[Illustration: PORTRAIT OF THOMAS MOORE, ESQ.]


MEMOIR OF THOMAS MOORE, ESQ.


Thomas Moore, Esq. the only son of Mr. Garret Moore, formerly a merchant
in Dublin, was born May 28, 1780. He received the rudiments of an
excellent education from Mr. Samuel Whyte, of Dublin, a man of taste and
talent, known and respected as the early tutor of Sheridan; after which,
at the age of fourteen, Mr. Moore was entered a student of Trinity
College, Dublin. While at the University, he was greatly distinguished by
his enthusiastic attachment to the liberty and independence of his
country, which he more than once publicly asserted with uncommon energy
and eloquence. His classical studies being completed, in 1799, he entered
himself of the Temple, with a view to make the law his profession, and
was called to the bar. In these moments, when he was not occupied with
the dry technicalities and quibbles of legal writers, he amused himself
with translating the Odes of Anacreon, which he published with copious
notes, in 1800. Such was Mr. Moore's youthful appearance at this time,
that being at a large dinner party, and getting up to escort the ladies
to the drawing-room, a French gentleman observed, "_Ah, le petit bon
homme, qu'il s'en va_." Mr. Moore's subsequent brilliant conversation,
however, soon proved him to be, though little of stature, yet, like Pope,
"in wit, a man."

Assuming the appropriate name of _Little_, our author published in 1801,
a volume of poems, chiefly amatory, which, though they established his
_poetical_ reputation, were severely censured for their warmth and