For nearly forty years after the opening of Astley’s Amphitheatre, the performances did not differ, in any respect, from the usual entertainment of the smallest tenting company now travelling. The earliest bill of the collection in the library of the British Museum was issued in 1791, when the great attraction of the place appears to have been the somersault over twelve horses, called _le grand saut du Trampolin_, of James Lawrence, whose vaulting feats gained him the name (in the bills) of the Great Devil. In 1792, the entertainments comprised a considerable musical element, and concluded with a pantomime. One of the advertisements of this year announces the performances in the arena as follows:— ‘Horsemanship, and exercises for the Light Dragoons—Ground and lofty tumbling—A grand entry of horses—Equestrian exercises, particularly the metamorphose of the sack—Wonderful equilibres on a single horse—Whimsical piece of horsemanship, called _The Taylor riding to Brentford_.’ Sadler’s Wells continued to vary its programme with tumbling and rope-dancing, and in 1792 gave ‘a pleasing exhibition of strength and posture-work, entirely new, called _Le Tableau Chinois_, by Signor Bologna and his children, in which will be displayed a variety of curious and striking manœuvres. Tight-rope dancing by the Little Devil and Master Bologna, with the comic accompaniment of Signor Pietro Bologna.’ From the Royal Circus announcements of the following year, I select the following two, as good illustrations of the kind of performances then given, and curious examples of circus bills eighty years ago:— ROYAL CIRCUS. The Company at the CIRCUS beg leave to acquaint the Nobility, Gentry, and Public, that young CROSSMAN will appear this present Evening, August 7, on HORSEBACK, and challenge all the Horsemen in Europe. FRICAPEE DANCING, VAULTING, TIGHT-ROPE DANCING, PYRAMIDS, GROUND AND LOFTY TUMBLING, &c. &c. &c. The performance will commence with a Grand Entry of Horses, mounted by the Troop. Young CROSSMAN’S unparalleled Peasant Hornpipe, and Hag Dance, not to be equalled by any Horseman in this Kingdom. LE GRAND SAUT DE TRAMPOLINE by Mr PORTER, (Clown) who will jump over a garter 15 feet from the ground, and fire off two Pistols. THE MUSICAL CHILD, (only nine years of age) will go through his wonderful Performance. Mr SMITH will go through a variety of Performances on a Single Horse. THE HUMOURS OF THE SACK, OR, THE CLOWN DECEIVED BY A WOMAN. FRICASSEE DANCE, By Mr CROSSMAN and Mr PORTER. Mr INGHAM (from Dublin) will throw an innumerable Row of Flipflaps. Mr CROSSMAN will vault over the Horse backwards and forwards, with his Legs Tied, in a manner not to be equalled by any Performer in this Kingdom. GROUND AND LOFTY TUMBLING,