Thomas, who, after a roaming and profitless life, had come to Bath to
earn a livelihood by teaching elocution.

This younger Thomas Sheridan seems to have inherited none of the wit and
cleverness of his father, Swift's boon companion. Dr Johnson considered
him "dull, naturally dull. Such an excess of stupidity," he added, "is
not in nature." But, in spite of his dulness, "Sherry"--as he was
commonly called--had been clever enough to coax a pension of £200 a year
out of the Government, and was able to send his two boys to Harrow and
Oxford.

The Sheridan boys had been but a few days in Bath when they both fell
head over heels in love with Elizabeth Linley, with whom their sister
had been equally quick to strike up a friendship. But from the first,
Charles, the elder son, was hopelessly outmatched.

"On our first acquaintance," Miss Linley wrote in later
years, "both professed to love me--but yet I preferred
the youngest, as by far the most agreeable in person,
beloved by every one."

Indeed, from a boy, Richard Sheridan seemed born to win hearts. His
sister has confessed:

"I admired--I almost adored him. He was handsome. His
cheeks had the glow of health; his eyes--the finest in
the world--the brilliancy of genius, and were soft as a
tender and affectionate heart could render them. The same
playful fancy, the same sterling and innoxious wit that
was shown afterwards in his writings, cheered and