Whyte, of Grafton-street, Dublin, a gentleman and at a later period, when his reputation was extensively known and respected as the early tutor of Sheridan. He evinced such talent in youth as determined his father to give him the advantages of a superior education, and, at the age of fourteen, he was entered a student of Trinity College, Dublin.

fully established, he spoke of himself with his wonted modesty. Whatever fame he might have acquired, he attributed principally to the verses which he had adapted to the delicious strains of Irish melody. His verses, in themselves, could boast of but little merit; but, like flies preserved in amber, they were esteemed in consequence of the precious material by which they were surrounded.»

Mr Sheridan, in speaking of the subject of this memoir, said, « That there was no man who put so much of his heart into his fancy as Tom Moore: that his soul seemed as if it were a particle of fire separated from the sun, and was always fluttering to get back to that source of light and heat..

Mr Moore was greatly distinguished while at the University, by an enthusiastic attachment to the liberty and independence of his country, which he more than once publicly asserted with uncommon energy and eloquence and he was equally admired for the splendour of his classical attainments, and the sociability of his disposition. | On the 19th November, 1799, Mr Moore entered himself a member of the honourable Society of the Middle Temple, and in the course of the year 1800, before he had completed the 20th Towards the autumn of 1803, Mr Moore emyear of his age, he published his translation of barked for Bermuda;' where he had obtained the the Odes of Anacreon» into English verse with appointment of Registrar to the Admiralty. This notes, from whence, in the vocabulary of fashion, was a patent place, and of a description so unhe has ever since been designated by the appella- suitable to his temper of mind, that he soon tion of Anacreon Moore. So early as his twelfth found it expedient to fulfil the duties of it by a year he appears to have meditated on executing deputy, with whom, in consideration of circumthis performance, which, if not a close version, stances, he consented to divide the profits accrumust be confessed to be a fascinating one, of this ing from it. From this situation, however, he favourite bard. The work is introduced by a never derived any emolument; though, a few Greek ode from the pen of the Translator, and years since, he suffered some pecuniary inconveis dedicated, with permission, to his Royal High- nience, owing to the misconduct of his deputy. ness the Prince of Wales, now George the Fourth. | Alluding to his trip across the Atlantic, in a work When Mr Moore first came to London, his youth-published soon after his return to Europe, he says: ful appearance was such, that being at a large Though curiosity, therefore, was certainly not dinner-party, and getting up to escort the ladies the motive of my voyage to America, yet it hapto the drawing-room, a French gentleman ob- pened that the gratification of curiosity was the served, Ah! le petit bon homme qui s'en va!» only advantage which I derived from it. Mr Moore's subsequent brilliant conversation, however, soon proved him to be, though little of stature, yet, like Gay, in wit a man.» Assuming the appropriate name of Little, our author published, in 1801, a volume of original poems, chiefly amatory. Of the contents of this volume it is impossible to speak in terms of unqualified commendation. Several of the poems exhibit strong marks of genius: they were the productions of an age, when the passions very often give a colouring too warm to the imagination, which may in some degree palliate, if it cannot excuse, that air of lubricity which pervades too many of them. In the same year, his « Philosophy of Pleasure was advertised, but never published.

a

Mr Moore's diffidence of his poetical talents induced him to adopt, and with reluctance to reject, as a motto for this work, the quotation from

Horace,

Primum ego me illorum, quibus dederim esse poetis,
Excerpam numero; neque enim concludere versus
Dixeris esse satis —

盒

Hay

ing remained about a week at New York, he continues, where I saw Madame, the half-repudiated wife of Jerome Buonaparte, and felt a slight shock of an earthquake, the only things that particularly awakened my attention, I sailed again for Norfolk, where I proceeded on my tour northward through Williamsburgh, Richmond, etc. In October, 1804, he quitted America on his return to England, in the Boston frigate, commanded by Capt. Douglas, whom he has highly eulogized for his attention during the voyage. In 1806, he published his remarks on the Manners and Society of America, in a work entitled Odes and Epistles. The preface to this little work sufficiently evinced the talent of Mr Moore as a writer of prose.

The fate of Addison with his Countess Dowager holding out no encouragement for the ambitious love of Mr Moore, he wisely and happily allowed

The scene of Shakspeare's inimitable tragedy of « The Tempest » is said to have been laid in the island of Ber

inuda.

his good taste to regulate his choice in a wife, and some years ago married Miss Dyke, a lady of great personal beauty, most amiable disposition, and accomplished manners, in whose society he passes much of his time in retirement at his cottage near Devizes, diversified by occasional visits to London. To complete this picture of domestic happiness, he is the father of several lovely children, on whose education he bestows the most judicious and attentive care.

Mr Moore appears equally to have cultivated a taste for music as well as for poesy, and the late celebrated Dr Burney was perfectly astonished at his talent, which he emphatically called « peculiarly his own. Nor has he neglected those more solid attainments which should ever distinguish the well-bred gentleman, for he is an excellent general scholar, and particularly well read in the literature of the middle ages. His conversational powers are great, and his modest and unassuming manners have placed him in the highest rank of cultivated society.

hundred times beyond what the partiality of the noble chairman has invested me with, this moment, this golden moment of my life, would far exceed them all. There are some among you, gentlemen, whose friendship has been the strength and ornament, the 'dulce decus' of my existence; who, however they differ from my public sentiments, have never allowed that transient ruffle on the surface to impede the progress of the deep tide of friendship beneath; men who feel that there is something more sacred than party, and whose noble natures, in the worst of times, would come out of the conflict of public opinion, like pebbles out of the ocean, but more smooth and more polished from its asperities by the very agitation in which they had been revolving. To see them beside me on a day like this, is pleasure that lies too deep for words. To the majority of you, gentlemen, I am unknown; but as your countryman, as one who has ventured to touch the chords of Ireland's Harp, and whose best fame is made out of the echoes of their sweetness; as The celebrated poem of Lalla Rookh appeared one whose humble talents have been ever devoted, in 1817; in the summer of which year our poet and, with the blessing of God, ever shall be devisited the French capital, where he collected the voted, to the honour and advancement of his materials for that humorous production, «The country's name; whose love for that country, Fudge Family in Paris." In the following year, even they, who condemn his manner of showing he went to Ireland, on which occasion a dinner it, will at least allow to be sincere, and perhaps was given to him, on the 8th of June, 1818, at forgive its intemperance for its truth-setting Morrison's Hotel in Dublin, which was graced by him down as 'one who loved, not wisely, but too a large assemblage of the most distinguished lite- well:'-to most of you, gentlemen, I say, I am rary and political characters. The Earl of Charle- but thus known. We have hitherto been stranmont took the head of the table; Mr Moore sat gers to each other; but may I not flatter myself on his right hand, and Mr Moore sen. (since dead), that from this night a new era of communion bea venerable old gentleman, the father of our gins between us? The giving and receiving of a bard, was on his left. As soon as the cloth was tribute like this is the very hot-bed of the heart, removed, Non nobis, Domine, was sung by the forcing at once all its feeling into a fulness of vocalists present; numerous loyal and patriotic fruit, which it would take years of ordinary ritoasts followed. The Earl of Charlemont then pening to produce; and there is not a man of proposed the memory of the late lamented Prin- you who has pledged the cup of fellowship this cess Charlotte, which was drank in solemn si- night, of whom I would not claim the privilege of leuce, after which a sweet and plaintive song was grasping by the hand, with all the cordiality of a sung, in commemoration of her late Royal High-long and well-cemented friendship. I could not After a short interval, the Earl of Charle- say more if I were to speak for ages. With a mont again rose, and, with a suitable eulogium, heart full as this glass, I thank you for your proposed the health of the distinguished Irishman kindness to me, and have the sincere gratification who had honoured the country with his presence. of drinking all your healths. » When the applause had subsided, Mr Moore rose much affected, and spoke to the following effect:

ness.

I feel this the very proudest moment of my whole life; to receive such a tribute from an assembly like this around me, composed of some of the warmest and manliest hearts that Ireland can boast, is indeed a triumph that goes to my very heart, and awakens there all that an Irishman ought to feel, whom Irishmen like you have selected for such a distinction.-Were my merits a

Lord Allen gave the memory of Mr Curran ; »> on which a very modest, pathetic, and eloquent speech was delivered by his son, in a tone and manner that produced the most lively emotion throughout the room.

A gentleman afterwards sang a lively and wellwritten song, composed for the occasion. The subject was the poets' Election in Olympus, at which there were several candidates, such as Byron, Scott, Southey, etc.; but which ended in a due return of Moore, who had a great majority of

votes. This jeu d'esprit produced much merriment,' worthy of their pathos and their force. But I and the health of the author was drank with applause.

Lord Charlemont then gave the living Poets of Great Britain;' on which Mr Moore said:

feel I have already trespassed too long upon your patience and your time. I do not regret, however, that you have deigned to listen with patience to this humble tribute to the living masters of the English lyre, which I, the meanest of the throng, thus feebly, but heartily, have paid them..

In 1811, our author made a second visit to Parts, where he resided for a considerable time with his amiable wife and family. The fame of his genius, his social yet unpretending manuers, and his musical talents and conversation, acquired him much esteem with the most eminent literary and literary-loving characters of the French capital. During his stay in this city, at the request of Messrs Galignani, he sat for his portrait, which was most ably executed by F. Sieurac, and is allowed by all who have seen Mr Moore to be a masterly likeness. An excellent engraving from it, by that distinguished artist, Wedgwood, is prefixed to the present edition of his works. The writer of this sketch may perhaps be excused for introducing here an impromptu he wrote, in the blank leaf of a book belonging to a little girl, the daughter of Mr Moore, at his house in the Champs Elysées, Paris:

Sweet child! when on thy beauteous face,
The blush of innocence 1 view,
Thy gentle mother's features trace,
Thy father's eve of genius too,
If eavy wakes a transient sigh,
That face is my apology.

Gentlemen, notwithstanding the witty song which you have just heard, and the flattering elevation which the author has assigned me, I cannot allow such a mark of respect to be paid to the illustrious names that adorn the literature of the present day, without calling your attention awhile to the singular constellation of genius, and asking you to dwell a little on the brightness of each particular star that forms it. Can I name to you a Byron, without recalling to your hearts recollections of all that his mighty genius has awakened there; his energy, his burning words, his intense passion, that disposition of fine fancy to wander only among the ruins of the heart, to dwell in places which the fire of feeling has desolated, and, like the chesnat-tree, that grows best in volcanic soils, to luxuriate mest where the conflagration of passion has left its mark? Need I mention to you a Scott, that fertile and fascinating writer, the vegetation of whose mind is as rapid as that of a northern summer, and as rich as the most golden harvest of the south, whose beautiful creations succeed each other like fruits in Armida's enchanted garden—'one! scarce is gathered ere another grows?" shall I recal to you a Rogers (to me endeared by friendship as well as genius', who has hung up his own name on the shrine of memory among the most imperishable tablets there? A Southey, not the } Laurvate, but the author of « Dou Roderick,, one, Previons to Mr Moore leaving Paris, the British of the noblest and most eloquent poems in any nobility and gentry resident in that capital gave language? A Campbell, the polished and spirited him a most splendid dinner at Roberts's. About Campbell, whose song of «lunistal is the very 60 persons were present; Lord Trimblestown was tears of our own Irish muse, crystallized by the in the chair, supported on his right by Mr Moore, touch of genius, and made eternal? A Words- and on his left by the Earl of Granard. The worth, a poet, even in his puerilities, whose ca- vice-presidents were sir Godfrey Webster, Sir pacious mind, like the great pool of Norway, John Byerley, and the Reverend Archibald Doudraws into its vortex not only the mighty things glas, who superintended the preparations for the of the deep, but its minute weeds and refuse? A banquet, which consisted of every luxury the Crabbe, who has shown what the more than gal- gastronomic art could produce. Mr Moore was in high health and spirits; songs, catches, and vmic power of talent can effect, by giving not nnly motion, but life and soul to subjects that glees, blended delightfully with the sparkling seemed incapable of it? I could enumerate, gen- Champagne. Several speeches were made by Lord Hemen, still more, and from thence would pass - Trimblestown, Messrs Byerley, Kenney, Grattan, with delight to dwell upon the living poets of our etc.; and Mr Moore introduced the toast of own land, the dramatic powers of a Maturin Prosperity to Old England in the following and a sheil, the former consecrated by the ap- eloquent language:pdoen of a Scott and a Byron, and the latter by the tours of some of the brightest eyes in the enpare the rich imagination of a Phillips, who has Curbed successfully more than one muse-the pakde genius of a Morgan, who was the first If a megbolome sweet hish strains with poetry

As the noble chairman has, in compliment to the land of my birth, given the ever-welcome toast of 'Prosperity to Ireland,' I beg leave to suggest a similar tribute to that other country to which we all belong, and to whose real greatness and solid glory--all Irishman as I am, and with

"Tom Moore.»

To the above specimens of our author's oratorical powers, we subjoin here two other speeches, of more recent date, which he delivered on occasions which called forth all the glow of his heart, and sympathy of his nature.

my political and historical recollections fresh gaiety, good humour, and cordiality grace a about me-I am most ready to bear testimony poet's festival, than at this farewell dinner to and homage before the world. Yes, gentlemen, there may be, and there are (for God forbid that I should circumscribe virtue within any particular latitude), there may be, and there are high minds, warm hearts, and brave arms every where. But for that genuine high-mindedness, which has honesty for its basis-the only sure foundation upon which any thing lofty was ever Built-which can distinguish between real, substantial greatness, and that false, inflated glory of the moment, whose elevation, like that of the balloon, is owing to its emptiness, or if not to its emptiness, at least, to the levity of its freightfor that good faith, that punctuality in engagements, which is the soul of all commercial as well as all moral relations, and which, while it gives to business the confidence and good understanding of friendship, introduces into friendship the regularity and matter-of-fact steadiness of busi

ness

On the 6th of last May, the anniversary meeting of the patrons and friends of the Artists' Benevolent Fund» was held at the Freemasons' Tavern, the Right Hon. Frederick Robinson, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the chair. In the course of the evening, Mr Shee, R. A., proposed as a toast << The health of Thomas Moore, and Thomas Campbell," which was drunk with enthusiastic applause. Immediately after this Mr Moore rose, and returned thanks as follows:

"

То

« I assure the meeting that I feel very sensibly and very strongly the high honour which has been conferred on me, nor do I feel it the less sensibly, from the kind and warm-hearted manner in which the toast has been proposed by my excellent friend and fellow-countrymau. have my name coupled with that of Mr Campbell, I feel to be no ordinary distinction. If a critical knowledge of the arts were necessary for a just admiration of them, I must at once admit, much as I delight in them, that I cannot boast of that knowledge. I am one of those uninitiated worshippers who admire very sincerely, though perhaps I could not, like the initiated, give a perfectly satisfactory reason for my admiration. I enjoy the arts, as a man unacquainted with astronomy enjoys the beauty of sun-set, or the brilliant wonders of a starry night. Amongst the many objects of commiseration with which the world unfortunately abounds, there is not one that appeals more intensely to the feelings than the family which a man of genius leaves behind him, desolate and forsaken; their only distinction the reflected light of a name which renders their present misery more conspicuous, and the contemplation of which must add poignancy to their sufferings. There is no object under heaven more sure to be visited with the blessings of success than that which has in view the alleviation of such misery. I am happy to find that the Government, of which the Right Honourable Chairman forms a part, has taken the fine arts under their protection. It is for them a proud and honourable distinction, that, while they show they possess the talents of statesmen, they also prove they have the liberal feelings which belong to men of taste.»>

- for that spirit of fairness and liberality among public men, which extracts the virus of personality out of party zeal, and exhibits so often (too often, I am sorry to say, of late) the touching spectacle of the most sturdy political chieftains pouring out at the grave of their most violent antagonists such tributes, not alone of justice, but of cordial eulogy, as show how free from all private rancour was the hostility that separated them—and lastly (as I trust I may say, not only without infringing, but in strict accordance with, that wise tact which excludes party politics from a meeting like the present), for that true and well-understood love of liberty, which, through all changes of chance and time, has kept the old vessel of the Constitution sea-worthywhich, in spite of storms from without, and momentary dissensions between the crew within, still enables her to ride, the admiration of the world, and will, I trust in God, never suffer her to founder-for all these qualities, and many, many more that could be enumerated, equally lofty and equally valuable, the most widely-travelled Englishman may proudly say, as he sets his foot once more on the chalky cliffs,' This is my own, my native land, and I have seen nothing that can, in the remotest degree, compare with it.'-Gentlemen, I could not help,-in that fulness of heart, which they alone can feel towards England who have been doomed to live for some time out of it-paying this feeble tribute to that most noble country, nor can I doubt the cordiality with which you will drink. Prosperity, a long prosperity to Old England.'» This speech was hailed with the warmest ac- This speech was received with repeated cheerclamations, and the utmost hilarity prevailed tilling, aud the eloquent speaker sat down amidst - morning grey began to peep. Never did more the loudest applause.

At the 37th Anniversary of the « Literary Fund | of those whom they had slain in battle-so book