Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/527

 SHERIDAN. 523 not originate in absolute necessity. This argument had i t s effect, and the lady went down t o Worcester, where she enraptured crowded audiences b y her harmonious strains; the delight o f which, however, was allayed b y the painful reflection that they would never more b e repeated. When the meeting was over, she acted with great liberality, b y putting the money that had been paid t o her into the plate. And although she was afterwards repeatedly solicited with the most liberal offers, a t a time when their resources were extremely confined, Mr. Sheri dan persisted i n h i s resolution against her public appear ance. - On the 17th o f January, 1775, his comedy o f the “Rivals” was produced a t Covent-garden theatre, and failed entirely through the bad enactment o f the Irish character. I t was, however, reproduced with a new repre sentative o f Sir Lucius O'Trigger, and i t s success was very considerable. To Mr. Clinch, who s o admirably represented the fighting Hibernian, our author considered himself s o much indebted, that h e presented him soon after with a farce for his benefit, entitled “ St. Patrick's Day; or, the Scheming Lieutenant.” This piece contains a great deal o f broad humour, i s said t o have been written within forty-eight hours, and gratified the galleries exceed ingly. I n the autumn o f 1776, Mr. Sheridan's comic opera o f “The Duenna,” was submitted t o the public; the success o f which was unprecedented, a s i t run half a score o f nights longer than the Beggar's Opera. Mr. Sheridan's reputation had now reached the utmost pinnacle o f dramatic fame, and yet his fortune had obtained but little increase. Gay, volatile, dissipated, and hos pitable t o excess, his table was open t o the whole circle o f h i s friends and admirers. Yet notwithstanding the noto riety o f his expenses, and the deficiency o f his revenues, such were his fascinating manners, talents, and reputation a t this moment, that h e contrived t o enter into, and suc ceeded i n a negociation with Garrick, for the purchase o f a part o f his share o f the patent o f Drury-lane theatre. On