Transcription
Since the arrival of Mademoiselle Constance, Mr. Astley’s Amphitheatre may be said to rival the Italian Opera in their much boasted balletical performances. For, although Mademoiselle Constance is not thought equal to Monsieur Vestris, yet as she is universally allowed to opproximate [sic] so near his merit as it would be considered depreciating her’s to deem her a second to this celebrated dancer, young Astley’s superior excellence of dancing on horseback, to Vestris dancing only upon a stage, must so much counterbalance the trifling inferiority of Mademoiselle Constance, as to give the Amphitheatre the pre-eminence of the dance. But then it must be acknowledge Mr. Astley is obliged to engage two elements in his service—the earth and air, while the Opera is obliged to content itself with only one, and that the most gross, humble, and subordinate—the earth.
