Memoir of the public and private life of ... Richard Brinsley Sheridan, with a particular account of his family and connexions

PODLEIAN

17 NOV 1965

B. CLARKE, Printer, Well Street, London.

PREFACE.

BIOGRAPHY is of so much importance in developing the characters of public persons, and unfolding the secret springs of complicated events, that any apology for offering to the world memoirs of those who have figured with eminence in the walks of literature, or the sphere of politics, might seem to be altogether superfluous. Yet common courtesy requires some account of a writer's motives and authorities, that it may appear how far his narrative is entitled to attention on the ground of impartiality, or to confidence in the validity of what it relates.

Of the present performance it is perhaps sufficient to say, that it originated in no sinister views, or in the wish to advocate any particular interests. Superior to the influence of party, the author has been careful to represent actions as he found them, to discover the causes out of which they sprung, and to ascertain the real principles by which the agents in them were severally governed.

The reader need hardly be told that the last thirty years have produced more changes of tremendous import than any period of similar extent in the annals of Europe. It is, therefore, evident that the memoirs of individuals who have borne an active part in any of these scenes must, when properly executed, prove entertaining to the present age, and beneficial to posterity, by shewing how easily communities may be thrown into disorder, on what slender movements the fate of empires may depend, and of what flimsy materials political combinations are frequently composed.

Among the luminaries that have shed lustre upon this eventful æra, the late Mr. SHERIDAN was remarkably

conspicuous, by the splendour of his eloquence, the causticity of his wit, and the versatility of his powers. The system in which he moved displayed, for a long space, an uncommon brilliancy of genius, with a combination of various talent, but of which even now we have little more than an imperfect record and an evanescent remembrance. While this constellation shone pre-eminent, each of its orbs had an impressive effect upon public opinion, which, in some instances, received thereby an impulse, that, under the specious plea of promoting justice, ran into the excess of oppression; and, in clamouring for indefinite rights, forgot the duties upon which all right is founded. Thus it is that the imperfections of human wisdom afford lessons of practical caution; and they who may be fortunate enough by a command of intellect to gain an ascendency over the minds of their countrymen, are taught to use that privilege with humility, and with an indulgence to the infirmities of others:

Qui ne tuberibus propriis offendat amicum
Postulat ignoscat verrucis illius; æquum est
Peccatis veniam poscentem reddere rursus.

HORACE.

It remains only to say, that the sources whence these memoirs are drawn have been of a public and private nature. The former it would be needless to enumerate, as they consist of an immense number of works, all of an authoritative character, and investigated with the greatest diligence. Of the latter it can only be said, that many papers have been imparted by persons of the greatest respectability, whose names cannot be here mentioned, except the single one of the late Mr. SAMUEL WHYTE, of Dublin, at whose suggestion, and by virtue of whose communications, the history of Mr. Sheridan and his family was originally projected.

INTRODUCTION.

Antiquity of the Family of Sheridan.-Memoirs of Dr.

Thomas Sheridan.-Anecdotes of Dean Swift. page 1

Memoirs of Thomas Sheridan, M. A. and Mrs. Frances

Sheridan.

CHAPTER I.