The excitement of apparent danger was evidently as much an element of the popular interest in circus performances a century ago as at the present day. Colonel West, to whom the ground on which the circus was erected belonged, became a partner in the enterprise, and invested a large amount in it. On his death the concern became very much embarrassed, and struggled for several years with a load of debt. Hughes was succeeded as manager by Grimaldi, a Portuguese, the grandfather of the famous clown whom some of us remember at Covent Garden; and Grimaldi, in 1780, by Delpini, an Italian buffo singer, under whose management the novel spectacle of a stag-hunt was introduced in the arena. Sadler’s Wells continued to give the usual entertainment, the advertisements of 1780 announcing ‘a great variety of singing, dancing, tumbling, posturing, rope-dancing,’ &c., by the usual very capital performers, and others, more particularly tumbling by Rayner, Tully, Huntley, Garmon, and Grainger, ‘pleasing and surprising feats of strength and agility’ by Richer and Baptiste, and their pupils, and tight-rope dancing by Richer, Baptiste, and Signora Mariana, varied during a portion of the season by the last-named _artiste’s_ ‘new and extraordinary performance on the slack wire, particularly a curious display of two flags, and a pleasing trick with a hoop and three glasses of wine.’ Astley’s soon became a popular place of amusement for all classes. Horace Walpole, writing to Lord Stafford, says:— ‘London, at this time of the year [September], is as nauseous a drug as any in an apothecary’s shop. I could find nothing at all to do, and so went to Astley’s, which, indeed, was much beyond my expectation. I do not wonder any longer that Darius was chosen King by the instructions he gave to his horse; nor that Caligula made his Consul. Astley can make his dance minuets and hornpipes. But I shall not have even Astley now: Her Majesty the Queen of France, who has as much taste as Caligula, has sent for the whole of the _dramatis personæ_ to Paris.’