and on Tuesday, November 28th, was admitted in congregation to the degree of Master of Arts. In a subsequent visit soon after to the sister university, Cambridge, he experienced the like honourable reception, and had the same degree conferred on him there also. At Edinburgh he was honoured with the freedom of the city, which was presented to him by the hands of Dr. Robertson, the celebrated professor of history, &c.

So much for his education and rank in society. As an author I need only mention his Essay on British Education; his course of Oratorical Lectures; and his Dictionary, as an encouragement to the prosecution of which, his present Majesty granted him, without solicita tion, a pension of 2001. a year. Hear what Dr. Johnson says of him, (even when he was at variance with him on the occasion of an exception made in his favour in an Irish act of Parliament, concerning Insolvent Debtors. "Thus to be singled," said the Doctor, "by a legislature, as an object of public consideration and kindness, is a proof of no common merit." That he had a noble mind, and was actuated by independent principles, his own declaration shall decide. "I would rather see my two sons at the head of respectable academies, as a situation the most beneficial to mankind, than one of them Prime Minister of Britain, and the other at the head of affairs in Ireland." That this was not the ebullition of mortified ambition, is evident, for at that time his eldest son Charles Francis was Secretary at War, and Member of the House of Commons in Ireland; and the present Treasurer of the Navy, Representative for Stafford in England. Again, when it was insinuated that he was an expectant upon Government for support, Mr. Sheridan thus contradicted the report. "Mr. Sheridan begs leave to observe that this was not his case; he had it in his power to provide for himself better than the Government could. He had set out in life upon certain principles, early imbibed from his great master Swift, which would not suffer him to think of such a course.. Among these, one of the foremost was independence; without which there could be no liberty. By independence he means only a reliance upon a man's self, and his own talents and labours, for his support and advancement in life; for absolute independence belongs not to human beings."

I despair of shaming the rogue by printing these evidences; but I do hope, Gentlemen, that they will make some impression upon such electors, and to those only I address myself, who, like Mr. Thomas Sheridan, are of free and independent principles.

"Whence his (the Representative of Westminster's) mother sprang, it would be useless to ascertain." To Mr. Cobbett it would have been useless, because he knew that if he had described her origin and character, his infamous object had been defeated. Know then, Gentlemen, that Mrs. Frances Sheridan, the wife of the lowest of the low, whom we have just spoken of, was grand-daughter to Sir Oliver Chamberlaine. Her morals, her manners, her talents, are above our panegyric. While she lived, she was beloved, esteemed, aud admired; and 'till this Gothic foe to merit and virtue, dared to treat her memory with contempt, her name has never been mentioned without an accompanying tribute of respect and admiration. Mrs. F. Sheridan was the author of the comedy of the Discovery; the romance of Nourjahad; and the novel of Sidney Biddulph, the powerful pathos of which drew

this very high compliment from Dr. Johnson. “I know not, Madam, that you have a right upon moral principles, to make your readers suffer so much." It will therefore be admitted that if virtue, accomplishments, and genius, are worthy of our regard and imitation, it will NOT be "useless" to enquire into the history of this exemplary Lady.

Mr. Cobbett then draws a comparison between himself and Mr. Sheridan, (risum teneatis?) and asks, whether "his habits contracted in tending of birds, and driving the plough." (He cautiously avoids any mention of the Halbert, and his expulsion from America as an obnoxious character) "are more likely to engender or confirm a base disposition, than were his habits, when with a "walk in Ladies and Gentlemen," he stood at the door and received the sixpences at his father's recitations in Marlborough-street."

"These lies are like the father that begets them; gross as a mountain, open, palpable,"

Mr. Sheridan was then at Harrow school. His father was respected and befriended by all the principal nobility and persons of distinction in the kingdom. To three courses of his lectures he had upwards of 1600 subscribers at a guinea each, and the publication of the lectures had a rapid sale at a price which was then considered very high, viz. half a guinea a copy.

From the mother of Mr. Sheridan, a Lady, as we have demonstrated, of extraordinary worth and transcendant genius, this ruffian, (does he merit a less offensive name?) gratifies "his nature and his habits" by characterizing his first wife as the daughter of a Fiddler, and "getting her living by singing for hire." To be a fiddler, and to sing for hire, are not at all discreditable; but vulgar men delight in giving their "worst of thoughts the worst of words." This fiddler, Gentlemen, was a musical composer, and instructor, of the first eminence in this country; and his daughter, during the short time she appeared before the public, received the most distinguished marks of attention from all quarters, and as a singer of sacred music, is still recollected and spoken of with enthusiasm by the best judges of vocal excellence. But it would not be in character if the votaries of science, and the triumphs of beauty and talent, were even by chance to be mentioned with respect by a man, whose system is to set the forms of decency, and of manhood, at defiance, and to endeavour to reduce all the principles of science, taste, honour, and good manners, to the standard of his own low, savage, filthy, and disgusting notions.

"Here, Gentlemen, I should dismiss the loathsome topic," but that Mr. Cobbett has described himself as a courageous hero, and talked of "belabouring Mr. T Sheridan with a horsewhip." This, 66 suppo sing him to speak the truth," a supposition which, having detected so many of his falsehoods "is never to be hastily adopted," is very fine vapouring upon paper. But if I may credit what I have heard of the bravery of this man of war, and knowing as I do, the manly spirit, and the muscular strength of Mr. T. Sheridan, I will venture to predict that, whenever that Gentleman shall send in his name as a visitant to Mr. Cobbett, all the noble valour of Serjeant Bobadil will instantly ooze out;

His knotted and combined locks will part,
And each particular hair will stand on end,
Like quills upon the fretful Porcupine.

With regard to the Non nobis Domine, which was sung after the dinner, Mr. Cobbett has wantonly misinterpreted both the motive and the application. I will not say that the words in question are always sung with the reverence which is due; but they were certainly introduced upon this occasion, only because in public companies, it has been nsual to return thanks with this most noble and sublime composition, and by no means as alluding to the "triumph of the Sheridan's over us." (Us !!) To make good, however, the old saying, that the Devil can quote Scripture for his purpose, he has cited the first verses of the 135th psalm, and this he truly tells you, (the only truth he has spoken) from the information of somebody who could translate the Latin language is the English version of what was sung at the play-actors, dinner.

The toast which is said to have followed the singing, is "a weak invention of the enemy," and of the falsehood of it I am so convinced, that, concluding, as I began, I shall just address these two words to Mr. Cobbett at parting," and then to breakfast with what appetite he may," Mentiris impudentissime. His friend, the scholar, will interpret their meaning.

I am, Gentlemen,

Your obedient Servant,

March 15, 1807.

AN ELECTOR OF WESTMINSTER.
And a Friend to Truth.

MRS. JORDAN.

Some years ago, when this lady performed in Glasgow, the audience presented her with a gold medal, which they enclosed in the following letter:

"Madam,

"Accept this trifle from the Glasgow audience, who are as great admirers of genius, as the critics of Edinburgh.”

On one side of the medal is the Glasgow arms, which is a tree, &c. on the other side a feather, with the following inscription:

"Bays from our tree you could not gather,

"No branch of it deserves that name;

"So take it all, call it a feather,

"And place it in your cap of fame.”

Glasgow, 1807.

A CITIZEN.

POETRY.

DIRGE

ON THE MUCH LAMENTED DEATH OF THE BEAUTIFUL MARIA LINLEY.

For thee, when autumn glows around,
An offering sad I'll pay,

Deck with fresh wreathes thy hallow'd ground,
And mourn the fatal day.

On thee, amid life's varied part,

My tenderest thoughts shall rest,

Bemoan'd, while love can warm my heart,

Or friendship cheer my breast.

SIR ROWLAND.

LINES,

Upon seeing a beautiful Infant sleeping on the

bosom of its Mother.

Upon its native pillow dear,

The little slumb'rer finds repose,
His fragrant breath eludes the ear,
A zephyr passing o'er a rose.

Yet soon from that pure spot of rest,

Love's little throne! shalt thou be torn;

Time hovers o'er thy downy rest

To crown thy baby brow with thorn.

Oh! thoughtless! couldst thou now but see
On what a world thou soon must move,

Or taste the cup prepared for thee

Of grief, lost hopes, or widow'd love:

Ne'er from that breast thoud'st raise thine head,

But thou would'st breathe to heav'n a pray'r
To let thee in thy blossom fade,

And in a kiss to perish there.

I. C.