the Exeter mail.—The great Lion.—Royal Tiger.— Large White Bear.-Tiger Owls," with monkies, and other animals, the usual accessories to the interior of a managerie. The chief attraction was "the Lioness." Her_attack on the Exeter Mail was on a Sunday evening, in the year 1816. The coach had arrived at Winter slow-hut, seven miles on the London side of Salisbury. In a most extraordinary manner, at the moment when the coachan pulled up to deliver his bags, one of the leaders was suddenly seized by soine ferocious animal. This produced a great confusion and alarm; two passengers who were inside the mail got out, ran into the house, and locked themselves up in a room above stairs; the horses kicked and plunged violently, and it was with difficulty the coachman could prevent the carriage from being overturned. It was soon perceived by the coachman and guard, by the light of the lamps, that the animal which had seized the horse was a sions of agony in his tears and moans were most pitious and affecting. A fresh horse having been procured, the mail drove on, after having been detained three quarters of an hour. As the mail drew up it stood exactly abreast of the ca ravan from which the lioness made the assault. The coachman at first proposed to alight and stab the lioness with a knife, but was prevented by the remonstrance of the guard; who observed, that he would expose himself to certain destruction, as the animal if attacked would naturally turn upon him and tear him to pieces. The prudence of the advice was clearly proved by the fate of the dog. It was the engagement between him and the lioness that afforded time for engaged herself from the horse, she did the keepers to rally. After she had disnot seem to be in any immediate hurry to with her, as prey, the dog she had killed, move; for, whether she had carried off or from some other cause, she continued growling and howling in so loud a tone, as to be heard for nearly half a mile. All had called out loudly to the guard to he appeared disposed to do, but the owner despatch her with his blunderbuss, which kill her-she cost me 5001, and she will cried out to him, "For God's sake do not be as quiet as a lamb if not irritated." This arrested his hand, and he did not fire. She was afterwards easily enticed by the keepers, and placed in her usual confinement. prietor could exhibit them for "only a penny" in any other place than “Barthoin great multitudes, and the shows are lomew Fair," where the people assemble thronged the whole day. huge lioness. A large mastiff dog came up and attacked her fiercely, on which she quitted the horse and turned upon him. The dog filed, but was pursued and killed by the lioness, within forty yards of the place. It appears that the beast had escaped from its caravan which was standThe collection of animals in Ballard's ing on the road side with others belonging to the proprietors of the menagerie, menagerie is altogether highly intereston their way to Salisbury Fair. An alarming, but it seems impossible that the probeing given, the keepers pursued and hunted the lioness into a hovel under a granary, which served for keeping agri cultural implements. About half-past eight they had secured her so effectually, by barricading the place, as to prevent her escape. The horse, when first attacked, fought with great spirit, and if at liberty, would probably have beaten down his antagonist with his fore feet, but in plunging he embarrassed himself in the harness. The lioness attacked him in the front, and springing at his throat, fastened the talons of her fore feet on each side of his neck, close to the head, while the talons of her hind feet were forced into his chest. In this situation she hung, while the blood was seen flowing as if a vein had been opened by a fleam. He was a capital horse, the offleader, the best in the set. The expies SHOW XVI. * Exhibition of Real Wonders.” This announcement, designed to as tonish, was inscribed over the show with the usual notice," Only a Penny!"-the "Wonders of the Deep!" the "Prodigies of the Age!" and "the Learned Pig!" it large letters. The printed bill is a curi osity : To be Seen in a Commodious Pavilion in this Place. REAL WONDERS! SEE AND BELIEVF |