Star.
London, England, 1818-06-17 00:00:00

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DritArEft

rAs MOORE, ESQ.

A sp*dicl.hamlueelras-given on l'sjonday te'n-
slight, it' Morrison's Tavefin in Dublin, in honour
of Mr. .MOORE, by his countrymen, who, without
distinction of sect -or party admire his talents, and
respect his chdracter. About half-past seven o'clock
the company sat down to dinner, consisting of nearly
two hundred persons, among whom were the Earl
of CHARLEMONT, Lords CLONCURRY and ALLEN,
Sir CAPEL MOLYNEUX, Bart. and a number of other
Gentlemen, distinguished for rank, talent, and high
professional reputation. The tables, which occupied
tie entire of Morrison's Great Rsom, were conve,'
nkntly laid out, and covered with a profusion of
every delicacy which the season afforded. There
was not a place unoccupied, and'yet all were ac•
commodated. The Earl of CIIARLENONT took the
Chair at the head of tke room—Mr. Mooan sat on
his right hand, and Mr. Moons, sen. a venerable old
Gentleman, the father'of our Irish Bard, on his left.
After the usual loyal toasts, the Earl of' 011ARLE0
Nola rose and said—" I will now propose the health
of the diitinguished Irishman who has this day ho-
noured us with his presence—Weas, hear`,..—.l must,
on this occasion, Gentlemen, as well in justice to my
OWII feelings as to Mr. Moore, whom I am proud to
callmy friend, trouble you with a few observations
(Hear, hear).—I have long been in habits of inti-
macy with the subject of your present enthusiasm—
(Applonso).—l have watched his private and his pub-
1k life, and I have traced his progress in both with
admiration. I have petused the inspired effusions of
his muse with delight, and I have studied the pro-
ductions of his pen, I trust with some profit--(Load
cheering).—llis public character. I was about to say,
might be summed up in one word, it can be fully
expressed in three, Patriotism, Independence, and.
Consistency. his whole life may be given in evi
dente of the first ; and some particular circumstances
to which I shall not now make any further allusion,
have placed beyond doubt his possession of the other
two. The Noble Earl then briefly but eloquently
eulogized the estimable social and private qualities
of Mr. Moore, and expressed, in warns and anima-
ted terms, the gratification he derived from the friend-
ship of a man of such distinguished genius and such
real worth,-and the pleasure with which he witnessed
the just appreciation of his merits by all circles of
society. Talents had appeared in other times, and
were neglected. Hogarth had painted, and was
nearly unknown to his cotemponaries as a master;
Milton had sung, and his works lay almost un•
heeded in the libraries of the learned, until the taste
of a more enlightened period brought them into no-
tice; but it was reserved for Moore to Eat in en age
which knew how to estimate and acknowledge the
distinction his name conferred upon it ; which saw
that he deserved to wear the crown of bays, oak and
laurel, and did equal honour to it and to himself, by
placing it upon his head." His Lordship concluded
by proposing " The health of our distinguished guest,
Thomas Moore, Esq."
This toast was drank with three times three, the
company standing, and with a degree of enthusiastic
approbation exceeding any expression of public feel.
ing ever witnessed on a similar occasion.
The applauses having at length subsided, Mr.
Mooas rose, much affected, and spoke to the fol-
lowing effect : I feel this the very proudest moment
of my life, to, receive such a tribute from nn assent-
b'{ 'Ake this around me, composed of some of the
in :sliest and warmest hearts that Ireland can boast,
is, indeed, a triumph that goes deeply to my heart,
and awakens there, all that an Irishman ought to
feel, whom Irishmen, like you, have selected for such
a distinction. Were my merits a hundred times be.
yund what the partiality of the Noble Chairman has
it vested me with, this moment—this golden moment
of my life, would far overpay them all. There are
same among you, Gentlemen, whose friendship has
bean the strength and ornament, the s presidia-a el
da-e- *Gus' of my existence ; who, however they dif-
fer from my public sentiments, have never allowed
that transient ruffle on the surface, to impede the
progress of the deep tide of friendshipheneath ; men,
who feel that there is something more sacred than
party, and whose noble natures, in the worst of
times, would come out of the conflict of public opi-
nion like pebbles out of the ocean, but more smooth
and more polished from all asperities, by the very
agitation in which they had been revolving. To see
them beside me, on a day like this, is a pleasure that
lies too deep for words. To the majority of you,
Gpttlemen, I am unknown, but as your countryman,
as one who has ventured to touch the chords of Ire-
liad's harp, and whose best fame is made out of the
echoes of their sweetness—as one, whose humble ta-
lents have ever been devoted—and, with the.blessing
of 'Gots,- ever shall be' devoted, to the honour and
advancement of his country's name—whose love for,
that country, even they who condemn his manner of
sheaving it, will at least allow to be sincere, and per-
haps forgive its Intemperance for its truth ; setting
him eh ~,,,, one who lov'd not wise'y, but too well.'
To most of you, Gentlemen, I say I am but thus
known. We have hitherto been strangers to each
other, but may I not flatter myself, that from this
tight a new era of communion begins between us?
The giver; and receiver of a tribute like this are
linked by no common ties of sympathy. A moment
like this is the very hot-bed of the heart, forcing at
or.ce all its feelings into a fulness of fruit which it
'would take years of ordinary ripening to produce ;
and there is not a man of you who have pledged to
me the cup of fellowship this night, whom I would
not claim the privilege of grasping by the hand with
all the cordiality of a long and well cemented friend-
Slip. I could net say more if I were to speak for
ages: With a heart full as this glass, I thank you
for your kindness to me, and have the sincere grati-
fication of drinking all your healths."—(Loud and
*maimed applause).
Lord CuarttEmoesr said, he was about to appeal
to the gallantry of the company, in proposing to them
the health of a female who united in herself every
personal beauty, arid- every moral virtue, and who
made the home of their guest a source of happiness
to him and of envy to others. Without further pie-
face he proposed " The health of Mrs. Thomas Moore."
Mr. MOORE rose and said—" You are resolved,
Gentlemen, that there shall be no end to my grati-
ma'. On the claims of Mrs. Moore to the high ho-
s our you have conferred upon her, I shall say but
Lisle. Domestic happiaess is of that quiet nature,