167 
confirmation, but adding that her father had declared he would 
rather see her to her grave than see her married tohim. Through- 
out all this trouble there came no insistance, no claim for a marriage 
from either of the interested couple. When sufficiently recovered, 
Sheridan in turn was sent away to Waltham in Essex, where 
he arrived on the 27th August, and so with this removal his 
connection with Bath ceased. From Waltham he wrote to his 
_ sister—remember me to the Lynnites—alluding to a family 
-named Lynn—and to this he adds in brackets-—how like Linnets, 
—alluding here to a play on the Linley name, as a musical house- 
hold. Soon afterwards, in October, 1772, Mr. Sheridan and 
his family also quitted Bath and returned to Dublin.* The 
Sheridan connection with or residence in Bath then it must be 
distinctly noted was only from say October, 1770, to October, 1772, 
ust barely two years ; and so far as Richard is concerned only 
from early in 1771 to August, 1772. The Linley family, too, 
the home being broken by these events, also soon moved away to 
‘London, where the young lady found professional engagements. 
Jus: as after the first duel, conflicting reports were now spread 
about relating to this second. Mr. Sheridan, sen., naturally took 
his wounded son’s side, accepted his report and, with the feelings 
of an angry father, chose to consider Mathew’s conduct “by no 
” «4 vile assassin.” 
“considered him in the light of a murderer, 
such words in such a case are meaningless and absurd. Both 
writers forgot or rather did not know that the fight was unto 
death, that on no account were the seconds to interfere. Had 
Mathews killed Sheridan on Kingsdown, it was only what 
Sheridan would have done to Mathews. It must also be clearly 
listinguished, as is not quite the case in the biographies that 
hese fatherly and sisterly opinions refer to the effects of the duel 
* Moore. + Moore. t Rae 206. 
