216 NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



is, if the sum do not exceed 50/. In the event of the nuisance being of 

 an alarming magnitude, and consequently requiring a greater outlay 

 for its abatement, it must, we presume, remain. Government, it would 

 seem, has no objection to the expence of a mop, but startles at the cost 

 of a pail ! 



THE DRAMATIC QUESTION. The Committee appointed by the House 

 of Commons, to hear evidence, preparatory to the passing a Bill for the 

 future regulation of the theatres, have closed their labours. The inquiry 

 was every way interesting. In addition to the importance of the ques- 

 tion, it was curious to witness the testimony of various individuals, 

 colored, as their opinions were, by prejudice and self-interest. The con- 

 servatives stickled lustily for their patent rights. Captain Forbes con- 

 tended that he held the patent of Covent-garden theatre by as sacred a 

 bond as that which vested Woburn Abbey in the house of Russell. One 

 and all of the majors repelled with indignation, every question that 

 supposed an ill- treatment of authors. Nothing, according to the mana- 

 gerial witnesses, could possibly be more correct, more fair, and above- 

 board, than all transactions with dramatists. In evidence of the liberality 

 with which dramatic literature is supported at Covent-garden theatre, 

 Captain Forbes stated, that in one season the enormous sum of 1..500/. 

 had been paid for new pieces. It appeared, however, that the salaries 

 of the theatre amounted to 700/. per week ; thus, little better than the 

 gross salaries of two weeks were devoted to the encouragement of the 

 drama, and out of this, no trifle is to be deducted for the authorship of 

 pantomime and Easter spectacle. The minor theatres, having justice 

 and reason on their side, had, of course, the best of the argument. On 

 one hand, it was mere declamation and subtle shifting ; on the other, a 

 plain statement of obvious truths. The committee recommend a law 

 that shall give all the drama to all the theatres, placing them all under 

 the jurisdiction of the Chamberlain, and making it compulsory on that 

 officer to license a new theatre in any part of London, the city, we 

 presume, excepted, if called upon by a certain number of the inhabit- 

 ants. This, though it goes not so far as we could wish, is something. 

 The committee, however, recommend the continuance of the office of 

 Deputy Licenser, who, by the way, during the course of evidence, very 

 satisfactorily proved that his office was altogether useless that his fees 

 were a hard and unnecessary tax on the theatres under his jurisdiction 

 that " angels" were only of one sex, and that " heaven" was no word 

 for the prompter's book. A reformed parliament will, we cordially 

 trust, agree with Mr. Colman, as to the utter uselessness of his office. 

 Unconstitutional, and in opposition to the spirit of the times, it most 

 assuredly is. Besides, if every minor theatre is to pay a tax, in the 

 shape of a licenser's fee, for novelty, it will be partly at the expence of 

 the author : the manager will take care that it does not all come out of 

 his own pocket. The committee, we are happy to say, recommend that 

 dramatists shall receive a compensation from every establishment mak- 

 ing use of their labours. This measure alone will work the regeneration 

 of the stage. Mr. E. L. BULWER deserves the gratitude of the whole 

 profession, of authors as well as actors. 



BIRMINGHAM AND LONDON RAILWAY. We regret to perceive that 

 the Bill for this truly splendid undertaking, after passing successfully 

 through the Commons, has been rejected by an unfavourable report of 



