The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 279: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER XXVII THE PRIVATE THEATRICALS THE reader will remember that magnificent saloon at Carlton House where the dance of the aristocratic young ladies took place, and whence there was a communication by means of a glass door with an antechamber. This saloon was now fitted up as a private theatre. A stage had been erected with wings, shifting scenes, a curtain, footlights, trap-doors, and all the usual contrivances and arrangements belonging to efficient dramatic representation. On the floor were placed rows of cushioned seats, ana along the sides, as well as at the extremity facing the stage, elegantly fur- nished boxes were erected. A door had been purposely pierced at the extremity, under the central boxes, to serve as an entrance for the audience, and it was covered with curtains of purple velvet having gold fringes that swept the floor. A place for the orchestra was built in front of the stage, and several pieces of music had been composed ex- pressly for the occasion. The antechamber adjoining the saloon was converted into a greenroom, an ascent of steps leading from the glass door upon the stage. The whole arrangements had taken place under the superintendence of an eminent theatrical manager, and as money was never spared in gratifying the expensive whims and costly caprices of the prince regent, — a remark which may be applied without a single exception to all the members of royalty from William the Conqueror down to the present day, —every requisite which gold could procure to perfect the elegance, the splendour, and the richness of this bijou theatre had been obtained. At six o’clock in the evening the prince regent gave a sumptuous banquet to all the amateur actors and actresses 250 Eomicdooks. co