Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-03
NO. 1AAo
ASEcDoTE OF R B. SHERIDAN
From N6ore's Life of Sheridan.

The Trial Of Warren Hastings still
dragged its slow length along" and,
in the May Of this year (l7e4) Mr..
Sheridan was called upon for his reply
on the Begun Charge. 1t was usual,
on these occasions, for the Manager
who spoke to be assisted by one Of his
brother Managers, whose task il WAS
to carry the bag that contained his pa
pers, and to read out whatever Minutes
might be referred to in the course Of
he argument Mr. Michael Angelo
Taylor was the person who undertook
this office for Sheridan; but, on the
morning OF the speech, upon his ask
ing for the bag that he was TO carry, he
was told by Sheridan that there was
none-neither bag nor papers. They
must manage, he said, as well as they
could without then;--and, when the
papers were called for, his friend must
put the best countenance he could upon
it. AS for himself, "he would abuse
Ned Law-ridicule Plumer's long ora
tions-make the Court laugh-piease
the women, and in short, with TayIo
aid, would get triumphantIy through
his task"
His opening Of the case was listen
ed to with the profoundest attention;
but when he came to contrast the evil
dence Of the Commons with that adj
duced by Hastings, it was not long be-
fore the Chancellor interrupted him,
with request that the printed minutes
TO which he referred should be read.
Sheridan answered that his friend Mr..
Taylor, would read them; and Mr. Tay-
Tor affected to send for the bag, while
the orator begged leave, in the mean
time, To proceed. Again, however. his
statements rendered reference to the
minutes necessary, and again he was
interrupted by the Chancellor, while
an outcry after Mr Sheridap's bag was
raised in all directions At first the
blame was laid on the Solicitors clerk
then messenger was despatched to
Mr.. Saeridan's house. In the rs.an--
time, the orator was proceeding bril-
family and successfully in his argu-
men,; and, on some further Interrupt
ton and expostuIation from the Cham
cellor, raised his voice and said, in
digniGed tone, "On the part OF the
Commons, and as a Manager OF this
Impeachment, shall conduct my case
as think proper. | mean to be cor
rect; and YOUR Lordships, having the
printed minutes before you, will alter
wards see whether ! am right or
~:-cc Sayy''
During the hustle produced by the
inquiries after the bag. Mr.. Fox. alarm
ed at the inconvenience which, he fear
ed, the want Of it might occasion TO
Sheridan, ran up from the Managers
room, and demanded eagerly the cause
of this mistake from Mr.. Taylor, who,
hiding his mouth with his hand, whis-
pered him, Gin tone Of which they a
lone, who have heard this gentleman
relate the anecdote, can feel the full
HUNGRY "rhe man has no bag!"
The whole of this characteristic con-
trivance was evidently intended by
Sheridan to raise that sort Of surprise
at the readiness ofhis resources, which
il was the favorite triumph Of his van
ity to create. have il on the author
ity of Mr. William Smythe, that, pre-
viously to the delivery of his speech,
he passed two or three days alone at
Wanstead, so occupied from morning
till night in writing and reading OF pa
pers, as to complain in the evenings
that ne chad notes before his eye"
This mixture of real labor with appa-
rent carelessness was, indeed, one OF
the most curious features Of his lite
and character.