enlivening the fancy, and heightening the imagination and wit of the dullest of his associates, yet it could not also fail of injuring that high tone of morals with which the heart of a monarch of a Christian country should be especially inspired. In the amours of Mr. Sheridan, the name of the Prince of Wales was consequently involved, and this circumstance additionally tended to the permanent injury of his character and reputation.

Of the Prince's intimacy with Sheridan many pleasant and, we regret to add, painful anecdotes are related. The following will shew the familiar footing on which they stood with each other. The Prince became a member of Brookes' Club, in order to have more frequent intercourse with Mr. Fox. His Royal Highness was the only person who was ever admitted without a ballot, and on his first appearance every member rose and welcomed him by acclamation. When Fox first became acquainted with Sheridan, he was so delighted with his company and brilliant conversation, that he became exceedingly anxious to get him admitted as a member of Brookes' club, which he frequented every night. Sheridan was frequently proposed, but as often had one black ball in the ballot, which disqualified him. At length, the balls being marked, the hostile ball was traced to old George Selwyn, a stickler for aristocracy. Sheridan was apprised of this, and desired that his name might be put up again, and that the further conduct of the matter might be left to himself. Accordingly, on the evening that he was to be balloted for, Sheridan arrived at Brookes', arm in arm with the Prince of Wales, just ten minutes before the balloting began. Being shewn into the candidates' waiting-room, the waiter was ordered to tell Mr. Selwyn that the Prince desired to speak with him below immediately; Selwyn obeyed the summons without delay, and Sheridan, to whom he had no personal dislike, entertained him for half an hour with a political story, which interested him very much, but which, of course, had no foundation in truth. During Selwyn's absence the balloting went on, and Sheridan was chosen, which circumstance was announced to himself and the Prince, by the waiter, with the preconcerted signal of stroking his chin with his hand. Sheridan immediately got up, and apologizing for

an absence of a few minutes, told Mr. Selwyn that the Prince would finish the narrative, the catastrophe of which he would find very remarkable.

Sheridan now went up stairs, was introduced to and welcomed by the club, and was soon in all his glory. The Prince in the mean time was left in no very enviable situation, for he had not the least idea of being left to conclude the story, the thread of which (if it had a thread) he had entirely forgotten, or which, perhaps, his eagerness to serve Sheridan's cause prevented him from listening to with sufficient attention to take up where Sheridan had dropped it. Still by means of his auditor's occasional assistance, he got on pretty well for a few minutes, when a question from Selwyn, as to the flat contradiction of a part of his Royal Highness' story to that of Sheridan, completely posed him, and he stuck fast. After much floundering to set himself right, and finding all was in vain, the Prince burst into a loud laugh, and exclaimed, D-n the fellow! to leave me to finish this infernal story, of which I know as much as the child unborn-but never mind, Selwyn, as Sherry does not seem inclined to come back, let us go up stairs, and I dare say, Fox or some of them will be able to tell you all about it.' They adjourned to the club-room, and Selwyn now detected the manœuvre. Sheridan rose, made him a low bow, and said, ''Pon my honour, Mr. Selwyn, I beg pardon for being absent so long, but the fact is, I happened to drop into devilish good company: they have just been making me a member, without even one black ball, and here I am.' • The devil they have,' exclaimed Selwyn. Facts speak for themselves,' replied Sheridan, and as I know you are very glad of my election, accept my grateful thanks (pressing his hand on his breast and bowing very low) for your friendly suffrage: and now, if you'll sit down by me, I'll finish my story, for I dare say his Royal Highness has found considerable difficulty in doing justice to its merits.' Your story! it is all a lie from beginning to end,' screamed out Selwyn, amidst immoderate fits of laughter from all parts of the room.

Among the nobility who at this time were more particularly honoured with the countenance of the Prince of Wales, were the Dukes of Norfolk, Bedford, Devonshire, Portland, and

Northumberland, the Earls of Derby, Cholmondeley, and Fitzwilliam, and Lords St. John, Ponsonby, Craven, Southampton, and Rawdon (afterwards the Earl of Moira), who, after having passed the greater part of his life in the enjoyment of the respect and esteem of his fellow countrymen, became the object of their scorn and contempt, by the mean and pitiful conduct which he pursued in the investigation of the charges which were brought against the late Queen Caroline. In regard to the connection of his Royal Highness with the other noblemen, he derived very little moral benefit or advantage. As the descendants of the illustrious champions of freedom, or as men of great talents and acquisitions, they were fit associates for the heir apparent to the throne of Great Britain, but this assisted but little in discouraging that general penchant for the female sex, which, however it may accord with continental manners, ill agrees with the principles of morality, or the opinions and views of the Christian population. Example is unfortunately, as well as fortunately, the school of mankind. In the short space of three years, the Prince had been. introduced to circles as dissipated as they were gay, and as immoral as they were dissipated. His personal and mental endowments attracted for him the admiration of women distinguished as much for rank and virtue, as for duplicity, licentiousness, and infidelity.

The residence of the Prince of Wales was now chiefly confined to Carlton-house, it having been presented to him by his father, and it soon became the focus of conviviality. Brilliant were the flashes of festive wit which enlivened the royal board, and some idea may be formed of the nature and spirit of those meetings from the following comico-tragico event which took place, in which the celebrated George Hanger was the principal performer.

It is well known, that the above-mentioned person was the particular companion of his late majesty, when Prince of Wales, and many of the youthful improprieties which he committed were ascribed, by the King, to the company which he kept; and particularly to the society of Sheridan and Major Hanger. On a particular occasion, when the latter was raising recruits, the King hearing that the Prince was taken from place to place

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