Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-30
From the Home Journal of Saturday, Aug. 8.
Washington Irving in Conversation with n.
II. willis, about Tom Moore.


T.. willis, about Tom Moore.
We CHANGED to be present the other day,
when Washington Irving took up the defense
of the memory of Tom Moore. So noteworthy
an outpouring as it was, OF a generous and
genial nature, proper and eloquent in defense
of the friend with whom he had exchanged cor
dialties and over whose grave he would not,
therefore, see an ill weed grow unplucked-we
wished, at the time, that the summer wind
would play reporter and tell the world of it.
The subject was started by Irvings being rallied
on having been such Brummel, whilein Lon
don, as to have served Moore for q model in
dress-as appeared by passage in one OF his
letters, giving directions to his publisher to
look up Irving's tailor to make him a coat.
"Ah," said Godfrey, with one of his genial
ghtnings up Of the face still handsome, that
was owing to the mere chance of Moore's hav
ing been with me, one morning, when l went
into Nugee's. And / have often thought of it
since, by the way, as a curious instance OF the
bringing together Of opposite classes in Eng
land. We were strolling down st. James
street, and Moore just stepped in with me while
| ordered coat. Seeing that Nugee did not
know him, stepped between the two and said,
"Really, gentlemen, two such very distinguished
men ought to know each otherl Mr.. Nugee,
this is Mr.. Thomas Moore-Mr. Moore, Mr.
Nugee! Upon which Nugee, who was worth
one hundred and fifty thousand pounds at
least, came forward, bowling almost to the
ground in his excessive humility, and could not
find words enough to express his sense of the
honor of such an introduction.* He was de-
lighted with it, too, and thanked ME warmly for
it afterwards. "Good creature" he said to
Moore, "good creature!'- using the phrase
very popular in London at that time, to ex-
press great admiration. Yes" continued
Irving, mutually "there was that tailor, worth
a magnificent fortune, and he would come to
your lodgings, with the coat he had made, to
try it on! / remember his fattering way of
looking at me, and expressing his interest
when called upon him on my return from the
continent, to order something. Not looking
quite so well, my dear sir, not quite so well!
Take care Of yourself, dear, Mr.. Irving pray,
take care of YOURSELF We can't spare you yet!
And his look was full of the tenderest sympa-
thy.
'But they do Moore the greatest injustice in
DENYING him sincere affection for his wife, He
really loved her and was proud of her. l knoC
it. continued Irving, very emphaticaly when
we were in Paris together, used to 90 out and
breakfast with him, and most delightful those
Moore when his friends, Lord aud Lady Hol
land, had just arrived and Lady Holland told
Tom that they were coming the next day to
breakfast, and she wished particularly to see
little Bessy 'They shall have the breakfast,
said his wife when he told her, they 'front.' SEE
title Bessyr She said very archly, but with
the positiveness of an habitual independence
for she would not be patronized by great folks!
Moore admired this, though he used to say il
was quite beyond what he was capable of him
self But she did yield to him occasinally and
90 out with him to parties-once, particularly
exciting her husbands greatest admiration by
the way her quiet and self possessed manner
completely baffled the condescension Of Lady
Lansdowne. Her ladysbip had intended to b.
excessively cordial; but the simple way in
which little Bessy took it as a matter o
course, turned the balance Of dignity altogether
Moore spoke oft delightfully."- afterwards. Oh
they have cruelty misrepresented that man
| He was an honorable, high.minded fellow, anC
in some trying money matters particularly, h
showed the greatest disnterestedness and liber
atty. He has been shamefIlly wronged since
| his DEATH"
Thus vindicatorily Of his friends spoke tn,
Just and kind Godfrey Crayon day or tive
since; and we are glad to record it while th,
dark wing Of the poets renown is uppermost
For, says Milton,
" Fame has two wings. one black, the other white
She waves them both in her unequal flight"
Striving thus provided a customer for th
tailor In Moore's Diary occurs the followin
passage "Nugee called with the first stitch {
my coat to try it on; said he would dress m
better than ever / was dressed in my life
There's not much of you, sir, he said, IAN
therefore my object is to make the most ] ca
of you Quite jewel Of a man, this Nugee
have gone TO him in consequence Of my formc
tailor being bankrupt"