A BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SKETCH

OF

THOMAS MOORE, ESQ.

COMPRISING ANECDOTES OF ANCIENT MINSTRELSY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE

"IRISH MELODIES."

BY J. W. LAKE.

words that burn, and sentiments that find an echo in every generous breast.

Had Mr. Moore done no more than this, he would

his genius, like his own Peri, seems never pleased, but while hovering over the region he loves; or if it makes a short excursion, it is only in the hope of

NOTWITHSTANDING the number of literary men to whom Ireland has given birth, there is very little connected with their names which conveys to us any thing of a national association; for the land of their be entitled to the gratitude of his countrymen; but nativity scarcely enjoys a single ray of that brilliant mind, which sheds its intellectual brightness over the sister country. Congreve was an apostate, and Swift only by accident a patriot; whilst Goldsmith was securing some advantage that may accelerate the weak enough to affect an air of contempt for a people whose accent was indelibly stamped on his tongue. We could protract the list of her ungrateful and thoughtless 'men of mind" even to our own day; but the task would be invidious, and we gladly turn from it to one who forms a splendid exception-one who is not ashamed of Ireland, and of whom Ireland is justly proud.

66

Land of the Muse! in glory's lay,
In history's leaf thy name shall soar
When, like a meteor's noxious ray,
The reign of tyranny is o'er;
Immortal names have honour'd thee-
A Sheridan, a Wellesley;
And still is beaming round thy shore

The spirit bright of Liberty,

For thou canst boast a patriot, Moore!

removal of those disqualifications, which are supposed to exclude happiness from the limits of his country In "Lalla Rookh" he has given his fire-worshippers the wrongs and feelings of Irishnen; while, in the "Memoirs of Captain Rock," he has accomplished a most difficult task-written a history of Ireland that has been read.

On such grounds we may well claim for Mr. Moore what he deserves-the crown of patriotism; but it is not on this head alone he is entitled to our praise. As a poet, since the lamented death of Byron, he stands almost without a competitor; and as a prosewriter, he is highly respectable.

Mr. Moore is the only son of the late Mr. Garret Moore, formerly a respectable tradesman in Dublin, where our poet was born on the 28th of May, 1780. He has two sisters; and his infantine days seem to have left the most agreeable impressions on his memory. In an epistle to his eldest sister, dated November, 1803, and written from Norfolk in Virginia, he retraces with delight their childhood, and describes the endearments of home, with a sensibility as exquisite as that which breathes through the lines of Cow. per on receiving his mother's picture.

Mr. Moore is every way an Irishman, in heart, in feelings, and in principles. For his country he has done more than any man living: he has associated her name, her wrongs, and her attributes, with poetry and music, neither of which can ever die, while taste, patriotism, and literature subsists in the world; and whilst these survive, Ireland will form the theme of Beauty's song, and Irish music the charm of every cultivated mind. But, all extrinsic circumstances apart, there is in the melodies of Mr. Moore a sacred fire, which conveys its vividness to the soul of his readers; and they must be made of sterner stuff than the ordinary race of men, if their bosoms do not glow with liberal and patriotic enthusiasm, while they pe-a student of Trinity College, Dublin. ruse the harmonious creations of a poet who has clothed the wild and eccentric airs of his country in B

He acquired the rudiments of an excellent education under the care of the late Mr. Samuel Whyte, of Grafton-street, Dublin, a gentleman extensively known and respected as the early tutor of Sheridan. He evinced such talent in early life, as determined his father to give him the advantages of a superior education, and at the early age of fourteen, he was entered

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 ment of Registrar to the Admiralty. This was

once publicly asserted with uncommon energy and patent place, and of a description so unsuitable to his eloquence; and he was equally admired for the splen- temper of mind, that he soon found it expedient to dour of his classical attainments, and the sociability fulfil the duties of it by a deputy, with whom, in con of his disposition. On the 19th November, 1799, Mr. sideration of circumstances, he consented to divide Moore entered himself a member of the honourable the profits accruing from it. From this situation, Society of the Middle Temple, and in the course of however, he never derived any emolument; though, the year 1800, before he had completed the 20th year a few years since, he suffered some pecuniary inconof his age, he published his translation of the "Odes venience, owing to the misconduct of his deputy. of Anacreon" into English verse with notes, from Alluding to his trip across the Atlantic, in a work whence, in the vocabulary of fashion, he has ever published soon after his return to Europe, he says: since been designated by the appellation of Anacreon "Though curiosity, therefore, was certainly not the Moore. So early as his twelfth year he appears to motive of my voyage to America, yet it happened have meditated on executing this performance, which, that the gratification of curiosity was the only advanif not a close version, must be confessed to be a fas-tage which I derived from it. Having remained about cinating one, of this favourite bard. The work is a week at New York," he continues, "where I saw introduced by a Greek ode from the pen of the Trans- Madame, the half repudiated wife of Jerome Buonalator, and is dedicated, with permission, to his Royal parte, and felt a slight shock of an earthquake, the Highness the Prince of Wales, now George the only things that particularly awakened my attention, Fourth. When Mr. Moore first came to London, his I sailed again for Norfolk, where I proceeded on my youthful appearance was such, that being at a large tour northward through Williamsburg, Richmond," dinner-party, and getting up to escort the ladies to the etc. In October, 1804, he quitted America on his drawing room, a French gentleman observed, "Ah! le return to England, in the Boston frigate, commanded petit bon homme qui s'en va!" Mr. Moore's subse-by Capt. Douglas, whom he has highly eulogized for quent brilliant conversation, however, soon proved his attention during the voyage. In 1806, he pubhim to be, though little of stature, yet, like Gay, "in lished his remarks on the Manners and Society of wit a man." Assuming the appropriate name of America, in a work entitled Odes and Epistles. The Little, our author published, in 1801, a volume of preface to this little work sufficiently evinced the original poems, chiefly amatory. Of the contents of talent of Mr. Moore as a writer of prose. this volume it is impossible to speak in terms of un- The fate of Addison with his Countess Dowager qualified commendation. Several of the poems ex- holding out no encouragement for the ambitious love hibit strong marks of genius: they were the productions of Mr. Moore, he wisely and happily allowed his of an age, when the passions very often give a colour-good taste to regulate his choice in a wife, and some ing too warm to the imagination, which may in some years ago married Miss Dyke, a lady of great personal degree palliate, if it cannot excuse, that air of lubricity | beauty, most amiable disposition, and accomplished which pervades too many of them. In the same manners, in whose society he passes much of his year, his "Philosophy of Pleasure" was advertised, time in retirement at his cottage near Devizes, diverbut was never published.

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

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

and at a later period, when his reputation was fully
established, he spoke of himself with his wonted mo-
desty. "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."

Towards the autumn of 1803, Mr. Moore embarked for Bermuda; where he had obtained the appoint

*The scene of Shakspeare's inimitable tragedy of "The Tempest," is said to have been laid in the island of Berstuda.

sified 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 wellbred 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.

The celebrated poem of Lalla Rookh appeared in 1817; in the summer of which year our poet visited the French capital, where he collected the materials for that humorous production, "The Fudge Family in Paris." In the following year, he went to Ireland, on which occasion a dinner was given to him, on the 8th of June, 1818, at Morrison's Hotel in Dublin, which was graced by a large assemblage of the most distinguished literary and political characters. The Earl of Charlemont took the head of the table, Mr. Moore sat on his right hand, and Mr. Moore, sen (since dead,) a venerable old gentleman, the father of our bard, was on his left. As soon as the cloth was removed, Non nobis, Domine, was sung by the

vocalists present; numerous loyal and patriotic toasts that produced the most lively emotion throughout the followed. The Earl of Charlemont then proposed room. the memory of the late lamented Princess Charlotte, A gentleman afterwards sang a lively and wellwhich was drank in solemn silence; after which a written song, composed for the occasion. The subsweet and plaintive song was sung, in commemora-ject was the poets' Election in Olympus, at which tion of her late Royal Highness. After a short inter- there were several candidates, such as Byron, Scott, val, the Earl of Charlemont again rose, and, with a Southey, etc.; but which ended in a due return of suitable eulogium, proposed the health of the distin- Moore, who had a great majority of votes. This jeu guished Irishman who had honoured the country with d'esprit produced much merriment, and the health of his presence. When the applause had subsided, Mr. the author was drank with applause. Moore rose, much affected, and spoke to the following effect :

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

"I feel this the very proudest moment of my whole "Gentlemen, notwithstanding the witty song which life; to receive such a tribute from an assembly like you have just heard, and the flattering elevation which this around me, composed of some of the warmest the author has assigned me, I cannot allow such a and manliest hearts that Ireland can boast, is indeed mark of respect to be paid to the illustrious names a triumph that goes to my very heart, and awakens that adorn the literature of the present day, without there all that an Irishman ought to feel, whom Irish- calling your attention awhile to the singular constel. men like you have selected for such a distinction.—lation of genius, and asking you to dwell a little on Were my merits a hundred times beyond what the the brightness of each particular star that forms it. partiality of the noble chairman has invested me with, Can I name to you a Byron, without recalling to your this moment, this golden moment of my life, would hearts recollections of all that his mighty genius has far exceed them all. There are some among you, awakened there; his energy, his burning words, his gentlemen, whose friendship has been the strength intense passion, that disposition of fine fancy to wanand ornament, the dulce decus' of my existence; der only among the ruins of the heart, to dwell in who, however they differ from my public sentiments, places which the fire of feeling has desolated, and, have never allowed that transient ruffle on the surface like the chesnut-tree, that grows best in volcanic to impede the progress of the deep tide of friendship soils, to luxuriate most where the conflagration of beneath; men who feel that there is something more passion has left its mark? Need I mention to you a sacred than party, and whose noble natures, in the Scott, that fertile and fascinating writer, the vegetaworst of times, would come out of the conflict of tion of whose mind is as rapid as that of a northern public opinion, like pebbles out of the ocean, but more summer, and as rich as the most golden harvest of smooth and more polished from its asperities by the the south; whose beautiful creations succeed each very agitation in which they had been revolving. To other like fruits in Armida's enchanted garden--' one see them beside me on a day like this, is pleasure that scarce is gathered ere another grows! Shall I recall lies too deep for words. To the majority of you, to you a Rogers (to me endeared by friendship as gentlemen, I am unknown; but as your countryman, well as genius,) who has hung up his own name on as one who has ventured to touch the chords of Ire- the shrine of memory among the most imperishable land's Harp, and whose best fame is made out of the tablets there? A Southey, not the Laureate, but the echoes of their sweetness; as one whose humble author of "Don Roderick," one of the noblest and talents have been ever devoted, and, with the blessing most eloquent poems in any language? A Campbell, of God, ever shall be devoted to the honour and ad- the polished and spirited Campbell, whose song of vancement of his country's name; whose love for "Innisfal" is the very tears of our own Irish muse, that country, even they, who condemn his manner of crystalized by the touch of genius, and made eternal? showing it, will at least allow to be sincere, and per- A Wordsworth, a poet, even in his puerilities, whose haps forgive its intemperance for its truth-setting capacious mind, like the great pool of Norway, draws him down as 'one who loved, not wisely, but too into its vortex not only the mighty things of the deep, well:'-to most of you, gentlemen, I say, I am but but its minute weeds and refuse? A Crabbe, who thus known. We have hitherto been strangers to has shown what the more than galvanic power of each other; but may I not flatter myself that from this talent can effect, by giving not only motion, but life night a new era of communion begins between us? and soul to subjects that seemed incapable of it? I The giving and receiving of a tribute like this is the could enumerate, gentlemen, still more, and from very hot-bed of the heart, forcing at once all its feel- thence would pass with delight to dwell upon the ing into a fulness of fruit, which it would take years living poets of our own land;-the dramatic powers of ordinary ripening to produce; and there is not a of a Maturin and a Sheil, the former consecrated by man of you who has pledged the cup of fellowship the applause of a Scott and a Byron, and the latter this night, of whom I would not claim the privilege by the tears of some of the brightest eyes in the emof grasping by the hand, with all the cordiality of a pire; the rich imagination of a Phillips, who has long and well-cemented friendship. I could not say courted successfully more than one muse-the versa more if I were to speak for ages. With a heart full tile genius of a Morgan, who was the first that mated as this glass, I thank you for your kindness to me, our sweet Irish strains with poetry worthy of their and have the sincere gratification of drinking all your pathos and their force. But I feel I have already healths." trespassed too long upon your patience and your Lord Allen gave "the memory of Mr. Curran ;" on time. I do not regret, however, that you have deigned which a very modest, pathetic, and eloquent speech to listen with patience to this humble tribute to the was delivered by his son, in a tone and manner living masters of the English lyre, which I, 'the

meanest of the throng,' thus feebly, but heartily, have and matter-of-fact steadiness of business-for that paid them."

spirit of fairness and liberality among public men, In 1822, our author made a second visit to Paris, which extracts the virus of personality out of party where he resided for a considerable time with his zeal, and exhibits so often (too often, I am sorry to say, amiable wife and family. The fame of his genius, his of late) the touching spectacle of the most sturdy posocial yet unpretending manners, and his musical litical chieftains pouring out at the grave of their most talents and conversation, acquired him much esteem violent antagonists such tributes, not alone of justice, with the most eminent literary and literary-loving but of cordial eulogy, as show how free from all pricharacters of the French capital. During his stay in vate rancour was the hostility that separated them— that city, at the request of Messrs. Galignani, he sat and lastly (as I trust I may say, not only without for his portrait, which was most ably executed by F. infringing, but in strict accordance with, that wise Sieurac, and is allowed by all who have seen Mr. tact which excludes party politics from a meeting like Moore to be a masterly likeness. An excellent en- the present,) for that true and well-understood love graving from it, is prefixed to the present edition of his of liberty, which, through all changes of chance and works. The writer of this sketch may perhaps be ex-time, has kept the old vessel of the Constitution seacused for introducing here an impromptu he wrote, in worthy-which, in spite of storms from without, and the blank leaf of a book belonging to a little girl, the momentary dissensions between the crew within. daughter of Mr. Moore, at his house in the Champs still enables her to ride, the admiration of the world, Elysees, Paris: and will, I trust in God, never suffer her to founderfor 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 upon 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.'"

Sweet child! when on thy beauteous face,

The blush of innocence I view,

Thy gentle mother's features trace,

Thy father's eye of genius too,
If envy wakes a transient sigh,
That face is my apology.

Previous to Mr. Moore leaving Paris, the British nobility and gentry resident in that capital gave him a most splendid dinner at Roberts's. About 60 persons were present; Lord Trimblestown was in the chair, supported on his right by Mr. Moore, and on his left by the Earl of Granard. The vice-presidents were Sir Godfrey Webster, Sir John Byerley, and the Reverend Archibald Douglas, who superintended the preparations for the banquet, which consisted of every luxury the gastronomic art could produce. Mr. Moore was in high health and spirits; songs, catches, and glees, blended delightfully with the sparkling Champagne. Several speeches were made by Lord Trimblestown, Messrs. Byerley, Kenney, Grattan, etc.; and Mr. Moore introduced the toast of "Prosperity to Old England" in the following eloquent language:

This speech was hailed with the warmest acclamations, and the utmost hilarity prevailed till "morning grey began to peep." Never did more gaiety, good humour, and cordiality grace a poet's festival, than at this farewell dinner to 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.

"As the noble chairman has, in compliment to the On the 6th of last May, the anniversary meeting land of my birth, given the ever-welcome toast of of the patrons and friends of the "Artists' Benevo'Prosperity to Ireland,' I beg leave to suggest a lent Fund" was held at the Freemasons' Tavern, the similar tribute to that other country to which we all Right Hon. Frederick Robinson, Chancellor of the belong, and to whose real greatness and solid glory-Exchequer, in the chair. In the course of the evenall Irishman as I am, and with my political and his-ing, Mr. Shee, R. A., proposed as a toast "The health torical recollections fresh about me-I am most ready of Thomas Moore, and Thomas Campbell," which to bear testimony and homage before the world. was drunk with enthusiastic applause. Immediately Yes, gentlemen, there may be, and there are (for God after this Mr. Moore rose, and returned thanks as forbid that I should circumscribe virtue within any follows: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 freight-for 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

"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 hast been proposed by my excellent friend and fellowcountryman. To 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 know ledge. I am one of those uninitiated worshipper 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 nex

unacquainted with astronomy enjoys the beauty of ¡nified and of a higher elevation. There is an anecsunset, or the brilliant wonders of a starry night. dote in the history of literature not unconnected with Amongst the many objects of commiseration with this topic. When the art of printing was first introwhich the world unfortunately abounds, there is not duced, the types with which the first works were one that appeals more intensely to the feelings than printed were taken down and converted into drinkingthe family which a man of genius leaves behind him, cups, to celebrate the glory of the invention.-To be desolate and forsaken; their only distinction the re-sure, there have been other literary glasses not quite flected light of a name which renders their present so poetical; for it has been said, that as the warriors misery more conspicuous, and the contemplation of of the North drank their mead in the hall of Odin out 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."

This speech was received with repeated cheering, and the eloquent speaker sat down amidst the loudest applause.

At the 37th Anniversary of the "Literary Fund Society," Sir John Malcolm introduced the health of our poet in the following manner :

of the skulls of those whom they had slain in battle→→ so booksellers drank their wine out of the skulls of authors. (Laughter and applause.) But different times have now arrived; for authors have got their share of the aurum potabile, and booksellers have got rather the worst of it. There is one peculiarity attendant upon genius, which is well worth mentioning, with reference to the great objects of this admirable Institution. Men of genius, like the precious per fumes of the East, are exceedingly liable to exhaus tion. and the period often comes when nothing of it remains but its sensibility; and the light, which long gave life to the world, sometimes terminates in becoming a burden to itself. (Great applause.) When we add to that the image of Poverty-when we consider the situation of that man of genius, who, in his declining years and exhausted resources, sees nothing "It is another remarkable feature of this Institution, before him but indigence-it is then only that we can that its applause may be valuable to genius, when its estimate the value of this Institution, which stretches money is not wanted. I allude to one now present out its friendly hand to save him from the dire caamongst us, whom I have not the honour of knowing lamity. (Applause.) This is a consideration which personally, but whose fame is well known all over ought to have its due effect upon the minds of the the world. I now claim the liberty to pay my tribute easy and opulent, who may themselves be men of of admiration to the individual in question; for, al-genius; but there may be others who have no property though I have spent a great part of my life in distant to bestow upon them; and the person who now adclimes, his fame has reached me; and the merit of dresses you speaks the more feelingly, because he one of his works I am myself well able to appreciate cannot be sure that the fate of genius, which he has -I mean Lalla Rookh-in which the author has just been depicting, may not one day be his own.” combined the truth of the historian with the genius (Immense applause.) of the poet, and the vigorous classical taste of his own country with the fervid imagination of the East. I propose the health of Mr. Thomas Moore."

The health was then received with all the honours; upon which Mr. Moore rose and said :

The two poets presumed that the Sons of God were angels, which opinion is alsó entertained by some of the fathers of the Church.

In 1823, Mr. Moore published "The Loves of the Angels," of which two French translations soon after appeared in Paris. While Mr. Moore was composing this poem, Lord Byron, who then resided in Italy, was, by a singular coincidence, writing a similar "I feel highly flattered by the compliment now poem, with the title of "Heaven and Earth," both of paid me, although there are others who might more them having taken the subject from the second verse justly have laid claim to it-I allude to the translator of the 6th chapter of Genesis : " And it came to pass, of Oberon (Mr. Sotheby,) whose genius instructed, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that enlightened, and delighted the world, long ere a lay they were fair; and they took them wives of all of mine appeared before the public. I cannot, how-which they chose." ever, but feel myself highly honoured by the manner in which my health has been received in such an assembly as the present. The soldier is delighted with the applause of his companions in arms; the sailor loves We have already alluded to our author's, "Memoirs to hear the praises of those who have encountered the of Captain Rock," the celebrated "Rinaldo Rinalperils of the deep and of naval warfare; so I cannot dini" of Ireland; or rather the designation adopted help feeling somewhat like a similar pleasure from by the "Rob Roys" of that unfortunately divided the approbation of those who have laboured with me country. Mr. Moore has since increased his reputain the same field. This is the highest honour which tion, as a prose writer, by his publication of the Life hey can offer, or I can receive. As to the Honoura- of the late Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheriale Baronet who has proposed my health in so flat- dan, which, from the superior sources of information dering a manner, I feel that much of what he has said at his command, is, in a literary point of view at least, may arise from the influence of the sparkling glass a valuable acquisition to the lovers of biography. which has been circulating among us. (A laugh.) I We here annex a list of Mr. Moore's works, with do not by any means say that we have yet reached their respective dates of publication, as far as we have the state of double vision (a laugh,) but it is well been able to verify them.

known that objects seen through a glass appear mag- The Odes of Anacreon, translated into English