The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-21
LITERATURE.
Three Eighteenth Century
Men of Mark.
Observation-Disclosures
CHATS ABOUT BOOKS.

WILKES, SHERIDAN, Fox. BY ". F. Rae. D. APP
pleton GO.
This Is very readable interesting and chatty
book The style is conversational as becomes
Fhe subjects treated and 1t Is Just the volume TO
take up after hard days work. as one sits in his
easy chair, half doing before a winter fire. OF
course, every one Is thoroughly acquainted with
the lie OF John Wilkes Not only The scholar, but
also the man OF ordinary reading especially the
hover OF the literature OF free speech, has followed
the somewhat eccentric career OF man who was
OF importance because OF the circumstances by
which he was surrounded rather than because OF
any marked genius or ability. The name OF
wilkes Is inseparaby connected with the struggle
Tor freedom in Great Britain. That struggle was
long, full OF acerbity. occasionally lighted up by
certain comic elements, which seem 10 be closely
allied to the sternest tragedies, and at last vic
torious. John Wilkes was man with
rather q rare combination OF faculties. De.
termned to nave MS own way and 10 criti-
else the institutions under which he lived with
tongue which had all the explosives OF the Ian
guage Its tip IL Is not remarkable that he soon
set the King, the Ministry, the Parliament and the
people themselves by the ears Public opinion ran
nigh and party spirit was at the boiling point Tor
years. He was apprehended and TOOK refuge IN
night his house was ransacked, he was shot at
and he engaged in duels He was expelled from
ahe House OF Commons and afterward returned,
and before he died had the supreme satisfaction
or seeing healthier public opinion throughout
the nation. II was a long fight, and not a blood
less one in which the King ana his conservatives
who were not inclined TO have their secrets
bruited over the kingdom, resorted to measures
which smacked OF despotsm, but 1t resulted in
their complete discontinue and in the right OF
every citzen 10 say what he pleased OF every
measure OF royalty and OF the representatives OF
abe people.
Wilkes married because his father wanted him
20, not from any inclination OF his own. His wife
was Digoted dsSenter, ana he himself was
strong churchman. From the wedding day the
couple saw their mistake, and, after while,
quietly separated. Their union was ga sacrih ce
60 Plutus, not to Venus"
IL must be confessed, too, that Wilkes resem-
bled some Of the politicians OF our own day little
too closely. Wnen In 1854, he appeared as can
didate TO represent Berwick-upon-Tweed, he said
to the electors III come here uncorrupting, and
1promise you shall ever be interrupted AS L
never will take bribe, so never will offer one.'
This was certainly good beginning; but the end
ojng was hardly CONNIE nsurate, II we credit what
Mr.. Almon says, that, notwithstanding Mr..
Wilkes fine speech about virtue and patriotism
this experiment cost him between $4,000 and
Ca 1t must be confessed that he was not ex.
our youth to model. he was intimate with Sir
Francis Eastwood, which was OF Itself enough to
blast mans character throughout the kingdom.
When he was released from thelrksome bondage OF
matrimony by full and glad consent OF his wife,
who was as reioiced in her freedom as he was
himself, he rushed into all sorts Of aosurdities,
sowing his wild oats in rich abundance. Still he
was fair representative OF q period that Was re-
markabe for Its culture and scholarship and its
1ooseness oil morals. He made friends easily by
his generosity and his wit and good numor. and
many the stories told OF his readiness at repair
tee. At banquet little Wit may go great way,
but IL was certainly very clever wnen Mr.. Alder
man Burnell was dishing out soft pudding very
clumsily with a spoon, for wilkes, who remem-
bered in that unhappy moment that the stately
Alderman had once been a Mason, TO say, ''My
dear sir, would 1t not be better 70 use trowels"
In a chophouse rude-mannered customer an
moved every one by DANGEROUSLY demanding mis-
steak. When 1t was brought at length and set
before HIM Wilkes quietly remarked. Casually
the bear Is brought to the stake, here the steak Is
brought to the bear.r
1t is very pleasant to be carried back 10 these
old days when the NORTH Briton No As" was caus-
ing a whole nation to boil and bubble. II is
delight to look in its author, John Wilkes, when
he was talking IN impassioned strains to Gibbon,
who listened phlegmajlcally and was pleased; or
when he was chatting with Charles Butler, who
says he was a delightful companion; or when he
was suppng with the elegant Samuel Rogers, or
when he was charming away the prejudices OF
.grun Or. Johnson. For a full score OF years ne
kept the House Of Lords ard the commons or Eng
land in state OF turbulence, ana when he died
he wanted nis Biography written in short on his
tombstone IN the words, 'Tne Friend OF Liberty.r
Next follows very delightful account OF Richard
X
poor 70 the end OF mis- days, who spent MS lie in
one continuous struggle Tor money, who charmed
MS friends and sent his enemies to a premature
grave with javelin thrust OF keen sarcasm. Ever
since our scnoo days we have fingered over this
brilliant life, and followed lis wanderlngs with
mingled admiration and pity.
He began MS career by eoping with Miss Linley.
Not that he was over fond Of her in the beginning,
though in after years he learned to love her with
q generous DEVOTION but because be saw plainly
enough that Captain Mathews was exerting him.
self to his utmost TO undo her. She was one OF
the Ioveliest and most popular OF public singers,
and mad q train or admirers at her feet all the
time Mr. Long, q somewhat antiquated but
wealthy gentleman, wanted TO marry her, out she
used such tact in extricating herself from the
Difficulty that the old gentleman not only ceased
20 Importune ner, but settled on her the sum OF
$4,000. When Captain Mathews laid siege to her
person Sheridan easily persuaded her that her
only hope was In hight with him. When they
reached Calais the awkwardness OF the situation
was seen by both parties, and the Gordian knot
cut by a priest who made them one. The neces-
sary expenses OF housekeeping pressed him
eorely and ne began his career as
writer, but without success. He wrote
pay, which was accepted and put on the stage,
out the audience Kissed 1t, and sheridan went
home disconsolate. Then he wrote "The Rivals"
but on its nrst representation the house was
dissatished that he had TO promise to revise and
amend It before they would let him retire. 1t
anerward met with q better tate, when Mr.
Clinch took the play In hand and made IL popular
by his superb acting In despair sheridan pro-
duced one or two farces, which were hardly
worthy of his genius. One OF them, which Is
lighted 10 BY fe W OF those peculiar scintilations