COLLECTION

OF

ANCIENT AND MODERN

BRITISH AUTHORS.

VOL, LXXIX.

MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE

OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN.

PARIS,
BAUDRY'S EUROPEAN LIBRARY,

RUE DU COQ, NEAR THE LOUVRE.
SOLD ALSO BY AMYOT, RUE DE LA PAIX ; TRUCHY, BOULEVARD DES ITALIENS ;
THÉOPHILE BARROJS, JUN., RUE DE RICHELIEU ; LIBRAIRIE DES ÉTRANGERS,
55, RUE NEUVE SAINT-AUGUSTIN, AND FRENCH AND ENGLISH LIBRARY,

RUE VIVIENNE.

1835.

CONTENTS.

PREFACE..

Page 1

CHAPTER I.

Birth and education of Mr. Sheridan.-His first attempts in Literature. 5

CHAPTER II.

Duels with Mr. Mathews.---Marriage with Miss Linley. ..

31

CHAPTER III.

Domestic circumstances-Fragments of Essays found among his papers.

-Comedy of “the Rivals.”—Answer to “Taxation no tyranny.

Farce of “ St. Patrick's day.”

CHAPTER IV.

The Duenna.-Purchase of Drury-Lane Theatre.— The Trip to Scarbo-

rough.- Poetical Correspondence with Mrs. Sheridan. .

74

55

CHAPTER V.

The School for Scandal.

99

CHAPTER VI.

Further Purchase of Theatrical property-Monody to the Memory of

Garrick.- Essay on metre.—The Critic.-Essay on Absentees.—Poli-

tical Connections. The “ Englishman.” – Elected for Stafford. . 126

CHAPTER VII.

Unfinished Plays and Poems.

146

CHAPTER VIII.

His first Speeches in Parliament.-Rockingham Administration.-Coali-

tion.-India Bill.-Re-elected for Stafford ...

168

CHAPTER IX.

The Prince of Wales.-Financial Measures.--Mr. Pitt's East India Bill.

- Irish commercial Propositions. - Plan of the Duke of Richmond.

-Sinking Fund..

195