his new situation and also to enjoy his society as long as possible, always having been strongly attached to that son. During their absence, Mr. Mathews came to Bath in order to make some attempts to regain his lost character by forcing young Sheridan to meet him once more. He had found himself so shunned and despised after the former business when he returned to Wales, where his property lay, that he was induced to listen to the suggestions of a gentleman [Mr. Barnett?] lately settled in his neighbourhood, who pointed out that method [fighting a duel] as the only one that could wipe out the shame he had incurred.

"This gentleman, Mr. Barnard [Barnett?], accompanied him to Bath, was the bearer of the challenge which he had the cruelty to put into Miss Sheridan's hand saying it was a note of invitation for her Brother. The parties met on Claverton Down the following morning at so early an hour they had hardly light to see what they were engaged in. Sheridan rushed on Mathews with a view of disarming him as he had done before, but from the unevenness of the ground, he fell and with a degree of violence that brought them both to the ground and broke both swords. In the struggle Mathews, who was many years older than Sheridan and much stronger, contrived to keep him under him on the ground and with a piece of the broken sword stabbed him repeatedly in the body and in the face.

"Sheridan held up his right hand to defend himself and also to show he was unarmed. His hand

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was dreadfully cut in this exertion. Mathews desired him to beg his life: he answered, 'I will neither beg it nor receive it from such a villain.'

"Mathews then renewed his attack, and having picked up the point of one of the swords ran it through the side of the antagonist's throat and pinned him to the ground with it, exclaiming with an oath I have done for him.' He then left the field accompanied by his second and, getting into a carriage with four horses which had been waiting for him, drove off.

"He had settled all his affairs so as to be ready for immediate flight in case of accidents. Sheridan's whole preparation was three letters, one to his father, one to Miss Linley and one to his sisters. During the whole scene the seconds had taken no part. Mr. Sheridan's second [Mr. Paumier] a very young man and quite new to such affairs said once to Mr. Barnard, [Barnett?] when he saw his friend hold up his hand, that they ought to be parted, but Mr. B. answered they were both on the ground and the advantage equal. Paumier then entreated Sheridan would beg his life, and became so agitated as scarcely to know what he did.

"On Mathews quitting the ground the postillions raised Mr. Sheridan into the chaise and, putting his companion in with him, drove from the Downs. to the White Hart in an almost incredible short time. Messieurs Ditcher and Sharp, the two most eminent surgeons of that time, were called in and after his wounds were dressed they would not allow

of his being removed from the bed he was placed on. His sisters were informed of the business the following morning and, going to him they found his situation from noise and heat so very uncomfortable, they obtained leave from the Medical gentlemen to have him carefully removed to his own house.

"At the time of this event sometime in June 1772,1 Miss Linley was engaged to sing at the music meeting at Oxford.

"The account of the duel, with the addition of Sheridan's life being despaired of, was in all the papers, but they were carefully concealed from Miss Linley, as her Father was well aware she could not have appeared in public had she known what had passed. It is to this circumstance that Mr. T. Grenville alludes when he speaks of the compassion he felt for Miss Linley, as I perfectly remember his saying that Miss Linley's appearance on that day inspired the greatest interest in the company present. As her ignorance of the duel and its consequences

1 The duel was fought on the 2nd of July. The Bath Chronicle for that day contained the following account of it :"This morning, about 3 o'clock, a second duel was fought with swords, between Captain Mathews and Mr. R. Sheridan, on King's Down, near this city, in consequence of their former dispute concerning an amiable young lady, which Mr. M. considered as improperly adjusted; Mr. S. having. since their first rencontre, declared his sentiments respecting Mr. M. in a manner that the former thought required satisfaction. Mr. Sheridan received three or four wounds in his breast and sides, and now lies very ill. Mr. M. was only slightly wounded, and left this city soon after the affair was over."

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MISS LINLEY STARTLED

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were known to every person, and her beauty, joined to the effect of her truly enchanting powers, could not fail of exciting a degree of sympathy in youthful and susceptible minds, when they thought of the heavy calamity that hung over her.

"Immediately after the performance, Mr. Linley's family left Oxford on their return to Bath. Within a few miles of that place the party were met by Mr. Panton, a clergyman, and a friend of the family. This gentleman proposed her quitting her father's chaise and accompanying him the rest of the way. He then in the most cautious manner informed her of what had passed; but all these precautions were not sufficient to prevent her being dreadfully affected by the stroke, and during her agitation she insisted on being permitted to see him, declaring she was his wife and as such entitled to attend on him.1 But this could not be complied with as Mr. Sheridan's Father was now returned from London and was so grieved and incensed at his son's second duel that he even refused to see him on his arrival and strictly forbade all intercourse between his daughters and the Linley family. The youngest, however, [and writer of this narrative] contrived to convey some intelligence to her Brother when she perceived how

1 Moore expanded this passage and inserted words which have been often quoted as Miss Linley's own :-"Notwithstanding this precaution, her feelings were so taken by surprize that, in the distress of the moment, she let the secret of her heart escape and passionately exclaimed, 'My husband! my husband!' demanding to see him, and insisting on her right as a wife to be near him and watch over him day and night."

unhappy he was on that subject. In the course of a few days Mr. Sheridan was prevailed on to see his son and all displeasure seemed over."

While Sheridan's sisters were filled with sympathy and affection for him in his affliction and eager to lighten his pain, Charles Francis thought the moment opportune for sending unpleasant comments and advice in a letter from London, worthy of Joseph Surface, which is dated the 3rd of July, 1772 :-" It was with the deepest concern I received the late accounts of you though it was somewhat softened by the assurance of your not being in the least danger. You cannot conceive the uneasiness it occasioned to my father. Both he and I were resolved to believe the best, and to suppose you safe, but then we neither of us could approve of the cause in which you suffer. All your friends have condemned you. You risked everything, where you had nothing to gain, to give your antagonist the thing he wished, a chance for recovering his reputation. Your courage was past dispute: he wanted to get rid of the contemptible opinion he was held in, and you were good-natured enough to let him do it at your expence. It is not now a time to scold, but all your friends were of opinion you could, with the greatest propriety, have refused to meet him. For my part, I shall suspend my judgment till better informed, only I cannot forgive your preferring swords. I am exceedingly unhappy at the situation I leave you in with respect to money matters, the more so as it is totally out of my power to be of any use to you. Ewart was greatly vexed at the manner of your