The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1825-12-01
MISCELLANY.
PROM soosEsLIrK OF R. n. sarRipAa

ged Its slow length along, and In the May
of this year (lT94) Mr.. Sheridan was call
cd upon for his reply on the Begun charge.
1t was usual, on these occasions, for the
manager who spoke to be assisted be one
of his brother managers, whose task il was
to carry the bag that contained his papers,
and to read on, whatever minutes might be
referred to in the course Of the argument.
Mr., Michael Angelo Taylor was the per-
son who undertook this Office for Sheridan,
but on the morning Of the speech, upon
his asking for the bag that he was to carry
he was told BY Sheridan thai there was
none-neither bag nor papers. They ninst
manage, he said, as well as they could with
out them and when the papers were cali
cd for, his friend must only put the best
countenance he could upon It, As for Him
self, he would abuse Ned Law--ridicule
Plumer's long orations--niake the Court
laugh-please the women, and, in short
with Taylor's aid, would get triumphantly
through his task His opening ofthe case
was listened to with the profoundest attcn-
ton I; but when he came to contrast the ev-
idence of the Commons with that adduced
by Hastings, it was not long before the
Chancellor interrupted him, with request
that the printed lninutesto which he refer
red should be read Sheridan answered,
that his friend Mr.. Taylor would read them:
and Mr.. Taylor affected TO send for the
bag. while the orator begged leave in the
mean time to proceed. Again, however,
his statements rendered q reference to the
minutes necessary, and again he was inter,
ruptcd by the Chancellor, while an outcry
after Mr.. Sheridan's bag was raised in all
directions. At first the blame was laid on
the solicitors clerk-then messenger was
despatched to Mr.. Sheridan's house. In
the mean time, the orator was proceeding
brilliantly and successfully in His argument;
and on some further interruption and ex.
postulation from the Chancellor, raised his
voice and said, in a dignihod tone, On the
part ofthe Commons, and as manager OF
this impeachment, shall conduct my case
as think ptoper. mean to be correct I;
and your lordships, having the printed min
utes before you, will afterwards see wheth-
er am right or wrong
"During the hustle produced by the in
qniries after the bag, Mr.. Fox, alarmed at
the inconvenience which he feared the
want of it might occasion to Mr.. Sheridan,
ran up from tho managers room, and de-
manded eagerly the cause Of this mistake
from Mr.. TAILOR, who, hiding his mouth
with his hand, whispered him lin a tone Of
which they alone, who have heard this gen
tleman relate the anecdote, can feel the full
humor,) The man has no bag
"The whole Of this characteristic con-
trivance was evidently intended by sheri-
dan TO raise that sortof surprise at the read
mess Of his resources, which it was the ia
vorite triumph Of his vanity to create. ]
have il on the authority OF Mr. VIM. Smythe,
that previously to the delivery ofthis speech
he passed two or three days alone at Wan
stead, so occupied from morning till night
in writing and reading ofpapers, as to COM
plain in the evenings that he had notes
before bis eyes This mixture Of real la
Dor with apparent carelessness, was, in
deed, one of the most curious features OF
/
his life and character.
"His improvidence in every thing
connected with money was most remarka-
BILE. He would frequently be obliged to
stop on his journies, for want Of the means
of getting on, and to remain living expen-
sively at an inn, till remittance could reach
him. His letters TO the treasurer of the
Theatre on these occasions were generally
headed with the words Money-bouhd' A
friend of his told me, that ono morning,
while waiting for him in his study, he cast
bis eyes over the heap Of ofunopened letters
that lay upon the table, and seeing one or
two with coronets ON the seals, said TO Mr.
Wesley, the treasurer who was present,
se. we are all treated alike Mr.. Wesley
then informed him, that he had once found,
on looking over this table, aletter which he
had himself sent, a few weeks before, to
Mr.. Sheridan, enclosing ten pound note,
to release MIN from some inn, but which
Mr.. Sheridan, having raised the supplies
in some way, had never thought ofopeniDg.
The prudent treasurer took away tho letter,