As I had warned M. Thiers I appealed from his decision to the _tribunal de commerce._ The trial was fixed for the 2nd June following. My friend Maître Mermilliod laid claim on my behalf for the representation of _Antony_, or demanded 12,000 francs damages. Maître Nouguier, M. Jouslin de Lasalle's advocate, offered, in the name of his client, to play _Antony_, but on condition that I should produce the leave of the Home Office. Maître Legendre, attorney to the Home Office, disputed the jurisdiction of the tribunal, his plea being that acts of administrative authority could not be brought before a legal tribunal for decision. It was quite simple, as you see: the Government stole my purse; and, when I claimed restitution it said to me "Stop, you scamp! I am too grand a seigneur to be prosecuted!" Happily, the Court did not allow itself to be intimidated by the grand airs of Maître Legendre, and directed that M. Jouslin de Lasalle should appear in person at the bar. The case was put off till the fifteenth. Now I will open the _Gazette des Tribunaux_, and copy from it. "TRIBUNAL DE COMMERCE DE PARIS "_Hearing_ 30 _June_, 1834 "_President_--M. VASSAL "M. ALEXANDRE DUMAS _against_ JOUSLIN de LASALLE. "MAÎTRE HENRY NOUGUIER, Counsel for the Comédie Française. "The Court having directed the parties to come in person to lay their case before it, M. Jouslin de Lasalle only appears out of deference to the court, but protests against that appearance, on the grounds that it will establish a precedent which will lead to M. Jouslin de Lasalle having to appear in person in all disputes which may concern the Comédie-Française, and to reveal his communications with administrative authority; and he leaves the merits of this protest to be decided by reference to previous decisions.