The Sans Pareil, in the Strand.

THIS is a winter house, and is chiefly under the management of Mr. and Miss Scott, the latter of whom writes almost all the pieces which are performed here.

Another theatre, in Wellclose Square, called the Royalty Theatre, is occasionally opened; and one also in John Street, near Tottenham Court Road.

Vauxhall Gardens.

THESE gardens are the most celebrated in Europe, and are situated near the Thames, in the parish of Lambeth. It is not easy to ascertain the time when this enchanting place was first opened for the entertainment of the public. In the reign of queen Anne, it appears to have been a place of great public resort; for in the Spectator, No. 383, May 20, 1712, Mr. Addison has introduced his favourite character, Sir Roger de Coverley, as accompanying him in a voyage from the Temple Stairs to Vauxhall. Long after, we find in the Connoisseur, No. 68, a very humourous description of the behaviour of an old citizen, who, notwithstanding his penurious disposition, had treated his family here with a handsome supper. The gardens appear to have been originally planted with trees, and laid out into walks, for the pleasure of a private gentleman.

Mr. Joseph Tyers, having taken a lease of

the premises in 1730, opened Vauxhall (then called Spring Gardens) with an advertisement of a "Ridotto al Fresco." The novelty of this term attracted great numbers; and Mr. Tyers was so successful in occasional repetitions of the same, as to be induced to open the gardens every evening during the summer. For this purpose, he was at great expense in decorating the gardens with paintings, in which he was assisted by the humourous pencil of Hogarth. He also erected an orchestra, engaged a band of music, and placed a fine statue of Handel, by Roubiliac, in a conspicuous part of the gardens.

The season for these gardens commences on the 4th of June, and generally continues to the end of August, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The fee of admission is three shillings and sixpence.

Evening Amusements.

INDEPENDENT of theatrical entertainments, &c. many residents of the metropolis, especially of the younger class, have recourse to various modes of gratifying their social inclinations, and of spending evenings, which are unoccupied by business, in societies, or clubs, instituted for various purposes. The regulations of these societies requiring certain forms of introduction, a stranger, without connexions in London, will be unable to take advantage of them, and will, of course, occasionally be at a loss in what

way, rationally and pleasantly, to spend a vacant hour or two. It may not, therefore, be unimportant to mention one into which a respectable stranger may be admitted, and in which he may, when inclined, spend a rational and entertaining hour. It is called

The Society of Eccentrics.

THIS Society is held every evening in May's Buildings, St. Martin's Lane. The stranger, on being introduced by a member, will be required to pay three shillings, as a contribution to a fund for charitable purposes; after which he will be considered as a free member.

The chair is taken by a respectable member of the society between nine and ten o'clock, and some subject, exclusive of politics and religion, is regularly discussed; and, by means of the known talents and good humour of the general attendants, who are chiefly professional men, the evening is usually passed entirely to the satisfaction of a social and thinking mind.

FASHIONABLE WORLD.

Social Meetings.

THE Social meetings of the fashionable world consist of balls, musical parties, and routes. The latter appear to be formed on the model

Almack's.

THE balls at Willis's rooms, commonly called Almack's, are held every Wednesday during the season. They are very splendid, and are very numerously and fashionably attended. Some

ladies are styled lady patronesses of these balls; and in order to render them more select, (the price being only seven shillings,) it is necessary that a visitor's name should be inserted in one of these ladies' books, which of course makes the admission difficult. Occasionally other balls are given at Willis's rooms; but they are of a different description, and have no connexion whatever with Almack's.

Argyle Rooms.

THE following description of these rooms is given by the writer of a work already referred to:

"These rooms are fitted up in a style of great magnificence. Corinthian pillars, illuminated by gilt lamps, grace the entrance and the lobbies. The ground-floor consists of three very extensive rooms, the first of which is hung with scarlet drapery. The drapery of the second is a rich salmon colour, lined with pea-green. The third, though inferior to the others, is, nevertheless, finished in a capital style; and the whole is most brilliantly lighted up.

"The grand saloon is of an oblong form, with elliptical terminations, and is used for the purpose of theatrical representations; and also for masquerades and balls. Above the entrance, on each side, are three tiers of boxes, amounting in the whole to twenty-four. The first range above the ground tier is ornamented with elegant antique bas-reliefs in bronze; the upper tier is of ethereal blue, decorated with scrolls in stone colour, and both are enclosed with scrolls in rich gold mouldings. Over each box is a beautiful circular bronze chandelier, with cut-glass pendants. The draperies are of scarlet; and the supporters between the boxes represent the Roman ox, and Fasces, in bronze and gold.

"At the opposite end are the orchestra and stage, over which is the following appropriate motto: "Sollicite jucunda oblivia vitæ." The walls of the middle space, of an ample size, are superbly ornamented with ranges of Corinthian pillars, representing porphyry with gold capitals. On the intermediate pannels, which are surrounded with borders of blue and gold, are bas-reliefs, in stone colour, as large as life, the subjects of which are admirably adapted to the purposes for which they are placed there.

"On each side of this magnificent room are tiers of benches, covered with scarlet, over which are suspended eight superb glass chandeliers; and the whole internal space is marked out with chalk, in the most fanciful manner. Contiguous to this, are a refectory, painted with landscapes