Mr. Sheridan succeeded in removing the mask of anonymity, expressed his gratitude to the gentle and enthusiastic writer, and asked her to render him happier still, the result being, as has been already stated,1 their marriage in 1747, the Rev. Walter Chamberlaine performing the ceremony.

None could be better mated than this couple. She was an excellent manager of a household as well as a devoted wife and most affectionate mother, and her husband found in her a true sympathizer and helper during his many struggles and privations. 1 See ante, p. 22.

After they had been forced to migrate to England in 1758, Mrs. Sheridan's charming qualities caused many noteworthy personages to enjoy visiting their house in London. Dr. Johnson, who always displayed a strong liking for the pretty and congenial wives of his friends, was as greatly smitten with Mrs. Sheridan as with Mrs. Thrale. When his contemptuous and ill-mannered remarks about Mr. Sheridan's pension had produced a rupture, he missed the pleasant evenings that he had become accustomed to enjoy in Henrietta Street. He had previously informed Bennet Langton:—“I wish him well; and among other reasons because I like his wife." After the breach, he was deprived, as Boswell puts it, "of one of his most agreeable resources of amusement in his lonely evenings, for Sheridan's well-informed and bustling mind never suffered conversation to stagnate, and Mrs. Sheridan was a most agreeable companion to an intellectual man. She was sensible, ingenious, unassuming, yet communicative. I recollect, with satisfaction, many hours which I passed with her under the hospitable roof of her husband, who was to me a very kind friend."1

Samuel Richardson numbered Mrs. Sheridan among his heartiest and most attached admirers. She delighted in his writings. He praised her unpublished novel and advised her to make a second attempt on a larger scale. a larger scale. The suggestion was adopted, and she gave up what time she could spare

1 Boswell's "Life of Johnson," G. B. Hill's edition, vol. i., p. 389.

1.]

LETTER TO SAMUEL RICHARDSON

to writing the Memoirs of Sidney Bidulph.

41

A

letter which she sent to him from Dublin has a double interest, inasmuch as it exhibits her manner in addressing him and gives some particulars about her husband's position in Dublin when she wrote, though it was not foreseen by either that Mr. Thomas Sheridan would soon be compelled to quit that city again :-"Dublin, November 20th, 1756. A month in Dublin without writing to Mr. Richardson and that too after so kind, so condescending an invitation on his part! .. The truth is, since our arrival here Mr. Sheridan has not had a single hour unemployed in very necessary, tho' very disagreeable business; perhaps your goodness may ask me what I have been doing, why to answer you truly I have had my share too-but I dare not enlarge on these particulars for fear of falling into the error I disclaimed at my first setting out; let me hasten then to tell you something of our present system of theatrical and domestic affairs.

"Mr. Sheridan on his return found he had a more formidable enemy to combat against than any who had ever yet attacked him, an enemy neither to be repelled by force nor overcome by stratagem, and yet an enemy that he has been obliged to enter the lists with, and this was no other than a very poor and a most depopulated town, for such is Dublin at present. He has however been too well used to difficulties to let this wholly dishearten him, and he reassumed the reins of government in his little theatrical Kingdom with great alacrity of spirit. Having reformed many things in his own territories

he thought it most prudent before he again launched out into a troubled sea, to conciliate the minds of the few remaining malcontents, for this purpose on his first appearance he made a short speech to the audience wherein in a very few words he modestly vindicated himself from the imputation of ever having intended to give public offence. As this was the utmost that was desired by any one and more than was expected by all they would scarce permit him to finish what he had to say, and indeed one half of it was drowned in their clamorous approbation.

"I believe almost everybody of any faction that was left in Town was at the theatre that night, and I find fully verified that wise saying, 'a word spoken in season how good is it.' Since that we have gone on with great peace and tranquillity, the people are very glad to have their entertainment restored to them, and only want to be a little richer to purchase it cheerfully every night; but this circumstance calamitous as it is in general gives to us this advantage in regard to the Theatre, for I never remember to have seen such constant genteel audiences, but the cause is too melancholy a one for the effects to produce any pleasure, and it will call up all Mr. Sheridan's attention and diligence to get thro' so unfavourable a season with any tolerable advantage.

"As for my own little family, the joy of seeing them again has been embittered by the illness of my youngest children [Richard Brinsley and his sister Alicia] they have both had fevers, and are but

1.] MRS. SHERIDAN'S “SIDNEY BIDULPH" 43

now recovering; our present abode we find on many accounts so inconvenient and in an air so confined that we have been looking out for a little retreat where the children and I may breathe more freely and Mr. Sheridan be more master of his time, such a portion of it, I mean, as he is not unavoidably obliged to pass in Dublin. We have at last fixed on a little place in the neighbourhood of the Dean of Down's villa, to which I believe we shall remove next week, and here Mr. Sheridan hopes to find time himself to tell you how much he esteems, how much he honours you, meanwhile he commissions me to say thus much for him. . . .

66

Pray, Sir, tell good Mrs. Richardson that I love her for her own sake as much as I do for yours; take that, Sir. Miss Richardson, Miss Patty, Miss Nancy, and Miss Sally have all a just claim to my warmest affection, and they have it. Charles [Francis] talks of Parson's Green every day, and is a sincere and constant lover of your whole family, indeed I should disown him if he were not. Be pleased, Sir, when you see Mr. Duncumb to make our compliments to him and to the amiable Miss Prescott. When I get to my cottage at Glassnevin, I will do myself the pleasure of writing to them both. I can't bear the thoughts of being forgotten by persons I value.”1

Mrs. Thomas Sheridan finished her second novel in 1756, and she placed the manuscript in Richardson's hands. It received his approbation and he

1 "The Correspondence of Samuel Richardson," vol. iv., pp. 145, 150.