588 
moral and consoling pleasure to see, that 
th circumstances so unfavourable, such 
men can exist. Their patron, good as 
his motives are, it is our duty to correct; 
POETRY, 
his impertinent and intemperate exag- 
gerations of praise, must injure those 
whom he designs to serve. 
Art. XLIV. Poems, lyrical and miscellaneous. By the late Rev. Henry Moore, of 
Liskeard. Ato. pp. 153. ; 
IT is with mingled pain and pleasure, 
that we prepare to give our testimony to 
the talents and merit of an author, who 
was destined, by a singular and melan- 
choly fate, to break forth upon the pub- 
lic ear, in all the pomp and harmony of 
song, just as the silent lapse of time had 
hurried him, in the evening of age, but 
the dawn of reputation, beyond “that 
bourne whence never traveller returns.” 
Dr. Aikin, as editor, has prefixed the 
« few biographical memoirs” that could 
be obtained, or expected, of a man 
«“ whose lot it was, with’ genius, learn- 
ing, and morals, to pass a life of almost 
total obscurity.” 
Mr. Moore, we are informed, was the 
son of a dissenting minister at Plymouth, 
where he was born in 1732, He was 
destined for his father’s profession; and 
after the usual course of school and aca- 
demical education, 
«© Tn 1755 or 1756, was clected minister 
to a dissenting congregation at Dulverton in 
Somersetshire. | In 1757, he removed to a 
similar situation at Modbury in Devonshire ; 
where he continued till his final removal to 
Liskeard in Cornwallwhich took place about 
the year 1787. In these long persods of life 
he appears to have been almost totally lost 
from the notice of the world; recollected, 
perhaps, by some of his fellow-students as a 
youth of promise; known by a few brother 
ministers as a man of learning and critical ta- 
tents; but probably scarcely recognized by 
two or three individuals for the splendid and 
cultivated genius, capable of shining in the 
highest ranks of literature, had fortune pro- 
duced him upon a theatre suited to his pow- 
ers. How he appeared in the latter portion 
of his narrow course, to an intimate friend 
who was able properly to estimate him, will 
Best be shown in that friend’s own words. 
‘He was probably led to adopt his retired 
and obscure mode of life, partly from the 
weakness of his constitution, the original in- 
firmity of which was sintrepinesr increased 
by his studious aifd sedentary habits; partly 
from the singular modesty and diffidence of 
his disposition. . Notwithstanding, however, 
he thus, voluntarily withdrew from general 
society, when in company with any one with 
whom he felt himself at ease, his conversa- 
tion was most agreeable and entertaining, en- 
liyened with sprightly sallies and seasonable 
ancedotes. Although there was so little in 
x 
his situation that seemed calculated to pro- 
duce contentment and thankfulness, and al- 
though he had long suffered under painful 
and complicated bodily complaints, yet he 
was perfectly free from any disposition to re- 
pine. I never heard him utter a querulous 
expression. The composure and resignation 
of his mind’ scemed always undisturbed.— 
His manners were singularly mild and gentle. 
He appeared utterly unconscious of posses- 
sing any extraordinary powers: indeed, his 
behaviour indicated a greater degree of humi- 
lity and distrust than I almost ever witnessed.’ 
I shall add, that both the trials he under- 
went, and the sources of his consolation, are 
stropgly marked in his poems; in perusing 
which, we cannot but feel, that though he 
suffered much, he was nolly supported. 
«During the last summer,” continues Dr. 
Aikin, ‘* Mr. Moore put into the hands of 
the friend above referred to, a volume of MS, 
poems, which, with singular modesty, he re- 
quested him to shew to some person sufiici- 
ently conyersant with productions of ‘the 
kind, to judge of their fitness for the public 
eye. I was applied to on the oceasion; and 
T trust the readers of these pieces will be con- 
vineed, that I could not hesitate in giving a 
decided opinion in their favour. In reality, 
Iscarcely ever experienced a greater and more 
agreeable surprise, than ‘on the discovery of 
so rich a mine of poetry, where I had not the 
least intimation of its existence. That the 
author should have passed seventy years of 
life almost totally unknown, was a circum- 
stance that excited the interest of all to whom 
the poems were communicated; and we 
were impatient that, however late, he should 
enjoy those rewards of merit which had so 
long been withheld.- In the mean time he 
was attacked with a severe stroke of the pal- 
sy, which, while it left his intellects free, in- 
capacitated him for every exertion. There was 
now no time to be lost. My offer of taking 
upon myself the whole care of the editorship 
was thankfully accepted ; and a subscription 
was set on foot, which met with the warm 
support of many, who were desirous that 
all possible comfort should be supplied to 
cheer the helpless decline of such a man. 
But the progress of debility anticipated these 
well intended efforts:. he sunk tranquilly 
under his: disease, on November 2, 1802, 
having, however, lived to enjoy some satisfac- 
tion from the knowledge, that there were 
persons whom he had never seen, who could 
regard him witlr ‘cordial esteem and _friend-. 
ship. Ashe lived in celibacy, and had no 
dependent relatives, no other gbject remuined 
