a theme of public censure. An uninformed spectator, unable to read the inscriptions, would naturally suppose that many of these emblematical tombs were to commemorate the lives of some noblemen whose riches were far superior to their actions; and that the statuary, who was munificently paid for his labours, was obliged to redeem the barrenness of an uninteresting subject by the license of imagination. But when the spectator shall be informed that this tomb, for instance, stands to illustrate the memory of a man, wlíose death, occurring under the most kindling circumstances of bravery, furnishes a scene sublime as the poet, or the painter may desire; how will he not regret that the statuary should have abandoned the delineation of such glowing facts, for the representation of the poor conception before him? The inscription runs as follows: Sacred to the Memory of Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, K.B. In America, in Corsica, in the West Indies, General Sir John Moore was the first-born of five sons and a daughter, who composed the family of Dr. John Moore, a man better known to the world as an author than a physician. He spent his youth in Glasgow, and was educated by the care of his father, whom he accompanied, at the early age of fifteen, in a tour through Europe, when the young Duke of Hamilton became his private pupil. This advantage gave a polish to his manners, and a distinction to his views, which proved eminently serviceable to him during the rapid rise by which his fortunes were subsequently marked. Destined for the army from his earliest years, he passed through the different grades of subaltern rank with great success, obtained his first colonelcy in the 52d foot, and in 1798 was gazetted a Major-general. About this time he took his seat in the House of Commons as member for the Scots borough of Lanerk. Few wars presented brighter scenes for military distinction. than those which agitated Europe from its deepest centre to every extremity of the world, in consequence of the many vicissitudes which attended the rise and subversion of the French revolution. As soon as England was drawn into active opposition to its principles and practices, Sir John Moore became distinguished for his zeal and intrepidity in the Mediterranean. When our troops were forced to evacuate Toulon, the occupation of some fort immediately became as necessary for our naval as our military interests, and an offer of annexing Corsica to the British crown was most opportunely made at the very moment when such an event became most desirable. The better to ascertain the probabilities of success in such an undertaking, Lord Hood, who then commanded the British forces in those quarters, selected Sir John Moore to ascertain the extent of power which General Paoli possessed over his countrymen, and report the nature of the resources which might be depended upon in the event of an attack. The intelligence thus obtained, determined the Admiral to anticipate the designs of the French, who had already put forth to sea for the purpose of subjugating the island; and a landing of British troops was happily effected in 1795. While the siege of Martello engaged the exertions of one body of troops, Moore was detached with two regiments and a few field-pieces to seize on Fornelli. After laboriously dragging his cannon over a mountainous country, it was found, impossible to effect this object by any such a summary movement as was anticipated; he was, therefore, obliged to wait the arrival of the heavy ordnance: but they no sooner came up, than he opened a fire on the town, while he assailed the troops posted before it, and carried the place with the most gallant despatch. The French immediately evacuated Mollinchesco, and Calvi remained the only place in their possession throughout the island. To wrest this hold from their hands became an object of intense consequence to the British, and to Moore was the seizure of it entrusted. The resistance was great, and the assault, owing to the nature of its position, clogged with rude impediments; but once begun, it was prosecuted with vigour, and crowned with suc cess after a spirited contest and creditable loss. Moore, himself, received a severe wound on the head from the bursting of a bomb, but, though flowing with blood, bravely led the way into the place, at the head of his grenadiers. As he entered the town he was received by the commanding officer, General Stewart, who had witnessed the affair from an adjoining eminence, and proved the ardent sincerity of his approbation, by throwing himself into the victor's arms, and gratefully embracing him amidst the acclamations of the assembled troops. When Sir Ralph Abercrombie was appointed to the command of an expedition against the West Indies, in 1793, he selected Moore as an able assistant in the undertaking. As soon as the troops reached the latitude of their destination, Demerara, Issequibo, and Berbice, fell into our hands without any memorable. difficulty. At the reduction of St. Lucie, Moore served with the local rank of Brigadier-general. Landing, without much opposition, he advanced upon the village of Choe Bay, while the enemy retired to Morne Chabot, one of the strongest posts in the island. This was an eminence so important, that it became necessary to occupy it before any farther undertakings could be safely attempted. To effect this advantage, General Moore was ordered to advance at the head of 203 companies, by a circuitous pass, while General Hope marched forward with 550 companies, in a nearer and a more direct line. It was an attack by midnight, and the guides, either through ignorance or design, led Moore straight in front of a strong picquet, by which his progress was retarded, and the assault anticipated. In this distress, his only resource was to push on bravely without waiting for the co-operation of General Hope: he did so, overcame, the disadvantages, and carried the post. On the following day he seized upon Morne Fortune; but mischances again circumvented his progress; for, in consequence of a want of heavy artillery, the batteries were not taken until two days had elapsed. These successes led to the surrender of the Island, on the 25th of May, 1795, and Moore, returning to England, was raised to the rank of Major-general. The little of interest to be gathered from our unsuccessful expedition to Holland, when the Duke of York was so unfavourably permitted to retire from the Continent, is more properly alluded to in the life of Abercrombie. It is, therefore, enough to observe in this place, that Moore was honourably wounded during that period, and pass on to his more enviable services in the Egyptian campaign of 1801. Arrived in Aboukir Bay, so glorious from the preceding victory of the Nile, a rocket was discharged at three o'clock in the morning of the 9th of March, and the first division of the army, amounting to six thousand men, took their seats in the boats, and made straight for that part of the beach where the French appeared most formidable. The position of the latter was highly favourable: from a sandy hill, receding towards the centre like an amphitheatre, they poured a terrible discharge of shot, shell, and grape, which furrowed up the boiling waves around the advancing flotilla with the fury of a tempest. Nothing daunted by this danger, Moore leaped ashore at the head of the 23d and 40th infantry, and charged up the hill with fixed bayonet. This gallant movement succeeded as it deserved; the other troops effected a safer landing; the enemy retreated on Alexandria, and the invaders encamped, with their right on the sea, and their left on Lake Mandin. At the battle of Aboukir, which is described in the life of Abercrombie, Moore was again wounded, while leading on the reserve with his usual intrepidity. Notwithstanding this accident, he took an active share in the siege of Cairo, and commanded the escort which led the surrendered enemy to a place of embarkation. The rapid series of victories which soon forced the French to abandon all designs upon Egypt, left him little that is memorable to perform; he returned to England, was constantly employed on the staff on account of his eminent ability as a disciplinarian; and in 1804, was named to the honours of a Knight of the Bath. In 1807, he superseded General Fox, as Commanderin-Chief of the Island of Sicily; and in 1808 passed over into Sweden with a body of 10,000 men, who were sent to re-inforce the King of that country. But the Swedish Monarch, not only refused to acknowledge his instructions, but vented his indignation of the terms in which they were couched, with a violence, which made the security of Moore's person highly questionable. He therefore retreated from Stockholm with secret despatch, and safely landed his troops in England. It now only remains for us to speak of the last military com mand for which Sir John Moore was spared to his country, and say a few words of the melancholy victory of Corunna. The invasion of Spain by Bonaparte had proceeded with all the rapid dexterity for which that great general was celebrated; Madrid was in his hands, and the British troops already on the Continent, had retreated before Marshal Soult, when Moore arrived in Gallicia, with a fine body of reinforcements. No sooner had he effected a junction with his countrymen, than Bonaparte, flushed with recent victory, pressed forward at the head of superior numbers, and compelled the British to take shelter within the walls of Corunna. But even that place they were soon incompetent to hold, and then their sole refuge was in their ships and the sea. Accordingly every precaution was taken for an embarkation that experience could supply, or promptitude suggest, when, on the morning of the 16th of January, symptoms of a rapid and determined attack became visible along the lines of the enemy. To resist this or perish was the only alternative; and the choice was not long left unhonoured. An obstinate contest ensued, which lasted from noon until evening, during which period the movements of the two armies were various and obstinate, and all signalized by desperate assault, but superior defence. The two British Generals highest in command were borne helpless from the field; our loss in wounded and killed, was, moreover, considerable, but the enemy was beaten back, and ultimately the victors embarked in safety. The French did ample justice to the skill and bravery of Sir John Moore. Intercepted in his progress by a strong piece of water, he set the example to his men, as was usual with him, plunged into the ford, which was breast-high, and continued forward in the field until a cannon ball struck him mortally, and made it impossible for him to remain in action. Being carried in a blanket within the town, his enquiries after the fate of the day, and the personal safety of his aid-de-camps, were constant. When General Hope, on whom the command devolved after Sir David Baird lost his arm, arrived by the side of his bed, he expressed himself earnestly, but in broken sentences, 'Hope, Hope, I have much to say, but cannot get it out; I feel so strong, I fear I shall be long dying: I am in great pain. I hope the people of England will be satisfied-I hope my country will do me justice. You will see my friends as |