"Trial by Jury."  The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, Jan. 8, 1876, p. 355. 

To the Editor of the ILLUSTRATED SPORTING AND DRAMATIC NEWS.

 Sir, - In an article in your last week’s issue you say, in reference to Trial by Jury,

"The idea recurs that the notion of this most diverting of musical farces was borrowed from La Boule, which M. Pitron enlivened the lovers of French plays with at the Opéra Comique during the past season."

As I have seen this suggestion in two or three other papers, I shall feel obliged if you will allow me to state that the piece is an amplification of a burlesque sketch, called "Trial by Jury," contributed by me to the pages of Fun so long ago as April, 1868—six years before the production of the French piece which is supposed to have suggested the idea.

That its production as a practical stage-piece was not inspired by the success of La Boule may be gathered from the fact that more than two years ago I arranged with M. Carl Rosa to write it for the company with which he then intended to open Drury Lane Theatre for a season of English Opera, a scheme which fell through owing to the lamented death of Madame Parepa-Rosa.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

W.S. GILBERT.

Junior Carlton Club, Jan. 3, 1876.

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