’September 10, died the revd.  Dr. Thomas Sheridan of Dublin.  He was a great linguist, a most sincere friend, a delightful companion, and the best Schoolmaster in Europe:  He took the greatest care of the morals of the young gentlemen, who had the happiness of being bred up under him; and it was remarked, that none of his scholars ever was an Atheist, or a Free-Thinker.’

We cannot more successfully convey to the reader a true idea of Dr. Sheridan, than by the two following quotations from Lord Orrery in his life of Swift, in which he occasionally mentions Swift’s friend.

’Swift was naturally fond of seeing his works in print, and he was encouraged in this fondness by his friend Dr. Sheridan, who had the Cacoethea Scribendi, to the greatest degree, and was continually letting off squibs, rockets, and all sorts of little fire-works from the press; by which means he offended many particular persons, who, although they stood in awe of Swift, held Sheridan at defiance.  The truth is, the poor doctor by nature the most peacable, inoffensive man alive, was in a continual state of warfare with the Minor Poets, and they revenged themselves; or, in the style of Mr. Bays, often gave him flash for flash, and singed his feathers.  The affection between Theseus and Perithous was not greater than the affection between Swift and Sheridan:  But the friendship that cemented the two ancient heroes probably commenced upon motives very different from those which united the two modern divines.’

’Dr. Sheridan was a school-master, and in many instances, perfectly well adapted for that station.  He was deeply vers’d in the Greek and Roman languages; and in their customs and antiquities.  He had that kind of good nature, which absence of mind, indolence of body, and carelessness of fortune produce:  And although not over-strict in his own conduct, yet he took care of the morality of his scholars, whom he sent to the university, remarkably well founded in all kind of classical learning, and not ill instructed in the social duties of life.  He was slovenly, indigent, and chearful.  He knew books much better than men; And he knew the value of money least of all.  In this situation, and with this disposition, Swift fattened upon him as upon a prey, with which he intended to regale himself, whenever his appetite should prompt him.  Sheridan was therefore certainly within his reach; and the only time he was permitted to go beyond the limits of his chain, was to take possession of a living in the county of Corke, which had been bestowed upon him, by the then lord lieutenant of Ireland, the present earl of Granville.  Sheridan, in one fatal moment, or by one fatal text, effected his own ruin.  You will find the story told by Swift himself, in the fourth volume of his works [page 289. in a pamphlet intitled a Vindication of his Excellency John Lord Carteret, from the charge of favouring none but Tories, High-Churchmen, and Jacobites.]