part of my means of livelihood; that would be nothing short of spoliation. If M. Thiers had not intended to treat with me, he should not have sent for me to call upon him a dozen to fifteen times; he should not have taken upon himself the arrangement of theatrical details which are outside the scope of a Minister. M. Jouslin was evidently but an intermediary. "M. JOUSLIN DE LASALLE.--I drew up the agreement with M. Alexandre Dumas in my office. The Minister knew I had done so, but he was not acquainted with the details of that contract. I did all in my power to fulfil the compact. The prohibition of the Minister came suddenly without my having received previous notice, and that alone prevented the carrying out of my promise. It was an act of _force majeure_ for which I do not hold myself responsible. "M. ALEXANDRE DUMAS.--Did you not meet me at the Minister's? "M. JOUSLIN DE LASALLE.--Yes, a fortnight ago. "MAÎTRE MERMILLIOD.--The Minister knew that _Antony_ formed part of Madame Dorval's repertory, and that she was to make her appearance in that piece. "M. ALEXANDRE DUMAS.--Madame Dorval made it a special stipulation in her engagement. "M. JOUSLIN DE LASALLE.--Madame Dorval was engaged two or three months before the treaty with M. Alexandre Dumas. No stipulation was then made relative to _Antony._ After the contract with the plaintiff, M. Merle, Madame Dorval's husband, came and begged me to add the clause to which reference has just been made; I did not refuse that act of compliance because I did not foresee that _Antony_ was to be forbidden. I added the clause at the foot of the dramatic contract. "M. ALEXANDRE DUMAS.--Had the additional clause any definite date attached? "M. JOUSLIN DE LASALLE.--No. "MAÎTRE MERMILLIOD.--M. Jouslin de Lasalle receives a subsidy from the Government, and is in a state of dependence which prevents him from explaining his position openly. "M. JOUSLIN DE LASALLE.--I am not required to explain my relations with the Government; and it would be unseemly on my part to do so. "M. LE PRÉSIDENT.--Are you bound, in consequence of the subsidy you receive, only to play those pieces which suit the Government? "M. JOUSLIN de LASALLE.--No obligation of that kind whatever is imposed on me. I enjoy, in that respect, the same liberty that all other managers have; but, like them, I am bound to submit to any prohibitions issued by the state. There is no difference in this respect between my confrères and myself. "After these explanations, the manager of the Théâtre-Français at once left the Court. The president declared that the Court would adjourn the case for consideration, and that judgment would be pronounced in a fortnight's time." "_Hearing of_ 14 _July_