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VIEWS.
exhibition of Astley at this period. “ ACTIVITY 0N Houseman by MR. AsanY, Serjeant-Major
in His Majesty’s Royal Regiment of Light Dragoons, commanded by Lieutenant-General Elliott:
Near Twenty different Attitudes will be performed on One, Two, and Three Horses, every even-
ing during the summer, Sundays excepted, at his Riding-School, next “’right’s Horse, or Half-
penny, Hatch, Lambeth Marsh. NOT THE DOG AND DUCK. N.B. Turn down on the left hand as
soon as over lVestminster Bridge, or at the turnpike ; and over Blackfriars Bridge, by Christ Church
turn on the right, being situated between the two Bridges and near Cuper’s Gardens. Doors to be
opened at four, and he will mount at five. Seats one shilling, Standing-places Sixpence. lVill be much
obliged to those ladies and gentlemen who will favour him with their company, and will do every thing
in his power to gain their favour.”
In a short time Astley appears to have been so far successful as to be enabled to convert one of the
sheds or barns in the field into a room, whence the performances might be seen, the admission to which
was two shillings; but perhaps it was designed equally as a waiting-room to his riding-school ; to which,
in some of his subsequent advertisements, he solicited the public attention, as well as to his entertain-
ments.a At this time the Whole of Astley’s musical accompaniments consisted of a single drum and
fife, which were played in an elevated building, standing on pillars and resembling a pigeonvhouse,
erected in the centre of the ride, the ascent to it being by a ladder.
In the spring of 1769, Astley first engaged that situation with which his name has been so long and
so permanently connected. The ground on which his first place of entertainment at Stangate was
built, was at the period a timber-yard, and the freehold property of a person named Lawton, who had
formerly kept a preserve for pheasants on the same spot; but the whole character of the vicinity had
been altered by the formation of the great southern road leading from Westminster Bridge. Astley
advanced 9.200 to the owner of the land, who also had the timber and erections secured to him by
a mortgagepbut he soon afterwards left England, and was never again heard of. About the same time
Astley found a diamondvring on lVestminster Bridge, which was never advertised nor claimed, and
which he disposed of for B70; and he then inclosed the timber-yard with a high paling, and erected a
wooden house in the situation of the entrance to the present Royal Amphitheatre.h The lower part of
this building was made into stables, and the upper part into along room for superior visitors to the
riding-school, and subsequently for exhibitions. Behind the house was formed the ride, around which
were erected three rows of seats with a sort of penthouse covering; and the hills and advertisements
stated, in consequence, that “ a slight showerwould not hinder the performance, as there are numbers of
dry seats ; ” as also that there was “ a commodious apartment for the nobility," and that proper mUSic
was engaged. The hour for commencing the performances probably varied according to the season,
since the doors of the riding-school in 1770 were advertised to be opened at four, mount at five; and
In
The true and perfect seat on horseback, There is no creature yields so much profit as the horse; and if he is made
obedient to the hand and spur, it is the chief thing that is aimed at. He (Astley) undertakes to break in the most vicious horse
in the kingdom for the road or held; to stand fire, drums, &c. and those intended for ladies to canter easy. His method,
between the jOCkey and the menage, is peculiar to himself. No gentleman need despair of being a complete horseman that follows
his diTCCtiODSy 118Ving had eight years practice in Lieutenant-General Elliott’s regiment. For half-a-gninea, he makes known his
method of learning any horse to lay down at the word of command; and defies any man to equal it for safety and “56'" An
advertisement, PHbHSbEd in June 1775. announces “ Astley's Method of Riding, a preventative of accidents on horseback, to be‘
had 0f him, price 19-" June 1776. “ Ladies and Gentlemen instructed, at 2:. 6d. per lesson.” The time of instruction W85
from eight until eleven o’clock every morning.
" It is affirmed that the timber with which Astley‘s first permanent building was erected, had formed the platform and covered
way leading from the Painted Chamber to Westminster Abbey, constructed for the funeral procession of Augusta 0f Saxe Gothn,
the Dowager Princess of Wales, who died February 8th, 1773.