for ability as an actor, and his merit both as an orator and author) by Francis his wife, a lady who has produced feveral dramatic pieces, novels, &c. particularly the comedy of The Difcovery, and the juftly-admired novel of Mifs Sidney Biddulph; and grandíon of Dr Thomas Sheridan, the celebrated friend of Dean Swift. Mr Sheridan, the object of our prefent inquiry, was born at Quilea, near Dublin, about the year 1750, and, at the age of fix years, was brought to England by his father (who, at that time, was compelled to leave his native country) and placed at Harrow school, where he received his education under the care of Dr Summer, a gentleman who was particularly fuccefsful in the arduous and important employment of a fchool-mafter. During his refidence at fchool, he was not fo much diftinguished for application to learning, as a quickness of apprehenfion, ftrong memory, and lively imagination, which occafionally displayed themfelves in an extraordinary degree. It does not appear that he ever was a member of either of the univerfitics, but chufing the law for his profeflion, he entered himfelf of the Middle Temple, with a view of being called to the bar. In this dry study, where fuccefs is only to be obtained by unremitted application, and in which the brighteft geniuffes have found themselves fometimes below the common run of mankind, Mr Sheridan did not long perfift; his attention was foon drawn afide by the flattering and irrefiftible charms of beauty and poetry. At the age of eighteen years, he joined with a friend in tranflating the Epiftles of Ariftænetus, from the Greek, and about the fame period printed feveral works, which are known only to his intimate friends; and fome of them, perhaps, not even to them. At the critical feafon of youth, when the paffions are apt to lead their poffeffors into extravagancies, and confequent difficulties, Mr Sheridan refided chiefly at Bath, where he became ac quainted with the amiable lady (Mifs Linley, daughter of Mr Linley, a mu fician of eminence at Bath, and fifter of Mr Tho. Linley, now one of the patentees of Drury-Lane Theatre; a gentleman much diftinguifhed by his fcientific knowledge in mufic, and tafte as a compofer. From the father and his fons being musicians of the first clafs, and the daughters unrivalled in the melodious fweetness of their voi ces, they were at Bath diftinguished by the appellation of The Mufical Family. It was on the circumstances of this lady's contract with a certain Baronet, the late witty fatirift, Foote, founded his admired comedy of The Maid of Bath) who afterwards was united to him by the bands of matri mony. That an attachment to each other fould be the refult of this acquaintance, will appear no way furprifing, nor that one in whom the charms both of mind and body were to be found, fhould be the object of admiration by feveral pretenders. A difagreement on this fubject, as is fuppofed, took place between Mr Sheridan and a gentleman of the name of Matthews, which occafioned much converfation at Bath during the time that the event was recent there. The particulars of this quarrel are only inportant to the parties themfelves, and as it is probable they may not have any wish to perpetuate them, at fo great a diftance of time, we fhall only obferve, that a duel enfued, which was conducted in a manner that dif played both the courage and fpirit of the combatants in a very fingular manner; perhaps no conflict of this kind ever exhibited more fymptoms of inveterate refentment than this we are now alluding to; which, however, may be eafily accounted for, when we confider the caufe of the quarrel, and the youth of the gentlemen. On the 13th of April 1773 he married the lady we have already mentioned; a lady no lefs diftinguif ed ed for the most astonishing vocal powers that ever charmed a liftening auditory *, than for every perfonal accomplishment that can add grace or dignity to virtue. Soon after his marriage, he turned his attention to the stage, and produced a comedy in 1775, at Covent-Garden theatre, called The Rivals. This play abounds in character and fituation, but, on its first appearance, was received with fo little favour, that it required fome management and alteration to obtain for it a fecond hearing. Several caufes confpired to occafion this extraordinary treatment; one of the actors, Mr Lee (now dead, but well remembered in the dramatic world, both as an actor of eminence, and for his difputes with the late Mr Garrick, whom he charged with keeping him back in parts, through jealoufy of his abilities. He was father of the two celebrated Mifs Lee's, who have fo ably diftinguifhed themfelves by their literary productions the eldeft being authorefs of the Recefs, The Chapter of Accidents-the youngeft, of the New Peerage, brought out with fuccefs this feafon at Drury-Lane) mangled and mifunderstood the character of an Irifhman in fuch a manner, as to render every scene in which he was con cerned ridiculous and difgufting. The performance was alfo too long in the reprefentation. A change, however, in the performer, and the pruning knife judicioufly applied, procured the piece the applaufe it deferved, though its reputation has been much lefs than the fucceeding dramas of the fame author. The perfon who fucceeded Mr Lee in perfonating the Irifhman, was Mr Clinch, who received fo great applause in the character, and rendered himself fo great a favourite, that at his benefit he was complimented with the first reprefentation of the farce of St Patrick's Day. Early in the next season the Duenna appeared, and was honoured with a degree of approbation which even exceeded what had been formerly beftowed on the Beggar's Opera. About this period, Mr Garrick began to think of quitting the flage in earneft; Mr Sheridan, Mr Linley, and Dr Ford, entered into a treaty with him, which, in the year 1777, was perfectly compleated, and the new managers invefted with the powers of the patent. The efforts of thefe gentlemen were by no means proportioned to the importance of their undertaking, a number of despicable pieces were brought forward, and the School for Scandal †, which *The following inftance may convey fome idea of her great merit as a finger :At Salisbury mufic-meeting, in July 1770, Mifs Linley, (now Mrs Sheridan) while finging the air in the oratorio of the Meffiah, "I know that my Redeemer liveth," a little bullfinch that had found means, by fome accident or other, to fecrete itfelf in the cathedral, was fo ftruck with the inimitable fweetnefs, and harmonious fimplicity of her manner of finging, that, miftaking it for the voice of a feathered cho rifler of the wood, and far from being intimidated by the numerous affemblage of fpectators, it perched immediately on the gallery over her head, and accompanied her with the mufical warblings of its little throat through great part of the fong. This was perceived by all prefent with great fatisfaction and pleasure, and confidered as the strongest proof in nature that could be produced of Mifs Linley's merit, except a lubberly, fenfelefs fellow that played on the balloon, who took aim with his inftrument, as with a gun, at the gallery, and the bird immediately frightened, flew away. At one of the reprefentations of this comedy, moft of the wits of the time attended behind the fcenes, highly delighted with the entertainment they received; each applauded the genius of the author, except Mr C, who never was feen to laugh at the humour, or betray any mark of fatisfaction at the excellency of the piece. One of the company informed Mr Sheridan of this, who replied, "It was "very hard, indeed, and I think he ufed me ill, for I am fure the other night I laughed the whole time his tragedy was performning." which alone was calculated to keep up the credit of the houfe, and fill the treasury of it, was deferred until the Sth of May, when the feafon ought to have concluded. This piece can receive no honour from additional praife, nor can it be injured by the fevereft critical examination; but what is most fingular, confeffedly great as is the merit of this comedy, Mr Sheridan was either fo dilatory in finishing, or hafty in writing it, that in order to get it out within the feafon, the managers were obliged to rehearse an act at a time, as it was got ready; nay, we have been informed, that when the firft three acts were put in rehearsal, not a line was wrote of the laft, and but little of the fourth--an aftonishing proof of the extent of his genius, and the exertion it is capable of. It has been followed by The Camp, The Critic, and Robinfon Crufoe. On the general election, in the year 1782, through the intereft of the Devonshire family, Mr Sheridan was returned member for the borough of Stafford, which place he has continued to reprefent through the fucceeding parliaments, and has fince devoted his time to political inquiries.-Thefe new purfuits have had a fatal effect on his dramatic exertions. Seven years are now elapfed fince the appearance of The Critic; and though we have frequently been informed, that an opera called The Forefters, and a comedy entitled Affectation, that wanted little to compleat them, were to be produced; we have expected them fo long, that we have now no reliance on any affurances that can be given refpecting thefe pieces. We even begin to fufpect, that he is no longer to be confidered as a follower of the Mufes, and are fincerely forry to see his defection from their fervice, fince no modern votary was more capable of giving them fupport. Mr Sheridan's character as a writer and a manager, is calculated to imprefs feparate and diftinét fenfations on His come those who contemplate it. In the former, he has diftinguifhed himself by an early prematurity, which has enabled him to outstrip every veteran competitor in the fame race. dies abound in wit, humour, fatire, fituation, and pleafantry; in fatire, which is calculated to improve, without wounding any individual; in pleafantry, fo general, that it cannot but delight every fpectator and reader of taste and judgment. His verfification is equally elegant and polished, and his prologues and epilogues exhibit the excellencies of thofe of the late Mr Garrick, without their defects. In point of compofition, they are certainly fuperior, and with respect to wit and humour, will lofe nothing in the comparifon. With excellencies like thefe, Mr Sheridan might fupport the reputation of the English theatre, and in this line he feems to have been intended to fhine without any rival. Regarding the ftage, however, here our eulogium muft end. As a manager, perhaps no perfon is fo totally unequal to the duties of that office. Nor need we wonder at this, as the labour and attention neceffary in the character of a manager, but ill accord with the genius of a young and fuccefsful author. So indifferent did he appear in this avocation, that he fubjected himfelf to the imputation of fome malevolent or difappointed play-wrights, of having received the worft pieces, with a view to fet off his own. This infinuation, however, is only mentioned to afford an opportunity of declaring our thorough conviction of its want of foundation; for we cannot now boast any of those superior enlightened geniufes with whom he would lofe by comparison, or who are gifted in a degree to excite either his envy or jealoufy. The brilliancy of his dramatic performances require no fait to add to their luftre. He has, however, for fome years refigned every concern in the management of the theatre to Dr Ford, and his brother in-law, Mr Linley, under whom Mr King acts as deputy-manager, referving to himself only the emolument ariling from his fhare of the patent, abstracting himself from every ftudy, unless that effential to form the complete ftatefman and politician. Although we cannot but regret his lofs to the public as a dramatift, we muft, at the fame time, congratulate them on the valuable acquifition of an abic and difinterefled ftatefman in the ftead. When the motives which induced him to quit the drama, and engage in politics, are impartially confidered, he will derive additional honour, from no finifter motives having influenced his conduct. He attached himself to the patriotic party, when he could have no hope of intereft from their favour, and no ambition to gratify, except that of deferving well of his country. He withdrew from an employment in which he had acquired unrivalled reputation and proportionable profit, and encountered prejudice and difficulty, to manifeft the fpontaneous feelings of his heart. On the change of Lord North's adminiftration, when the Rockingham party came into place and power, he was appointed Secretary, under Mr Fox, for the Foreign Department; in which office he manifefted the greateft diligence and ability. But the demife of that worthy nobleman occafioning a difpute for pre-eminence and power among the leading members, with his patron and friends he relinquifhed his fituation, and once more dealt his Philippics, than whom no man could utter more fevere, from the Oppofition fide. The Shelburne administration being too feebly textured to withstand the joint powers of North and Fox, when with their powerful auxiliaries they were cemented by a Coalition, he foon retired from the helm of state. The Rockingham party, or at least those who profeffed ftill to be governed by the principles and politics of that deceafed nobleman, headed by the Duke of Portland, again came into power; and Mr Sheridan refumed his former fituation under Mr Fox; till the famous India Bill exciting a jealousy in the breafts of many, that it too far trenched on the royal prerogative, they received at fignification that his Majefty had no further occafion for their fervices, and the prefent Adminiftration were appointed to their places; but to establifh whofe power it was found expedient to have a general election; so that Mr Sheridan has but in a very fmall degree realized by his political, what he might have infured by his li terary purfuits. When he first took his feat in the Commons, he gave little prefage of thofe aftonishing powers which have fince diftinguished him as an orator. Though poffeffing the advantage of having been brought up under one fo capable of directing his study thereto as his father, he appeared, on first entering the lifts as an orator, to have benefited little by his inftruction; his manner was aukward and embarraffed; and his language, though good, much difarranged: the diffidence which particularly predominates where genius is moft powerful, frequently overwhelmed him, and the brilliancy of his conception was loft in the inadequacy of his delivery. Confcious of his defect, but fenfible by perfeverance it might be overcome, he abftracted himself from every other ftudy, determined, as he has often faid, to speak to every road or inclofure bill, till he had ef fectually conquered that timidity which arrefted him in the career of fame as an orator. In the fecond feflion of his fitting in the Houfe, he fhewed a greater degree of confidence in himfelf, and made no inconfiderable figure as a debater. If his fpeeches were lefs diffufive than those of others more accustomed to this School of Eloquence, they were generally more replete with argument and wit, and adhered clofely to the point, of which ridan's unrivalled abilities, that, on this trying occafion, which, of all others, had divided not only the Houfe of Commons, but the nation at large into a variety of parties, this memorable fpeech produced almoft univerfal union; with the flight exception of thofe only, who, from perfonal gratitude, and the venial influence of even obfolete attachnient, perfevered, filently fupporting what they wanted both inclination and ability to defend. he never loft fight. The fevere retort he gave Mr Pitt, who, feeling the keennefs of his obfervation, rather ungenerously, and with much anger and afperity, advised him to exercife his talents on another ftage, and on that line they were beft adapted to excel in, will be long remembered, as giving a deferved check to the contumacy of birth or power. When Mr Sheridan in turn replied to the young Statefman, among many other pointed remarks, he obferved, that if he fhould again The apoftrophe with which he condedicate his time to dramatic ftudy, cluded this unexampled effort of gehowever vain and prefumptuous the nius, in an appeal to the juftice and tafk might appear, it would be to im- humanity of the Houfe, has in it fo prove on the Kaftrill, or Angry Boy, much of beauty, fo forcible and pain the Alchymift of Ben Johnfon. In thetic, that we cannot refift the opthe course of that, and the fubfequent portunity of laying it before our readfellions, he made the most rapid pro- ers :-He remarked, that he heard of grefs towards perfection; fo that when factions and parties in that House, and out of place few could more fuccefs- knew they exifted. There was scarcefully attack, or in, more ably defend, ly a fubject upon which they were not the measures of adminiftration. It broken and divided into fects. The was not, however, till the last feffion, prerogative of the crown found its adhe fully established his character as an vocates among the reprefentatives of orator of the firft clafs, who would the people. The privileges of the peolofe no credit by comparifon with the ple found opponents even in the Houfe most renowned fages of antiquity, or of Commons itself. Habits, connecthe most admired ones of modern tions, partics, all led to diversity of times. We allude to his fpeech on opinion. But when inhumanity prethe charges against Warren Haftings, fented itself to their obfervation, it Efq; which took him five hours and found no divifion among them; they forty minutes in the delivery; an ora- attacked it as their common enemy, tion of unexampled excellence, that and as if the character of this land was commanded the univerfal attention and involved in their zeal for its ruin, they admiration of the whole Houfe; unit- left it not till it was completely overing the moft convincing clofenefs and thrown. It was not given to that accuracy of argument, with the moft Houfe, to behold the objects of their Juminous precifion and perfpicuity of compaffion and benevolence in the prelanguage; and alternately giving force fent extenfive confideration, as it was and energy to truth by folid and fub- to the officers who relieved, and who ftantial reafoning; and enlightening fo feelingly defcribe the extatic emothe most extenfive and involved fub- tions of gratitude in the inftant of dejects with the pureft clearness of logic, liverance. They could not behold the and the brighteft fplendor of rhetoric. workings of the hearts, the quivering Every prejudice, every prepoffeffion, lips, the trickling tears, the loud, and were gradually overcome by the force yet tremulous joys of the millions of this extraordinary combination of whom their vote of this night would keen, but liberal difcrimination; of for ever fave from the cruelty of corbrilliant, yet argumentative wit. It rupted power. But though they could will be a permanent record of Mr She- not directly fee the effect, was not the true |