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portrait of his Majesty, and on the reverse, the following in

,scription:

"GEORGIUS

PRINCEPS WALLIARUM,

Theatri, Regiis, Instaurandi, Auspiciis,

In Hostis Benedictinis

Londini,

Fundamenta, Sua Manu Locavit,

MDCCCVIII."

The other medal was deeply engraved, on copper.

side was inscribed:

"Under the auspices of

His most Sacred Majesty, George III. King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,

On one

The Foundation-stone of the Theatre, Covent Garden, was laid by his Royal Highness George Prince of Wales,

And on the other side,

MDCCCVIII."

"Robert Smirke, Architect."

Here were deposited also gold, silver, and copper coins, of the latest coinage; the masons after this spread mortar over the lower stones, and, a silver trowel being presented by the Deputy Grand Master, Earl Moira, to his Majesty, as Grand Master, he finished spreading it, and the stone was slowly let down. The King next having, in the accustomed forms, used the plumb, the level, and the square, finished the laying of the stone with three strokes of a mallet. He now poured over it the ancient offerings of corn, oil, and wine, from the silver vases; and having returned the plan into the hands of the architect, graciously desired that the edifice might be completed conformably thereto. His Majesty, then addressing Messrs. Harris and Kemble, expressed his wish for the success and prosperity of the undertaking. The ceremony being concluded, the Grand Master withdrew.

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A various mould, and, from the boiling cells,

By strange conveyance, filled each hollow nook;
Anon, out of the earth, a fabric huge

Rose like an exhalation,

Built like a temple, where pilasters round

Were set, and doric pillars overlaid

With golden architrave, nor did these want
Cornice or frieze, with bossy sculpture graven.

MILTON.

Upon the plan of Mr. Smirke, and under the superintendance of Mr. Copeland, this immense pile was completed in all its parts, agreeably to the promise of its proprietors, on the 18th of September. The classic genius of the architect, as carried into almost immediate effect by the builder, and equalled in the eyes of many the executive power of Aladdin's lamp. The edifice was completed in ten months, at the enormous expence of 300,000l.

We have no intention whatever to undertake the relation of the disgraceful disturbances which took place on the reopening of the theatre, in consequence principally of the necessary increase of the prices of admission. For sixty-seven nights were these disturbances repeated, to such an extent, that to hear and see the performances was next to impossible. At length the managers met, as far as was compatible with their interests, the wishes of the public, and a complete reconciliation followed.

Mr. Harris remained the ostensible manager of Covent Garden theatre, assisted by his son, (Mr. Henry Harris,) until his death, which took place October 1st, 1820, at his cottage on Putney-hill, near Wimbledon. Mr. H. had been the chief proprietor and manager of Covent Garden theatre for upwords of half a century.

Mr. Harris married, early in life, a Miss Newton, by whom he had several children. Of these Mr. Henry Harris is, we have reason to believe, the eldest. He has succeeded his father in the management of the theatre, and for his strenuous and unremitting exertions in fulfilling the duties of this re

sponsible situation, he is entitled to the highest praise. It is impossible for any man to labour more assiduously to conciliate the favour of the public than he does. Neither pains nor expence are spared to render Covent Garden theatre as well worth the attention and patronage of the public now, as it was in the zenith of his father's managerial popularity. It is also but justice to mention, that the most obscure author, if he produces any thing worthy of notice, is encouraged with as much warmth and liberality by the present manager, as if he were backed by the patronage of all the illustrious names in the Court Guide. Nor is less encouragement shown to young and meritorious performers; and, what renders this impartiality of more immediate moment to the author and actor is, that, with the desire to do justice to contemporary merit, is united in Mr. Henry Harris the ability to form himself, without trusting to the reports of others, an accurate judgment on the productions and talents which present themselves for his decision.

The family of the late Mr. Harris now retain seven-twelfths of the whole property of Covent Garden theatre; the remaining shares are disposed of as we have already described.

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402

No. XI.

JOHN RENNIE, Esq. F. R. S.

THIS HIS gentleman, so justly celebrated for the splendid public works which have been at various times erected under his superintendance, was born, June 7th, 1761, at the small village of Preston Kirk, in the county of East Lothian, Scotland, and was the youngest of a family of several children. He had the misfortune to be deprived of his father at a very early age, when his elder brother George, in conjunction with his mother, undertook the education of the younger branches of the family.

--

He received the rudiments of learning at a neighbouring village-school, where the famous algebraist, Mr. Peter Nicholson, was also educated; neither of these sons of science, however, owed much to their first teacher, reading, writing, and the elements of arithmetic, being only taught at his school. The house adjoining Mr. Rennie's farm was for some time occupied by Mr. Andrew Meickle *, an ingenious millwright, no less esteemed for his talents than respected for his candour and private worth. Mr. M. had long been connected with the family of the Rennies, and by way of evincing his respect for them, undertook to teach young Rennie his profession. He remained with him six years, during which time he became complete master of the business, as far as regarded the construction of mill-works. He assiduously devoted himself to his art, and, as modelling was taught by

* Mr. Meickle has made several important improvements in the construction of water-wheels, and has brought the art to considerable perfection was at that time one of the first practical millwrights in England. executed with great accuracy, so that at an early age Mr. Rennie had a better tutor.

Mr. Meickle His work was could not have

Mr. Meickle, he was seldom without a model of a wheel in his pocket.

Mr. Rennie having acquired considerable proficiency, quitted Mr. Meickle, and commenced business as a master millwright in Scotland; but ambition and perseverance being the leading features of his character, he soon perceived that the occupation of a millwright in that country was far from affording lucrative prospects.

About this period (1783) Mr. Watt had just began to apply the steam-engine to mill-work, and the Albion mill, at Blackfriars Bridge, was projected. Mr. Rennie accordingly applied to Messrs. Bolton and Watt for employment, which he obtained at the fixed salary of a guinea per week. The Albion mill was soon afterwards undertaken, and Mr. Rennie's department was to manage the mill and grinding part, neither of which Mr. Watt or any of his assistants perfectly understood. Mr. Rennie's attention and integrity gave great satisfaction to his employers, and the Albion mill being completed, he continued to superintend and put the whole in order. The machinery of Whitbread's brewhouse was soon after constructed under Mr. Rennie's directions, and an opening thus presented for him to commence business on his own account. About this time, Mr. Smeaton, the celebrated engineer, died, and left a chasm in that department of science; and a more favourable combination of circumstances for Mr. Rennie's establishment could not have presented itself. A new power for moving machines had just then been invented, and Mr. Rennie was protected by, and connected with, the inventor and paHe was next noticed by Mr. Robert Grazer, the projector of many useful works, who introduced him to the canal business, and made him thoroughly acquainted with the methods of carrying bills for canals and bridges through parliament.

tentee.

From the year 1794 to the day of his death, Mr. Rennie was at the head of the list of civil engineers, and became connected with every undertaking of magnitude, - canals, bridges, harbours, wet docks, and machines of every description, were

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