The National Register.
London, England, 1813-09-26 00:00:00

GENERAL MOREAU.

Ceneral Morteau, who unfortunately died on the 2d
instant (rt. the wounds he received before Dresden, on the
27th of .Nugust, was born in the year 1761 at Mor!aix,
in Lower Brittany. Ills father was a t espectable and respect
ed ad,o ate in that town, a profession which it appears had
been followed by the family for generations. Young
Morteau was also Wended for the law, and after
he usual studies was sent to the University of Rennes
to take his degrees In the year 17g8, be was Pri:-
vot de Droll, or bead of the students in law at Rennes,
a body of young men at all times remaikable for their
tto = o:ence and public spirit, and over whom he had a well
known and marked influence. In the petty squabbles, which
at that period took place between the Court of France and
the T'arbaments, Moaeau was, in consequence, appointed
their leader, and styled the General of the Parliateent, whose
cause was at that time considered as that of public liberty.
In the winter fo'lowing, however, MOREAU acted at the
bead of his youthful band, against that very Parliament, and
the States of Brittany, who were then proceeding against the
orders of the Court, and the wishes of the people, in resisting
the convocation of the general States of the kingdom; for
even an his early career MOEEAU*S leading principle appears
to have IR en a sincere love for rational liberty. In those
occasions MOREAU evinced an equal degree of prudence
and courage, and his gentleman-like manners and graceful
person, ;aided not a little to his popularity. In January
1790, he acted as President of the Confederation of the Youth
of Brittany assembled at Pontivy ; and on the formation of
the National Guards, was named Commandant of one of the
batallioes of that province. MOREAU had then for the fist
time an opportuirty of embracing permanently a pro-
fession so congenial to his feelings ; for he has been
heard often to declare that_ he found neth'ng but disgust
in the study of the law, which he followed merely in com-
pliance with the wishes of his family, and even his father's
offer, to give him one half of his business, could not divest
him from his favourite pursuits. His labours in the new
career he had entered were incessant. Ili,: fi iends- say, ac-
cording to the biographer of his youth, " that he devourtd
in four months more military works, treatises, and memoirs,
than had been composed in four centuries, and went, in three
months, through more military manceuvres and evolutions,
than many officers in thirty yea's.
Ills battalion was first reviewed in May 1790, and the In-
specting-General, Count de THIARS Dr. BISSY, notwithstand-
ing the jealousy which the troops of time line then entertained
of the National Guard, could not help saying " that few Co-
lonels of the line with their old corps could have afforded
him the gratification of seeing so much regularity, disci-
pline, and precision in the evolutions of that battalion of
National G earls " " The Count de TIIIA as has done me
nitwit honour," said MOREAU, returning from the review,
" but I hope lid' will live long enough to see me command
not only National Guards, but the miny of the line."
MOREAU, however, .did not take the steps which were
likely to ensure his rapid promotion ; he shewed too openly
his hatred of the measures and principles of the anarchists;
Vol. Ff. No. CCC.