RICHARDSON—TICKELL—FITZPATRICK.
(Vol. iii., p. 276.)
I am much surprised at Mr. Dawson Turner's inquiry about these names. I will not say with him that, "not to know them argues himself unknown." On the contrary, my wonder is, that one, himself so well and so favourably known as Mr. Turner, should have need to ask such a question about men with whom, or, at least, with whose fame, he must have been a contemporary, presuming, as I do, that he is the same Mr. Dawson Turner with whose works we have been acquainted for above half a century. Since, however, he has made the Query, I will answer it as succinctly as I can.
The Right Honourable Richard Fitzpatrick was the only brother of the last Earl of Upper Ossory, and prominent in fashion, in politics, and in elegant literature, and not undistinguished as a soldier. He sat in nine successive parliaments (in two which I knew him). As early as 1782 he was Secretary for Ireland, and in 1783 Secretary-at-War, which office he again filled in 1806. In the galaxy of opposition wits, when opposition was wittiest, Fitzpatrick was generally admitted to be the first, and there were those who thought him in general powers superior even to Fox and Sheridan. His oratory, however, did not do justice to his talents, and he was both shy and indolent. His best speech was that in December, 1796, for the release of Lafayette, to which even the ridicule of the Anti-Jacobin allowed the merit of pathetic eloquence. His share in the Rolliad was considerable, and there are many other sprightly and some elegant specimens of his poetical talents scattered through various publications. I wish they were collected.
Richard Tickell, the grandson of Addison's friend, and brother-in-law to Sheridan, was the author of Anticipation, one of the liveliest political pamphlets ever written. He published many occasional poems, the best of which is a poetical "Epistle from Charles Fox, partridge shooting, to Lord John Townsend, cruising." Mr. Dawson Turner will find more about him in the Biographical Dictionary.
Joseph Richardson, who died in 1803, was M.P. for Newport in three parliaments. He was an intimate friend of Sheridan's, and partner with him in Drury Lane Theatre. He wrote a play, entitled The Fugitive; but he is only remembered for his contributions (whatever they were) to the Rolliad. In the Gentleman's Magazine (vol. lxxiii. p. 602.), Mr. Dawson Turner will find a longer notice of him.
There are a few remarks on the authors of the Rolliad in Moore's Life of Sheridan, i. 420.
C.