FISHES AND FISHING. 17 



main in possession of every theatre, &c., &c. And 

 all old and useless scenery must also be stamped and 

 paid for, or removed to the Excise Office and de- 

 stroyed." These were the generous (?) terms proposed 

 by the Commissioners, as appears by a letter from 

 the attorney of Mr. John Astley, now before me, 

 after he had had an interview with the solicitor of 

 the Excise Board, and received this as their determi- 

 nation. Desirous of serving Mr. John Astley, my 

 friend, Mr. Scott, the proprietor of the Sans Pareil, 

 as it was then named, and the other parties whom I 

 considered harshly treated, and thinking I could read 

 and understand an Act of Parliament, I sought, and 

 with some difficulty found and purchased, the Act 10th 

 of Anne, cap. 19, when reading it over most carefully, 

 almost word by word, I discovered that the statute 

 only applied to painted canvas, &c., which was fok 

 SALE, and as scenery was not foe sale, it was evident 

 that, in defiance of the dictum of judges, the opinions 

 of counsel, attornies, or the determination of the 

 Board of Excise and its officers, I could extricate my 

 friends and all concerned from their difficulties'; and 

 though I felt I had the power in my hands to do so, I 

 induced Mr. Astley and Mr. Scott, with myself, to go 

 in Mr. Astley's carriage to the Excise office, and seek 

 an interview with the Commissioners, without saying 

 why I wished it ; which if that conference had been 



