By the Rev. W. H., Hitchcock. 253 
on the cartoons in the chapel windows; but Moore laughingly 
assured him afterwards that he was not so touchy about S. Peter as 
he supposed. Politically no doubt he would in these days have been 
a strong Gladstonian. He has been described as “ Ireland’s Patriot 
and Poet,” and was determined “to maintain Irish liberties and 
Trish interests at all risks, and against all Ministers.” But though 
fully accepting the opinion of the Whigs, he cordially hated the 
Reform Bill of 732. Mr. Hughes, in the rashness of boyhood, 
ventured to say at the breakfast table, “O’Connell’s power and 
perseverance will win Repeal by and by.” “Never,” said Moore 
emphatically, ‘‘ England will never bear that severance ! ” 
And now a word as to his musical talent, and especially his 
“Melodies.” Musically he was self-taught—like many others he 
threw away the opportunity of a musical education. We elders 
well know how almost impossible it was at the public schools of a 
past generation to cultivate music. So with Moore—he refused to 
learn scientifically ; but eventually, his natural taste for music, 
combined with a perfect ear, enabled him to play his own accom- 
paniments, and occasionally to compose. It is to be regretted that 
he has not left us more of his original musical compositions ; for 
where words and music well out from one and the same source the 
stream is doubly refreshing. It may be, however, an open question 
which is the higher order of composition—whether to adapt music 
to words, as in the case of our great masters of oratorio, Cathedral 
services, anthems, and the like; or to compose words for written 
music. In the case of his melodies Moore adopted the latter 
alternative. Having selected a well-known Irish air, he thofoughly 
mastered it at the piano, and persistently carried its refrain with 
him, until he became so thoroughly imbued and saturated with its 
character, that his genius supplied the corresponding sentiment in 
poetry ; and the touching lament or patriot song was no sooner born 
than it found itself wedded to an Irish melody. 
But the great charm of his musie was derived from his perfect 
management of a sweet and soft tenor voice. “ His voice [we are 
told] ,a little hoarse at times in speaking, softens into a breath like that 
ofa flute while singing.” By a lady familiar with its tones it is 
