Sheridan was one of such eminent unfortunates. He was impulsive
and careless in his expenditure, borrowing money, and running into
debt with everybody who would trust him. When he stood for
Westminster, his unpopularity arose chiefly from his general
indebtedness. "Numbers of poor people," says Lord Palmerston in
one of his letters, "crowded round the hustings, demanding payment
for the bills he owed them." In the midst of all his
difficulties, Sheridan was as lighthearted as ever, and cracked
many a good joke at his creditors' expense. Lord Palmerston was
actually present at the dinner given by him, at which the
sheriff's in possession were dressed up and officiated as waiters
Yet however loose Sheridan's morality may have been as regarded
his private creditors, he was honest(so far as the public money
was concerned. Once, at dinner, at which Lord Byron happened to
be present, an observation happened to be made as to the
sturdiness of the Whigs in resisting office, and keeping to their
principles--on which Sheridan turned sharply and said: "Sir, it
is easy for my Lord this, or Earl that, or the Marquis of t'other,
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.
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