JET. 31.] . PENINSULAR WAR. 435 



the country, and were the most fitting men to be in- 

 trusted with the conduct of its affairs. 



Connected with these disastrous times there was 

 no subject which more deeply interested and affected 

 both Lord Grey and myself than the conduct of the 

 Government in regard to Sir John Moore. His judg- 

 ment and skill were only surpassed by his unconquer- 

 able valour ; nothing was more remarkable than the 

 matchless self-denial which on all occasions rendered 

 his own interests subservient to his country's good, 

 and concentrated all his faculties in her service, mak- 

 ing him a bright example to the most famous warriors 

 of after times, when the wretched intrigues that sought 

 to keep him in the background, or to crush him, had 

 passed away but had not been forgotten, when in 

 future times it would be remembered that the hero 

 of Corunna had fought no vain battles, had lost no 

 trophies, no captives, had abandoned no hospitals to 

 the enemy, had yielded no post of danger to feeble 

 allies. Yet this was the man who, endowed with all 

 the qualities that constitute the most fitting leader of 

 armies, having successfully held the chief command 

 in Sicily and in Sweden, was placed under officers one 

 of whom had never served in the field as a general. 



TO EARL GREY. 



" TEMPLE, June 19, 1809. 



" MY DEAR LORD GREY, I write rather to ask how 

 you and Lady Grey are than from having much to 

 communicate. Is it true that you are going to Scot- 



