The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-08 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS—This Day.

THE ALHAMBRA PALACE APPEAL.
This morning the appeal of Mr. Frederick Strange, the
proprietor of the Alhambra Palace, Leicester-square, was
taken into consideration by the Middlesex magistrates.
It will be recollected that some time since a move-
ment was commenced on the part of the managers of
the metropolitan theatres to suppress various kinds
of entertainments which had been given at the
principal music halls in London, and which, it was con-
tended, were "stage plays" within the meaning of the 6th
and 7th of Victoria. Mr. Strange was proceeded against
very strictly after he commenced the lesseeship of the
Alhambra Palace, for—contrary to act of parliament—
allowing the performance of an oriental divertissement,
which, it was contended, was a "stage play," and for
the representation of which he had not the requisite
authority. The entertainment in question was the dagger
dance from the spectacle of " Azael the Prodigal," and as
the ladies flourished their harmless instruments of death
in various ways, it was contended by the law preservers
that it was a stage play, and, therefore, in perform-
ing it without a license, Mr. Strange had sub-
jected himself to a penalty of £2O. The magistrate
decided that the act had been infringed, and in-
flicted P. nominal penalty on Mr. Strange, who appealed
against the conviction, and hence the present proceedings.
The Canterbury and Oxford Hall Company, it will
be recollected, were also favoured with the at-
tention of the Associated Theatrical Managers for the
performance of the brilliant optical illusion at the Can-
terbury Hall, entitled " Hodge Podge," but Mr. Norton, in
disposing of the case at the Lambeth Police-court, ex-
pressed a hope that some alteration would be made in the
law, as it appeared to him it was most desirable some de-
finite steps should be adopted with a view to enable the
proprietors of the music halls to give a species of entertain-
ment of a very attractive nature without infringing the law.
The crusade, however, was kept up, and matters became so
complicated that Mr. Locke, the member for Southwark,
had introduced a bill into Parliament, which stands for a
second reading on Wednesday, to regulate the various kinds
of performances at music halls as well as at theatres.

The question in dispute to-day contained in the question
aye or no was " the Dagger Dance," a stage play. The
counsel for the appellant, Mr. Strange, contend it was not,
and the other side joined issue on this point.
The magistrates quashed the conviction.

Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston arrived at
Cambridge House on Saturday from Brockett Hall, Herts.
THE DUKE D'HARCOURT died in Paris on Wed-
nesday. He was born in 1786, and would have
completed, on the 22d August next, his 79th year. Th
Duke belonged to the old French noblesse. He was a mem-
ber of the Chamber of Deputies from 1827 to 1837, and was
ambassador to Spain in 1830. He was advanced to the
House of Peers in 1838. On the death of his elder brother
in 1840 he succeeded to the ducal title. He was ambassa-
dor to Rome when Count Rossi was assassinated, and it
was to him that tho Pope expressed in private his wish to
take refuge in France after that deplorable event, though
there was no mention of the fact in the duke's public de-
spatches. For some years past the duke was president of
the Polish committee in Paris. He was liberal in politics,
esteemed in private life, and regretted by all who had the
advantage of his acquaintance.