"However, in that work, using the liberty of an author, I had rallied the _Constitutionnel_ and its old-fashioned doctrines. The _Constitutionnel_, which, before 1830, had been something of a power, took offence at the gibes of a young dramatic author, and, in its wrath, it thundered forth in an article wherein it pretended to show that _Antony_ was an immoral production, and that it was scandalous to allow its representation at the leading national theatre. The journal's anger might not, perhaps, have exerted great influence over the Minister for Home Affairs had not MM. Jay and Étienne happened at that time to be concerned with the theatre budget. These worthy deputies, whose collaboration in the _Constitutionnel_ is well known, imagined that the epigrams of _Antony_ referred to them personally; having this in mind, they informed the Minister that they would cause the theatre budget to be rejected if my satirical play was not prohibited at the Théâtre-Français. _Antony_ was to have been played on the very day upon which these threats were addressed to M. Thiers. That Minister sent to M. Jouslin de Lasalle, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the order to stop the representation; I was informed of this interdict some hours later. I knew that M. Jouslin de Lasalle had acted in good faith, and that he had done all that rested with him, concerning the preparation of my play. The injury came from the Government alone, which had placed _Antony_ on the Index, without his knowledge, as he himself said before the tribune. That ministerial interdict has been fatal to my interests, for Prefects of the _Departements_ have, following in the footsteps of their chief, striven to have my play prohibited. It is no longer even allowed to be played at Valenciennes. M. Jouslin de Lasalle has offered to stage any other play I might choose in place of _Antony_, but that would not be the same thing as the execution of the signed contract; moreover, I cling to the representation of _Antony_, which is my favourite work, and that of many young writers who are good enough to regard me as their representative. Upon the faith of these ministerial promises, and of the agreement made with M. Jouslin de Lasalle, I withdrew _Antony_ forcibly from the repertory of the Porte-Saint-Martin, where it was bringing in large sums. I am thus deprived of my author's rights, which came in daily. It is, consequently, only just that M. Jouslin should compensate me for the harm he has done me by the non-execution of the contract. The Government are sure to provide him with the necessary funds. The private quarrel I had with the _Constitutionnel_ ought not to be permitted to cause the manager of the Théâtre-Français, much less the Government, to stop the production of a piece which forms a