170 
““used to be related by Woodfall.” A statement of Sheridan’s 
conduct in the duels having appeared in one of the Bath papers 
“‘so false and calumnious” as to require immediate answer, he 
asked Woodfall to insert the “false” statements in his paper, 
promising a denial or answer to follow. Woodfall, continues the 
story, “lost not a moment” in transcribing the ‘ calumnious 
article into his paper,” but no answer or denial ever came. In 
another work this story reads,—the charges were reprinted in 
full in Zhe Public Advertiser, but were never refuted.* For 
such an absolute statement an exact reference should be given. 
An examination of Zhe Public Advertiser—-Woodfall’s paper— 
from September, 1772, to April, 1773, shows no such thing. 
The only paragraph noted is one on the 19th November, 
1772,t which, under date Bath, 16th November, says—‘“ Mr. 
Sheridan, jun., is entirely recovered of his wounds but has 
lost the use of his right arm from receiving a shot between the 
bones of the joint.” As pistols were not used this is one more 
of the curiosities of this history. It may be remembered that the 
story of what Woodfall “used to say” in 1772, was now being 
repeated or so attempted in 1825. If there were any founda- 
tion for the story, it must have materially differed in fact. 
Next, on the 6th April, 1773 ;—Mrs. Lefanu, with her usual in- 
exactness says it was in September, 1772 ;—Sheridan entered as a 
student in the Middle Temple, and so came again very near his 
lady love, who was singing often at Drury Lane. An advertise- 
ment of rgth February, 1773, shows the performance at Drury 
Lane Theatre of Judas Maccabeus, the principle vocal parts by 
Miss Linley and Miss Mary Linley, with, at the end of the first 
act, a “concerto” on the violin by Mr. Thomas Linley. But her 
position was not as it was before the elopement, her name became 
associated with more than one, presumably towards marriage, and 
this caused and revived the old jealousy with Sheridan as they 
* Wiike’s Sheridan, &c., by W. F. Rae, p. 153. + P. 4, col. 1. 
