RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN.
THE subject of this memoir was born in Dublin, in September, 1751, being the youngest son of Mr. Thomas Sheridan, an actor and teacher of elocution in that city; and his mother, Mrs. Frances Sheridan, had distinguished herself as the author of "Sidney Biddulph," a novel; "Nourjahad," an oriental tale, and two comedies. For the early development of his talents, RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN was indebted to the instructions of his accomplished mother, and he was afterwards placed at a grammar school at Dublin, whence, in 1759, he was removed, in consequence of his parents leaving Ireland. When eleven years. of age he was sent to Harrow school, where he acquired the love of his schoolfellows by his sprightliness, but exposed himself to the censure of his tutors by his indolence. But though young Sheridan was destitute of emulation, and infinitely preferred being the leader in a sportive game, or the contriver of a mischievous frolic, to becoming the head of his class, his masters appear to have thought that he possessed abilities which, by cultivation, might be rendered splendid; and at the age of eighteen, when he quitted this establishment, he is described as having acquired a competent knowledge of the principal Latin authors, and, according to Dr. Parr, "read Homer's Iliad now and then; not as a professed scholar would do, critically, but with all the