The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-19 00:00:00

{THE MUSIC-HALL QUESTION AGAIN.

Yesterday, Messrs. Sweasey and Holland, the
proprietors of Weston's Music-hall, Holborn, appeared
before the chief magistrate, Sir Thomas Henry, at the
Bow-street polioe-oourt, to answer two summonses, issued
at the instance of Mr. John HoUinpheact, secretary to the
Theatrical Law Amendment Society, charging them, under
the Theatrical Act, 6th and 7th Victoria, chap. 68, sec-
tions 2 and 23, with haring and keeping a place for the
performance of stage plays without the license of the Lord
Chansbetlain, on the sth and 6th July inst.
Mr. Poland, instructed by Messrs. Humphreys and
Monrgan, conducted the prosecution ; and Mr. Paul de-
feded.

iiii.Hollinpbead—l sm the secretary of. the Theatrical
Law Amendment Society. On the sth of July I went to
Weeton's Music-hall. I paid Is. for admission. There
was a raised stage or platform, with footlights. There
we. an orchestra with • very excellent band of 20. I per-
chased a bill of theperformsnoe for Id. The bill stated
that part of the performance wan a selection from the
Moundain Sylph. I have seen that play on the regular stage.
It is an operetta. The characters mentioned in the bill
were performed by persons dressed in stage costumes. I
produce acepy of the opera, in which I have marked the
portions that were played. The stage direction. given in
the book were obeyed almost entirely. There were five
characters which were mentioned in the bill, and also
performed one more. The were dressed in the game way a. when
the opera is at a theatre. The accompaniments
were played the orchestra. There is some boldness in
the operetta with a scarf. It is called TAs Magic Wore
Scoff, which is the title of a chorus in the piece, and the
business wee performed (as directed in the book) at the
time the chorus was being sung. The scenery was the per-
manent decoration of the place, which was made to do for
all the performances. There were entrance. and exits, se
on the stage, but at the back, instead of at the side. There
were private boxes near the stage. There was the regular
music, and the chief conducted in the usual way. It was
• very excellent performance.
Cross-examined by Mr. Paul—l am one of the directors
of the Alhambra. I appear here an secretary to the
Theatrical Law Amendment Society, which has been at
work three years endeavouring to obtain an alteration of
the law with reference to theatres and muse halls. You
can call Weston's a rival music hall if you like, but these
proceedings are not at the Olstence of the directors of the
Alhambra. The Theatrical Law Amendment Society sue-
seeded in obtaining a committee of the House of Oomnions
to inquire into the question.
Mr. Poland—That is our caw.

Mr. Paul—Then I submit that there is no caae at all.
Sir Thomas Henry held that there certainly was. The
word, of the act were, " any opera, or any act or part
thereof," and unquestionably this was part of an opera.
rltimately Mr. Paul asked the learned chief magistrate's
permission to confer with his client, and after a short con-
sultation, and some communication with Mr. Poland and
Mr. Humphreys,
Mr. Paul said—Sir, my client, after the intimation
which has fallen from you, will be quite content, with the
sanction of Mr. Poland, to consent to the imposition of a
nominal penalty.
Mr. Poland said he really must ask for a declaration of
the learned chief magistrate's opinion, that it might not
be supposed that the legality or illegality of the perfor
mantes remained a matter of doubt. _

IN! Thomas Henry already expressed his
opinion on the matter. He had no doubt or hesitation in
declaring that they were illegal.
Mr. Poland must ask for the infliction of a nominal
penalty. He should not ask for costa.
Sir Thomas Henry—No. I should not give you them.
I think two penalties of one shilling—that is, one on each
summons—will be sufficient. There must, of coarse, be
an understanding that the entertainmenta must be disoon•
tinned.

Sotrranstrrow, JOLT 18. —The Hamburg and
Anterioan Company'. steamship Teuton's, from New
York, has arrived here with 74 passengers for this,
Havre, sad Hamburg, '200,000 dole, to specie for Mainland,
and 60,000 dole. in specie for France. On the 6th inst.
she spoke the Prussian barque Ferdinand ,• on the Bth, the
steamers Atalanta and Pennsylvania ; and on the 14th the
City. of Antwerp.
HEALTH itIisTOEBD DT Dr, BAILEY'S FOOD TO TRH
"repeat, nerves, lune; and liver of old and young. turhal
dyspepsia (indigestion), Uon, dlerrhoia, acidity, head.
ache, neuralgia, hysteria, palpitation, sleeplessness,
wasting, sough, asthma, fevers, consumption, low spirits. eo,oee
anneal C9llll which had raided all medicines, Including that of
his Holiness the Fops—Tlas, at la 144. ; lib., 21 9d. ; 1 ;
tab., 40e.—Du Barry end Co., 77, Resentetreet, London ; 11b.,
also at
Si, Gracesenreitairest ; 4, ; SS and 160, Otiordatessel
cad all grooms and shsnofsla - Wreellesnsat