Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-08-26
CLOSING SCENE OF SIR THOMAS
MOORE'S LIFE.

CLOolNS coCEfSE VI DIN 1IloNlho
MOORE'S LIFE.
On his return from his arraignment at West
minister, Margaret Roper, his first born child,
waited on the Tower wharf, where he landed,
to see her father, as she feared, for the lastl
time; and, after he had stretched out his arms
in token of blessing, whilst she knelt at someI
distance to implore and receive it, :" she, has
tening towards him, without consideration orl
care Of herself. pressing in among the throng,
and the arms of the guard, that with halberts1
and bills went round him, took him about the
neck and kissed him. He, we'll liking herl
most natural and dear daughterly affection,
gave her again his fatherly blessing. Alter
she was departed, she, like one that had for
gotten herself, being all entirely ravished with
the love of her dear father, having respectI
neither to herself, nor to the multitude, turned
back, ran to him as before, took him about the
neck. and divers times, kissed him most low
ingly, the beholding of which, made many
who were present, for sorrow thereof, to weep
and to mourn" In his answer to her on the
! last day of his life, he expressed himself thus
touchingly, in characters traced with coal.
! the only means of writing which We're left
within his reach-:' Dear Megg, never liked
your manner better towards ne as when you
kissed me last; for like when daughterly love
and dear charity have no leisure to look to
WORLDLY courtesy.o On the morning of his
execution, he entreated that his darling daugh-
ter might be allowed to attend his fune-
lral. He was noted among his friends for the
strength Of his natural affection, and for the
warmth of all the household and family kind
lnesses which bless home. But he priced
j Margaret above his other progeny, which she
/ Inherited by resemblance to himself in bsauty
: lof form, in power of mind, in variety ST ac-
accomplishments. and above all, in a pure and
tender nature. His innocent piayfulness did
$ not forsake him in his last moments Hin
: harmless pleasantly, in which he habitually in,
: dulged, now showed his perfectly natural char
.. acter, together with quiet and cheerfulness o.
, mind, which formed the graceful close Of 3
! virtuous life. The only petition he made OF
i the day Of execution, was that his belovec
j Margaret might be allowed to he present
J, his BURIAL His friend, sir Thomas Pope, who
was sent to announce to Moore his doom
h answered, ''the king is already content tina
4 your wife, children, and other friends may b,
) present thereat." Pope, on taking his leave
e could not refrain from weeping, Moore com
IL forted hint trust that we shall once !,
d heaven see each other full merriIy, where W,
1t are sure to live and love together in Joyful
l. bliss"
When going to the scafold, which was S,
k weak that it seemed ready to fall, he said Il
a the lieutenant, 81 pray you MIR. Lieutenant
y see me safe up, and as to coming down, let M
! shift for myself" Observing some signs @
II shame i'll the executioner, he said, "Piuck III
IS thy spirits, man; my neck is very short; tax
If heed, therefore, of a stroke awry, by whicl
4 you will lose your credit" On kneeln
:. to receive the fatal stroke, he said to tn
IS executioner, "My beard has not offendc
r, the king, let me put it aside" That the Who'll
e. lof his department in his dying moments, thu
er full Of tenderness and pleasantly, Of natur;
to- affection. of benevolent religion, came withor
at effort from his heart, is apparent from til
to perfect simplicity with which he conducted HI
ng own defence, i'll every part of which he avoide
d. all approaches to theatrical menace or oster
nd tatious defiance, and instead Of provoking h
rt judges to violence, seemed, by his exampl
III willing to teach theA the dccorum and milk
ID ness OF the Judgment seat. He used all ii
as means of defence which law or fact affordc,
G. as calmly as if he expected justice. Through
n out his suiferings, ne betrayed no need of Il
Of base aitlssfrom pride and passion which oftc
bcstow counterfeit fortitude on public dealt
Il The love of Margaret Roper continued to di
ci play itsefin those outward unavaling tokens
IL. tenderness to his remains, by which affectio
a seems to petpetuate ITSELF Intellectual, indee,
81 for the object, but very effectualy for softer
ofIing the heart and exaltiug the soul. She pr,
o. cured his head to be taken down from Londc
AMI Bridge, where more odious passions had stru,
'ss ged in pursuit of a species Of Internal immo
es rality by placing it, She kept it during h,
ct life as sacred relic, and was buried with TIL
b. object of fondness in her arms, nine wears aft
ALL she was separated from her father Erasnv
illIcalled her the ornament of her Britain, an