The old opera-house in the _Palais Royal_ having been burnt down on the 8th of June 1781, M. LENOIR, the architect, built a new one in the short space of sixty days, and, within a fortnight after, it was decorated and opened. Had an hospital been reduced to ashes, observes an able writer, it would have required four years at least to determine on the eligibility of new plans.--But a theatre, constructed with such expedition, excited apprehensions respecting its stability: it was necessary to remove them, and, by way of _trying the house_, the first representation was given _gratis_. This had the desired effect: after having sustained the weight of between two and three thousand market-women, oyster-wenches, shoe-blacks, chimney-sweepers, porters, &c, it was deemed sufficiently solid to receive a more refined audience. At the beginning of the year 1793, the interior of this quickly-built theatre was also destroyed by fire. But the opera experienced no interruption: such an event would be regarded as a public calamity in the capital. In fact, this expensive establishment affords employ to a vast number of persons. The singers, dancers, musicians, machinists, painters, tailors, dress-makers, scene-shifters, &c. attached to it, would constitute a little nation. The richness and variety of the dresses give activity to several branches of trade, and its representations involve all the agreeable arts. These united attractions captivate foreigners, and induce them to squander considerable sums of money in the country. Hence, were the opera-house shut up, commerce would suffer; there would be an absolute void in the pleasures of the Parisians; and, as experience proves, these volatile people would sooner resign every thing most valuable than any portion of their amusements. Besides, without such an establishment, the talents of singers and dancers could not be maintained in their present perfection. It holds out to them constant encouragement and remuneration; while, compared to any other theatre, it excites in the spectators a greater number of pleasing sensations. How then could it be dispensed with? Accordingly, when the disaster befell the theatre of the _Porte St. Martin_, it was considered as a fortunate circumstance that the present opera-house was just finished. The performers of the _ci-devant Académie de Musique_ immediately established themselves in this new asylum, which is situated in the _Rue de la Loi_, facing the National Library, and opened it to the public under the name of _Théâtre des Arts_. I must observe, by the way, that, in France, all players, dancers, musicians, and every one who exercises an art, are now styled _artistes_.