_Sheridan and Vanbrugh_ (Vol. iv. p. 24.).--Had O. O. consulted the
"Life of Sheridan" which precedes Bohn's Collection of the _Dramatic
Works of Sheridan_ (which, having the volume in his hand, he ought to
have done), he would have seen that it is expressly mentioned (p. 51.)
that Sheridan, having become part proprietor of Drury Lane Theatre--
"His first commencement as a manager was not of that brilliant
kind to give any promise of great improvement in the conduct of
the theatre. _An alteration_ of Vanbrugh's play the _Relapse_ was
the first production, under the name of a _Trip to Scarborough_.
It was brought out on February 24, 1777. This was an unfortunate
commencement: neither the public nor the actors were satisfied."
Further, it is printed at the end of Sheridan's _Dramatic Works_,
followed by _Pizarro_, printed in smaller type, so as to make them
appear like an appendix; and hence it could hardly be expected that any
one would think of attributing the _Trip to Scarborough_, altered from
Vanbrugh's _Relapse_, to Sheridan, any more than it could be considered
as intended to call him the author of _Pizarro_, because he altered
Kotzebue's _Spaniards in Peru_, and adapted it to, and had it
represented on, the stage.