intercourse which modern custom had introduced between the youth of both sexes; and which was, in his opinion, the best nursery of happy marriages. Guardians would in that case look on their wards with a jealous eye, from a fear that footmen and those about them might take advantage of their tender years and immature judgment, and persuade them into marriage as soon as they attained the age of sixteen. In like manner, young men, when mere boys, in a moment of passion, however ill-directed, or perhaps in a moment of intoxication, might be prevailed upon to make an imprudent match, and probably be united to a common prostitute."

Fox's reply to this was "that his honourable friend, Mr. Sheridan, had so much ingenuity of mind, that he could contrive to give an argument what turn he pleased; he considered not, therefore, when what he said was really in support of domestic tyranny, he should ground it on a wish to preserve liberty." This terminated all that fell from Sheridan during his first session.

The second session was marked by no striking proof of his senatorial ability. He seemed to wait his opportunity, and to examine carefully the opinions and strength of parties. He once took occasion to reproach his former antagonist, Mr. Rigby, for the contemptuous manner in which he spoke of his constituents, when that gentleman, attempting to reply to a forcible speech of Mr. Fox on the prosecution of the American War, animadverted on the doctrine of taking counsel from their constituents, which he proclaimed unconstitutional, if not illegal. On one occasion Sheridan commented with much energy on some expressions which

fell from Lord North, "that many of our best officers were unemployed and disgusted"; for it by no means appeared they had not just cause for their disgust; but the only speech worthy of being recorded is one upon a motion, made by Lord John Cavendish, of censure on Lord North. Here he had another opportunity of attacking Mr. Rigby, the paymaster of the forces. "Mr. Sheridan meant to speak to the purpose; but he wished not to be judged by the test laid down by the right honourable gentleman (Mr. Rigby), for he meant to give no offence in what he should say, though, it was true, the rule had been proposed from high authority; for undoubtedly, if the degree of offence which speeches gave was to be considered as the criterion of eloquence, the right honourable gentleman must be looked up to as the Demosthenes of that assembly. He had acted, however, in that day's debate perfectly consistent; he had assured the House that he thought the noble lord ought to resign his offices; and yet he would give his vote for his remaining in it. The honourable gentleman had long declared that he thought the American War ought to be abandoned; but he had uniformly given his vote for its continuance. He did not mean, however, to insinuate any motives for such conducthe believed the right honourable gentleman to have been sincere; he believed that, as a member of Parliament, as a privy councillor, as a private gentleman, he had always detested the American War as much as any man, but that he had never been able to persuade the paymaster that it was a bad war: and, unfortunately, in whatever character he spoke, it was the paymaster who always voted in that House. His attacks on the noble lord, he said, appeared only an

ingenious method of supporting him; it was figurative; but ay and no were speeches that did not admit of a trope." Mr. Sheridan then attacked the language used by that honourable gentleman on all occasions when the constituents of that House were mentioned. "His manner of treating the late petitions on the American War was highly indecent, and at that time extremely impolitic. The people began to be sufficiently irritated; gentlemen should be careful to drop no expressions of contempt towards them in that House. They had borne a great deal, and it might be imprudent to treat their patience with insult. The way to prevent the interference of the people, the way to destroy those associations and petitions, which seemed so offensive to the right honourable gentleman, was to endeavour to make Parliament respectable. Let that House show itself independent, let it show itself consistent, and the people will never think of interfering; but if Parliament became contemptible in the eyes of the nation, the people would interfere, and neither threats nor influence would prevent them."

Sheridan was now fairly launched upon the troubled sea of politics. He had displayed that kind of talent which naturally made him an acquisition to either of the parties which sought to direct the affairs of this great empire. His eloquence, his tact, his elegance of manner, his brilliant conversation, all led to his being recognised as one who had a claim to rank amongst the leading men of the age; but it was evident that he was much better adapted to become an independent chieftain than a partisan. Although he followed the footsteps of the Whigs, he occasionally deviated from their line of march; and it was soon evident that he would act, think, and speak for himself, and that, though

he was bound in strict ties of regard and of friendship to the great and good leader of the party, he would even combat him, and, when the occasion required it, would assert his own views in opposition to the man who, from his position, was entitled to express the opinions of a numerous body. The period was one of great excitement. Men's minds were directed with unusual energy towards the solution of a great difficulty. A struggle carried on between the mother-country and her excited offspring had tended to awaken, in England and in the United States, the spirit of liberty, and a hatred of despotic sway. Lord North, as the ostensible minister of the crown, had accumulated upon himself the uncompromising hatred of a large portion of the people. They had been urged on by the violent declamations of Charles Fox, of Lord John Cavendish, of Edmund Burke, and of the great leaders of the Whig party. Sheridan took but little interest in this inexhaustible theme for parliamentary eloquence; and, notwithstanding the inducements he met with to exert himself, he appears to have remained almost an indifferent spectator of the struggle. There is, however, a rumour, "coming," as Moore says, "from an authority worthy in every respect of the most implicit belief, that the Government of the United States made him an offer of £20,000 as a mark of the high estimation in which his talents were held, but that Sheridan would not accept it." "With respect to the credibility of the transaction," continues Moore, "it is far less easy to believe that the Americans had so much money to give, than that Mr. Sheridan should have been sufficiently high-minded to have refused it."

He seemed at this period to be intent on learning the tone and temper of the House. When he spoke,

it was with conciseness, and without any ambitious desire to win approbation; he felt the difficulties of his new position, and was determined to surmount them. His judgment and good taste drew upon him the notice and admiration of Charles Fox, who, already charmed with his talents, had bestowed upon him his warmest friendship.

Lord North's administration now drew to a close; the general murmuring against the war at last acted upon the supporters of the premier. On an address being moved by General Conway for a discontinuance of hostilities with America, Lord North's majority had dwindled down to a bare unit; on a similar resolution being again brought forward, he was left in a minority of nine. Mr. Sheridan made a speech on this occasion, in ridicule of Sir William Dolben, who intimated his intention of voting against the motion, although he had voted in its favour a few evenings before. This speech, which has not been recorded, is said to have been an admirable piece of satire. A few nights afterwards, Lord North announced that his administration had ceased to exist. Sheridan seems to have contented himself with general censure of the administration, but did not so virulently declaim against it as did others of the party into whose hands the reins of government now fell.

Such was, however, the respect in which Sheridan was held by his party, that when Lord North's ministry was overthrown, and the Marquis of Rockingham formed a new one from which the country anticipated great results, he was appointed one of the under-secretaries of state, a post which he had then reason to believe would be a permanent one; but in this he was doomed to disappointment. There were seeds of dis