288 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



all question a much greater impression at the time, and re- 

 main unexcelled if not unequalled for strength of argument and 

 beauty of imagery. 



Mr. Sheridan having declined the representation of Stafford in 

 1806, was elected, during the short Parliament, for the city of 

 Westminster ; and in 1807 was returned for the borough of Ilches- 

 ter. At the general election in 1812 he again became a candidate 

 to represent the borough of Stafford, but was unsuccessful. Ralph 

 Benson, Esq. and Thomas Wilson, Esq. are the present Members. 



Mr. Sheridan, after a languishing illness, which he bore with 

 great fortitude, died on Sunday, July 16, 1816, and was interred 

 on the Saturday following in Poet's Corner, Westminster-Abbey, 

 in a grave near those of Addison, Garrick, and Cumberland. It 

 was determined, as a means of shewing the most respect to his 

 memory, and giving it the highest degree of interest, that his re- 

 lations and friends should follow him to the grave on foot. Ac- 

 cordingly, a most splendid assemblage of rank and respectability 

 met at the house of Peter Moore, Esq. his warm and constant 

 friend, to pay the last sad rites to departed genius. The pall- 

 bearers were, the Duke of Bedford, Earl Mulgrave, Lord Holland, 

 the Earl of Lauderdale, Bishop of London, and Lord Robert Spen- 

 cer. The Dukes of York, Sussex, Argyle, the Marquis of Angle- 

 sea, (upon crutches !) Viscount Granviile, and between fifty and 

 sixty noblemen and gentlemen, formed the procession. 



It seems to have been the singular and enviable property of Mr. 

 Sheridan, to unite in himself a number of talents, any of which 

 would characterize the possessor as a man of taste, and some of 

 which would singly serve to immortalize his name. He was at 

 once a poet, an orator, a dramatist, a political writer, and lastly, 

 a most delightful companion. 



Ye Orators ! whom yet our Councils yield, 

 Mourn for the veteran Hero of your field ! 

 The worthy rival of the wondrous Three ! 

 Whose words were sparks of Immortality ! 

 Ye Bards ! to whom the Drama's Muse is dear, 

 He was your Master emulate him here ? 

 Ye men of wit and social eloquence ! 

 He was your Brother bear his ashes hence ! 

 While Powers of mind almost of boundless range, 

 Complete in kind as various in their change, 

 While Eloquence -Wit Poetry and Mirth, 

 That humbler Harmonist of care on Earth, 



* FoxPitt Burke. 



