Star. — London, England, 1825-10-06 00:00:00

the grimgth oflois rivals by their rent-rolls, discovered at last that his unpretending friend. Sheridan (whose advancei in courtship and knowledge seem to have been equally noiseless and triumphant), was the chosen favourite of her at whose feet to many fortunes lay. Like that Saint (Cecilia), by whose name she was always called, she had long welcomed to her soul a secret visi tant. Whose gifts were of a higher and more radiant kind than the more wealthy and lordly of this world can proffer. ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• Captain Mathews, a married man, and intimate with Miss Linley's family, presuming upon the innocent fa miliarity which her youth and his own station permitted between them, had for some time not only rendered her remarkable by his indiscreet attentions in public, but had even persecuted her in private with those unlawful ' addresses and proposals which a timid female will sometimes rather endure, than encounter that share of the alum which may be reflected on herself by their disclosure. To the threat of self-destruction, often tried with effect in these cases, he is said to have added the still more unmanly menace ~f ruining, at lea t her re putation, if he could net undermine her virtue. Terri fied by his perseverance, and dreading the consequence' of her father's temper, if this violation of his confidence and hospitality were exposed to him, she at length con fided her distresses to Richard Sheridan ; who, having consulted with his sister, and for the first time disclosed to her the state of his heart with respect to Miss Linley, lo.t no time is expostulating with Mathews, upon the cruelty, libertinism, and fruitlessness of his pursuit. Sgch a remonstrance, however, was but little calculated to conciliate the forbearance of this professed man of gallantry, who, it appears by the following allusion to him under the name of Lothario, in a poem written by Sheridan at the time, still counted upon the possibility of gaining his object, or, at least blighting the fruit which be could not reach: Nor spare the flirting Cassoe'd rogue, Nor union Cain's polish'd brogue ; Nor gay Lothario's nobler name, That Nimrod to all female fame. In consequence of thislersecution, and an increasing dislike to her profession, which made her shrink more and more from the gaze of the many, in proportion as she became devoted to the love of one, she adopted, early in 1772, the romantic resolution oeflying secretly to France, and taking refuge in a convent, intending, at the same time, to indemnify her father, to whom she was bound till the age of 21, by the surrender to him of part , 1 the sum which Mr. Long had settled upon her. Sheridan, who, it is probable, had been the chief adviser of her flight, was, of course, not slow in offering to be the partner of it. His sister, whom he seems to have persuaded that his conduct in this affair arose from a wish solely to serve Miss Linley as a friend, without any design or desire to take advantage of her elope ment as a lover, not only assisted them with money out of her little fund for house-expenses, but gave them letters of introduction to a family with whom sbe had been acquainted at St. Quentin. On the evening ap• pointed for their departure—while Mr. Linley, his eldest son, and Miss Maria Linley, were engaged at a concert, from which the young Cecilia herself had been,' on a plea of illness, excused, she was conveyed by She ridan in a sedan-chair from her father's house in the Crescent, to a post-chaise which waked for them on the London road, and in which she found a woman, whom her lover had hired, as a sort of protecting Minerva, to accompany them in their flight. It will be recollected that Sheridan was at this time little more than twenty, and his companion just enter ing her eighteenth year. On their arrival in London, with an adroitness which was, at least, very dramatic, he introduced her to an old friend of his family (Mr. Ewart, a respectable brandy-merchant, in the City), as a rich heivess who bad consented to elope with him to the Continent; in consequence of which the old Gen tleman, with many commendations of his wisdom, for having given up the imprudent pursuit of Miss Linley, net only accommodated the fugitives with a passage on board a ship; which he bad ready to sail from the port of London to Dunkirk, but gave them letters of recommendation to his correspondents at that place, who with the same zeal and dispatch facilitated their journey to Lida. On their leaving Dunkirk, as was natural to expect, the chivalrous and disinterested protector degenerated into a mere selfish lover. It was represented by him, with arguments which seemed to appeal to pru dence as well as feeling, that after the step they had taken, the could not possibly appear in England again blot as his wife. He was, therefore, he said, resolved not to deposit her in a convent, till she had consented, by the ceremony of a marriage, to confirm to him that right of protecting her which he had now but tem porarily assumed. It did "not, we may suppose, require much eloquence to convince her heart of the truth of this reasoning; and accordingly, at a little village not far from Calais, they were mauled, about the latter end of March, 1772, by a Priest well known for his services on such occasions. They thence immediately proceeded to Lisle, where Miss Linley, as she must still be called, giving up her intention of going on to St. Quentin, procured an apart ment in a convent, with the determination of remaining there till Sheridan should have the means of supporting her as his acknowledged wife. On the first discovery of the elopement, the landlord of the house in which the Sheridans resided had, from a feeling of pity for the situation of the young Ladies —niw left without the protection of either father or brother—gone off, at break of day, to the retreat of Charles Sheridan, and informed him of the event which had just occurred. Poor Charles, wholly ignorant till then of his brother's attachment to Miss Linley, felt all that a man may be supposed to feel, who had but too much- reason to think himself betrayed, as well as dis appointed. He hastened to Bath, where he found a still more furious lover, Mr. Mathews, inquiring at the house every particular of the affair, aad almost avow. ing, in the impotence of his rage, the unprincipled de sign which this summary step had frustrated. In the course of their conversation, Charles Sheridan let fall some 'unguarded expressions of anger against his brother, which this Gentleman, who seems to have been eminently qualified for a certain line of characters indispensable in all romances, treasured up in his me mory, and s as it will appear, afterwards availed him lelf of them. For the four or five weeks during which the young couple were absent, be never ceased to haunt the Sheridan family, with inquiries, rumours, sod other disturbing visitations; and at length, urged on by the restlessness of -revenge, inserted the following violent advertisement is the Bath Chronic: e : Wednesday April $, 3772. "'Mr. Richard S-- having attempted, in a letter left behind him for that purpose, to account for his scandalous method of runnhot away from this place, by insinuations derogating from my • - rt. ►eharaster, and that of aloodriady, kiikicent so fak as iebtos to me, or my knowledge.; baa Niche. taken any notice of letters, nor ems Warmed his own flatly of the oboe' sherbet heakid Massif t.l imo PS*OIP II I *WI 4p delerVel the treatment Of a Gentleman, and thiwe shall tomble myself no, towhee shoal him than, in dos public methods as post biro 14 a and a trescheeene4l.....-. 4 4 And as E am convinced there have been many malevolent in cendiaries concerned in the propagation of this infamous ile, if any of them, unprotected by age, infirmities, or profession, will dare to acknowledge the part they have acted, and alarm to what they bare said of me, they may depend ea receiving the proper steward of their villainy, in the most public manner. The world Will be candid enough to judge properly (I make no doubt) of any priva s t) abuse on this subject for the future • as nobody can defend Wessel from an accusation he is ignorant of . "THOMAS MATHEW_ On a remonstrance from Miss Sheridan upon this outrageous proceeding, he did not hesitate to assert that her brother Charles was privy to it—a charge which the latter with indignation repelled, and was only prevented by the sudden departure of Mathews to Ldndon from calling him to a more serious account for the falsehood. ... .. .. ... . . On his arrival in Bath (whither he travelled with Miss Linley and her father), Sherici.in lost not a mo- ment in ascertaining the falsehood of the charge against his brother. While Charles, however, indignantly de nied, the flagitious conduct imputed to him by Ma thews, he expressed his opinion of the step which She ridan and Miss Linley had taken, in terms of consider able warmth, which were overheard by some of the family. As soon as the young Ladies had retired to bed, the two brothers, without any announcement of their intention, set off post together for London, Sheri dan having previously written Mr. Wade, the Master of the Ceremonies. ••• ... ... On the arrival of the brothers in town, Richard She ridan instantly called Mathews out. His second on the occasion was Mr. Ewalt, and the particulars of the duel are thus stated by himself, in a letter which he ad dressed to Captain Knight, the second of Mathews, soon' after the subsequent duel in Bath. 44 SIR—On the evening preceding my last meeting with Mr. Mathews, Mr. Barnett* produced a paper to me written by Mr. Mathews, containing an account of our former meetings in London. As I had before fre quently heard of Mr. Mathews's relation of that affair, without interesting myself much in contradicting it, I should certainly have treated this in the same manner, had it not been seemingly authenticated by Mr. Knight's name being subscribed to it. My asserting that the pa per contains much misrepresentation, equivocation, and falsity, might make it appear strange that I should apply to you in this manner for information on the sub ject ; but as it likewise contradicts what I have been told were Mr. Knight's sentiments and assertions on that affair, I think I owe it to his credit, as well as my own just ification, first, to be satisfied from himself whe ther be really subscribed and will support the truth of the account shewn by Mr. Mathews? Give me leave previously to relate what I have affirmed to have been a real state of our meeting in London, and which I am now ready to support on my honour, or my oath, as the best account I can give of Mr. Mathews's relation is, that it is almost directly opposite to mine. I , Mr. Ewan accompanied me to Hyde Park, about six in the evening, where we met you and Mr. Mathews, and we walked together to the ring. Mr. Mathews refusing to mike any other acknowledgment than he had done, I observed that we were come to the ground : Mr. Ma thews objected to the spot, and appealed to you. We proceeded to the back of a building on the other side of the ring, the ground was there perfectly level, I called on him, and drew my sword (he having previ ously declined pistols). Mr. Ewart observed a sentinel on the other side of the building ; we advanced to ano ther part of the park. I stopped again at a seemingly convenient place ; Mr. Mathews objected to the obser %cation of some people at a 4reat distance, and proposed to retire to the Hercules' Pillars till the park should be dear ; we did so. In a little time we returned. I again drew my sword; Mr. Mathews again objected to the observation of a person who seemed to watch us. Mr. Ewart observed that the chance was equal, and engaged that no one should itop him,should it be necessary for him to retire to the gate, here he had a chaise and four, which was equally at his service. Mr. Mathews declared that he would not engage while any one was within sight, and proposed to defer it till next morning. I turned to you and said that 6 this was trifling woO,' that I could not admit of any delay, and engaged to remove the Gentleman (who proved to be an Officer, and who, on my going up to him, and assuring him that any interposition would be ill•timed, politely re tired). Mr. Mathews, in the meantime, had returned towards the gate; Mr. Ewart and I called to you, and followed. We returned to the Hercules' Pillars, and went from thence by agreement, to the Bedford Coffee house, where, the master being alarmed, you came and conducted us to Mr. Mathews, at the Castle Tavern, Ht nrietta-street. Mr. Ewart took lights up in his hand, and almost immediately on our entering the room we engaged. I struck Mr. Mathews's point so much out of the line, that I stepped up and caught hold of his wrist, or the hilt of his sword, while the point of mine was at his breast. You ran in and caught hold of. my arm, ex claiming, 4 Don'. kill him.' I struggled to disengage my arm, and said his sword was in my power. Mr. Mathews called out twice or thrice, I beg my life.'— We were parted. You immediately said, There, he has begged his life, and now there is an end of it; and, on Mr. Ewart's saying that when his sword was in my power, as I attempted no mote, you should not have interfered, you replied that you were wrong, but that you had done it hastily, and to prevent mischief—or words to that effect. Mr. Mathews then hinted that 1 was rather obliged to your interposition for the advan tage; you declared that 4 before you did so, both the siaords were in Mr. Sheridan's power.' Mr. Mathews still seemed resolved to give it another turn, and ob served that he bad never quitted his sword. Provoked at this, I then swore (with too much heat, perhaps) that he should either give up his sword and I would break it, or go to his guard again. He refused—but, on my persisting, either gave it into my hand, or flung it on the table, or the ground (which, I will not absolutely affirm). I broke it, and flung the hilt to the other end of the room. He exclaimed at this. I took.a mourn ing sword from Mr. Ewart, and presenting him with mine, gave my honour that what had passed should never be mentioned by me, and he might now right himself again. He replied, that he 6 would never draw a sword against the man who bad given him his life —but on his still exclaiming against the indignity Of breaking his sword (which he had brought upon him self), W. Ewan offered him the pistols, and some al tercation passed between them. Mr. Mathews said, that be could never shew his face, if it were knows how his sword was broke—.that such a thing . had never been done that it cancelled all obligations, &c. &c. You seemed to think it was wrong, and we both pro • The blend of Mathews in the second duel. •••••... LONI)ON. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1625. STOCK EXCHANGE, TWELVE O'CLOCK. Consols opened at 87j 88 for the Account, sad for time tune 1114, with little doing. Current Priers: New Spanish 151, Old Spanish 16U, Russian 93j, Mexican 71i, Brazilian Scrip 9; 9 disc. Mexican &rip 101 1 due. Greek Scrip 11.5 24 discount. PtZICR OF STOCKS AT TWO O'CLOCK. Bank Stock Shut. 3 per Cent. Ited. Shut. S per .Cent. Cons. 88 875 S i per Cent. Shut. 4 per Cent. New 102% t 4 % 5 4 Long Ann. Shut. India Stock 264 1 h South Sea Stock 99 1 / 4 0,000 Excheq. Bills par 1 dis. £5OO ditto I dis. 1 prem. 4:100 and £2OO ditto I dis. 2 prem. Cons. for Acct. 88 87Y 8 68% 88 FOREIGN FUNDS, TWO O'CLOCK. Anti'.lin Ms 5 p Ct. Mex. Scrip, 1825, 101 1 1 Os. Brazilian Bonds, Ditto Acct. 10/ 1 1 1 1 die ditto Acct. Neapolitan Bonds, 1824 Dn. Scrip,sp C. 1825, Ditto Bonds S p C. Ditto Aect. 91 dis. Peru r. Bonds, 6 pC. 661 Buenos Ayres Bonds Ditto Acct. 67 Titto Acct. DittaScrip,lll2s, 6 pC. Chili= Bonds, 6 p Ct. ' Portuguese Bonds Colombian lids,6pC. 76 Pruss.lids.lB22, 5p C. 981 Ditto Bonds 1824, Rues. Bonds, 1622,5 p C. 931 Ditto Ace. 74/ Span. 3 p C. Cons. 17 Danish Bonds, S p Ct. 1011 1 Ditto Acct. Do. Marks Banco Span.s p. Ct. C. 1825, Ditto Scrip. 1825, ' ' Ditto for Ace. Creek Bonds E 94 30 'Frenchltentes,Spet. 99f. 50c. Do. Scrip 5 p Ct. 23 231 db. -• Ditto Acct. Ditto Acct. 241 234 24 231 die. Exchange, 25f. We. Mex. Bonds, 701 French lientes,3p C. D0.80nd5,1825, 6p Ct. Guatemala Scrip, Ditto Acct. Ditto Acct. 41 dis. BRITISH AND FOREIGN SHARES, TWO O'CLOCK. SHAM PAID. mica SHAD& 100 5 10 94 SO 5 44 100 1 1/ 40 20 40 . 10 100, 10 SO 5 25 10 100 5 Pasco Peruvian - Potosi, La Pas, & Peru's. Royal Waldeck . __ _ United Bleziatn Ditto New Alliance British & For. British Rock & Patent Salt Dreirerich Patent Salt 24 QS 121 15 10i 11 Gayety! Steam Navigation Imperial Estate Tobacco, Souff, and Sagas We alluded, some few days ago, with deep regret , and in terms of reprobation, to the conduct of a Member of Parliament, in degrading his own dignity, and that of the Illustrious Body to which he belongs, by tra velling out of his proper sphere. We sincerely wiih that our remarks in that respect were, in justice, to be considered as applicable only to the one individual, whose oddities have attracted so much of public atten tion. But there is another Member of Parliament, ambitious of playing a higher part in the Political Drama, with whoni, at the present moment, we would earnestly remonstrate on the same grievance, inasmuch as his example is far more dangerous, though not less mischievous and degrading to the character of the I &nate tran that of the good natured and eccentric Member of the Emerald, Isle. We allude to Mr. HUMS, and if we rate his talents as a Statesman rather lower than some of his friends—we are full willing to give him great credit for good intentions, for fearless political courage, unquestionable though misdirected industry, and for zeal - so overabundant as to luxuriate into restlessness. But why will Mr. Hums overshadow those valuable and useful, if not great qualities, by an Intel meddling with the concerns of every person and every thing ? Why is his name for ever placarded in the public prints on all possible subjects, by his own officiousress and bad taste, when such publicity had better have been confined to the fair and ordinary channels of Parliamentary Reporters? We say nothing of his indefatigable exertions 'at every Meeting of which he is a member (and few there are to which be does not belong), from the East India! House down to the Society of Arts, in the Adelphi— even from that buMble arena of oratory lower still, and down to the regulation of the concerns of the Lying in-Hospital. We will even pass over his gratuitous volunteering to be mediator, the other day, between the :tsllett wool- . g;;a • • poskl, that if he hayer Ilalionspissented thie akair, it should not be medtiossied by us. 'This wasSaila I Men asked Mr. Mather: weethek (as be had'apressed histiself sensible . f, ard shocked at the injustice and in• l dignity he had done me in his adiertisement), it did not occur to him that he owed me another satisfa:tion; and, that, as it-was now in his power to do it without dis credit, I supposed he would not hesitate? This he ab solutely refused, unless conditionally ; I insisted on it, and said I would not leave the room till it was settled. After much altercation, and with much ill-grace, be gate the apology which afterwards appeared. We parted, and I returned immediately to Bath. I, there, to Colonel Gould, Captain Wade, Mr. Crea,er, and others, mentioned the affair to Mr. Mathews's credit— said that chance having given me the advantage, Mr. Mathews had consented to that apology, and mention ing nothing of the sword. Mr. Mathews came down, and in two days 1 found the whole affair had been stated in a different light, and insinuations given out to the same purpose as in the paper which has occasioned this trouble. I had undoubted authority that these ac counts proceeded from Mr. Mathews, and likewisenat Mr. Knight had never any share in them. I then thought I no longer owed Mr. Mathews the compliment to conceal any circumstances, and I related the affair to several Genthmen exactly as above. . t . I am your very humble servant, " R. B. SHF.RIDAN." It was not till Tuesday morning that the young Ladies at Bath were relieved from their suspense by the return of the two bro thers, who entered evidently much fatigued, not having been in bed since they left home, and produced the apology of Mr. Mathews, which was instantly seat to Cruttwell for insertion. It was in the following terms s " Being convinced that the expressions I made use of to Mr. Sheridan's disadvantage were the effects of passion and misrepre sentation, I retract what I have said to that Gentleman's disad vantage, and particularly beg his pardon for my advertisement in the Bath etreetick. " THOMAS MATHEWS." THE EVENING STAR. cohlies of Bradford, and their irritated ernploye4__ who, on both sides, tata bat rejected his intitre ret . t. But we deprecate his printed letter, inserted in t to, Morning Chrbnidi, on behalf of Mr. MILLINGiN, the surgeon, in the service of the Gieeks,hecause the for te d employthent of ihit individual by the Turks ectild have been just as well explained by Mr. Bove nol whose veracity in such a case, would be al admitted as that of the Honourable Membe r; M I : Hums may be indifferent to the use which the Dish may make of Bls name, even though they shOtsld rin ne s him as the arch-enemy of their cause, and shew that hi; open and avowed levies of British men and money fnl the destruction of the lives and property of the Turkish people, is countenanced and supported by other M en , bers of the British Berate. Not so the English subject, in Turkey, who are threatened with retaliation. The Pore will not discriminate between the avowed and puti e acts of individual Members of Parliament and those ti the Members of the Government. And, according to aZ the usages of Nations, ancient and modern, they may justly require the legislative power of Great ILitain, in whosever hands that power resides, to restrain its subjects from furnishing the means of committing op en hostilities on their unoffending people. If the Gove rn . ment with whom they negotiate should say the K ING of ENGLAND is your friend and ally, but those offences are the acts of individuals over whom he has no control, they may very teasonably reply, we respect his ftienkl. ship, but, lamenting his want of power, we will wag e no war with him, but retaliate our wrongs on '.:is individual subjects who are in our power ; and thfn the case will come by such arguments to this notah:e absurdity, that while the monarchs are in and friendship, the people of the respective natiers are at war. We trust that Mr. HUMS and his friethls will profit by this well-meant hint, assuring them that they are not more attached to the liberation of Greece than we are, provided that such a desirable event can be brought about without immediate ruin and destrut. tion to the lives and properties of our own fellow-citizens, Hamburgh Papers to the 30th ult. have Leached is. they contain no political news whatever, a n d mere l y so. nounce the arrival at Christiana of the Swedish Mists ter for Foreign Affairs, and the Russian Ambassador. This forenoon we received the Allgetweine Zeitity to the SOth vit. They contain some unimportant n• marks on the ceremonials of the Hungarian Diet, ad the preparations for the Coronation of the Entpresssf Manua. These papers give an account of the darn attempt of the Greeks on the shipping in the port of Alexandria, which, had it succeeded, would have de stroyed the whole shipping in the harbour, and laid the town in ashes. This attack excited so much alarm at Alexandria, that the Vice• Governor, the Governor, and the Director of Marine, had been sent in pursuit of the Greeks; and the Viceroy of Egypt hearing that the Vice-Governor had not proceeded towards the Greeks, but in an opposite direction, put to sea Mare, and ars absent some days, without meeting with the Greeks. In the meantime the Capitan Pacha, with 'AI fleet, had arrived at Alexandria. The Osservatore Veneziano of 22d September, cort• tains the following letter from Alexandria, in Egyp; received by way of Trieste: " Oa the 10th of August, at three o'clock in the afternoon, the advanced post of the pilots gave the sig. nal usual on the arrival of ships, that other pilots might go out to bring them into the harbour. Soon after, three brigantines were descried, which at five o'clock hoisted Sags, one a Russian, the second an lonian, and the third, as it seemed, an Austrian flag. The first, having takers a pilot on board, entered the hat hour half an hour before the others, and following the direction of the wind, sought an anchoring place near several Turkish vessels, two of which were fri gates. The other brigantines followed at some distance : all three were Greek fire-ships. The first was soon re eognised, and those on board perceiving this, set it on fire in the middle of the harbour, and to the windward of 100 European merchantmen and a French brig. The crew got into their long boat and fled, leaving the pilot on board the fire-ship, which burst into flames, but, fortunately, did not explode, perhaps for want of suffi cient combustibles : passing through the forests of masts it ran aground. The other two firoships, seeing this, took flight: a couple of balls which the French brig fired at the long-boa of the first, reached, but did not injure it. " If this attempt had succeeded, not a ship would have escaped. The town would brie been reduced to ruins, and the sailors and inhabitants have been sacri ficed. PROVIDENCE ) however, protected both the Egyp tians and the Europeans. The Viceroy of Egypt, who was at Alexandria, ordered the Vice• Governor (Billal Aga) to put to sea on the evening of the 10th, in pur suit of the fire-ships. On the 11th, the Governor and Director of the Marine followed, with several ships, to second the Vice Governor in pursuit of the Greeks.— During the whole night of the 11th, a heavy can nonade was beard. The Greek cruisers had met, off Damietta, a number of small Turkish merchantmen, with the convoy of Which they were engaged. " The next morning a-report wa s s p rea d t h at t h e V ice. Governor, instead of proceeding towards the side from which the cannonade came, had steered fa. the oppOsite 'direction, to the west.- The Viceroy, incensed at this, went on board his , olrvette, lately built at Genoa, on 'the 12th; in the morniagy to - pursue the Greeks. He was accompanied by many of hismonfeithful servants, among whom was the Patron* Bey. Ile left the-Go- 4 vernnsent to Base Aga, • Soliman Aga, (Director of he Customs), And to Dias Aga, brother of the Vice Go ,ernor, snaking them all subordinate to Boghas Jussut. • .1111111 _ ~.d..~~ . ein I *iib ind Vice Osel Uhl . 141 Tji i9~~ y :e ton g ton rid ba la s' ing ago Ca Vii C 4 • si 1 1 ), r I 1-r A~ x ~• f h. . h .13 :-) ;~ . 6