11 MARCH 1848, Page 13

The irrevocable decree of .Fate, according to which Drury Lane

is doomed after certain intervals to become a sort of Noah's ark, is again in full force. Mr. Bunn tried everything; and wound up with ti; stack of elephants: N. Jtdlien starts a model English opera, but Destiny says, " No"; and ho finds a tenantry composed of equestrians and voltigeurs. Surely Drury Lane will ultimately become a zoological reit:Banc With a professor's 'chair plaCed where hL Jullien was wont to conduot.

The fashionable question at the day is, " we require two Italian Operas?" Still more remarkable lathe question, "Do we want two the-

atres devoted to tumbling and horsemanship?" there that feverish de- sire in the inhabitants of Westminster to See ladies jumping through hoops, and gentlemen balancing themselves on revolving-globes, that they cannot endure BO long a journey as that which lies across their bridge to Astley's, but must have this intellectual recreation provided far them in Old Drury? The managers have filled the stage with seats, have torn up the pit by the roots to leave an arena, and have congregated a very clever set of artistes under the guidance of the celebtated M. Francon i. But, after all, the "Cirque National de Paris" can do nothing more than the "Cirque National de Batty." After leaping over scarves, and exeoutIng'* pas sent on a gallop- ing horse, and balancing a little boy- on one's head, the number of possible feats is soon exhausted, and we find the same story over again. M. Au- riot, the French Clown, is considered a fellow of infinite mirth; but we question whether the English will find him half so diverting as " Jem Berry." Altogether, we do not see that superiority, of Franconi over Batty which should induce people to neglect the old establiannent.