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SHERIDAN-SHIRLEY.

and he turned his attention towards nominated for the bor

dramatic composition. His ough of Ilchester, which he first production, the Rivals continued to represent during was acted at Covent garden in the remainder of his parlia1775, with moderate success; mentary career. The latter but the Duenna, a musical part of the life of this highly entertainment, which followed, talented individual was imwas received with general ad- bittered by misfortunes, prinmiration; and his School for cipally arising from his own inScandal' gained him the high-dolence and mismanagement, est reputation as a comic writ- though the destruction of Druer. On the retirement of Gar-ry lane theatre by fire contririck from Drury lane theatre, buted to increase his difficulSheridan purchased a share in ties. He died, July the 7th, that property, which qualified 1816. him for a seat in parliament; SHERLOCK, William, an and, in 1780, he was chosen episcopal clergyman, born in member for the borough of Southwark, about 1641, was Stafford. He attained distin- promoted to the deanery of St guished celebrity as an orator, Paul's, and died in 1707. His and made the grandest displayDiscourses on Death and on of eloquence during the pro- Judgment,' are much esteemgress of the impeachment of ed, and have passed through Warren Hastings. The poli- numerous editions. tical changes consequent on the death of Pitt, in 1806, occasioned the exaltation of the party with which Sheridan was connected, and he obtained the lucrative post of treasurer of the navy, and the rank of a privy counsellor. This administration being weakened by the loss of Mr Fox, who survived his celebrated rival only a few months, new alterations took place, and Sheridan was deprived of office, to which he never returned. At the general election in 1806, he obtained a seat for Westmin-cated at Merchant Tailors' ster, the great object of his ambition; but he was after

SHERLOCK, Thomas, son of the preceding, born at London, in 1678, succeeded Hoadley in the bishopric of Salisbury, and was offered the primacy on the decease of archbishop Potter, in 1747; but refused it; and, the following year, was translated to the see of London, where he remained till his death, in 1761. His 'Sermons' are among the best specimens of English pulpit eloquence extant.

SHIRLEY, James, born in London about 1594, was edu

school, and thence removed to St John's college, Oxford. He

passion for a young man, who was an actor of all work in her father's company; but her parents, considering her too young to form a connexion with him, placed her, as lady's maid, with a family in Warwickshire. In her eighteenth year, however, she was married to Siddons, with their consent; when she and her husband played at Liverpool, and other places, gaining both reputation and profit. The theatrical character which she had acquired, induced the manager of Drury lane to offer her an engagement, which she accepted. It was, however, only in secondary parts that she appeared, and in a short time she quitted the London boards. Bath formed the next scene of her exertions; and, while there, she improved rapidly, and became a general favourite. Again engaged at Drury lane, her reappearance

became a favourite with doctor | tempted tragedy. In her fifLaud, who discountenanced teenth year, she conceived a his entry into the church, on account of a large mole upon his cheek, which he deemed a disqualification by deformity, according to the canons. On removing to Cambridge, he met with no difficulty on this score, and obtained a curacy near St Alban's. He soon after went over to the church of Rome, and, giving up his curacy, sought to establish a grammar-school in the same town. Failing in this endeavour, he removed to London, became a writer for the stage, and was taken into the service of queen Henrietta Maria. On the decline of the royal cause, he returned to London, and, the acting of plays being prohibited, resumed his school. In 1666, he was forced, with his wife, by the great fire, from his house in St Giles's parish; and, being extremely affected by the loss and terror that the fire occasioned, they both died, Oct. the 29th, within twenty-took place, Oet. the 10th, 1782, four hours. Besides thirtyseven tragedies and comedies, he published a volume of poems.

SIDDONS, Mrs, daughter of Roger Kemble, the manager of an itinerant company of players, was born at Brecknock, July the 14th, 1755. She commenced her theatrical career as a singer, but soon relinquished that line, and at

in the character of Isabella.' Her success was complete, and, for thirty years, she continued to astonish and enchant the lovers of the drama. The symmetry of her person was captivating, and her features so well harmonized, that most people thought her more beautiful than she was. Her voice was plaintive, yet capable of firmness and exertion, and her

articulation clear, penetrating, and distinct. Mrs Siddons, having acquired an ample fortune, took her leave of the stage, in 1812, but performed, four years afterwards, for the benefit of her brother, Mr Charles Kemble, and a few nights at Edinburgh, to assist her widowed daughter-in-law, She died, June the 8th, 1831.

king of Poland; "refusing," as Camden says, "to further his advancement, out of fear that she should lose the jewel of her times." He was subsequently appointed governor of Flushing, and general of the cavalry under his uncle, Dudley, earl of Leicester, who commanded the forces sent to assist the Dutch against the Spaniards. Sept. the 22nd, 1586, being at the head of a detachment of the English troops, he fell in with a convoy of the enemy marching towards Zutphen. An engagement took place, in which he received a shot that shattered his thigh bone. He was carried to Arnheim, where he expired, Oct. the 17th. The work by which Sir Philip Sidney is principally known is his

SIDNEY, Sir Philip, an ingenious writer and accomplished statesman, was the son of Sir Henry Sidney, of Penshurst, in Kent, where he was born, Nov. the 29th, 1554. He became a favourite with queen Elizabeth, who, in 1576, sent him on an embassy to Germany. In 1581, he distinguished himself in the jousts and tournaments celebrated for the entertainment of the duke of Anjou; and on the re-Arcadia,' one of the earliest. turn of that prince to the continent, he accompanied him to Antwerp. The prince palatine being invested with the order of the garter in 1583, Mr Sidney was appointed his proxy, when he received the honour of knighthood. In 1585, he projected, in concert with Sir Francis Drake, an expedition against the Spaniards in America; and he had gone to Ply-cated under the inspection of mouth to embark on the undertaking; when an express mandate from the queen recalled him to court. Her in-trained to a military life, and fluence also was exerted to pre- served with some distinction vent him from being elected under his brother, lord Lisle,

specimens of the grave or heroic romance. It is a mixture of prose and verse, the latter exhibiting various attempts to naturalize the measures of Roman poetry.

SIDNEY, Algernon, a celebrated English republican and martyr to liberty, was the se cond son of the earl of Leicester. Born in 1617, and edu

his father, he accompanied him in his embassies to Denmark and France. He was also early