111.] HALHED'S LAST DAYS 119 He collected oriental manuscripts, wrote on oriental topics, and he penned epigrams in imitation of Martial. His life ended on the 18th of February, 1830, fourteen years after that of the schoolfellow whose career I am narrating. As the story of Halhed's early days is still incomplete, as regards the relation between him and Sheridan, further particulars concerning it will be given in the next chapter. IV. LITERARY SCHEMES. This may While Halhed and Sheridan were preparing the farce of Jupiter for the stage and a versified translation of the Epistles of Aristænetus for publication, Sheridan was revolving other literary ventures in his mind. In a letter to him from Halhed on the 16th of April (1771] it is said :-“Whatever your new plan is (of which I have not the most distant idea) I shall be glad to coincide in it, and do whatever service may be in my power.” refer to a projected comedy, of which the following fragment in Sheridan's handwriting has been preserved “ M[anager ?]. Sir, I have read your Comedy, and I think it has infinite merit, but, pray, don't you think it rather grave? “S[andy?]. Sir, you say true; it is grave comedy. I follow the opinion of Longinus, who says comedy ought always to be sentimental. Sir, I value a sentiment of six lines in my piece no more than a Nabob does a rupee. I hate those dirty, paltry equivocations which go by the name of puns, and pieces of wit. No, Sir, it ever was my opinion that the stage a should be a place of rational entertainment ; instead of which, I am very sorry to say, most people go there for their diversion : accordingly, I have formed my comedy so that it is no laughing, giggling piece of work. He must be a very light man that shall discompose his muscles from beginning to the end. “ M. But don't you think it may be too grave ? “S. O never fear; and as for hissing, mon, they might as well hiss the Common Prayer-Book ; for there is the viciousness of vice and the virtuousness [of virtue] in every third line. “M. I confess there is a great deal of moral in it ; but, Sir, I should imagine if you tried hand at a tragedy “S. No, mon, there you are out, and I'll relate to you what put me first on writing a comedy. You a must know I had composed a very fine tragedy about the valiant Bruce. I showed it to my Laird of Mackintosh, and he was a very candid mon, and he said my genius did not lie in tragedy: I took the hint, and, as soon as I got home, began my comedy." Sheridan was prolific in projects for earning popular favour. He thought of writing a dissertation on ancient and modern pastoral poetry, and his friend wrote: “I like very much your idea.” ' He had written epigrams and crazy tales, and Halhed told him : “I admire your epigrams, a collection of them would do great things ”; and asked, “ Are the Crazy Tales never to quit their confinement ?" Sheridan had proposed that a periodical should be founded, to be called Hernan's Miscellany, and for us. Halhed wrote :-“Although you have given me a perfect idea of what Mr. Hernan (whom I would rather call Herman) [is to be], yet till I see you and know the scope of your plan, and what sort of papers you have written, I cannot determine to write anything in that way.” In a succeeding letter he said : “I think the title of your periodical work should not be the ‘Miscellany'-every other paper of that kind has some distinguishing name, and when so fair a mark as · The Reformer' has not yet been touched on, I think it will not be a bad aim , very outré. I think as a reformer he should be old, and as an old man opinionative, though one of the best men in the world in the main ; yet he may reasonably have a few particularities, which will give a characteristic appearance to the piece. know best, as I before said, so if Mr. H. is but twenty years old, I'll endeavour to do my best for him." Halhed exerted himself to get contributors and wrote that he had almost secured one in the person of Dr. Schomberg's son, of whom he says :—“I • chose him for the versatility of his genius. We do not want deep-read Bookworms, nor logical Blockheads, a quick conception and a speedy delivery are the requisites in our profession, but you shall know him (for you will be introduced to him before you determine).” Recurring to young Schomberg, he writes :-“As for our third member, I can say nothing, for I find he does not go to Bath this vacation, and I should not by any means choose to But you iv.] PLANS FOR PUBLICATION 123 you find add so important a link to our chain, till you had examined its strength and temper, for I may be deceived in the metal, or in the fabricature, and a dead weight would be intolerable upon us. So that if any person whom you think venturous enough to launch into the ocean of ink, and sailor enough to steer properly through it, by all means send a press-gang after him. I own I think myself unfit for the purpose; I do not sufficiently see into mankind.” The two differed in opinion as to the price, Halhed thinking it should be fixed at threepence a copy, while Sheridan preferred sixpence, but deferred to his friend's opinion. After Halhed hoped that everything had been arranged, he was undeceived, and thus expressed himself on the 16th of April, 1771 :—“I am horribly vexed with you for giving up all thoughts of Mr. Hernan. All I objected to was the title, the plan I approved, and still approve, and I make no doubt it would conduce to the recompense of its authors, much more than Aristænetus or even Jupiter, god as he is. The only new threepenny paper which I heard of was The Trifler, and I imagine the success of that was but trifling, as I never met with it but in the column of advertisements. I don't believe it was taken in at one coffeehouse. So that I see no reason in the world why we should defer to another winter a project big with so much expectation : the establishment of which on a good footing now, would preclude the attempts of adventurers in embryo hereafter. I do not indeed think so good an opportunity is to be regained, if we fing the present chance away. There is so good an |