6 • Sir Ralph has already promised that I • should get leave; but he is so used to my commanding here, that, when it comes to the point, he is always afraid of trusting any body else, and is apt to retract. • Justice will, I hope, prevail. My bad • health is occasioned by the fatigue I have 'undergone; and, as I am writing you, I may say, honestly I think, that there is not an officer in the West Indies so well entitled * to some indulgence as myself. This is, I I believe, also the opinion of the General. • My remittances must cease. Everything ' has become so excessively dear, that I shall • be able to do little more than make both ends meet. • We know nothing of what has been doing at home. Our account of the attempt to * invade Ireland is but imperfect. Should ' they make another, and succeed in getting ashore, if we have a General worth a straw, • he should sicken them from such enterprises . in future. • What I fear is, that the French have got • a superiority over our minds, and we are • half beat before we attack them. If we had • a little of the old spirit, we should thrash them, as we have done heretofore: • Farewell, my dear father. Remember me 'to my mother, &c. I have much pleasure in • the prospect of seeing you this autumn. I • hope James, Graham, and Charles continue prosperous. • Believe me your affectionate Son, John Moore.' · P.S.- The Duchess of D-recom. mended the damnedest cub to me lately I ever saw. I, however, did all I could to serve him, but was unsuccessful. I enclosed my answer to her to James ;-I hope he has • received it. My kind remembrances to the Duke (of • Hamilton.] I hope he is better.' Falmouth, Sunday evening, 9th July, 1797. · My dear Mother, It will surprise you, I hope agreeably, to hear I am arrived at * Falmouth, from the West Indies. By letters, . 6 6 6 ' which you must have received very lately, · you were informed that I had another attack • of fever. 'I was told by every body that if I re* mained during the hurricane months, I ' should probably die. The campaign in the • West Indies was completely over ; I had no scruple, therefore, to ask permission to quit ' that country. Sir Ralph granted it in the • kindest manner. I am this day landed from • the packet, not an invalid, but in perfect • health. The sea air has done more than pounds of bark. I refer all particulars to my meeting. Major Anderson is with me. could take a lodging for him in the neighbourhood of Clifford Street; the nearer the • better, Maddox Street, for example: a • second floor will answer his purpose as well as a first. Boyd and the French lad I took out with . me shall go by the coach. . The latter • I wish to keep in Clifford Street. As to Boyd, I shall send him to his regiment or to 6 6 I wish you 6 • Scotland. He may be accommodated at • James's, as I believe you have no room. · The Major and I will leave this tomorrow, as soon as we have arranged our baggage, servants, &c. It will be Thursday or, perhaps, Friday, before we reach Town. Kind remembrances to my father, . &c. &c. • Your affectionate Son, John Moore.' 6 Taghmon Camp, Ireland, 7th July, 1798. • My dear Father,—I received your and • my mother's joint letter yesterday. It is 'my pride to show myself deserving of the * relation I bear to you both ; and I am never • so completely happy as when my conduct ' gives you pleasure, or meets your approba* tion. I have no fear but that the species of ' reward which you seem most to doubt will ' be given to me in proper time; if it is not, I should feel mortified beyond other • men; but I will not allow such apprehen*sion, founded on mere general reasoning, to 6 • damp the pleasure I naturally receive from • hearing from you, that I have done my duty • in a manner that has gained me the appro• bation of the good men amongst my country. men. ܪ. 6 6 · The rebels are collected in the mountains of Wicklow. I am to be intrusted with the • force intended to reduce them; and expect to march from this to-morrow for Ferns, where the different corps will join. The • force is to be partly stationary,—to occupy • the different passes by which the rebels 'might escape; and partly moveable, and * active, to attack them wherever information • is obtained of their being assembled. The plan is Lord Cornwallis's ; this is the outline; the rest must be decided on after I 'get to Ferns, from local circumstances. • General Lake comes to Arklow, and with • him, as well as Lord Cornwallis, I am to * correspond. • It is highly flattering to be thus selected ; • I have only to wish that I may be able to `justify the partiality shown me. I think all 6 6 |