Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-09-09
Lirerroo{. July Is.

AZ LUIS5 lOO|S *,
Lirerpoot. July Is.
Right Hon. II. n. Sheridan We
have this week the painful aifice Of re-
cording the death Of the ight. hon. Rich
ard Brinsley Sheridan, who, after an i'll,
ness of some continuance, expired on
Sunday the 7th instant. Mr.. Sheridan
filed so important a station in the public
history Of the times, that his death cannot
be passed over as that OF an ordinary
man: yet tor ong while he has been
in effect dead to the world, and an occa~
sional paragraph IN newspapers is all
that has announced to US the existence of
the friend, the associate, the rival, of
some OF the greatest names that adorn
inur annals. In that bright constellation
Of genius, he shone star of the first mag
Imitude.
Mr. Sheridan, like Mr.. Burk, held a
distinguished rank in letters as we'll as
In politics, and was indeed calculated to
excel in every pursuit which he attempt
ii, Nature had gifted him with all the
requisites of public speaking. Yet the
middle, rather than the higher walks Of
ora DRY were the objects ofhis preference
His feelings, perhaps, were not sufficient
ly ardent he was too completely mas
ter Of himself, to be carried away by that
enthusiastic ardor, to which alone the
palm OF fervid eIoquence belongs, but
classical correctness q taste, and
consummate p rty of diction, were con
spicueus in every thing he delivered, and
his elaborate GRAFTON on The trial of MIR.
! Hastings proved that he could wield at
will the weapon Of Goliah. AS debat-
or, he was truly admirable--a felicity of
expression, almost unriyaed a happy
vein of humor railery light and easy. or
pointed with the keenest sarcasm and BIT
terest irony, as occasion prompted; an
Imagination brilliant and fertile pecp-
liar talent of simplifying what seemed OBJ
struse, and of rendering his opponents
arguments ridiculous all these, aided
by a perfect command of temper, a cool
ness and precision of reasoning when he
found it necessary. and memory tena-
cious, not merely of the arguments but
The words OF his antagonist, rendered him
an invaluable acquisition to any party
Yet, though assaiied by numerous temp
tations-though oppressed by continual
and encreasiug difficulties, and though
since the death Of Mr.. Fox, the party tot
which he was attached have been VII
iorlnl, excluded from otfice--Nr. Sheri-
dan preserved to the last his political con
sl5tency. When, however, great occa-
sions called for unapimity, he repeatedly
Showed that be was willing to forget pc
litical differences.
Of MIR. Sheridan's literary character.
neither time nor space viii allow us to
speak in adequate terms. BY nniver-
sal suffrage he is allowed to have been the
author Of the best comedy ofhis day
and this is surely ne mean praise. Ye'|
perhaps, it may be questioned, whether
The merit Ct this production do not rather
consist in the exquisite satire which it
conveys, in the quick reciprocaion. and
sparkling wit of the dia|ouge, than in The
delneation Of character, or the cOnstruc.
ton OF the plot. But wherever the me-
rift lies, We a!lfeel it to be transcendent. A.
for the moral, it must be confessed to be
faulty, but after seeing the School of
Scandal, who talks Gifts defects ? The
caustic satire and singing ridicuIe of hi
celebrated Farce, have scarcely been ex-
celled but it has been suggested, from
high authority that the effects as to the
stage have been prcjddicial to the dis
play of dramatic talents. The genius
of Shakespeare may fearessly stand the
test of ridicule : but many poet has
been deferred ftom tragedy by powerful
burlesques ct the Critic.
In private society, and in the unre
strained freedom of cornwall intercourse,
the delightful conversation, the easay
playful wit of MIR. Sheridan. made him
every where courted and carressed. His
wit was undebased by the alloy of envy
or of malice : it flowed freely and with
out an effort. feeling his own superlority,I
ne disdained the jealousy Of competition,
and when others wished to shine, he good
naturally gave away. Thus at once the
idol of public and private popularity, we
may lament, but scarcely wonder thai
be yielded to the firm voice Of pleasure
and suffesed himself to be hurried away
nto the vortex of dissipation
The latter years Of Mr., Sheridan's lifet
were passed under succession of disap-l