of powers, as are unparalleled in the anpals of oratory; a display that reflects the highest honour upon himself, lustre upon letters, renown upon Parliament, glory upon the country. Of all species of rhetoric, of every kind of eloquence that has been witnessed or recorded either in ancient or modern times; whatever the acuteness of the bar, the dignity of the senate, the solidity of the judgment-seat, and the sacred morality of the pulpit, have hitherto furnished, nothing has surpassed, nothing has equalled, what we have heard this day in Westminster-hall. No holy seer of religion, no sage, no statesman, no orator, no man of any description whatever, has come up, in any one instance, to the pure sentiments of morality; or, in the other, to that variety of knowledge, force of imagination, propriety and vivacity of allusion, beauty and elegance of dietion, strength and copiousness of style, pothos and sublimity of conception, to which we have this day listened with ardour and admiration. From poetry up to eloquence, there is not a species of composition of which a complete and perfect specimen might not from that single speech be culled and selected." Mr. Fox, speaking of the same speech, said, "that all he had ever heard, when compared with it, dwindled into nothing."-Mr. Pitt acknowledged, "that he had surpassed all the eloquence of ancient or modern times; and that this speech possessed every thing that genius or art could furnish to agitate and controul the human mind." This was not the only occasion on which Mr. Pitt bowed to the superior eloquence of his rival; for, after Mr. Sheridan had concluded, Mr. Pitt moved an adjournment, and, as his principal reason, stated, that the House could not come then to an impartial decision, for they were still under the wand of the enchanter"

Soon after this great era in the public life of Mr. Sheridan, the indisposition of his Majesty led to the discussion of the means to be adopted for supplying the defect of a personal exercise of the Royal authority, and Mr. Sheridan took a leading part in the attempts which were made to declare the Prince of Wales Regent, without such restrictions as Parliament should think fit to impose; contending, that the immediate nomination of the heir-apparent

ought to take place, as a matter of constitutional right.

Mr. Sheridan continued a strenuous opponent of the measures of Mr. Pitt's administration, and, in consequence of Mr. Fox's secession, stood at the head of Opposition. He professed, in common with most of his friends, an enthusiastic admiration of the French Revolution, and considered the constitution it had formed as a glorious fabric of human wisdom, erected for the perfection of human happiness; but when he saw that constitution polluted by the frantic policy of the successive rulers of France, he readily concurred in reprobating crimes, which were destructive of freedom and social happiness, and directly repugnant to the principles on which the revolution was originally effected.

After the decease of his first wife, in June 1792, Mr. Sheridan was again married, in 1795, to the youngest daughter of Dr. Ogle, Dean of Winchester.--By each connexion he had a son, who both survive him; the elder of which (Thomas) has an appointment at the Cape of Good Hope.

After a retirement of twenty years from the stage, Mr. Sheridan came for ward, at the close of the season in 1799, in the humble situation of the editor of Kotzebue, the celebrated German dra matist, and appears, in that instance, to have been more actuated by his interest as a manager, than by the generous feelings of a writer emulous of lasting fame. The speech of Rolla, exhorting the Peruvians to defend their king and country, and their civil and religious institutions, against a ferocious band of lawless invaders, which was so highly instrumental to the success of the piece, being indeed the only passage of the play to which Mr. Sheridan has an exclusive claim.

On the formation of the Fox and Grenville administration, after the death of Mr. Pitt, Mr. Sheridan was appointed treasurer of the navy, but which office be resigned on Mr. Perceval assuming the premiership, when his son, Mr. Thōmas Sheridan, was also dispossessed of his situation of muster-master-general. On occasion of Mr. Sheridan's taking office under Mr. Fox, he was returned member for Westminster, after a strong opposition on the part of Mr. Paul. Of te years he had not sat in Parliament; where, during the period since his last

return, he attended irregularly, and spoke seldom. Nearly his closing effort in the House, was a speech, in answer to Mr. Yorke, respecting a discussion on theNightly Watch," which had arisen out of the murders of the families of Marr and Williamson, at Wapping, in 1811.

In June, 1816, his constitution was completely broken up, and the last hope of the recovery of this great man vanished. In the words" He is no more!"-What a volume is included, even when they are applied to the humblest individual! The loss of father, or son, of him who was the stay and support of declining age or of feeble youth!-whose counsels guided, whose affections gladdened, the little circle around him!-all this mind, all this heart, to be mute and motionless and dumb for ever! But when a Sheridan is withdrawn,-a man, whose talents have adorned and dignified the country in which he was born, and the age in which he lived-the first orator, the first poet, the first wit-when such a man is taken away,-what a vast chasm! what an irreparable loss!-From political life he had been long withdrawn. But this is a subject which we touch upon with regret, because his retirement was unwilling, and he had not in it the comforts that should accompany retirement. We fear, indeed, that grief may have had no small share in with drawing from our sphere so splendid a luminary, amongst that constellation of great men, who rendered the British Parliament more illustrious than the Senates either of Athens or of Rome.

Mr. Sheridan died at noon on Sunday the 7th of July, 1816. It is known from unquestionable authority, that for several weeks prior to his death he lay under arrest, and that it was only by the firmness and humanity of the two eminent physicians who attended him, Dr. Baillie and Dr. Bain, that an obdurate attorney was prevented from executing a threat to remove him from his house to a death-bed in gaol. Will it be believed, that the man who has adorned the age in which he lived with such varieties of light and splendour, should himself have been left to feel the pressure of want? He enjoyed, however, to the last moment, the sweetest consolation that the heart can feel, in the affectionate sympathy and attention of his amiable wife and son.

Mrs. Sheridan, though herself labouring under severe illness, could not be withdrawn from his couch-she watched over him with the most anxious solicitude through the whole of that protracted suffering, which has now parted them-in this world at least-for ever!

Mr. Sheridan's death proceeded from disease in the stomach, which, from its feeble state, rejected nourishment. Within the last two or three days, the power of swallowing was destroyed, and it was deemed dangerous to put food into his mouth, lest he should be suffocated. For some time preceding he was confined to his bed, and when unable to take food, delirium succeeded; though this subsided for some days before his decease.

In person he was above the middle size, of a robust constitution, but inclining a little to stoop, and deep in the chest. His eye was black, and of uncommon brilliancy and expression. Sir Joshua Reynolds said, that the pupil was the largest of any human eye he had ever painted.

Thus has departed the last of that hemisphere of talent by which this country was adorned in the period between 1770 and 1810; a period unexampled in British history for senatorial cloquence. Mr. Sheridan was one of the most brilliant luminaries of that period; and though he shone with great lustre in Parliament, yet was his eloquence surpassed by the brilliancy of his talents as a Comic Poet.

It is needless to say much on those intellectual powers whose living memorials are formed to command the admiration of every future age. The astonishing talent for observation, and knowledge of character, displayed by Mr. Sheridan in his dramatic writings, will surprise us more when we recollect that he composed the Rivals whilst yet a boy; and that his School for Scandal was written at four and twenty. Those who are best acquainted with the history of the stage for an hundred years preceding their appearance, can best appreciate the obligations of the public to an author, whose dialogue has the spirit of reality without its coarseness-who neither wearies nor offends his audience-but whose sentiment is animated, and his wit refined. His opera is another specimen of various power, which has eclipsed all but one of those which have fol

lowed. The Duenna has but a single rival on the stage; and if the broad licentiousness of the Beggar's Opera has given its author the means of indulging a nervous and pregnant vein of satire, to be found in no other English work, Sheridan has combined in the plot and language of his Duenna the charms of delicacy, elegance, and ingenuity; and in his songs has discovered a taste and pathos of high poetical beauty.

If we pursue Mr. Sheridan into political life, we shall have equal cause to admire the vigour and versatility of his genius. The field on every side of him was occupied by the ablest men who had appeared in Parliament for more than half a century. Burke, whose mature mind was richly furnished from the intellectual stores of all ages and of all nations-Pitt and Fox, not left like Sheridan to chance, but trained and moulded into orators and statesmen -these were formidable checks to the rise of an adventurer not recommended by character nor connexion-never educated for public life-beset by a thousand mischievous habits-crusted over with indolence, and depressed by fortune. Some wondrous internal power buoyed him up, and a temper invulnerable to ordinary attacks left him at all times in possession of his unshaken faculties. In co-operation, therefore, or rivalry, or hostility, with the first men of his day, he distinguished himself amongst them by wielding with success the various weapons for which they were respectively celebrated. In flow of diction he yielded not even to Mr. Pitt-in force and acuteness he might justly be compared with the great Opposition Leader while in splendour of imagination he equalled Burke, and in its use and management far excelled him. His sarcasms were finer, but less severe, than those by which Mr. Pitt indulged his anger; and the wit displayed by Sheridan in Parliament was, perhaps, from the suavity of his temper, much less sharp than brilliant. But the quality which predominated over all its companions in the mind of Mr. Sheridan, was his exquisite and highly-finished taste. In this rare talent he had no competitor; and this it was which gave such inimitable grace to his expressions, and which, in arguing or declaiming, in eulogy or invective, disposed his thoughts with an effect so full and

admirable. We cannot expatiate farther on his rhetorical qualifications, than by observing, that he joined to the higher attributes above spoken of, the natural advantages of a clear and melodious voice, a distinct, emphatic, and unaffected utterance; and a manly and becoming action. As Mr. Sheridan has produced a comedy, which may be described as nearly the best in our language, so did he by a curious felicity of genius, put forth, in his speech on the trial of Hastings, the finest specimen of English senatorial eloquence of which modern times can boast. Of this divine oration, although none but those who heard it can adequately judge, enough remains to justify our praises in the fragments handed down to us by the publications of that period, and in the recorded sentiments of the leaders of all parties, who hung in rapture and amazement on his words. Mr. Sheridan then reached the pinnacle of his fame. No length of days could add to the celebrity at that moment poured around him, as an orator and statesman of comprehensive and transcendant powers -no human fortune could have surpassed the expectations then formed of his future eminence. But it must be acknowledged, that the longer he remained in the House of Commons, and before the public, the more his personal consequence declined. Mr. Sheridan had never, in his happiest days, effected any thing by steady application. He was capable of intense, but not of regular, study. When public duty or private difficulty urged him, he endured the burden as if asleep under its pressure. At length, when the pain could be no longer borne, he roused himself with one mighty effort, and burst like a lion through the toils There are reasons for believing that his constitutional indolence began its operation upon his habits at an early age, as his very first dramatic scenes were written by snatches, with considerable intervals between them. Had he employed his matchless endowments with but ordinary judg ment, nothing in England, hardly any thing in Europe, could have eclipsed his name, or have obstructed his progress. It is the peculiar praise and glory of our political constitution, that great abilities may emerge from the meanest station, and seize the first honours of the community.-It is the nobler praise, and purer happiness of our moral system, that great vices throw ob

stacles before the march of ambition, which no force nor superiority of intellect can remove.

The following list of his acknowledged dramatic productions will properly close this hurried, but sincere, tribute to his unrivalled abilities. His friends (it is said) immediately intend a publication of his entire works by subscription, for the benefit of his family, and the perusal must amply repay all who have any taste for classic wit, and brilliant eloquence.

Rivals-Comedy-1775.

St. Patrick's Day-Farce-1775. Duenna-Comic Opera-1776. A Trip to Scarborough-Comedy, altered from Vanburgh-1777. Tempest, altered—1777.

Critic; or, a Tragedy Rehearsed

1777.

The Camp has been attributed to Mr. Sheridan, but is denied by Tate Wilkin

son.

Pizarro-altered from Kotzebue

1799.

FUNERAL.

On Saturday, July 13, about two o'clock, the remains of Mr. Sheridan were removed from the house of Peter Moore, Esq. M.P. Great George-street, Westminster, for intermeat in Westminster-abbey. The procession, which was on foot, consisted of the most distinguished personages of all parties, and moved as follows:

RELATIONS.

Charles B. Sheridan, Esq. (son of the deceased, chief mourner): Henry Ogle, Esq.; Henry Streatfield, Esq.; Hon. E. Bouverie; and General Sir Charles Asgill.

PALL-BEARERS.

The Dukes of Bedford and Argyle, the Earls of Lauderdale and Mulgrave, the Lord Bishop of London and Lord Holland.

MOURNERS.

Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York and Sussex-the Marquisses of Anglesea, Douglas, and Tavistock; the Earls of Thanet, Jersey, Harrington, Besborough, Mexborough, Rosslyn, and Yarmouth; - Lords George Cavendish and Robert Spencer ;-Viscounts Sidmouth, Granville, Petersham, and Duncannon --Lord Rivers, Erskine, and Lynedoch;-the Lord Mayor; -Right Hon. G. Canning and W. W.

Pole; Hon. L. Stanhope, William Lamb, Thomas Brand, Douglas Kinnaird, and Lieutenant-general Phipps; -Sirs Thomas Stepney, Bart. Thomas Mostyn, Bart. E. Home, Bart. Ronald Ferguson, K.C.B. A. Pigott, S. Romilly, and B. Bloomfield; - Colonel Hughes, M.P. M. A. Taylor. Esq. M.P. Owen Williams, Esq. M.P. P. Moore, Esq. M.P.-Captain Bennett, R.N. Dr. Bain, Dr. Hume;-Messrs. Adair, Rogers, Smyth, Vaughan, Dennison, Talbot, Hobhouse, Davies, A. Graham, Linley, Ward, Metcalfe, Burgess, W. Grey, Peake, Perry, Lane, P. Williams, Rev. C. Williams, Rae, Bradley, Wyatts,

&c. &c.

The procession was so numerous, that when the bier reached the Abbey, the last of the attendants had not left George-street. The grave is in Poet's Corner, exactly opposite to the monument of Dr. Goldsmith, with that of Shakspeare at the one extremity, and Handel on the other, and appeared to be about four feet deep. The funeral service was read by the Sub-Dean, Dr. Fynes. The coffin was black, with rich goid ornaments, and on the lid the following inscription :-" The Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan: died 7th July, 1816, aged 65 years."

sive.

MRS. JORDAN.

Recently, at St. Cloud, this excellent Actress made her awful exit from the stage of life; by whose death the public has lost one of its chief favourites, and one of the best comic performers that ever administered to its pleasures. Ber talents were first-rate in the province to which they were properly adapted, and her acting was distinguished by an original, yet exact, conformity to nature and to character. Her face was regular, intelligent, animated, and expresher earlier days, but her stature was Her person was symmetrical in low. Her voice was strong, yet musical; and her utterance peculia ly clear, distinct, and impressive. She sang with natural taste, simplicity, and feeling; and there was a richness of humour, and a pleasing vivacity in her manner, which always produced the effect that she intended. was irresistible; and she was so couscious of its infuence, in exciting coagenial feelings among the audience, that she frequently introduced it without appropriate truth, though never without the expected success. With the higher

Her laugh

order of refined comedy her habits, and indeed her dispositions, did not correspond; and sensible of her want of dee qualifications for that province, she ever ascribed her success, in characters of such a description, to public indulgence, rather than to adequate merit of her own. This observation, we can confidently say, she peculiarly admitted in the character of Rosalind. With her private life we have nothing to do; indeed, enough has been sufficiently known to the public; yet it is but a just tribute to her memory to state, that she was a kind parent, and ever ready to render offices of friendship upon all occasions. Her spirit and humour rendered her very entertaining in the domestic circle, and, altogether, her me mory has every claim to a favourable record of her character and conduct that can be offered by the consideration of an animated disposition,-a want of due culture in early life,—and the incitements of a profession too much exposed to temptation, however it may have been improved in later days, in morals and in manner, by examples of personal worth, talents, and accomplishments, that would have been admired and esteemed in any other classes of society.

Saturday morning, July the 6th, the remains of Mrs. Jordan were deposited with the usual solemnity in the church of St. Cloud, near Paris. The funeral service was performed in the most impressive manner by the Rev. Mr. Maron, chief of the Protestant church in Paris.

On the BLIGHT in FRUIT TREES. To the Editor of the European Magazine.

AVING long witnessed the destructive effects of the blight and insects upon my wall, standard, espaker, and other fruit trees-and, of course, obtaining little or no produce from them-I was led to study the nature and causes of the blight, and what might be done to remedy an evil-now so greatly on the increase :-the resuit of my investigation has been, the discovery of a remedy calculated to remove, or check, every injury they may sustain, arising from sudden changes in the atmosphere, various noxious insects, and blight in general. This preparation, founded ou experimental principles, having proved completely success

ful, I have been induced to make it public, and, consequently, have appointed an agent in London for its more extended circulation.*

In the worst seasons, and when most gardens have little or no fruit, or fruit scarce worth gathering, those persons who apply the preparation will speedily experience its beneficial effects; and whoever obtains even a tolerable crop in such seasons, will find it at least as valuable as an abundant one in the more favourable summers. The expense and trouble bestowed upon the trees will be more than doubly repaidthe trees themselves will be improved, and will bear much finer, as well as more plentiful, fruit. There is also no small pleasure in seeing our gardens well stocked with fine fruit, and the trees more or less thriving in the most inclement and unseasonable weather. To say-that the "British Blight Destroyer" will in its every application be attended with perfect success, would be saying too much; so to speak of it would be presumptuous. As I wish to rest its claims for usefulness only on its generally succeeding, and not to boast of effects beyond the power of man either to command, or to control. July 6th, 1816.

THE REPOSITORY. No. XXIX.

A SELECT

G. D.

COLLECTION OF FUGITIVE PIECES, BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, MORAL, LITERARY, AND ENTERTAINING, IN PROSE AND VERSE."

"The mind of man not being capable of having many ideas under view at once, it was necessary to have a REPOSITORY to Jay up those ideas."-LOCKE.

ON THE INFLUENCE PRODUCED UPON THE SECRETION OF MILK IN THE ASS, BY TAKING AWAY THE FOAL.

BY SIR E. HOME, BART.

S one of the objects of your Maga

zine is to take notice of curious circumstances that are met with in natural history, I send you the following observations made by the late John Hunter, on the influence produced upon the secretion of milk in the ass, by taking away the foal.

He says, that it is unniversally known,

* Vide Advertisement on the Cover of the European Magazine.