"UNE MORT GLORIEUSE"

277

être parfaitement connus, mais je saisirai avec empressement l'occasion que vous me procurez pour rendre à la mémoire de Sir John Moore le témoinage que ses dispositions furent toujours les plus convenables aux circonstances, et qu'en profittant habillement des avantages que les localités pouvaient lui offrir pour seconder sa valeur, il m'opposa partout la résistance la plus énergique et la mieux calculée; c'est ainsi qu'il trouva une mort glorieuse devant la Corogne au milieu d'un combat qui doit honorer son souvenir."

I

APPENDIX I

T is significant of the bitter controversy over Moore's reputation after his death that in the correspondence of "Monk" Lewis we find a letter to his mother in which he writes:

Tierney1 abused ministers in the House of Commons about my Monody; so I am printing it, and will send you a copy soon. It is dedicated to the Princess of Wales, who accepted it very graciously."

This "Monody was on the death of Sir John Moore, and was recited by the actress, Mrs. Powell, at Drury Lane Theatre, but was prohibited by the Lord Chamberlain after three nights.

The "Monody" was mere ephemera, and is not worth quoting; its existence is only interesting because of the attention it attracted in the House of Commons, and Tierney's attack on the Ministers. "Monk" Lewis goes on to describe that—

"Mr. Tierney observed, that he would not have believed that there had been such a want of cooperation among ministers, but such was the fact, and there could be no doubt that the disasters of

1 George Tierney, 1761-1830. Treasurer of the Navy, 1802. President of the Board of Control, 1806.

TIERNEY'S ATTACK ON MINISTERS

279 the campaign were in a considerable degree to be ascribed to Mr. Frere's interference.

"Mr. Tierney then adverted to the distressing situation in which Sir John Moore had been placed, owing to the negligence of ministers, and dwelt upon the admirable manner in which he had conducted himself. He could not, however, help saying, that there appeared among ministers something like a disposition to keep the merits of Sir John Moore from the public view. He would ask whether an order had not been sent to the Drury Lane Company by the Lord Chamberlain not to continue the recitation of a Monody to the memory of Sir John Moore, composed by a member of that House? The gentlemen at Lloyd's, too, proposed at one time to expend something to honour the memory of Sir John Moore, but they had afterwards discovered that they were not sufficiently rich for it. This was very extraordinary. Though they were too poor to honour the memory of Sir John Moore, they were rich enough to honour the memory of Sir H. Popham (a loud laugh). He concluded by observing, that from the evidence now before the House, it was manifest that the noble Lord opposite (Lord Castlereagh) was not to be trusted with a corporal's guard. Unless Parliament consented to pass a vote of censure upon the conduct of the campaign, this House would be responsible for whatever mismanagement might in future take place by the noble lord's means."

APPENDIX II

Letter from Sir Thomas Lawrence to General Sir Robert Brownrigg.

"D

EAR SIR,

"The glorious death of your lamented Friend, on which you and those others who loved him are both to be congratulated and condoled, must excite such additional, such general interest for his character as to make some knowledge of his person desirable to all who feel with respect for the Heroes of their Country. I ask the favor of you then to lend me the Portrait I painted for you, that an Engraving from it may be immediately made, and under my own Inspection.

"You will have applications for it, doubtless, from other quarters, and the Family will be applied to for this Copy, but I know the light in which these things are viewed by the mere Publishers of Prints, with whom to profit by the moment is the sole motive.

"To me, unversed in these matters, it may or may not be profitable, but at least I will take care that a just and faithful resemblance of this estimable man be given to the world, a Memorial of him that shall not disappoint the affection of his Friends.

"I remain, with the highest respect, dear General,

"Your Obliged and Faithful Servant,
"THOS. LAWRENCE."

INDEX