but their good PROVOST, approved of their Conduct *.

The LORDS JUSTICES now thought proper to order the Mafter of the Revels to shut up the Theatre by his Authority; which was accordingly done. This was a wife and prudent Step, because the Theatre was made the Seat of War.

And now the Lawyers enjoy'd the Quarrel. The young Gentleman who began this, was taken up fór affaulting Mr. Sheridan, and for the Mischief done at the Theatre in the Dreffing-Rooms and Wardrobe. And the Manager was indicted for affaulting and beating the Gentleman,

I must here alfo obferve, that, to my Knowledge, fome very worthy Perfons were engaged in the Oppofition to Mr. Sheridan, from falfe Reprefentations made -to them by designing Men.

on the 19th of January, in his DreffingRoom. Various were the Reports and Wagers on the Events of these Trials; I was laughed to Scorn, for believing a Jury could be found in Dublin that would find a GENTLEMAN guilty! This founded frightful in the Ears of an Englishman: But when the Time drew near, the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE MARLAY fent for the High Sheriff, and directed him to make out and bring a List of sufficient and able Jurors to his Lordship. This Meffage was immediately spread through the City; and as the ufual iniquitous Practices of Under Sheriffs and packed Jurors were intended for this Caufe, the Disappointment ftruck fuch a Panic in the whole Party, that they gave themfelves up as undone from that Circumftance.

The

The Day appointed for the Trials of both Parties came on. Mr. Sheridan appeared as the first Culprit, and was tried for affaulting and beating the Gentleman. A most heinous Offence! But it appearing fully to the Jury, on the Oaths of three or four Men, whofe Honefty was unqueftioned, that the Gentleman gave the Manager fuch provoking, abufive Language in his Dreffing-Room, as compelled him to beat him out of it, and that no other Perfon touched him, the Jury acquitted the Prisoner, without going out of the Box.

Then the GENTLEMAN appeared at the Bar; and many were the Witneffes examined; for fo many Perfons are employed behind the Scenes of a well-established Theatre,

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Theatre, that there were a Multitude of Witneffes to prove the Facts charged in the Indictment. In the Course of the Trial, Mr. Sheridan was called upon the Table; when he was there, answering the Questions propofed to him by the Court and the Bench, a very learned Councellor, on the Side of the Prifoner, got up, and faid, "He wanted to fee a Curiofity. I have

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often feen (continued he) a Gentleman "Soldier, and a Gentleman Taylor; but I "have never seen a Gentleman Player." Mr. Sheridan (who was well dreffed) bowed modeftly, and said, "Sir, I hope you fee <c one now."

Mr. Juftice Ward tried both the Causes in the Prefence of the Lord Chief Justice, and a full Bench; who all feemed inspired with the noble Spirit of the Chief Juftice,

to

to do all in their Power to punish those Deftroyers of public Liberty! His Lordship ordered his Tipftaff to whisper a Gentleman Leader he faw in Court, against whom Complaints had been laid of his bad Behaviour in Public, to meet him in his Chamber when he left the Bench; where his Lordship obliged him to give Bail for his future good Behaviour. In fhort, the JURY found the GENTLEMAN Prisoner GUILTY; and the Sentence was a Fine of 500l. and three Months Imprisonment. And after the Sentence was given, the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE was pleased to obferve, that Attention fhould be chiefly given to the Conduct of those Gentlemen at the Theatre, as that was the Place of public Refort; and added, that any Perfon who forced his Way behind the Scenes, WHERE MONEY WAS NOT TAKEN, if that Perfon

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