‘My dear Rogers,—I rejoice to hear that Mrs. Sheridan is better. I flattered myself, indeed, this was the case by a few lines I got from her some days ago; but of course there must be recollections yet fresh in her mind that cannot admit of much comfort. The Bishop of London seems to have been very kind indeed to her, and she speaks of him with great affection and gratitude.
‘I am glad you like her son Charles so much. My
| SHERIDAN'S LITERARY REMAINS | 221 |
‘I wish it may turn out as you hear. But some parts of
“Affectation” have been found amongst
poor Sheridan’s papers. He was said to have begun it, I think, about the
year 1788 or 89, but nobody imagined it was in any degree of forwardness; and I
remember some time after saying to Mrs.
Sheridan (the first Mrs. Sheridan), when
they were assigning this reason and t’other for its not being brought
out, that I supposed, in fact, the real reason was its not being quite
complete, to which she replied, “the reason it does not come out is
not as you suppose, because it is not quite finished, but because it is not
even yet begun.” But if there should be only one bit of it, and
that in a state to see the light, what a trouvaille it
will be! I had once in my possession several things of his writing, and some of
a very early date, which were all exquisite. I had put them up with a number of
interesting papers, such as letters from Fitzpatrick, with a number of epigrams, sonnets, &c., that
never saw the light, and also various things of Tickell’s, which were intended for publication when
finished. These became mixed with other papers, and were all unfortunately
destroyed when I removed to Balls, as well as some trash of my own, which well
deserved to be burnt. One of these jeux d’esprit,
which Sheridan struck off at a moment one day while we
were waiting dinner, was incomparable. The subject would have been thought not
very promising—the appraisement of an old, worn-
| 222 | ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES |
‘There was a Westminster song or two, patched up amongst us at one of the elections, but principally Sheridan’s doing, which I was sorry to lose. I can only remember one stanza which was Sheridan’s. I thought it so good that I used to repeat it over and over again for weeks together, and I remember Wilkes, when he was told of it, was much diverted. The stanza was this (to the tune of “Dr. Arne, Dr. Arne, It gives us concarn”)—
|
‘Johnny
Wilkes, Johnny Wilkes,
Thou boldest of bilks,
How changed is the song you now sing.
For your dear forty-five
‘Tis Prerogative,
And your blasphemy, God save the King,
Johnny Wilkes.
And your blasphemy, God save the King.
|
‘This song was printed and may probably be got.
‘I am happy to tell you that my son is going on well. Dr. Ainslie’s view of his case affords me great comfort.
If he continues to improve, I may possibly go to town for a few days. Shall I
find you then? I am afraid there
| TALKS WITH GRATTAN | 223 |
