tering ourselves, that the man of rank, fortune, and taste, if Mooriana should fall into his hands, will feel, from its perusal, a strong desire to become more intimately acquainted with an author so conversant with men and manners, and so eminent for the benevolence of his heart, and the purity of his morals: and thus be irresistibly induced to purchase all his works, in order to place them in his library, on the same shelf with those of the most renowned authors of the

last century: with Smollet, Fielding, Johnson, Chesterfield, &c. &c.

We cannot end this advertisement, without tendering our most sincere thanks to Dr. Moore's relatives for the liberal support they have given to our undertaking, by granting us leave to copy a masterly drawing of the Doctor, sketched at a time posterior to his picture by Lawrence, by the bold and faithful pencil of W. Lock, jun. Esq. a gentleman of independent fortune, well known for the amiableness of his manners, and the generosity of his heart; and renowned, among the dilettanti, for his early and almost instinctive talents, discernment, and taste, in the art of painting. Nor can we refrain from expressing our wish, which is that of

the public, that Dr. Moore's respectable relatives may soon enrich our literature by the publication of some of his MSS. if he has left any, intended for the press.

A few unavoidable errors of the press, materially altering the sense, and those chiefly in the printing of the French, have unluckily crept into this edition; in praying the reader to excuse them, we must earnestly entreat him to attend for their correction to the Errata, added to these volumes.

ACCOUNT

OF THE

Life and Writings

OF

DR. JOHN MOORE.

AMONGST the numerous horde of writers of the last degenerate century, who have attacked religion by their sarcasms; morality, by their profligacy; and civil society, by their levelling principles we feel an inexpressible satisfaction in presenting to the notice of our readers, an author who was a friend to religion and morality, a supporter of rational liberty, and an inveterate enemy to the excesses of unrestrained licentiousness.

What a pleasing and useful occupation would it be for us to unravel, and delineate, the whole tenor of a life consecrated to the relief and instruction of human nature; to present Dr. Moore, as a tender husband, an affectionate father, and a benevolent physician, and to offer him to his countrymen as a pattern of the highest excellence. But not having had the happiness of an intimate acquaintance with him, our picture can be but an imperfect sketch of his character: we shall therefore content ourselves with mentioning the principal circumstances which relate to his life and

writings for we will leave to some of his respectable and affectionate relatives, or bosom-friends, the heartfelt pleasure of recording the anecdotic details of his life; and by this means completely gratifying the public curiosity, which the present notice will perhaps contribute to increase.

*

Dr. John Moore was the son of a clergyman, a native of Scotland: having lost his father, when only five years, old, he was left to the care of his mother: a lady distinguished for the strength of her understanding, and eminent for her piety, and benevolence of heart ;-sentiments which she early infused in the mind of her only child. After the necessary preparation of a grammar-school, young Mr. Moore being destined for the profession of medicine, removed with his mother to Glasgow, was matriculated at the University, and placed under the care of an eminent practitioner. He was at an early period, (in the seventeenth year of his age,) thrown, as it were, upon the world: and having obtained a sufficient knowledge of the practice of physic, he left his native country, and passed over to the continent under the protection of the Duke of Argyle, Lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of foot, which embarked for Flanders to serve under his Royal Highness William Duke of Cumberland. ‡ At Maestrich, Flushing, and

* He was born in 1730, at Stirling, the ancient residence of the Scottish kings. His father, the Rev. Charles Moore, was one of the ministers of that town, and was greatly esteemed for the purity of his manners, as well as for the amiableness of his disposition.

+ She was a native of Glasgow, and the daughter of John Anderson, Esq.

+ After having extinguished a domestic rebellion in Scotland by his gallant behaviour, and very meritorious conduct at the battle of Culloden, his Royal Highness had repaired to the continent in order to combat our foreign enemies, and, in 1747, commanded the allied army is chuhe was

Flanders.

at

Breda, the subject of these memoirs attended the military hospitals there in quality of mate, and soon enjoyed much practice. * On the conclusion of the peace he returned to England. Having arrived in London, with the advantage of two years constant practice, Dr. Moore then thought proper to enter more deeply into the theory of medicine, and to avail himself of all the knowledge that could be obtained by attending lectures in the British capital. At that period, the French metropolis enjoyed and deserved the reputation of being the best school in Europe; Dr. Moore, therefore, set out for Paris, and, at his arrival, having paid his respects to the British ambassador, he was recognised and protected by his Excellency, who appointed him surgeon to his household. After two years residence in Paris, during which he carefully attended the British ambassador's family, and walked the hospitals of that capital, Dr. Moore having been invited by his former tutor, was not insensible to the assiduity and improvements of his pupil, to enter into partnership with him, he left Paris, and returned to Glasgow, where he practised as a physician, till he had attained his fortieth year. He then attended with the most anxious care through the whole progress of that lingering disease, a consumption, the bane of British youth,

who

*His patients were very numerous in consequence of the unfortunate battle of Laffeldt; and he derived much instruction and information from the scenes of slaughter and calamity attendant on a sanguinary campaign.

+ Lord Albermarle, who had known him in Flanders, and who while he acted in the capacity of a General under the Duke of Cumberland, was also Colonel of the Coldstream, of which Mr. M. had been surgeon's mate.

Dr. Gordon. This custom of partnership is very common in NorthBritain, and necessarily results from the extensiveness of a practice, which, among other branches of medical science, embraces that of midwifery.