' and he visited with attention and relish the

many curiosities of the place. We ascended 'Vesuvius together, when that mountain was ' in a very angry mood, and his eagerness 'led him a little too near the mouth of the

crater, when it happened to vomit up a great quantity of lava, and burning stones. 'A gentleman in company called to Jack to

run, and showed him the example. As they were running away upon the glowing cinders, 'Jack fell, and wounded his knee and thigh

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so much as to be laid up for some days. But 'he was well quit, for the lava and stones fell "in such a quantity, on the place from which

they had run with so much precipitation,

that, in all likelihood, they would have been destroyed had they remained. Jack, on the whole, was in as much danger, and as 'well wounded, as if he had stood a tolerable 'brisk siege.'

When at Naples the glad tidings arrived that the Duke of Argyle had obtained an ensigncy in the 51st regiment for young John. His joy was boundless, but as he was

only fifteen years of age, leave of absence from the regiment then at Minorca was obtained, and he continued some months longer with his father, and acquired the Italian language. The party repassed the Alps in midsummer, and after some stay at Geneva reached Paris. There the ensign quitted his father, to fly to Glasgow.

I still recollect his mother's transports on embracing her eldest son, who had left her when a wild schoolboy, and had returned an accomplished youth. Absence had stamped filial and fraternal love deeper in his heart. We, his brethren, looked with surprise at the alteration years had produced; and wondered that our brother should already wear a sword.

What happiness did he then bring to his mother! What a reverse when she lost him!

CHAPTER II.

MOORE'S ENTRANCE INTO THE ARMY.-MINORCA. -PENOBSCOT.

BEFORE two short months had flown past, Ensign Moore quitted his mother and family at Glasgow, and hastened to Marseilles, where he embarked for Minorca, which he reached early in the year 1777.

In the fortress of Port Mahon, commanded by the veteran General Murray, he was taught the rudiments of military discipline; the drill, the manual exercise, regimental duties, the nightly watches, and all the military forms to prevent surprises, and secure the garrison. Murray was a man of high character, and a strict disciplinarian, but of a violent temper. Moore, however, acquired his good opinion by the exact performance of his duty. He was superior to the fopperies of many young officers, who deviate in dress as much as they

dare, from the precise uniform and love to display a false spirit by disobeying orders whenever they believe they will escape detection. In letters to his father, he commended highly his regiment and the officers. He was pleased with the island, and expressed surprise that some officers should think it dull; which irksome feeling, his cheerful temper, and the studies prosecuted by his father's admonitions, entirely prevented. In a letter to his mother, he observes, I am very 'intimate with two or three of the officers, ́ and I am upon a bad footing with none of 'them. I never have had the misfortune to 'have a quarrel with anybody since I 'joined the regiment; so never was I happier ' in my life, save those seven weeks I passed • with you, dear mother! in Glasgow.'

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As there was no appearance that Minorca would be attacked, and as the American war was then raging, Moore cast a wistful eye to that scene, and wrote his wishes to his father. These were gratified in a manner he scarcely expected; for his friend the Duke of Hamilton

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became fired with a transitory passion for the army, and sent in proposals to government to raise a regiment for immediate service. Lord North, the prime minister, accepted the offer; the regiment was raised, and the Duke obtained the commission of captain; he also seized this opportunity of getting promotion for his young friend, who was immediately sent for, and advanced to the rank of lieutenant, and was also appointed paymaster. By this double appointment, which was then usual, a knowledge of regimental accounts, and of other military details, was attained.

The command of the Hamilton regiment was given to Brigadier-general MacLean, who for some years had held high rank in the Portuguese service. He was an officer of rare merit. As soon as six companies were raised and trained, they were embarked for Halifax in Nova Scotia, but the Duke of Hamilton did not accompany them. The passion of glory was superseded by that of love; his Grace married, and resigned his commission.

These young troops, among whom was