CHAPTER VI.

MOORE REPELS AN ACCUSATION-IS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL.

A YOUNG Lieutenant-Colonel who is dismissed from his employment abroad, and ordered home on a charge of misconduct, is in an embarrassing predicament; and this was augmented in Moore's case by his accuser being a Viceroy, and a friend of the Secretary of State, to whom the cognizance of the business officially belonged. Yet it has been shown that he braved the Viceroy; positively denied the charge, and defied him to the proof. In this defence it was not his military abilities that were to be exerted, but others of a different description. His feelings on the occasion were manifested in the following letter written to his father.

'If you have received the letter which I wrote to you from Bastia some days ago,

it will prevent your surprise at the date of 'this. I have reason, however, to doubt if 'you will receive it.

'In consequence of a representation from 'Sir Gilbert Elliot to the Secretary of State, that I had taken a part in the politics of Corsica hostile to him, I received the King's order to return home; there to re'ceive his Majesty's further pleasure. I left 'Bastia accordingly upon the 9th, landed at

Leghorn on the 10th, and arrived here yesterday. I hope the day after to-morrow to be able to proceed to Cuxhaven, and expect 'to be in London the first or second week in • November.

'I can enter into no particulars in a letter 'which goes by post. I have written to 'General Stuart. Be so good as to call upon

him, and endeavour to be quiet till I see 'you. Do not commit me, for my line is

already determined on. I do not think in my life I ever did an action unworthy of you or of myself, and least of all does my 'conscience tell me that I deserve blame in 'the affair which occasions my return. I can say no more. Remember me affectionately to my mother, &c., and believe me, my dear father, your affectionate son, 'J. MOORE.'

In travelling over the mountains of the Tyrol, Moore was much amused, and impressed favourably with the character of the Tyrolese. The remarks in his journal on passing over a part of Germany, which he had not before seen, indicated perfect composure of mind. At Cuxhaven, being detained by a contrary wind, he was joined by his banished friend Paoli, who informed him that, to shun Bastia, he had taken shipping at Fiorenza; but that Sir Gilbert had visited him there twice, and poured out upon him much soothing flattery.

On the 20th of November, the wind be

coming fair, Moore sailed from Cuxhaven, and reached his father's house in London in five days. His arrival never failed to bring joy to his family; nor was this damped by the cause of his return,-for even his mother scorned an accusation brought against her

son.

His first visit was to Mr. Pitt, the prime minister, who received him, as he imagined, with some stateliness. Mr. Pitt signified that the statements made by Sir Gilbert Elliot were so strong, that it was impossible for the ministers not to acquiesce in his recall, although they did so with regret; and that he should be happy to hear his justification, as no officer's character stood higher. Moore replied,-* Corsica is the place where I should have been tried; there are the witnesses of conduct; and I must represent to you, that I have been deprived of my situation without a trial. Here, I have nothing to ' offer against Sir Gilbert's representations but

my

* Journal, MS., vol. ii. p. 74.

6

a complete denial of them, and to reply that 'he has been instigated by private malice to 'state what is utterly false; and unless I am

' immediately employed, or have some mark of His Majesty's favour, as a proof to the army 'that my conduct was not disapproved of, 'I shall feel myself injured.' He spoke with great warmth; and on his intimacy with persons hostile to Sir Gilbert being adverted to, he said promptly, * Had I associated with 'such only who approved of Sir Gilbert's

measures, I must have lived alone; for I

'know no persons, Britons or Corsicans, ex

cepting those in his immediate pay, who did " approve of them.'

Mr. Pitt finally told him to wait upon the Duke of Portland, whose peculiar business this was: and he advised him not to speak to his Grace the language of passion, but to say everything he considered requisite, calmly. It is well known that the Duke was the intimate friend of Sir Gilbert Elliot, and

* Journal, MS.