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ment using either corruption or intimidation to obtain its appearance. Vain were his efforts; and nearly half a century's experience has shown to us how fallacious were the hopes and promises held out. The evils that then afflicted Ireland have not diminished, and Sheridan's arguments are to this day unansweredunanswerable. His absence from the general business of the House drew down upon him some censure on occasion of his seconding a motion of Sir Francis Burdett, relative to the state of Cold Bath Fields Prison. He observed, in reply, that nothing would satisfy gentlemen with regard to him; they blamed him for absenting himself, and took care never to bid him welcome when he came; but whenever he saw public principle abandoned or humanity outraged, and especially when he saw iniquity protected by the names and authority of members of that House, and the House called upon to give its sanction to such conduct, he would come forward. He then ably supported the liberal baronet, whose noble conduct on the occasion of the disclosures at the prison gained for him that public respect which he enjoyed to the last hour of his highly valuable life.

He made an elaborate speech this session on the failure of the expedition to Holland, and others of some historical interest on the overtures made by Napoleon Bonaparte for peace; but it began to be evident that he was more careless both in the matter and the manner of his speeches, and in 1801 he spoke but once, and that somewhat feebly.

The session of 1802 was commenced with an incident which excited considerable amusement. The prime minister and Mr. Sheridan, entering the House at the same moment, walked up to the table and

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took the oath at the same time. The premier, who was almost as careless in pecuniary matters as his great opponent, fumbled about in his pockets for two shillings, usually paid, but found nothing. He turned round to Sheridan, who by some extraordinary freak of fortune had money, and was actually able to be a lender and not a borrower. This gave rise to many witticisms. One of the morning papers contained the following paragraph: "Something is certainly on the carpet at present between the ministry and opposition, for we assert, from undoubted authority, that yesterday a loan was negotiated between Mr. Pitt and Mr. Sheridan." On the 14th of May he showed that, however careless he might have grown, he still retained a vigorous fancy, power of sarcasm, and consummate skill in party politics. Mr. Pitt had ceased to be minister of Great Britain; he had allowed Mr. Addington to seize the reins of government until it might suit him to resume them, and Sheridan took the occasion to speak of the state of parties.

December the 8th he made an admirable speech which separated him still further from Fox, who, having been nobly received by Bonaparte, had conceived a high opinion of him, and designated him as an instrument in the hands of Providence to restore Switzerland to happiness, and to elevate Italy to splendour and importance; whilst Sheridan pronounced him "an instrument in the hands of Providence to make the English love their constitution better, to cling to it with more fondness, to hang round it with true tenderness." It is impossible by means of extracts to do justice to the beauties contained in this admirable specimen of parliamentary

eloquence. It made a deep and lasting impression on the country, and did more to urge the nation on to resist the power of the ruler of France than any of the laboured harangues of any of the statesmen of the day.

An offer of the place of registrar to the High Court of Malta was offered for the acceptance of Tom Sheridan by Lord St. Vincent, but was with a high tone of feeling declined by his father, who, determined to avoid giving to his enemies any opportunity of assailing his political character, preferred making a pecuniary sacrifice of no little importance. The subject of the Prince of Wales's establishment was the only one on which he exerted his talentsa humorous description of what majesty would be without its externals, exemplified in the appearance that would be presented were the Speaker and the House to be deprived of their trappings, was the only feature worthy recording. A report was prevalent that Sheridan was prepared to form a coalition with Mr. Addington-his defence of Lord St. Vincent rather led to this idea-but the return of Mr. Pitt to power put a stop to any further thought of this alliance. Sheridan resumed his position. Some speeches made by him on the increase of the military establishments of the country will be perused, even now that the circumstances with which they were accompanied have lost their interest, with the best results, giving as they do incontestable proofs of his parliamentary ability, and his knowledge of the true principles upon which the freedom of a nation is based. Sheridan was now gratified by the recollection of the services which he had rendered the Prince of Wales. He was installed in the office of

Receiver-General of the Duchy of Cornwall, the nobleman holding that position being in India. He was to fill it until his return in the year 1808; however, it became permanently his own, in consequence of the death of Lord Lake. Upon the death of Mr. Pitt, and the formation of a short-lived administration of the Whig party, Sheridan was appointed Treasurer of the Navy, a situation far beneath his expectation and the talent he had displayed. His want of industry, his known habits of life, took from him the chance of a higher post; nor whilst he filled the one for which he was selected did he show any of his usual ability. The death of Mr. Fox soon drove him from the brief taste of the sweets of office. From that period the instances of his parliamentary exertions are but rare.

On the 24th February occurred the most serious calamity which could have befallen Sheridan-the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, whose erection had so lately as 1794 been accomplished at so vast expense, was on that day totally destroyed by fire. It happened that there was no performance on that evening: that whilst Sheridan was in attendance in the House of Commons, on the occasion of Mr. Ponsonby's motion on the conduct of the war in Spain, the principal actors and officers of the theatre were enjoying the hospitality of Mr. Richard Wilson at his house in Lincoln's Inn Fields. All was mirth and glee there; a bumper, "Success and prosperity to Drury Lane Theatre," was just pledged around, and the glass raised to the lips, when the youngest daughter of the host rushed into the room, screaming out that Drury Lane Theatre was on fire. All rushed into the square. The fire raged with tremendous fury; the whole horizon

was illuminated; no doubt could exist as to the sad truth. Messrs. Peake and Dunn, the treasurers, and Kelly, the acting manager, rushed to the spot, dashed upstairs, and at the hazard of their lives succeeded in saving the iron chest, which contained documents of great importance. The House of Commons was speedily made acquainted with the fearful eventindeed the interior of the House was illuminated by such blazes of light that there could be no doubt that some catastrophe was taking place. Every eye was turned to Sheridan, who sat in respectful silence, whilst that assembly, with due regard to its accomplished member, entertained a motion that the House should be adjourned; but with great composure he said "that whatever might be the extent of the private calamity, he hoped it would not interfere with the public business of the country." Kelly, the acting manager, states that with Roman fortitude he remained at his post whilst his playhouse was burning, and this really appears to have been the case. The ordinary version, as told by Moore, is not only that he left the House, proceeded to Drury Lane, witnessed with a fortitude which strongly interested all who observed him the entire destruction of his property, but gives currency to an anecdote which he does not evidently believe. "It is said that as he sat at the Piazza CoffeeHouse during the fire, taking some refreshment, a friend of his having remarked on the philosophic calmness with which he bore his misfortune, Sheridan answered, 'A man may surely be allowed to take a glass of wine by his own fireside.' Without vouching for the authenticity or novelty of this anecdote," adds Moore, "which may have been, for aught I know, like the Wandering Jew, a regular attendant upon

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