538 SHERIDAN. aristocracy residing within the bills of mortality. The expense of this contest, as well as of the petition that fol lowed, was borne by means of a subscription, 1000l. of which was advanced by the late Duke of Queensberry; who, as it has been said, actually supposed not only his personal safety, but even his property to depend on the event! In 1807, his former antagonist being dead, Mr. Sheridan now became a popular candidate; but being deficient in respect to one material ingredient in a l l contests o f this nature, Lord Cochrane obtained a decisive majority. During this second contest, h e maintained from the hus tings, that i t was his intention, were h e returned, t o attempt the accomplishment o f two objects, highly con ducive t o the interests o f his constituents; “the first of these was t o regulate the conduct o f the hired magistracy o f Westminster; and the second, t o prevent the publicans from being entirely dependent o n the brewers.” He con cluded b y confessing, “that the chief motive o f the present struggle, was t o seat his son for Ilchester, and himself for Westminster; s o that liberty might have two friends in stead of one i n the House of Commons!” Having thus failed i n the second city i n the kingdom, Mr. Sheridan was nominated for the borough just alluded to, and continued t o represent that place during two par liaments. But h e n o longer distinguished himself b y the ardour o f his attacks; the brilliancy o f his replies; the pertinacity and promptness o f his questions. I n short, he but seldom attended the House, and seemed t o have deserted his party, which soon availed itself o f but too good a n apology for that utter desertion and abandonment of him! Mr. Sheridan terminated his political career o n the 21st o f July, 1812, with one o f the most brilliant speeches h e ever delivered, o n the subject o f the overtures for peace which had recently been made b y France. Having declared resistance t o Buonaparte even with the hazard o f defeat a s absolutely necessary, h e concluded i n these animated words,
