The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-19
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
DEATH OF TON MOORE"

the bosom friend of Byron, and the last Of
the galaxy of wits and bards that shone 80
brilliantly in the early part of the present
century. The event, which had been looked
for for long time, occurred on Thursday,
Feb 10Th, at the poets residence, Sloperton
Cottage.
Thomas Moore was the son of Garrett
Moore, tradesman of Dublin, where he was
born May 2Sth, 1880. His talents were early
displayed, and his father was thus induced to
give him better education than he had de-
signed. AT fourteen, he entered Trinity Col
lege, Dublin, and, during his collegiate career,
distinguished himself not less by his classical
attachments than by his eloquence, displayed
on every occasion when Irish liberty, his fa-
vorte subject, was before him. In the wear
1900. before be had finished his Goth year, he
published his translation Of the Odes of Ana
creon; performance which first gained for
him the appellation of "Anacreon Moore.''-
In 1861, under the name of "Thomas Litte,''
h e published collection of amatory poems,
which, while they evince many marks of the
genius subsequently developed in the Melo-
dies. are marred by frequent indelicacies,
which Danish them from the shelves Of many
readers. During the composition and publ
cation Of these volumes, Moore was engaged
in the study of the law, and was finally called
to the bar, but never practised.
In 1903 Moore sailed for Bermuda, under an
Admiralty appointment. From thence he pro-
ceeded to the United States, and travelled
through some portions OF the country for seve-
raj months. But he had British prejudices,
and in his volume Of "Epistes, Odea and other
Poems" "publishedin 1906, he ndulged in some
as hearty abuse..and ridicule of America and
her people as Miss Martineau, Capt. Hall and
Dickens have treated gus to in later times,-
There are, however, some memorials of this
American tour that are still cherished among
the sweetest of Moore's lyrics-the ballad Of
.'The Lake of the Dismal Swamp" "The Ca
madam Boat song,'' "Lines written on Leav-
ing Philadelphia and some others.
Lord Jeffrey, !then Mr.. jeffrey editor of the
Edinburgh Review, handled the immoralties
scattered through this volume pretty roughly.
A challenge and meeting followed. with the
well deuouement of the paper bullets, substi-
tuted by the seconds for those of lead-a sub
ject of countless epgirams at the time.
Several satirical poems in heroic measure
were published by Moore between 1906 and
1912, but they made little impression. Subse
quently the extravaganzas of The Two-penny
Post Bag and the Fudge Family in Paris, with
their hits at the people and follies of the times,
were very successful. In 1913 the full volume
of his songs to Sir John Stevenson's selection
of Irish melodies, was published. Several
other volumes of songs have succeeded these,
forming unquestonably the finest collection Of
lyric poetry in the English or any other Ian
guage. Lalla Rookh, his most elaborate poem,
was published in 1917, and established his
name among the first of living English poets.
The Loves Of the Angels and Memoirs of Capt.
Rock, were published in 1898; the Life of
Sheridan, his best effort in serious prose, in
1925. In 1897, The Epicurean, romal.ic
prose tale, full Of the oriental imagery of Lalla
Rookh, was published. His Life of Byron ap
peared about this time, but, beyond the volu-
minous collection of Byron's letters and jour-
mails, it contains little of special interest. Seve
raj other works, that il is not necessary to men
tion, appeared at various intervals. Moore's
last poetcal effort of any pretenslon, was Alci-
phron, published in 1889, when he was nearly
60 years of age. 1t corresponds in its subject
to the Epicurean, and bears many traces of the
earlier talent of the poet
Moores intimacy with Byron gives an added
interest to his life. The noble bard had, in his
"English Bards and Scotch Reviewers made
a point of the paper duel with Jeffrey. Moore
wrote demanding an explanation, but Byron
having left the country, did not receive the
letter. Other letters were written, and man
ly and honorable correspondence ensued, end
ing in fraternal intimacy which lasted until
Byron's death. The warmth of this friendship
induced Byron to make Moore his literary exc
cutor leaving to him, for his own benefit, his
private memoirs. Moore sold them to Murray
for 1000 guineas. Subsequently, on consul
tation with some Of Byron's friends, 1t was
decided not to publish the Memoirs, and they
were torn and burnt; Moore Immediately pay
ing to Mr.. Murray the 1000 guineas,, with in
terest, on the bond given for the sale of them.
A warm controversy arose in England on this
1Burning;" which need not now be revived
The world was excessively disappointed at
losing the private memoirs of the author of
Childe Carold and Don Juan, and it was hard
10 appreciate the motives OF their destroyers.
Moore would have prDfted by their preserva-
lion, so that il must have been an honest regard
for The memory of his friend that induced him
10 consent TO the destruction of work which,
probably, would have only revived old domes-
tic difficulties without eleyating the author in
the estimation of the world.
Moore was married, many years ago, TO Miss
Dyke, lady of great accomplishments and
lovely character,who bore him several children.
She is still living, and in March, 1851, received
from the royal bounty pension of one hun
dred pounds year, "in consideration Of the
literary merits Of her husband and his in6rm
state Of health" The poets health has indeed
been failing for long time, and within year
or two Ne sank into a state of mental inlbecility
ptiable to behold and hard to realize in the
author of the sprighily poems with which we
are SO fanilar.-Phiia. Bulletin.
We add the following from the New York
Times:
In 1898, the poet was introduced by Sheri-
dan into the circle of wits who al that time
hoyered about the Prince of Wales. at Carlton
House, and thanks TO his social qualities and
dubious morality, was long fayorite in the
drawing and dining room OF that royal popin-
jay. In 1903 Moore accepted cierkshp in
the Bermuda Islands, and took advantage OF
the occasion to visit the United Slater
Maore suffered with the rest of the Princes
friends, in being flung rudely aside as soon as
that parsonage became Regent. The estrange-
ment in the instance of Moore, may have been
owing TO two or three satirieal poems, entitled,
respectively, corruption, .'Intoleranee," |" and
the .Sceptic," which appeared in 1903 and
1909. From that time il. 10 certain thai Moore
devoted himself to lampooning the Regent
merciessiy; warfare that produced thai eapi-
,al hii, "The Twopenny Post Bag" in 1912,
and the .Fudge Family in Paris," six years
after.
AT what degree on the scale Of reputation