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ABOUT CIRCU8E8.
70 THE EDITOR Of T1IK ilBTULD.
Sim— In your issue of tho Cth inst. under
tho above cross heading, you state that Aus
tralia has been swooped upon by Itowe,
Cooko, Chlarini, Wilson, Cooper and Bailey,
Cole. Wirtli and other entcrnronenrii. unrf
that Noblo's circus was ono of the first In
Melbourne, etc. In yoar list you havo
omitted one of the oldest and most station
ary of them all, v«-» Malcom's Royal Aus
tralian Circus and Amphitheatre,
of York street, Sydney. 3io brought
a circus troupe and horses over
from Sydney in tho old Shamrock
steamer to Melbourno, when Rowe'n and
Noble's circuses were here, but could not
get a piece of ground to open upon, conse
quently returned to Syduoy. Ou tho trip
from Sydney to Melbourno the steamer was
caught in a gale, and Mr John Malcom and
hia employes had a good deal to do to
Erovent the captain and crew from throwing
is valuahlo horses overboard. Malcom's
amphitheatre was for years in York
street, Sytlooy, aud eomotimos the com
pany was so large that a portion went
on tour to various towns in the country.
The champion barebacked rider of the
world, vir, Mr James Melville Munro
(native oi North Shore, Sydney) served his
apprenticeship with him, also Mr George
Gilham, Horatio Bird (of Bird and Taylor's
circus) and members of most of tho troupes
now travelling in tho colonies havo been in
his employ, notably, Messrs Jones (St. Leon),
La Rosiere, James Ashton, Bird and Taylor.
Mr Henry Burton was at ono tlmo a partner
with him for a abort period. I may state
that during this partnership Turpin's ride
to York was performed for many nights,
in succession, except on Saturday nights, oh
tho pcrformnwo was so long. It was per
formed in its ontiruty. Tho Turpin's rido to
York a now shown to tho public is merely
a portion of the original. Mr John Malcom
stud of horses and ponies was tho largest of
any colonial proprietor at that tlmo, and all
the best performers who camo to the
colonies were engaged by him. Atone
time there was great rivalry Itetwccn Noble's
and Malcom's troupes, ana Malcom offered
to back Melville against Ifermander, of
Noblo's Circus, or Raphael, of Rowo'h, for
L1000, for tho champiuusbip on a baro-
backed horse. In fact, ono of Noblo's troupo
attended a performance at Malcom's in York
street and threw in a challenge, which was
read to tho audicnco and wo accepted, nut
the other aido did not post tho cash. I think
it was oome time in 1852 Mr Malcom arrived
In Melbourne with his horses and
troupo. I recollect the timo when
all the performers paraded thu R treats
ot Sydney — with a band— In costume,
and Mr George Glllham rodo the Kmallcst
(at that timo) pony iu the colony, and Sir
Daniel Cooper's son had his photo, taken
when ou bim, tho pony being kindly lent by
Mr Malcoin for the occasion. Iu those good
old times it did not cost so much for travel
ling expenses for circun eotnpiuics us now,
as the inhabitants of a towu, when they
know acornpAuy was coming, would accom
modate them for noxt to nothiug. 1 recol
lect on a visit to Dungog (N.-S. Wales) it
rainod no much that tho company could not
perform, as the ring was inundated ; hut
tins pconlo wero so anxious to boo some
thing of the sort that Mr Malcom allowed
Mr G. Gillbain to do oiio act in tho wet
ring, and thoso who witnessed tho per
formance subscribed witno 1/10. Mouoy
was not so much an object then as now. — I
am, etc.,
York Stiikct.
F.8.— I bclicvo Mr Henry Burton is now
retired, uud residing in Windsor or I'ralirau,
and can vouch for what I havo written.
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