and in productions which displayed more enterprise than genius, was abruptly dissolved to their mutual sorrow. Halhed's father procured for him in 1771 a writership in the East India Company's Service. In those days such an office was eagerly sought after. The holder of it was regarded as being comfortably provided for life. Writing to Sheridan on the 29th of July, 1771, Halhed says that his "fate is positively determined." He adds, "I think, Dick, the best thing you can do is to accompany me. Your abilities cannot fail to distinguish you in a place where wit is of great recommendation, and where such qualifications as yours must place you in a most exalted sphere."

If Sheridan had gone to India when a young man, his biographer would have had a different, though, perhaps, a not less fascinating story to tell. Halhed's prediction might have been verified and he would probably have risen to an "exalted sphere," have grown as attached to Warren Hastings as Halhed. himself and returned home to defend Hastings with an eloquence as splendid and incomparable as that which he displayed when advocating his impeachment, and urging that he should be punished with merciless rigour by the High Court of Parliament.

No correspondence between them after Halhed's departure for Calcutta has been preserved. Their paths diverged; their interests ran in opposite channels; their abilities were shown in very different ways. When Sheridan became manager of Drury Lane Theatre, and shortly before he produced his great and classic comedy, Halhed appeared before

III.]

WARREN HASTINGS AND HALHED

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the public as the translator of the Gentoo code of law. His dedication of this work to Warren Hastings is in a different strain from his letters to Sheridan ; a marvellous change had been wrought. The dedication, which was written in 1776, explains his relation to Hastings : By the publication of the collection of Gentoo laws, made under your immediate authority, I find myself involuntarily held forth to the public as an author, almost as soon as I have commenced to be a man. It is therefore with some propriety that I claim to this work the continuation of your patronage, which, as it at first selected me from a number of more worthy competitors to undertake the task, so it has by constant assistance and encouragement been the entire instrument of its completion. Indeed, if all the lights which, at different periods, have been thrown upon this subject, by your happy suggestions, had been withheld there would have remained for my share of the performance nothing but a mass of obscurity and confusion; so that in your own right, the whole result of the execution is yours, as well as the entire merit of the original plan. It is my earnest wish that you may long be the prime administrator of an establishment to which you have excellently paved the way; as I am sure your extensive general knowledge, joined to your particular experience in the affairs of India, give you advantages which can scarcely fall to the share of any other subject of the British Empire."

Halhed returned to England in 1785. When he and Sheridan met again it was in the position of strangers, and as antagonists in the proceedings con

They sat in Parliament;

cerning Warren Hastings. but on opposite sides of the House. Halhed spoke three times only during the five years that he was a member of the House of Commons. His maiden speech was delivered on the 31st of March, 1796; he stated at the outset that he had "preserved a uniform and respectful silence" since entering the House in 1791 as member for Lymington. Though listened to, he could not get a seconder for a motion to the effect that "The books of Richard Brothers, entitled 'A Revealed Knowledge,' etc., be laid upon the table." Three weeks afterwards he made a second speech and a motion which also fell to the ground for lack of a seconder; it was to the effect that "a copy of the warrant for apprehending Richard Brothers be laid before the House." This man was a fanatic who, after living for a time on vegetables, announced that he was commissioned by the Almighty to take the place of George the Third. On the 10th of November, 1795, Halhed spoke against the Seditious Meetings Bill. Sheridan opposed the Bill also, and both Halhed and he voted with the minority against it. Halhed then returned to private life. He had written to Sheridan in 1770: "My reflections end in a consciousness that I want common sense." His conduct in Parliament demonstrated how correctly he had judged himself.

Halhed left India with a competence; but, after arriving at home, he was impoverished by injudicious speculation in French assignats. However, the appointment of Secretary to the East India Company, which he obtained in 1809, made his life easy again.

III.

HALHED'S LAST DAYS

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He collected oriental manuscripts, wrote on oriental topics, and he penned epigrams in imitation of Martial. His life ended on the 18th of February, 1830, fourteen years after that of the schoolfellow whose career I am narrating. As the story of Halhed's early days is still incomplete, as regards the relation between him and Sheridan, further particulars concerning it will be given in the next chapter.

IV.

LITERARY SCHEMES.

WHILE Halhed and Sheridan were preparing the farce of Jupiter for the stage and a versified translation of the Epistles of Aristanetus for publication, Sheridan was revolving other literary ventures in his mind. In a letter to him from Halhed on the 16th of April [1771] it is said :-"Whatever your new plan is (of which I have not the most distant idea) I shall be glad to coincide in it, and do whatever service may be in my power." This may refer to a projected comedy, of which the following fragment in Sheridan's handwriting has been preserved

"M[anager?]. Sir, I have read your Comedy, and I think it has infinite merit, but, pray, don't you think it rather grave?

S[andy ?]. Sir, you say true; it is grave comedy. I follow the opinion of Longinus, who says comedy ought always to be sentimental. Sir, I value a sentiment of six lines in my piece no more than a Nabob does a rupee. I hate those dirty, paltry equivocations which go by the name of puns, and pieces of wit. No, Sir, it ever was my opinion that the stage