Public Amusements:

of our coloured brother's predecessor , Ira Aldriclge . Ero . Morgan Smith evidently possesses all the points "necessary to ensure for him tbe celebrity and position ¦ obtained by his predecessor . There is an attractiveness iu Bro . Morgan Smith ' s acting which causes us to believe that the Avishes of the most sanguine of his . well-wishers Avill be fully realized .

PltlNCESSES . " The Huguenot Captain" still continues commanding here , the lively intarest of a crowded and elite audience . DRUBY LANE .

Mr . Chattel-ton has issued his arrangements for the ensuing season , commencing Saturday , September . 22 nd , with Shakespere ' s "King John , " followed by the ' Comedy of Errors . " Mr . Phelps is announced to take the part of the king in the tragedy . HAYMABKET .

Miss Amy Sedgwick has remained dormant since our last in " Au Unequal Match , " ancl , doubtless , our country cousins are looking forward to the appearance of this accomplished actress iu our provincial theatres . The benefit of Mr . YV \ Ii . Slei gh , the acting managertook place on the 6 th iust ., and that

, of Mr . John Nelson is announced for next "Wednesday , the 12 th inst . Ou this occasion Miss Amy Sedgwick will take the part of Pauline in " The Lady of Lyons . "

Notes On Literature, Science, Music, Drama, And The Fine Arts.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , MUSIC , DRAMA , AND THE FINE ARTS .

A GOSSIP ABOUT OLD SADLER'S WELLS .

Referring to the notice which appeared in our last upon the subject of the 100 th anniversary of the opening of this theatre , the folioAving particulars , under the head of "A Gossip about Sadler ' s Wells , " whicli we take from our contemporary , The Era , will be read ivith interest .- — " Whilst most theatres have , from time to time

, been burned down and rebuilt , and others have been so remodelled that little more than the site of the original structure remains , Old Sadler ' s Wells may fairly claim a continued existence of one hundred years , during Avhich it has only undergone those needful repairs Avhich have been required for the

security ofthe property . Prom a history , such as no other edifice of the kind possesses , we may venture at this season to collecl a feiv facts which will enable the peruser to measure the distance of the objects which present themselves from this standpoint iu the survey of the past .

' As in other spots about this part of London , the discovery of a mineral spring early attracted tho seekers after health and amusement to the fields of ClerkenAvell , and long before the time of Plenry the Eighth there Avas a building here to afford diversion to the Avater drinkers . At the period of the

Eeformation this spring Avas stopped up by the authority of the State , iu order , as was alleged , to check the impositions ofthe priests ofthe Priory of St . John of Jerusalem , AVIIO extorted money from the people by making them believe that the virtues of the Avater

proceeded from the efficacy of their prayers . The Avell being closed , the place declined , the amusements ceased , and the virtue of the waters greiv out of remembrance . In tbe year 1 GS 3 one of the labourers employed by Mr . Sadler , a surveyor of the highways , discovered , as he Avas digging in the garden of his

master , who had just built what he called ' A Musick House , " the celebrated well . Sadler was not long in turning the discovery to profitable account . Physicians of repute gave him their testimony to the value of the water , which had a strong , ferruginous tasteresembling the mineral waters of Tollbridge

, , but not so strong a chalybeate . Hundreds of persons daily came to drink them , who ivere recommended to eat carraivays whilst taking the Avaters , or to drink a glass or two of Bhenish or white ivine , and smoke a pipe of tobacco , and for these visitors it ivas obvious some amusement might be advantageously ' provided .

Accordingly , Sadler laid out his garden , and . planted it ivith flowers and shrubs , constructed a marble basin in the centre to receive the waters of the principal spring , and built a long room on the lawn , with a platform , or stage , at the end . He . fur ther engaged posturers , tumblers , and rope-dancers , ivliose

performances were generally in the open air , and without any expense to the visitors , unless they volunteered their sixpence a-piece towards any favourite exhibition . At this date we find a Mr . Pearson was ' engaged to play on the dulcimer every evening at the end of the long walk , ' and a band ivas stationed on a shell-ivork rock to supply music for those who liked to dance , so that we may fancy our forefathers had found their medicinal water-drinking all the

pleasanter for enjoying ivith it tbe diversions of a miniature Cremorne . These amusements , which ivere at first but a secondary , soon became the principal , inducement for the public to visit ' Sadler ' s Music House , ' and thus encouraged he built a temporary . theatre , Avhich continued to prosper . In 1702 a new proprietor took possession of the house ancl grounds

, and identified them with his own name as ' Miles ' s Music House . ' The place now had an organ loft and gallery , decorated in front with mythological pictures , and if 'Ned Ward , ' of 'Tho London Spy , ' maybe trusted , was not always filled AA'ith the most reputable company . The great attraction at this time would

seem to have been the man Avho performed the disgusting feat of eating a fowl alive . In the reign of George the First the old name of the place Avas restored , aud the property fell into the hands of Francis Forcer , a musician and composer , Avho appears to have given a creditable vocal ancl

instrumental concert , and Avho was the first to introduce rope dancing as a prominent feature of the amusements . Iu the Weekly Journal of the 15 th of March , 1718 , we read the following : — 'Sadler ' s Wells being lately opened there is likely to be a great resort of strolling damsels , half-pay officers , peripatetic

tradesmen , tars , butchers , aud others musically inclined . " A Mr . Garbott , who wrote a curious poem with very indifferent rhymes on the subject of ' the New River , ' thus records the style of entertainment which then prevailed : — 'Now to the show-room let ' s awhile repair , To see tiie active feats performed there ; How the hold Dutchman ou tho rope doth hound With greater air than others on the ground .