SHERIDAN. 519 any pretensions to genius, expected both notice and encouragement. Among these, Mr. Sheridan, who was on terms of intimacy with several in the confidence of the new sovereign, was not without his particular expectations, in which he was not altogether disappointed. He was one of the first to whom a pension was granted: and it was frequently his boast, that through his suggestion Dr. Johnson was offered the independence which he after wards enjoyed from his inajesty's bounty. This honour has, however, been claimed by another gentleman, and each of them may have been entitled to i t . I t will not b e thought very surprising, that o n such a n occasion two persons without any communication with each other, should think o f and recommend the same person. For the two o r three succeeding years, Mr. Sheridan was employed i n delivering h i s lectures i n different parts o f the kingdom. His lectures were generally approved, though they sus tained some slight injury from the ridicule o f Mr. Foote, who produced a burlesque o n them i n 1762, a t the theatre i n the Haymarket. I n 1763, Mrs. Sheridan's comedy, “ The Discovery,” was performed a t Drury-lane, i n which Mr. Sheridan represented Lord Medway, though h e had n o engagement a t the theatre; for which the proprietors allowed him the sixteenth night. About 1764, h e went t o France, and took u p his residence a t Blois, b y order o f his majesty, a s i t has been asserted. During his residence a t this place h e lost his wife, who died there o n the 26th o f September, 1766. Mr. Sheridan did not continue long i n France after this event; and about the year 1767, h e obtained a n Irish act o f parliament, protecting him from arrests o n account o f his debts i n Dublin, amounting t o 1600l. and having this season saved 800l. h e gave notice that h e was ready t o pay his creditors ten shillings i n the pound, and desired them t o call o n him for that purpose, with a n account o f their respective demands. Mr. Faulkner, the printer o f “The Dublin Journal,” was one o f his creditors.-This gentleman told Mr. Sheridan that h e would not trouble
