“The last time I met him was, I think, at Sir Gilbert Heathcote’s, where he was as quick as ever—­no, it was not the last time; the last time was at Douglas Kinnaird’s.

“I have met him in all places and parties,—­at Whitehall with the Melbournes, at the Marquis of Tavistock’s, at Robins’s the auctioneer’s, at Sir Humphrey Davy’s, at Sam Rogers’s,—­in short, in most kinds of company, and always found him very convivial and delightful.

“I have seen Sheridan weep two or three times.  It may be that he was maudlin; but this only renders it more impressive, for who would see

    “From Marlborough’s eyes the tears of dotage flow,
    And Swift expire a driveller and a show?

Once I saw him cry at Robins’s the auctioneer’s, after a splendid dinner, full of great names and high spirits.  I had the honour of sitting next to Sheridan.  The occasion of his tears was some observation or other upon the subject of the sturdiness of the Whigs in resisting office and keeping to their principles:  Sheridan turned round:—­’Sir, it is easy for my Lord G. or Earl G. or Marquis B. or Lord H. with thousands upon thousands a year, some of it either presently derived, or inherited in sinecure or acquisitions from the public money, to boast of their patriotism and keep aloof from temptation; but they do not know from what temptation those have kept aloof who had equal pride, at least equal talents, and not unequal passions, and nevertheless knew not in the course of their lives what it was to have a shilling of their own.’  And in saying this he wept.

“I have more than once heard him say, ’that he never had a shilling of his own.’  To be sure, he contrived to extract a good many of other people’s.

“In 1815, I had occasion to visit my lawyer in Chancery Lane, he was with Sheridan.  After mutual greetings, &c., Sheridan retired first.  Before recurring to my own business, I could not help enquiring that of Sheridan.  ‘Oh,’ replied the attorney, ’the usual thing! to stave off an action from his wine-merchant, my client.’—­’Well,’ said I, ’and what do you mean to do?’—­’Nothing at all for the present,’ said he:  ’would you have us proceed against old Sherry? what would be the use of it?’ and here he began laughing, and going over Sheridan’s good gifts of conversation.

“Now, from personal experience, I can vouch that my attorney is by no means the tenderest of men, or particularly accessible to any kind of impression out of the statute or record; and yet Sheridan, in half an hour, had found the way to soften and seduce him in such a manner, that I almost think he would have thrown his client (an honest man, with all the laws, and some justice, on his side) out of the window, had he come in at the moment.

“Such was Sheridan! he could soften an attorney!  There has been nothing like it since the days of Orpheus.