the presence of his wife, his daughter, and his eldest son.

By his will his property was bequeathed, ultimately, to his six children, in divisions proportioned to their circumstances. The widow's jointure being necessarily moderate, the General pressed his mother's acceptance of an additional annuity from himself; but he could only prevail upon her to receive one half of what he urged. These were private concerns, which are noticed briefly, Moore's life being involved in public affairs.

The British nation, with the inconstancy inherent in the people, had first been clamorous for war, and latterly for peace; and that of Amiens had been concluded, with little expectation of its permanency; for the empire of France had been usurped by Napoleon,-whose character was then only indicated, but in a few years became fully developed. However extended that empire had already been, he was infatuated with the frenzy of acquiring boundless dominion; and no neighbouring state, indeed none

in the world within his reach, were unmolested, or uninsulted by his arrogant demands.

Mr. Addington*, our Prime Minister, had penetrated into his designs, yet, from motives of economy, reduced both the army and navy. But Napoleon, uncontrolled by a House of Commons, augmented his army; and organized his law of conscription to convert the soil of France into a hot-bed of soldiers.

During the precarious cessation of hostilities our military affairs were not neglected by the Duke of York. He sent Moore to command at Brighthelmstone, where the Prince of Wales's regiment of cavalry was stationed; and his Royal Highness signed the reports to him, like other colonels. On one occasion, the regular form not being observed, the proper information was obtained from the lieutenant-colonel, without animadversion upon the royal superior.

Moore was afterwards removed to Chatham, where a larger force was assembled, * Since, Lord Viscount Sidmouth.

and he was frequently consulted by the Commander-in-Chief on military subjects. The Duke mentioned to him a design of enlisting some regiments of riflemen, a species of troops which had never been raised in this country. On which Moore observed, that our army was not so numerous as to admit of having enough of those for each detached force, which the nature of our warfare required. He, therefore, advised, that some good regiments should be practised as marksmen, with the usual muskets, and instructed both in light infantry manœuvres, and also to act, when required, as a firm battalion. His Royal Highness approved of this idea, and requested him to form his own regiment on that plan; and as many of the men were unfit for these complex duties, he was empowered to exchange them for more powerful and active soldiers, selected from another battalion.

He then commenced this new discipline, and in a short time formed a regiment, which for celerity and expertness was ad

mired by experienced officers. Other regiments, particularly a corps of young Highlanders, were disciplined in the same manner, and their utility was displayed in the subsequent war.

Moore, enjoying the confidence of the Commander-in-Chief, was thus engaged in improving the efficiency of the army; an employment by no means brilliant, but most useful to his country.

Bonaparte, whose insatiable mind was abhorrent to any continuance of concord with those around him, seized upon Piedmont, Parma, Placentia, Elba; and subjected the whole of Switzerland to his power during the

peace.

The Continent, from terror, did not even remonstrate against these infractions of treaties and lawless conquests; but as he likewise grossly insulted and menaced Great Britain with invasion, war ensued.

To fulfil his threat, a thousand large gunboats were constructed and collected at Boulogne; where a capacious bason was ex

cavated for their reception, and a vast army encamped on the shore, ready to embark.

Mr. Addington, being a man of a firm and energetic character, was not dismayed. He augmented the army, called out the militia, and by his encouragement four hundred thousand volunteers were arrayed in arms, an host unparalleled in this island. But as the local forces were spread over the whole country, and the capital was particularly menaced, the principal part of the regular troops were stationed between the sea-coast and London. The command of these was given to Sir David Dundas, and Moore was encamped, with an advanced corps, at Sandgate, opposite to Boulogne, where Bonaparte was expected to land. Along the shore Martello towers were constructed, and batteries were raised to command the important points.

The troops were trained to exact discipline by Moore; who possessed the valuable talent of instructing the officers in their duties, and of rendering the soldiers expert in the use of their arms, and swift in manoeuvering, with