The National Register.
London, England, 1816-07-08 00:00:00

_3IR. SHERIDAN.

With deep regret the announce to our readers the
death of the Eight Honourable Richard Minsk:.
~...heridan, who, after a severe and protracted illness, ex-
pima yesterday at norm, in the With year of his age.
It is always interesting, w beaker gratify im• or paiiiful, to me-
ditate the history of a distinguished nano ; ;11111 11101 V especially
of a Tan, from the materials of whose character es en more of
warning, than of example, may be collected. From the mix-
ture and counteraction of high endowments, with vulgar in.
hr.inities and unfortunate luibits, ordinary men derive lessons
of candour and contentment. We cease to murmur at any
seeming partiality in the ilistribulion of intellectual gifis
among mankind, when we see the most useful iiimlities
held from, or disdained by, those upon whom the most splendid
ones have been munifivently lavished. It extends our charity,
and abates :air pride, to reflect with calmness on the fan: 'of
one %silo was equally the delight of society. and the 0r,5...c
litersitore %Own% it him been for many years the fashion to
quote as a bold .leprover of the selffsli spirit of party; and
throughout a petiud fruitful of able men and trying circum-
stances, as the most popular specimen in the British seimie of
political consistency, iutrepidity, and honour.
It is needless to say much on those intelk et ail powers
whose living memorials are finale(' to command the admira-
tion of every future age. The astonishing talent thr obserea.
lion, and knowledge of character, displayed by Mr. Sheridan
in his dramatic writings, will surprise us Inure: VI hen we re-
collect that lie compo..eil Tits Ricoh whilst yet a boy; and that
his School jhr Scandal was written at four and twenty. Those
who are best acquaiiited uitli the history of the stage for an
hundred years preet ding their app -it name, can best appre-
ciate the obligations of the public to an author, Wild.se dialogue
lies the spirit of reality Without its coarseness—who neither
wearies nor offends his :indicant—but whose sentiment is aid-
'mai-dom.' his wit refined. ills opera is another specimen
of various power, which has eclipsed all Mat one of those which
which went before it, and all without exception, ut those which
have followed. TA, Doco,u h.,s lint a single Cis al uu the stage:
and if the broad licentimisuess of the lt,
,2 ege s flprru has given
its author the means of indulgitir a tiers 011- aril pi egnaiit sea)
of satire, to be found in tio other ,hr titian bat
combined in the plot and langinige of his Malmo the charms of
deliracy, elegance, and ingenuity and in his songs has dis-
covered a taste and pathos of hi poetical beauty.
If we pursue Mr. Sheridan into political life, we shall
have equal cause to admire the vigour awl versatility of
his genius. The field on every side of him was occupied
by the ablest men who hail appeared in Parliament ter
wore than half a century. Burke, whose mature mind
was Cuddy furnished from the iiitelbretual Or all
aces and of all nations—Pitt and Fox, nut like She-
riff:li to chance, bat trained and moulded into ',roars
and statesmen:-these were formidable cheeks to the Ilse
of an adventurer Out retmetuniaMetl by character nor cute
nesion—sever eoucatcd for public life--beset by a Thousand
misebiet habits—crusted over milt indolence, and de-
pressed by fortune. Some n.0111114JII• internal power buoyed
him Hp ; and a temper Metilocrable to ordinary. attacks
lett I at all titres poso.essiiiii ut his unshaken Meanies.
In co-operation nwrefore, or riv.thc, or hostility, with the hist
men ut his day.he distinguished I • self: 11111 l nest them try wield-
ing with success the various weapons thr which they were e-
spectively celebrated. In haws of diction ye yielded not es en
to Mr. Pitt—in force and acuteness he might justly be coin-
pa:To w'dli dm great I Jpeosition Leader—while as •plendeur 4,1
ii..agination be egualk it Moist, and its use and management
tar ,execlled him. HIS sarcasms were tiller, but less set ere,
than those by which Mr. Pitt indulzed his auger; and the wit
displayed by Sberitiatt iu Parlimeent was, pedlar,. from the
shay i•y his temper. mash less .harp than brilliant. Ism, tin
quality' which Fr, doenivaird liVer ;all its elllv 011111.11 F is the mind
of Hr. Slim-Wan was his eimeisite and Malay finished Susie. to
this rare Litchi lie had no competitor; and inis it was %thick
gave such inimitable grace to his expressions, mid %skirl*, in
...rguing or deciait ll ill a, in , hiogy or disposed his
llaaNbt • %soli m clieet so Ail Nye c.inte,t ex-
patiate fa ion- 03 hr a twt:mea I gicaiide, i .:Is; than by ob,terv-
nig, ilea he jeint d to the higtiel attribincs an..vesi olsen oh, the
natant! aii‘iint4t s ca .m. and ineludams voice, a t,
c.arliatic, and onager.' d at:i•!..ll.ee ; :11‘11 a ..r.anly and hey,. atm
ai ton. As Mr. Stieriiiiin lias penises., :1 re:nt.:ly which .atli
be described as nearly the best in our lanzanze, so did be by

PRICE 94d.

speech WI II trial of
cartons felicity of genii's put forth, his
Hastings, the finest spiennen of En g lash senatorial eloquence of
melt modern times can hOlll.l. (If this divine oratami,altliounh
none hut thwe lino heard it can adequately jur' ke enough le-
-11141115 tailettify Illlr*l-41,34 the fragments boated dawn to its
by the publication ot that peritel.and iu therecorded srniunettle
us ulie Waders of all parties, who hung in wows: aud amaze-
ment on his %surds. Mr. Sheridan then reached the pinnacle of
Ids tame. No lima th of days could add to the evicts" ity at that
Moment poured around bin', as All orator and statesman of -
preliensive and transcendent powers-414) human fortune could
havesurpassed the expectations then formed of his flame elm.
neuve. % Ity they base nut since been realised, is it question
wilt+ posterity will nut tail to ask. We pass by the dytuils of
Its partiametitarry prugress, from the discussions ou the regtatcy
in 178 J, to those on the same subject in 1311. Many important
questions, many dangerous crises, which arose in the long in-
terval between these ',triads, gas e Mr. Sheridan the means to
establish tier 1 • •elf an occasional interest is ith the people of
England, distinct from any that could have been dented from
mere proofs of talent, or influence of party. On the mutiny at
tit.: sore, he enjoyed the credit of essentially contributing to
save the state. Whenever the liberty of the press was attacked.
tis it bulwark of the constitutiou found is him its most zealous
and consistent defender: and when the eat ly burst of Spanish
patriotism had raised a s.rong sympathy throughout this-coun-
try, it was Mr. Sheridan who first gave form and expression to
the reefing* which swelled every English heart and who
traced in Pat !lament the natural relatiou hi tween (Se support.
of Spain and the deliverance of Europe. ih about institutive a
too severe or invidious set witty into the justice of those high
etwomitans whirls have isasfed on Mr.Sheritlan's patriotic spirit,
we shad merely ohscrie, that one object of our admiration is
the exquiii;e judgement - the dexterity of tact •-with which he
at all watts SelAell the full title of public sentiment, and turned
ii into the proper channel. But it must be acknowledged, that
fire lunges tie remained in the Horne of Co 11111 l ons, and before
the politic, the more his pet tonal consequence declined. Mr.
Sheridan had never in his happiest days effected any thing by
steady application. Ile was capable of intense, bust nut of re-
gular st uily. IV lien public duty or private difficulty urged him,
live dived the burden As if asleep under its pressure. At length,
n the pain could be no longer borne, he roused himself •
11111, mighty effort, and burst like a lion through the toils. •
Ti ere are reasons for believing that his constitatienal indolence
began its operation upon his habits at an early uce. ills very
first thiunatic scenes were written by snatches, with consider-
able int. reals between them. Coils ivial pleasures had lively
hari.••••l.4.. olio .11,75, wit ..n. the mail of the table and the
sparkling glass—the medium of social tntercuurae—had no small
share of his affection. These were joys to be indulged without
effort : as such, they were too well calulated to absorb the time
of Mr. Sheridan, and sootier or later to make large encroach-
ments on his character. His attendance in Parliament became
every Year mete languitl—the ris inertia more incnrable —the
plunges by which his genius had now and then extricated him in
former times less frequent and more feeble. We never witnessed
a contrast much more nalancholy than betweesgthe brilliant and
commanding talent displayed by Mr. Sheridan throughout the
first regency 11i5C11.14111115, and the low Beale of nerve, actin ity,
and celerity, to whirl he seemed reduced, when that sub-
ject was more recently agitated in Parliament. But in-
dolence and inttinperimite must banish reflection, if not cor-
rected by it ; since Ito mun could support the torture of per-
petual self-reproach. .% zgrai a ted, we fear,!by sonic such causo.4,
the list,,! ally careless temper of Al r. Sheridan became ruinous
to all his better hopes and prospects. Without a direct appe-
tile for spending money, he thought sot of eiteeking its es.pets- .
(Mare. The llluny' of time was as mach disregarded as
that of money. All tiw miliv.ments, punctualitics, and minor
obligations of life, were forzotten ; and the household of Mr.
Sheridan was always in a state of nature. His domestic feel.
lags were origioally kind, and his mannuni• gentle: brit the,
same bad habits seduced him from the I lease 411 Commons, and
from home ; and equally injure/11nm as an agent of the public
g 11l id, tuna as a dispesiser of private happiness. It is paintit:,•
it it IllurtifyillZ, bat it is our sacred July, to pursitertis Idstat v
to the end. Pecuniary tonharramient; often lead men to sh:fts
411.1 s pt tlient.---these exhausted, to others of a less. deald
sl
colour. Blunted sensibility—renewed ekeellSCS —1049411.C:14111
Stleit•tv--follow ear-grottier in melancholy succession, moil soli-
tude Mut starkness close Jbe scene.
It has been made a reproach by sonic persons, in lansentise,
Mr. Sheridau's cruel destiny. that '• his friends!' had not dons
more for him. Vs a reedy and conscicationsly declai eit a• oat.
opinion, that had Mr. Sheridan coioyed tea receisersh:ps ot
Cornwall, instead of tine, he would not base died ill illtatall'e.
He never a.0111411A% e Attained tit comfort Itrin,leprildruce 111 his
fiwtoitic. .1 • ain matt tnay become rich, Lee:nisi Its vaulty tisisy•
thirst for ugh- it single inoile of gratiticat ion. Au anibinuiss mare.
a buneiraat, a sportsman, nosy seserally controui tlici; caption a;
but a man who is inveterately thoughtless ot cuasequeuce•, ,
and callous to repr.a,t'_-woo knows not whets he salaams
dens money, because he feels not those mitigations wlech
constitnte or direct its uses -such a man it is impossible
t.• recur from destruction. We go farther -rat profess ant tO •
conjecture to what individuals the above reproacii of forgotten
friendships has been applied. If against 'moan's of illustrious
rants, there nes er wAS A more uufouudtaccasation. Mr.
Sheridan, th.oughout his w bole litC, stood as high us he otiglit
to ha yedmic in the elliarters alluded to. He ret ised the most
substantial proofs ot kind and noxious attach ft OlTl.tlite3
perStalllgeS; 311.1 It is to his Credit that he was tin: iaseiwille.k•
their reoliril. If the mistaken advocaats of Mr. stwriiin were •
so mach his maritiiesas to wish that he had been rased Ia souse
elevate d cattier, are they oat aware that even one month s .telise
sitteih!.eice out Or twelse he was rt Ali times utterly kw. p.ll9ir
of eiiing? But what ti tends are blamed for het.l tisg .Ntr.
Sheridan? 1t hat,/ it nr:*'.ip, did he ever form? N r 0... e. 'ham
diraht •si Uctlii•r "mild t'airiy claim the tit:tit• of frietalYiap
with any !e, It r,•f the Itlig •:ikuisilstratian,
aqse.fril Mr. Fos. to he his hitua, viol that lie ;no
ant:: wills ato.:11 eloco. uce cn the 55..N.ts aad eo:ayabehis „f
c.,:nuexioo: but it ILL, 111:1ler :4erll Ilia ter tom. Ia tizai opt

170

lardr

that Mr. Fox had on any public or pill/ate iicea‘iou bound him-
et Why reciprocal pleclet•s. Vviilenve against the ssss Of
such ties on his part in ly be drawn trout, the well.kitown anec-
dotes of what OCCUM II within a few days of that statesman's
death. The fact is, that a life ut cons iiiality and iatemper.ulee
to Mom favours the cultivation of those bent r tat,tcs and Alec-
tions which are necessary to the existence of intimate friend-
ship. That Mr. Sheridan had as many admirers as ;legit:tint-
Races, there is no room to doubt : but they admired only his
astonishing powers: there never was a second opinion or feel-
jag as to the unfortimate use %Mlt he made ut• them.
We have now performed an hexed duty ; and, in many par-
ticulars, an humbling and most distressing one we have found
it. Never were such gifts as those which Procid. sice show, red
upon Mr. Sheridan so abused—never were talents so miseraii'l
f,rrvetted. The term " greatness'• has been most rislicattoosly,
ill a moral sense, must perniciously applied to the 'Character
t.i' title who, Da11114.:11, charitably of him, was the weakest of
lova. Ila,t he employed his enatehlpss entlawinents wills 101 l
ordinary j nothing in England, hardly any thing in
rairope, could ha% e eclipsed his name, or 'distracted las lira
riess• It is the prettliar and glory of oor l !kat ou•
Stitt:lion, that gre it abilities naafi Cum Ti.t from the mealiest r,..i•
tr,II, and soli' the first tumours of Ihr ronentiiii!y. It is the
ti.,itier praise, will parer h.ippiiiess of our In 'rat system, that
great vice, 1111.0% uuslaah•s the march of itatintion, it hich
nu force our sap. niur.ty at la:el:Pet ciao iTaitote.

IMPERIAL PIRLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Mosrmv,

The. royal .iNselit NW. irk en by e to Mt: paper duty
bill. the loan charge bill, the Exelicipicis* bill.
iti4h and hist' Aril ill' trail'. bill, the Seidch hill.
tat Irish stitinioe May bill, the beer duty hill, the C:ari•-tiont.
c•tate bill, the silkanamilactiner's bib, the hairca4 eorious
tir spirit liceir-e bib, the American pasragc bJt, rip:
blibber bill, the caul Ices' AhOillioc bill, the lead mini cunt
Lill. the Litbil coal bill, the iiiiand coal bill, the leather nr tan •
ucer. and comer: Lill, Ow clergy farms ball. lic insolvent .lebtore
Lamminitait bill, the 'lrish nt Achim-4' hilt, the mines'
: rehinrry bill, the militia pay uill, ilic mutiny art
LAI, file ertilliehlt lunatic bill. and sum.. private bills, iirclisiling
b... %ow Ater: bill. Cummissiuners, Lards Eldon,
861111
The pill. r bill and parish apprentices bill, were rellinier:
tuoun the COllllUUOSatilt.lllleo.li....:l4Lallgeced to.

GAS lIILL.

I In the motinu of the 34 rumlitik of Ow ;ma

The Fart of lest twat) t i.v: that it was absolit:ely
loi(ossilpie that any peer could state ails good grimed the the
assing 01 this hill. It via, as dry and gtaiiiig, a jolt a% et er hail
era pissenteil to the cuusiilera of any I(p:sot:lire. The
trincipal limns Much then liddslops oup,lit to at t it/ such tie-
r Isiollll aa' plain and clear. 11 hen H coml.:my came 11l
teeth tat ask tin estraorilinory and exclusive psis ileges and
jeiwer 5, it wit, MIll• it' dist the, abnultl show that it would be
Ilat yob:it it.Raitta4e to :41 ant these powers am! lie.% iiest •
rail also that the 'moves and priviteges so gr: sl Id not
La of slid, a mitotic us to rout tha ....... itbi•lf. Now a, to
the first of these points, they hail shown no pulpit adsautags
that would ache from it : nu the contrary, the (object was, to
i•llleUft! 11/I.M. 'MU t.t. and pi is lieges to this eunijimay, so lit to
enable. them hi vie ea competition by I.riv etc capital; and
so hie dd. wool.' have the effect of a moniipaly. The a.lvaatagi;
flies h J promised to the public, when they obtained their for•
titer all wa., ill.ll Ibec ruald by this alfird for the ptiblie letups
loiter and .1 clicapea light. Now it esettialy- awns area from
the esaatiaatimis oil the cututent tee. that dies email tiot woullul,c
t,i pellllllll their promise %/Ilona lam alid 04..xiiisitey. lite
read several passage• f.- he evidence fr which,
as hr contended, it was clear that the viewer,' had all alotig
been a losing oae, and that there was not a •11.1liaN ill pro.pvil
tintc they canal retitle'. hie conceit/ 'madame will
augmenting their linty.. In this mats oh things, how
"old their •ellIINI•lelltly with the principles avail
V.lllCh tiles usually acted with regard to thei:r matters, ethewtat
to paN• a i)111 winch %%gollid t natile the direenits of this emmiany
I,i 4.1 :44111;1011as when Iles 11111,4 aware that,
i•• the public were t. .otighly Ill:111141111a4 with the state 4111,
Callf ens, 110 101411 Wallid ads ,'eotwy 1111011 it ? It is at. it/
tie confidence that the legislature would not pa's bills it/ suit•
port of a eaucerii which most be a losing 1011 P, that tile hills
scribers ads:lller theii money ; he busted, therefore, they would
t•VC it was their duty not to pass 111 lb hill. Besides these 'injec-
tions, the, had to consider the injui till'y (0
tile a ha le.foiliery, ahidu hail rt ceased particular encintragraien.
by nu lea, than six arts of nartiainent since :4.1 Geo. 111. is
was must iinitortalit is, that the whaledishers
should mil be injured by I;i% log these extraordinary powers to
this Kam company. 'lhes ought at least to allow the whale oil
to have its lair ciamietitit .. . Then sal these three grothhl••

- - •
11141110 public ailvittitaiie W4llllll 411/11: 1.10111 the pa isitie. hill—
that the proceeding would restore the 4' pang il/41.4t to
toilitty•— antl that the whille-tiNleer) %%emit he injured—.their
1,/illsilipS uu 61 1101 to biii, 4311.14 mob ir Lucre iLOU gild
1111,11/11g 11114411111 V 'WWII./
n,. Earl of Li NI F. kick ?odd, that nolo itlisiontliee the• ran-
i-14,-Ist a.'e•rtion. of the unibie earl. he %wool support the bill.
(:resit 2ipoil had rc>uitrd to the pooh,. Irmo this iiiventinn: and
tbodell the rorupaoy 11,111 not yet dorelcol match profit front it
he in:ant:limo! bit there was reason from the P' ide•ncc to eon
elittle,thut the company would derive ron.,iilt•rable profit. from
the eietrero. were pilleetkr ready to fulfil their *item-
lat joie, with Ibr 11111,111, and xlllllll, gib, 4111 1114'14T/114 el lush 1114.:4
11/1/11111111:11.4.11: 431111 11. Willi' wilAit.-1.144111.1",O1141114441 tho74/4/ 1!11-
gage,' in it to ato rhriel. if the, company moist lece• • bank-
rupt ae•cn ,Luir to thi• toirlN iirellielion% Hot granting that
twine iojtirr motet ue• donee• to the public in 111,11 %%by, it would
be inure tibiu by the coosiiiiiiition of
coal.• the coal bade berth hobo.uu.,oly the u.,t uurae•ry fur sea-
-111(.11.

The Lori of HARR oovv NV odd, that thoitr:b his noble fri.did
bad the ems. age to ono the bleach, he had not boom Al,lO to
resist the fir'. It.• land nut shown that ails public itt114111:10.
would ari•o fr 1111 l ti elons:am; uf'tlai' bill. He iliotmloo the whnll•-
ii Awry ofoubhr juietort,iitel,,lllollol Mit of so importance
Bs some e •wised it to be. He wombd out thee, fore dismal' rate
this new and peaniobil invention merely to somport the whale.
goolie:7; Moo then the oil might to be lull to its Cite competition :
an I e‘ en with a view to the aolyasolagc to be oicris ell from this
very discovery, osa evtiamalinary pow. 4101101, to he pant, d to
•nty partorialtr Ctltlitttilly. Tilt% M41111(1 0111) enable them to
drive competitors tom the market by undo rselling tlu•u•
in the lb so imitative, wool then Obey mitlit raise their ti. 11,1,.. 4.1,1
pu;,/,iy the peb;le with r ve.•rse :anode .it a higher lake.
This would, iherefswe, !MVP iu some nit ati;ire the etti•,•l mul. a
•,••• . ,odd open tae wind( lie :•ss g otol ol“bUil lur pass.
hood I.ON .;2•'• xo a. ,` the bill Ile-oh the b4:IIC grounds
tit.osi; stsiool :,; .