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XVIII.

SHERIDAN'S DEFEAT AT

STAFFORD.

SHERIDAN'S failure at the Stafford election, in 1812, was the cause of his total ruin; more particularly as he had previously lost all interest in the theatre in Drury Lane. An ill-natured report prevailed at the time, that the Prince of Wales, considering his old friend and companion to be plunged irretrievably in misfortune, turned his back upon him, like the rest of the world, and left him to his fate: nay, one of the scurrilous prints of the day, went so far as to assert that his Royal Highness, in reply to a request for assistance, thus addressed him :-" Sherry, my old boy, your day is gone by; there are no boroughs now to be had, and I cannot possibly

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interfere. I always prophecied that you would end your days in a gaol!" Whatever influence these gross calumnies might have had with the mob, they had no weight with, and were altogether discredited by, those who had the least knowledge of the parties. But that His Royal Highness was incapable of such conduct, is proved by the notorious fact, that, on this very occasion, he presented his unfortunate friend with four thousand pounds; giving him the choice of putting that sum to his private uses, or of enabling him to be returned for Wootton Basset.

Although Mr. Sheridan had a great desire to resume his seat in Parliament, he could not well stomach the idea of exchanging the representation of a populous and respectable town like Stafford, for that of a rotten borough. After some hesitation, therefore, he declined it; and, no doubt, was considerably influenced in his decision, by the actual possession of so much ready money, which would enable him to carry on the war, until something else should start up; for whilst the existing ministry re

mained in power, and there appeared little likelihood of a change,-Mr. Sheridan, had no prospect of coming in for a share of the loaves and fishes; and he consequently saw little utility in wearing away his lungs, and perhaps losing his popularity, on a stage where he had already enacted his part with so much eclat. The disappointment, however, preyed heavily on his spirits; more particularly, as his fertile and comprehensive mind was now without any active employment. He did not fail, therefore, on every suitable occasion, to bestow his hearty blessing on the worthy electors of Stafford, and that generally in the following terms:-" A pack of rotten leather-heads, and be d-d to them!" alluding to the staple manufacture of the town in question, which is that of shoes.

But Mr. Sheridan's rejection was rendered still more galling, by the lampoons and general abuse with which the newspapers and other prints most ungenerously assailed him at this period. Among other things of the same kind, he confessed that he felt considerable annoyance from the following squibs.

ON A CERTAIN GENTLEMAN'S DISCOMFITURE AT STAFFORD.

SHERRY to Stafford lately hied;
Stafford, the great St. Crispin's pride:
He smooth'd his face, he went unshod;
He swore, no shoes like their's, by G—!
He had the Regent's dread commands,
Shoes should be worn on feet and hands!
The Court had deem'd the fashion meet,
That men should walk on hands and feet!
"Give me your votes; I'll do such things,
I'll make you great as little kings !".
Crispin, who erst did Britons shield
On Agincourt's most glorious field,
Look'd from a cloud in fierce disdain,
And sent him back to Court again.

IMPROMPTU.

"Since Drury's corps disown my sway,
And Stafford's cobblers hoot away,
Betwixt St. Stephen's and the Bench
I must retire, or must retrench."
"Dear Sherry, by that ruby nose,
That like my darling bev 'rage glows,"

The Regent cries, "Dismiss your fears,
Cheer up, my lad, and dry your tears;
Do what you will, you can't be beat!
In either case, you'll have a seat."

A HINT TO MR. WHITBREAD'S ENTIRE

COMMITTEE.

By a Quondam Manager.*

"Since none with a pen will trust me but a goose,
And paper of all kinds I've little now to use;
To the verses writ by me, you may swear if you will,
If inscrib'd on the back of a wine-merchant's bill:
But observe, should there be a receipt at the end on 't,
Try again; they're not Sherry's poetry, depend on 't.

* It is to be observed that the Committee of Management of the newly built Theatre in Drury Lane, had offered a premium of one hundred guineas for the best Prologue to be spoken at the opening of the house. The poets immediately set to work, among whom, it was said, Mr. Sheridan contributed a very spirited effusion; but his, like those of all the others, was declined by the management, on the score of inefficiency an application was made to Lord Byron, who produced, at a short notice, a very able prologue; but

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