In addition, fees are received for the licensing of theatres, and for the examination of plays.
The Examiner of Plays has long been recognised as a more permanent functionary than the Lord Chamberlain, although it would seem the precise nature of his appointment has never been clearly understood.
"I believe," said Mr.Donne, the late Examiner, in his evidence before the Parliamentary Committee of 1866, "that it is an appointment that expires with the sovereign (at least, I infer so from the evidence which Mr.Colman gave in the year 1833), but I cannot say that from my own knowledge: I believe it to be an appointment for life." In truth, the Examiner is simply the employe of the Chamberlain, appointed by him, and holding the office only so long as the superior functionary shall deem fitting.

There is no instance on record, however, of the displacement of an Examiner, or of the cancelling by one Chamberlain of the appointment made by his predecessor.

Power of this kind, however, would seem to be vested in the Chamberlain for the time being.

Colman's evidence, it may be noted, is of no present worth.

He was appointed as a consequence of the old Licensing Act, repealed in 1843.
The first Licenser of Plays sworn in after the passing of the Licensing Act of 1737 was William Chetwynd, with a salary of L400 a-year.