of James the First, as described by the survivor in a curious letter, of which a copy is inserted in one of the numbers of the Guardian. Mr. Sheridan's wounds were serious, but not fatal, and in consequence of them he was obliged to keep his bed some weeks, during some part of which time he was kept by his medical attendants in a quiet state, without being visited by any of his friends. Miss Linley was uncommonly afflicted by what had happened, and her distress was aggravated in being prevented from seeing him, though she even begged that favour "as a wife." They were not, however, at this time actually married, but the vows which they had interchanged were considered by each as equally binding with a more formal obligation. The heroism displayed on the late occasion could not fail to endear Miss Linley to her lover; but her attachment was, if possible, rendered more ardent by the opposition to the union still kept up by her friends. They pleaded, and no doubt with great plausibility, that as Mr. Sheridan had neither a fortune, calling, nor expectancy, whatever might be his merits and talents, marriage with him must be attended with trouble and misery. To remove this obstacle, Mr. Sheridan declared his intention of following the law, in which profession it was natural to expect that his ability would be distinguished by great practice and high promotion. With this view, he was entered a member of the Middle Temple on the sixth of April, 1773, and admitted into commons in Hilary Term the following year. Having, in some degree, thus overcome the objections that were made to his pretensions, the consent of the Linley family was obtained to an alliance which they were aware must eventually take place, and accordingly the young couple were united by license on the thirteenth of April, 1773, he being in his twentysecond and she in her nineteenth year. Shortly after their marriage, the following poetical correspondence passed between Mr. Sheridan and his lady, in consequence of a gentle suspicion expressed by the latter that the want of stability in his disposition would mar their hap piness. Ask'st thou "how long my love shall stay, "When all that's new is past?" How long?-Ah, Delia, can I say How long my life will last? Dry be that tear-be hush'd that sigh; At least, I'll love thee till I die! II. And does that thought afflict thee too, Must yield his faithful breath? DELIA TO DAMON. I: Think'st thou, my Damon, I'd forego Which better than the tongue imparts II. Can true affection cease to fear? III. The Cyprian bird, with plaintive moan, CHAPTER II. Retirement of Mrs. Sheridan from public Exhibition.Anecdote.-Observation of Dr. Johnson.-Embarrassments.-Private Concerts.-Comedy of the Rivals.Farce of St. Patrick's Day.-Opera of the Duenna. -Abdication of Garrick-Succeeded by Sheridan. Ar the time when this marriage took place, Mrs. Sheridan was under an engagement to sing for the benefit of the three choirs, at their musical meeting, which was that year to be held at Worcester. On this occasion she had been paid before-hand: but such was the pride of her husband, that he insisted upon having the money returned, accompanied by a declaration that Mrs. Sheridan would not appear any more in public as a singer. The intimation very naturally astonished the directors, and they strongly represented the great loss which the charity must sustain in the absence of one upon whose powerful attractions they had relied as certain of drawing a crowded assembly. In addition to this unanswerable appeal, they remonstrated with no less energy, though in delicate terms, upon the justifiable grounds of complaint which the subscribers would have to make upon a dereliction that did not originate in absolute necessity. This argument |