I 

 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 MAY TREAT MORRISON 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 
 ALEXANDER F MORRISON
 
 GEORGE MOORE
 
 {2^*^ ^o 

 
 THE 
 
 SUCCESSFUL MERCHANT. 
 
 f THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 GEORGE MOORE, 
 
 
 
 MERCHANT AND PHILANTHROPIST, 
 
 BY SAMUEL SMILES, LL.D., 
 
 i\ 
 
 AUTHOR OF "SELF-HELP," "THRIFT," "CHARACTER," ETC. 
 
 GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS. 
 
 LONDON : BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL. 
 NEW YORK : q LAFAYETTE PLACE.
 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 I HAVE written this book at the earnest request of 
 Mrs. Moore. 
 
 The subject was brought under my notice by the 
 late Mr. William Longman and Mr. Murray, at the 
 instance of Mrs. Moore. They both recommended me 
 to write the book, though neither of them was to 
 publish it. 
 
 I was at first unwilling to undertake the Life ; the 
 state of my health not permitting me to undertake 
 much brain-work. BesideSj I was far advanced with 
 another book which had been advertised, and which 
 I was unwilling to postpone. 
 
 I knew a great deal about Mr. Moore's benevolence 
 towards the poor, the helpless, and the orphans ; but 
 I thought that some other person, who had know 
 Mr. Moore intimately, might have done greater justice 
 to the subject. 
 
 I called upon a leading City merchant to ask his 
 opinion. He thought it impossible for anything in- 
 teresting to be written about George Moore. As to 
 his munificence, there were hundreds of men in London
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 as good as he ! " What can you make," he asked, 
 "out of the life of a London warehouseman?" This 
 statement discouraged me,, and I felt disposed to return 
 to my former work. 
 
 It was not until Dr. Percival, Head Master of Clifton 
 College, called upon me, that I ascertained something 
 of the actual life and character of George Moore. He 
 spoke of the Man, and not of the Warehouseman. 
 He said, in a letter which I afterwards received from 
 him, "There is so much genuine character in the 
 Cumberland Folk, that I feel sure you will be attracted 
 by them ; and I hope you will find that the incidents 
 of Mr. Moore's boyhood and early life are sufficiently 
 characteristic to enable you to use some of the excellent 
 material furnished by the habits and traditions of the 
 district. Then, I hope you may find sufficient illustra- 
 tions in his middle life, of his really splendid pluck and 
 energy ; and again in his later life, of his rare liberality. 
 This last trait ought to be very instructive, because of 
 its extreme rarity among men who have had to struggle 
 as he did. I don't think I have come across any other 
 self-made man who had so entirely 'got the chill of 
 poverty out of his bones.' " 
 
 I was also encouraged by the Rev. G. C. Bell, Master 
 of Marlborough College, who wrote to Mrs. Moore as 
 follows : " I am rejoiced to hear that a memoir of 
 your husband is to be published ; for the example of 
 his life, with its combination of 'self-help' and unselfish- 
 ness, well deserves a permanent record ; and it may 
 be full of stimulus and encouragement to many. I
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 had indeed," he added, " good reason to be grateful 
 to him for many substantial kindnesses, made all the 
 more precious by the kind of fatherly interest that he 
 took in those he cared for. He was, in truth, a large- 
 hearted man, whose like I never knew." 
 
 This was, indeed, encouragement enough. I accord- 
 ingly went down to Whitehall, George Moore's country 
 seat in Cumberland, to look over his papers. I there 
 found a story, a romance, followed, alas ! by a tragedy. 
 Mr. Moore had written out an account of his early life, 
 which I have introduced in the course of the following 
 pages. He had also left a Diary, containing a daily 
 entry during the last twenty years of his life. These, 
 together with his numerous papers, have furnished 
 abundant information for his history from its beginning 
 to its end. 
 
 Biographers, like portrait-painters, are sometimes 
 suspected of painting men as they ought to be, rather 
 than as they are. To avoid this objection, I have 
 quoted George Moore's own words from his Autobio- 
 graphic Notes, and from his Diary ; and thus enabled 
 the story to be told as much as possible in his own 
 words and in his own way. 
 
 I have said that I began this work with unwilling- 
 ness ; but I can add that as I wrote I felt that I had 
 to do with the -life of no ordinary man. George Moore, 
 in some ways, stands apart from other men. He yielded 
 to no hindrances ; he was overcome by no difficulties ; 
 he was consistent in his aims, in all the good work that 
 he did. This the story of his life will fully show.
 
 n PREFACE. 
 
 I need scarcely say that I have been greatly helped 
 by Mrs. Moore, who has furnished all the necessary 
 information, and supplied many of the most interesting 
 descriptions in the book. 
 
 I have also been much indebted to the Rev. W. M. 
 Gunson, Cambridge ; the Rev. Alfred Gates, Mary- 
 port ; James Cropper, Esq., Ellergreen, Kendal ; Alfred 
 Chapman, Esq., and many others, for the information 
 they have communicated as to the life, habits, manners, 
 and character of their deceased friend. 
 
 It has been the one wish of Mrs. Moore's heart that 
 a proper memorial of her husband's life should be 
 placed on permanent record. I hope that I have 
 gratified her wish, and that the public will be satisfied 
 with the result. 
 
 S. S. 
 
 LONDON, May 1878.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE MOORES OLD TIMES IN CUMBERLAND. 
 
 The Moores of Overgates Torpenhow Churchyard Cumberland Scenery 
 The Border-land The Sohvay Peel Towers The Mosstroopers 
 Debateable Land The Graemes The Scottish Keivers Tenure ol 
 Land by Border Service Survival of Freebooting Bevcastle Tomb- 
 stones The Cumberland Statesmen ; their Thrill and Industry De- 
 cadence of the Statesmen The Moores in the Olden Times Thomas 
 Moore of Mealsgate Birth of George Moore His home at Mealsgate. 
 
 Pages I 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE'S BOYHOOD. 
 
 Christening of George Moore His Great-uncle and Godfather Death ol 
 his Mother George Moore's Father His Second Marriage The Step- 
 mother George jjoes to School Blackbird \\ilson ; his Method of 
 Teaching Routine of the School Barring-oot Wrestling "Scots 
 and English " Bird-nesting Walk to Carlisle Hunting John Peel 
 Hunt with the Dalesmen Harvest Holidays Earns money by shearing 
 Harvest Customs Finishes his School education Determines to 
 leave home Pages 18 31 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 APPRENTICESHIP. 
 
 The Battle of Life Apprenticed \vith Messenger, Wigton Sells his 
 Donkey Wigton The Half-Moon Inn The Apprentice's Work 
 The Tyrant of the Shop Card-playing and Gambling Midnight Ad- 
 venture Repentance Life at Wigton Visits Aunt Dinah at Bolton 
 Hall The Haunted Room George jent into Scotland Crossing the 
 Sohvay Sands End of the Apprenticeship His Sister Mary Deter- 
 mines to leave for London The Grey-Goat Inn Influences of a 
 Country Boy's Education Pages 3243
 
 K . CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 IN LONDON. 
 
 Travelling by Coach Journey to London Arrival at the " Swan with Two 
 Necks " Wrestling-match at Chelsea George Moore wins a Prize 
 Tries to obtain a situation His Disappointments Obtains a situation 
 Removal of his Hair-trunk Enters his situation at Flint, Ray, & Co. 
 His love of Cumberland Improves his education Sees his future 
 Wife A Serious Difficulty Charged with being a Thief Determines 
 to obtain another situation His Success Encounter with the Border 
 Cattle-stealer His Sentence mitigated ...... Pages 44 60 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER. 
 
 Moore enters the house of Fisher, Stroud, and Robinson Fisher blames 
 his Stupidity Things he had to learn, Accuracy, Quickness, Promp- 
 titude Country and Town-bred Boys His Self-education at Midnight 
 His Improvement Bearing his Brother's Burdens His last Wrestle 
 Visit to the House of Commons Becomes Town Traveller Ap 
 pointed to Liverpool and Manchester Circuit His Success as a 
 Traveller The Napoleon of Watling Street Competition Visit to 
 Cumberland Visits the Scenes of his Boyhood Encounter with Grou- 
 cock Competition with Groucock Moore leaves Fishtr's for a-Partner- 
 ship Pages 61 75 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PARTNER AND TRAVELLER. 
 
 Beginnings of Groucock and Copestake Change of Premises George 
 Moore's Capital His power of work His Travelling Ground The 
 Commercial Panic Makes many friends Mr. Brown's account of him 
 His determination to obtain orders Selling the Clothes off his Back 
 The Pinch of Snuff Rapid Increase of the Business His Christ- 
 mases at the Warehouse Difficulty in providing Money Dangerous 
 Embarkation for Ireland Crossing Morecambe Sands Escapes with 
 his Life Results of the Partnership A Slander raised against the 
 Firm Results of the Action George Moore's Marriage . Pages 76 90 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TRIP TO AMERICA HUNTING. 
 
 Moore gives up Travelling Extension of Premises Site of John Milton's 
 Birth-place Becomes ill Mr. Lawrence advises him to hunt His head 
 Phrenologically examined Hunts at Brighton across the Downs His 
 first Fox-hunt Terrible Disasters Colonel Conyer's Advice Trip to
 
 CONTENTS jd 
 
 America His Rules on Shipboard New York The Public Institu- 
 tions Philadelphia The Solitary System Baltimore River Hudson 
 Lakes George and Champlain Montreal Quebec Niagara Boston 
 Impressions of America Leaves for England Establishes Lace- 
 factory at Nottingham Resumes Fox-hunting Hunts wilh Lord 
 Dacre's Hounds with Lord Lonsdale's with Lord Fitzhardinge's 
 Great Jump in Gloucestershire Hunts uith Lord Southampton's 
 Hounds No wickedness in hunting ...... Pages 91 107 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 SAFETY VALVES. 
 
 Moore joins a Life Assurance Society Advises Young Men to Insure 
 Cumberland Benevolent Society Gives his First Guinea Becomes 
 prominent in the Society His Speech, 1850 Urges Cumberland Men 
 to join it Commercial Travellers' Schools Moore's regard for Com- 
 mercial Travellers The Institution Founded Moore becomes Treasurer 
 Growth of the Institution New Buildings erected Moore travels 
 the Country for Subscriptions Mr. Dickens acts as Chairman of 
 Annual Dinner Prince Albert opens the Commercial Travellers' 
 Schools The "Orphans' Day" Moore's Advice to Boys leaving 
 School Pages 108123 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 VISITS TO CUMBERLAND. 
 
 "Auld Cummerland" Moore remembers his old friends VVigton 
 Mechanics' Institute Visits Shap Wells Visits Mealsgate Visit ol 
 Lord Mayor to Cumberland At St. Bees Visit to VVigton The 
 Lawson family Hunting Visit to Brayton Mr. Howard of Greystoke 
 Castle Visit to Lord Carlisle at Naworth Castle Ball in Belted 
 Will's Hall Visit to Lord Carlisle at Dublin . . . Pages 124 133 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WORK IN CUMBERLAND. 
 
 Education in Cumberland Moore endeavours to improve the Schools 
 Erects New Schoolhouse at Bolton The old Schoolmasters Thr New 
 School at Allhallows Visits the neighbouring Schools Master of 
 Pluinbland School Ulcale School liothel School Establishes Per- 
 ambulating Library The Stations The Fetes George Moore's Speech 
 Villiers, Bishop of Carlisle The Bishop preaches at Allhallows 
 The Competitive Examinations Circular of Mr. Moncrieff The 
 Revival of Education in Cumberland .... . Pages 134 152
 
 rii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 POLITICS PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 Extension of Business Knowledge of Character The Busy Man the best 
 Worker Moore pricked as Sheriff Pays the Fine rather than serve 
 Elected Alderman Appointed Deputy-Lieutenant A Liberal A Free- 
 Trader Requested to stand for Nottingham and West Cumberland 
 Reasons for not entering the House of Commons Canvasses for Lord 
 John Russell Canvasses West Cumberland voters Invitation from 
 Lord Lonsdale Lord John Russell Assists Sir Wilfrid Lawson 
 A Fox-hunt Residence in Kensington Palace Gardens Visits the 
 London Prisons Establishes Brixton Reformatory Lord Shaftesbury 
 Marries unmarried People Refuge for Fallen Women Reformatory 
 and Refuge Union Home for Incurables London Porters' Benevolent 
 Association Sympathy the Secret of Life .... Pages 153 169 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 RELIGIOUS LIFE DEATH OF MRS. MOORE. 
 
 Mr. Moore's Papers as to Religious Life His Illness Repentance His 
 Difficulties and Temptations The Rev. Daniel Moore Mr. Groucock's 
 Illness and Death Looks for a sudden Conversion The New Birth 
 Establishes Family Prayers at the Warehouse Rev. Mr. Richardson 
 Family Worship in Milton Street Spiritual Elevation of Cumberland 
 Folks Establishes Missionaries Mealsgate and Wigton Scripture 
 Readers established House in Kensington Palace Gardens finished 
 Mrs. Moore's Illness and Death Purchase of Whitehall Estate 
 Memorial Fountain at Wigton Organ presented to Parish Church. 
 
 Pages 170186 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 ITALY PHILANTHROPIC WORK IN LONDON. 
 
 Tour in Italy Lyons Nice Siena Rome Return to London Invited 
 to stand for Nottingham Refusal Leaves Royal Hospital for In- 
 curables Establishes British Home for Incurables Royal Free Hos- 
 pital.; the Freehold purchased Porters' Benevolent Association Ware- 
 housemen's and Clerks' Schools Commercial Travellers' Schools 
 National Mercantile Assurance Company Ragged Schools Lord 
 John Russell's Nomination Young Men wanting situations Letter 
 from a Carlisle Draper Pages 187 205 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 LONDONERS OVER THE BORDER. 
 
 Destitute Population at the Victoria Docks The Rev. Mr. Douglas col- 
 lects Subscriptions Greatness of the Subscription Detraction and 
 Envy begin George Moore and Alderman Pakin investigate the 
 Accounts The Crowd of Witnesses Report of the Investigators Mr. 
 Douglas cleared Mr. Moore's friendship y\ ith all Denominations Home 
 Mis-ion Societies Mission at Bow Churchyard Rev. Mr. Rodgers 
 engaged as Chaplain National Orphan Home Mixing up of Guests 
 Bible-readings Dioce-an Home Mission Theatre-preaching George 
 Moore's Diary Extracts from Diary Pages 206 220
 
 CONTENTS. riii 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 WHITEHALL, CUMBERLAND. 
 
 Description of Whitehall and Harbybrow Whitehall the " Fairladies " of 
 Redgauntlet Purchase of the Whitehall Estate Mr. Howard's assist- 
 ance The House and Grounds repaired Book -hawking by Colporteurs 
 Country Towns Missions established Hospitality at Whitehall Re- 
 commences Hunting A Wild Spot on the Fells George Moore's Trap 
 in the Wood Poor pay of Cumberland Clergy Chapels in the Dales 
 Puzzle Hall Clergymen's Stipends Villiers, Bishop of Carlisle 
 Leaves Carlisle for Durham Loneliness of George Moore A Friend 
 advises him to marry The Lady found George Moore again marries 
 Tour in Italy Mr. Adams-Acton's estimate of George Moore. 
 
 Pages 221 234 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 CHARITABLE WORK IN LONDON RAGGED SCHOOLS. 
 
 Progress of Commercial Travellers' Schools George Moore founds a 
 Scholarship Followed by Mr. Stockdale and Dr. Butler Copes take 
 Scholarship " Kill your Fox" An indefatigable Beggar journeys 
 through the Country Illness of Mr. Moore Arrangement of his Affairs 
 The Rev. Mr. Rodgers as Chaplain The Rev. Francis Mor.-e, Not- 
 tingham Patronage of Books Invited to represent the City Treasurer 
 to the Garibaldi Fund Extracts from the Diary Little Boys' Home 
 Mr. Walter's Speech The Outcasts of London Visits London at 
 Midnight Treasurer of P'ield Lane Ragged Schools Uses of the In- 
 stitution Pages 235252 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 LIFE IN CUMBERLAND. 
 
 George Moore's arrival at his Border Tower The Hall His Business 
 His Smoking-room Entertainments Competitive Examinations 
 Lord Broueham The Archbishop of York The Romance of 
 Cheapside Pleasure and Business Whitehall Picnics Farming 
 Shorthorns Bishops and Dissenting Ministers The Wesleyan Chapels 
 freed of Debt Entertainments to the Poor and the Widows The 
 Household Servants The Missionaries The Young Men from London 
 The Porters The Branch Managers Immorality of Cumberland 
 Dowager Countess Waldegrave Improvement of Cottage Dwellings 
 Cottage Gardens Hunting in Cumberland Accident in Hunting 
 Moore's shoulder put out His last Hunt .... Pages 253 271 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 CHRIST'S CHURCH, SOMERS TOWN FISHMONGERS' COMPANY. 
 
 Particularity in Accounts Voyage to Antwerp Encounter with Arch- 
 deacon Denison Faithfulness and Outspokenness in Religion A Lover 
 of the Bible The Emperor of Russia Religious Principle a Power 
 Religious Teaching The London Middle-class Schools " Hang Theo- 
 logy ! " Controversy with Mr. Tite Religious Instruction established 
 Heathendom of London George Moore builds a Church Description
 
 fv CONTENTS. 
 
 of Somers Town The Church and Schools Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury-elect Moore's Help to Dissenters Mr. Spurgeon Dr. Stoughton 
 'i he Christian Community Asked to represent Mid-Surrey in Parlia- 
 ment Called a Turncoat Prime Warden of the Fishmongers' Com- 
 pany Visits their Estates in Ireland Banquets of the Company 
 Moore's Speeches The intense pain in his dislocated shoulder Calls 
 upon Mr. Hutton, the Bone-setter Is cured . . . Pages 272 - 295 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 EDUCATION IN CUMBERLAND CHRIST'S HOSPITAL. 
 
 Competitive Examinations conducted by the Diocesan Education Society 
 The Rev. Dr. Jex-Blake at Wi1on Parting Address of the School- 
 masters George Moore's Reply Loss by Farming Magistrate at Wig- 
 ton Christ's Hospital Dr. Jacob's Sermon Management of the 
 Hospital denounced George Moore elected an Almoner Reforms in- 
 troduced Girls' Schools improved The Duke of Cambridge elected 
 George Moore's fights His Reasons for removing the Hospital to the 
 Country Endowments of Christ's Hospital London School Board 
 Jubilee of Commercial Travellers' Schools Founds a Scholarship Its 
 Objects Pages 296 309 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 RELIEF OF PARIS. 
 
 Paris besieged by the Germans The Inhabitants Starved Mansion-House 
 Fund Provisions sent from London to Paris George Moore and 
 Colonel Wortley Their Tourney to Paris Arrival at Great Northern 
 Railway The Horses all eaten Conveyance of the Food to Ge vge 
 Moore's Warehouse Its Distribution Hungriness of the Inhabitants 
 Journey to Versailles Food distributed in the Arrondissements 
 The Bon Marche Letters from England about lost friends State 01 
 Paris George Moore's Helpers Destruction by the Germans Arch- 
 bishop of Paris The Chiffoniers Outbreak of the Commune Assas- 
 sination of Darboy the Archbishop Cardinal Manning Destruction 
 of Property Distribution of the Mansion-House Funds Mrs. Moore's 
 letter from Paris Pages 3 IQ 33^ 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 HIGH SHERIFF OF CUMBERLAND. 
 
 George Moore nominated High Sheriff His duties The Northern Assize 
 Sir John Mellor and Sir Robert Lush Geering the Coachman 
 Recovery of the Prince of Wales George Moore's Speech The Sum- 
 mer Assizes Deaths of old friends James Wilkinson Breeks Con- 
 valescent Hospital, Silloth Boarding-out Pauper Children Conference 
 at Gilsland Mr. Moore's Paper on Boarding-out Mr. Cropper, Eller- 
 greeu Journey into Scotland Interview with ex-Empress of the French 
 Days in the Highland- Fisher, the Coach-driver Bishop of Peter- 
 tnronrjh The Partners' Lunch Offices at Bow Churchyard Visits to 
 Cambridge Professor Sedgwick Asked to represent the County of 
 Middlesex Reasons for refusal . , Pages 333351
 
 CONTENTS. v 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 LATER WORKS OF BENEVOLENCE. 
 
 Wreck of the Northfleet Widow Stephens's story The Cabmen's Mission 
 Cabmen's Supper Visit to the Mission Hall Funeral of Dr. 
 Livingstone Dean of Westminster's Letter Church at Somers 
 Town Rev. P. S. O'Brien appointed Visitations to the Sick Poor 
 Sent to Vichy Visit to Paris His Farm and Shorthorns Sells his 
 Shorthorns Miss Rye and Emigration Boarding-out Pauper Children 
 The Cumberland Missionaries The Whitehall gatherings Busy Life 
 at Whitehall Everybody wants " more" Descendant of an Irish King 
 Hospitable Entertainments at Whitehall Visit of the Archbishops 
 Fishmongers' Hunt Dinner " Faithful Jack" . . . Pages 352 377 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 GOOD WORKS DONE IN SECRET. 
 
 George Moore's ideas of Duty Sympathy Servants Husband and Wife 
 Young Men at Bow Churchyard Some become Clergymen and 
 Ministers Students assisted at St. Bees and Cambridge Sends forth a 
 good Example Young Men wanting Situations Addresses at the Ware- 
 bouse Mercifulness Forgiveness Kindness Life at Bow Churchyard 
 Life at Whitehall Illustration of his kindness Helps to Poor Clergy 
 men Their acknowledgments Story of a Clergyman Christmas 
 Presents to Poor Clergymen His Almoners City and County Mission- 
 aries Distribution of Books Disabled Missionaries Christmas^s in 
 London and at Whitehall Pages 378398 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE END OF GEORGE MOORE'S LIFE. 
 
 Thoughts of Departure Friends dying away Deaths of Mr. Porter, of 
 Mr. Howard of Greystoke, of Sir Hope Grant, of Mr. Copestake, 
 of Mr! Osborne Arrangement with his Partners Death of Mr. Stock- 
 dale Account of George Stockdale Diary of 1876 Begins the year 
 with benevolent Gifts Convalescent Hospital at Littlehampton 
 Reward of his Servants at Bow Churchyard More Deaths The 
 Royal Academy Money-order System of the Post-office Visit to 
 Vichy Clerical Aid Education Society Last Visits Conferences at 
 Whitehall Many Visitors Last Speech at Wigton Returns to Lon- 
 don Education of Poor Boys Assisted by Dr. Percival Visit to 
 Muncaster Castle The Shadow of Death The Nurses' Home, Carlisle 
 Mrs. Moore's Portrait His last benevolent act Visit to Carlisle 
 The accident to Mr. Moore His Death His Burial The Funeral 
 Sermons The Memorials The Lifeboat Dr. Butler's Testimony. 
 
 Pa^es 399432
 
 svl CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE'S CHARACTER. 
 
 George Moore's life a succession of Growths Wigton London Recol- 
 lection of old friends His Adversities Religious Conversion Re- 
 sponsibility His own Household Bow Churchyard Help to the 
 Helpless George Moore's name a passport to Success Simplicity and 
 Directness His Physique His Portrait A Man of Power His Vigour 
 and Determination The Rev. Daniel Moore's estimate His Rebuffs 
 "Do Your Best" His Carefulness of Time Promptitude in Emer 
 gencies His Moral Courage His Faith in God's Wrd Proper 
 Uses of Money Unspoiled by Prosperity Refusals of high Office and 
 Honours Love of the Poor Love of Nature Love of Flowers 
 Hi; Benevolence His Churchmanship Sympathy his "grandest word " 
 Influence on the Character of others United Teachers of Wigton 
 Foreshadowings of Death Works unfinished George Moore's 
 Epitaph Pages 433 451 
 
 APPENDIX , 452453 
 
 INDEX 454460
 
 GEORGE MOORE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE MOORES OLD TIMES IN CUMBERLAND. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE was born at Mealsgate, Cumberland, 
 on the Qth of April, 1806. He was the third of a family 
 of five. He had two brothers, Thomas and William, 
 and two sisters, Sarah and Mary. 
 
 George's father, John Moore, was a man of ancient 
 descent, though of moderate means. He belonged to 
 the rank of Statesman a title held in as high regard 
 in the North as that of the Order of the Garter. " I 
 am prouder," says a well-known scholar, "of being a 
 Cumberland Statesman than a Cambridge Don!" But 
 the Cumberland statesmen, like the English yeomen, are 
 fast passing away. 
 
 The old Moores lived at their paternal estate at 
 Overgates for more than three hundred years. Over- 
 gates is in the parish of Torpenhow, a few miles to 
 the south-west of the market-town of Wigton. The 
 village of Torpenhow consists of a straggling street 
 of little old houses, grey or whitewashed. The ancient 
 church, dedicated to St. Michael, stands at the east 
 end of the village. The " pellitory from out the wall " 
 
 6
 
 2 ' frtE MOORES TORPENI1OW. [CHAP. I. 
 
 of Sh'akespeaie 'grows luxuriantly near the churchyard 
 gate. People still come from long distances to gather 
 it for medicinal purposes. 
 
 Inside the churchyard we come upon the resting- 
 places of the old Moores. There they lie, generation 
 after generation. The Moores of Overgates ; the 
 Moores of Bothel ; the Moores of Highwood Nook ; 
 the Moores of Kirkland, and the Moores of Meals- 
 gate. They seem to have been a long-lived race. 
 Many of them lived to eighty and upwards. Thomas 
 Moore of Mealsgate, grandfather of George Moore, 
 was buried among his fathers in Torpenhovv Church- 
 yard, aged seventy-eight. 
 
 Torpenhow parish is situated on the south bank of 
 the river Ellen. The land rises gradually from the 
 river until it reaches its highest points at Camphill, 
 Caermote, and Binsey. From the high grounds a 
 splendid view is obtained, southward, of the Cumber- 
 land mountains, Skiddaw towering high above all. 
 Bassenthwaite Water lies quietly sleeping under the 
 shadow of the majestic hills which surround it. 
 
 The high lands from which we look down remain 
 very much as nature left them. The country here- 
 abouts is wild and lonely. Scarcely a house or a 
 person is to be seen. The land is poor and un- 
 cultivated. It is half moor, half inclosed pasture. 
 A few Fell sheep and black Scotch cattle grub for 
 grass among the roots of the whins and heather. 
 Yet it is not without its beauties for the lover of 
 nature. The glorious mountains, the far-off sweeps 
 of gorse, the wild smell of the heather, the sea air 
 from the west blowing fresh against your face, the 
 large purple shadows dropped by the passing clouds 
 upon the moor, the lark singing over-head, the bumble- 
 bee humming close by ; and above all, the infinite 
 silence ! That indeed is a picture to be remembered.
 
 CHAP, i.] CUMBERLAND SCENERY. 3 
 
 Looking towards the north, over Torpenhow, the 
 view is altogether different. In the bottom of the 
 valley lies the river Ellen. You see the little farm- 
 stead of Overgates, the original home of the Moores. 
 Far away, over woods and pastures and cornfields, 
 over grassy knolls and winding valleys, over 
 clusters of farmhouses half hid in clumps of syca- 
 mores, over villages, mere specks of whiteness nest- 
 ling among green fields, over stately homes and 
 ruined castles, you see the northern border of Cum- 
 berland. In the distance the Solway lies in the 
 sunlight like a silver strip of brightness. Beyond 
 the Firth, the lowlands of Dumfries and Kircud- 
 bright stretch away glimmering through the sun- 
 shine. Above and beyond them the Scottish moun- 
 tains are seen, Criffel standing out boldly and 
 alone. 
 
 The Solway Firth extends inland, between Scotland 
 and England, from Maryport to Carlisle. It is in 
 many places about twelve miles across. The tide 
 runs up and down with great force, especially at 
 spring tides. The Solway might be thought a suffi- 
 cient protection for Cumberland during the troublous 
 times which preceded the union of the crowns of 
 England and Scotland. But it was no such protec- 
 tion against hungry and warlike people. The Solway 
 can be crossed at low tide by horsemen who know 
 the secrets of its depths and eddies. For this reason, 
 amongst others, the northern part of Cumberland was 
 constantly exposed to the depredations of the Scots. 
 They waded the Solway, pillaged the villages and 
 farmsteadings, and carried off to Annandale and 
 Nithsdale all the cattle they could seize and drive 
 before them. 
 
 For this reason the people of Cumberland, a few 
 hundred years ago, always stood at arms. The 
 
 B 2
 
 4 BORDER TOWERS. [CHAP. i. 
 
 entrances to the villages were defended by a double 
 ditch, and by gates fastened with an iron chain. 
 This was the case at Wigton. Those who could, 
 fortified their houses, and left a space beneath into 
 which their cattle might be driven at night. A little 
 beneath Overgates, in the valley of the Ellen, there 
 are two border castles, or Peel towers, which afford a 
 good example of the fortified houses of these days. 
 One of these is called Harbybrow, now in ruins, and 
 the other is Whitehall, recently renovated and en- 
 larged, the country-seat of the subject of this story. 
 These border castles stand about a mile from each 
 other. It is said that there was once an underground 
 road between them. 
 
 The original towers are lofty, square, and massive. 
 The walls at the lower part are about nine feet thick. 
 They are divided into three stories. Harbybrow 
 remains very much as it was. It has an arched 
 chamber underneath the old cattle keep. During 
 the Scottish raids, the men and the cattle entered the 
 tower by the same door. The cattle were driven into 
 the arched chamber, while the men fastened the door 
 and mounted to the higher stories. If assailed, they 
 stood to arms, threw down huge stones, or poured 
 boiling water or lead upon those who ventured to 
 assail the little garrison. But when the cattle were 
 secured, that was rarely done. The mosstroopers had 
 no means of laying siege to fortified places. 
 
 In the meantime the country was up. During the 
 border raids, people were stationed on the higher 
 grounds to keep a strict look out. The names of 
 "Watch-hill" and "Beacon-top" still point to such 
 localities. 1 The church towers were also used for the 
 
 1 The Cumberland beacons that were lighted up to assemble the sur- 
 rounding population to arms were Blackcombe, Munca-ler Fell, St. Bees 
 Head, Wovkiugton Hill, Moothay, Skiddaw, Sandale Head End, Carlisle
 
 CHAP, i.] BORDER MORALITY. j 
 
 same purpose. The country was apt to be ravaged 
 for twenty miles along the border. The tenants of 
 the manors were obliged, by the firing of the beacons, 
 to attend their lords in their border service. If 
 requisite, their attendance might be prolonged for 
 forty days. There was little or no cultivation of the 
 land at that time. Indeed payment of rent was 
 scarcely known until after the Union. All that the 
 landlord gained from those residing upon his estate 
 was personal service in battle or in pursuit, and per- 
 haps a share of the spoil taken by rapine from the 
 Scotch side of the border. 
 
 The morality of those days was of a very wild 
 description. Freebooting was considered a respectable 
 profession on both sides of the border. It was like 
 piracy at sea, of which neither Raleigh nor Drake 
 were ashamed. To be a freebooter or a mosstrooper 
 was not considered a term of reproach. The free- 
 booter did not keep a "gig," but he kept a pricker, 
 on which he scoured the neighbouring county for 
 plunder. Every man fought for his own hand, like 
 Harry-o'-the-Wynd. If they could not steal from the 
 neighbouring border, they stole from each other. 1 They 
 were quite as dangerous to their neighbours as to their 
 enemies. They were very valiant men too. Many 
 were the instances of dash and daring among chem. 
 The Elliots, Armstrongs, and Scotts were as daring on 
 the one side, as the Graemes, Rutledges, and Howards 
 were on the other. Their names have been alike 
 immortalised in the ballad lore of the border. 
 
 The Scotch were, however, the hungriest of the two. 
 
 Castle, Lingy-close Head, Beacon Hill, Penrith, Dale Raughton, Brampton 
 Mote, and Spade-adam Top. 
 
 1 There is a wild path across the mountains, far south in Cumberland, 
 very unlikely to be disturbed by the Scotch mosstroopers, for it is between 
 Borrowdale and Ravenglass, siill called "The Thieves' Road." It must 
 have been so called from the Lancashire and Cumberland reivers.
 
 THE DEBATABLE LAND. 'LHAP. i. 
 
 Whenever their food fell short, they determined on a 
 raid. Though they were ready, as the Armstrongs were, 
 to rob each other, they preferred harrying their neigh- 
 bours across the border. 1 They co-'ld then combine 
 their personal views of plunder with something like a 
 spirit of patriotism. There was a portion of land 
 between the two countries which was long known as the 
 Debatable Land. It was long a source of contention. 
 It was situated north of Carlisle, between the rivers 
 Esk and Sark. It belonged neither to England nor 
 Scotland. The land was infested by thieves and ban- 
 ditti, to whom, in its mossy, boggy, and uncultivated 
 state, it afforded a desirable refuge. They robbed alike 
 the English and the Scotch. Once, when a battle was 
 going on, some of the men succeeded in robbing their 
 fellow-troopers of their horses. The inhabitants of the 
 Middle or Western Marches were unrestrained moss- 
 troopers and cattle-stealers, " having no measure of law," 
 says Camden, "but the length of their swords." When 
 caught by their enemies, they were dealt with by 
 Jeddart justice, that is, they were first hanged and 
 then tried. 
 
 The Grammes were among the chief occupants of the 
 Debatable Land. A document quoted in the History 
 of Ciimberland says, concerning the Graemes of Netherby 
 and others of that clan, " They were all stark moss- 
 troopers and arrant thieves, both to England and Scot- 
 land outlawed ; yet sometimes connived at, because 
 they gave intelligence forth of Scotland, and would 
 raise four hundred horse at any time upon a raid of the 
 
 1 A saying is recorded of a Border mother to her son, "Ride, Roley, 
 ride, the last hough's i' the pot" meaning that the last leg of beef was 
 being boiled, and that it was high time for him to go and fetch more. An 
 equally good story is told of a Cumberland matron. So long as her pro- 
 Visions lusted she set them regularly on the table, but as soon as they were 
 finished, she brought forth two pairs of spurs and said, " Sons, I have no 
 meat for you ; go, seek for your dinner."
 
 CHAP, i.] MOSSTROOPING. 7 
 
 English into Scotland." And so it was of the Elliots 
 and Armstrongs on the northern side of the border, 
 which led to the popular saying, " Elliots and Arm- 
 strongs, 1 ride thieves all." From these grim borderers 
 have descended General Elliot, who so bravely defended 
 Gibraltar ; Sir James Graham, one of our greatest 
 statesmen; and Sir William Armstrong, the inventor of 
 the Armstrong gun. 
 
 When the hungry Scots prepared to make a raid 
 southward, they mounted their wiry horses, met at their 
 appointed places, and either waded the Solway or 
 forded the Liddel or the Esk. They crossed the border 
 by secret by-ways known only to themselves. They 
 knew every road across the mosses, and every ford 
 across the rivers. They also knew every channel of 
 escape from Cumberland to the north. The men were 
 armed with long spears, a two-handed sword, a battle- 
 axe or a Jedburgh staff, and latterly with dags or 
 pistols. Each, trooper carried his own provisions, which 
 consisted for the most part of a bag of oatmeal. They 
 trusted to the booty they seized for eking out their 
 meals. 
 
 So soon as it was known that the reivers were abroad 
 that they had crossed the Solway from Annandale, or 
 come down from Eskdale or Liddcsdale all Cumber- 
 land was roused. The beacons blazed out at Carlisle, 
 Watch-hill, Torpenhow, Sandale Head End, Beacon- 
 hill, and Skiddaw. The mounted troopers gathered at 
 the appointed places, harnessed in jacks, and armed 
 with spears and swords. Away they went in hot-trod ! 
 So soon as they came upon the mosstroopers the sleuth- 
 hounds 2 were set upon their track, and wherever they 
 
 1 In the sixteenth century the Armstrong clan, under the command of 
 the English chief, Sir Ralph Evans ravaged almost the whole of the west 
 border of Scotland. 
 
 a As late as 1616 there was an order from the King's Commissioners of 
 the Northern counties that a certain number of sleuth-hounds (so called
 
 g PURSUIT IN HOT TROD. [CHAP. z. 
 
 went they blew their horns to summon their country- 
 men to their help. They also carried a burning wisp of 
 straw or wood at their spears' point ; l and raised a cry 
 similar to that of the Indian warwhoop. It appears 
 that those who heard this cry were bound to join in the 
 chase under penalty of death. 
 
 The pursuit might last for days or for weeks. The 
 regulations of the barony of Gilsland, still preserved by 
 the Earl of Carlisle, show the nature of the border- 
 service of the tenants. Every tenant was required to 
 keep a good, able, and sufficient horse " such a nagge 
 as is able at anye tyme to beare a manne twentie miles 
 within Scotlande and backe againe without a baite. " 
 They were to be provided with a " jacke, steale-cap, 
 s\vord, bowe, or speare," and were to be ready " to serve 
 the Lord Warden or their officers upon sixe houres 
 warninge, in anye place where they shall be appointed 
 to serve." They were also required to appoint a watch 
 over their farms by day and by night ; and, when a foray 
 occurred at night, "the partie that is harried to keepe a 
 beaken burning of some height, of intente that not- 
 withstandinge all the country be in a fraye the fier may 
 be a token where the hurt is done, that all menne may 
 know which way to drawe."' 2 
 
 The old statesmen held their lands by border service, 
 as appears from the old title-deeds. They were required 
 to be ready to follow the fray when the mosstroopers 
 were abroad. They must be armed, horsed, and ready 
 to fight. In the recital attached to a decree in the 
 
 from their quality of tracing the slot, or track of men and animals) should 
 be maintained in every district in Cumberland bordering on Scotland. The 
 breed of this sagacious dog is nearly extinct. 
 
 1 A practice borrowed from the Norsemen, who formed large settlements 
 round the Solway Firth, as is still indicated by the names of places, and 
 especially of headlands. The Highlanders also borrowed their fiery crosi 
 from the Norsemen, many of whom became chiefs of the Highland clans. 
 
 B LYSON'S Ma^na Britannia, vol. iv., Cumberland xi. xii.
 
 CHAP, i.j LANDS HELD BY BORDER SERVICE. 9 
 
 Court of Chancery l relating to the Woodvilles or 
 Woodhalls, of Waterend, near Cockermouth, it is stated 
 that the " plaintiffs (the statesmen) and the other tenants 
 there, or their assigns, had time out of mind been seized 
 to them and their heirs, by and according to the ancient 
 and laudable custom of tenant-right then used, being 
 within the West Marches of England over against 
 Scotland ; " and further that they held " their several 
 tenements by serving upon the said borders of England 
 over against Scotland, at their own proper costs and 
 charges, within the said West Marches, then and so 
 often as thereunto they should be required by the Lord 
 Warden of the said West Marches, for the time being, 
 or his sufficient deputy or deputies, as well as defending 
 the frontiers of the said Marches, as in offending the 
 opposite Marches as occasion served." 
 
 The freebooting raids between the borderers of the 
 two countries continued long after the union of the 
 crowns. Shortly after James I. came to the throne of 
 England, he set up a claim to all the small estates in 
 Cumberland and Westmoreland, on the plea that the 
 statesmen were merely the tenants of the crown. The 
 statesmen met to the number of two thousand, at Ratten 
 Heath, between Kendal and Stavely, where they came 
 to the resolution that "they had won their lands by the 
 sword, and were able to hold them by the same." After 
 that meeting no further claim was made to their estates 
 on the part of the crown. 
 
 But freebooting had not yet come to an end. The 
 disposition to plunder had become part of the borderers' 
 nature. Mosstrooping continued during the English 
 Revolution and the Commonwealth ; and after the Res- 
 toration it reached to such a height that it was found 
 necessary to enact laws of great severity for the protec- 
 
 1 Dated the 251)1 April, 1597. LONSDALE'S Worthies of Ctimberland ; 
 "Memoir of Dr. Woodville," p. 231.
 
 lo END OK FKLIUIOOTING. (CUA.P. i. 
 
 tion of the more peaceful bordermen. The magistrates 
 were authorised to raise bodies of armed men for the 
 defence of property and order ; and provision was 
 made for supporting them by local taxation. Blood- 
 hounds were again used to track the mosstroopers to 
 their retreats among the hills. These measures, in 
 course of time, had their due effect. Yet it was not 
 until some time after the. union of England and Scot- 
 land, in Queen Anne's reign, that the border hostilities 
 died away, and the inhabitants were left to cultivate 
 their land in peace. 
 
 Yet cattle-stealing, and sheep-stealing the survivals 
 of the old freebooting system still continued to be 
 carried on. Juries were never found wanting when a 
 cattle-stealer was to be tried. The punishment was 
 short and sharp hanging by the neck. Even in modern 
 times it is difficult to induce a Carlisle jury to convict a 
 man of murder ; but when the offence is sheep-stealing, 
 the-conviction is certain. When Baron Martin crossed 
 Shapfell, on his Northern Circuit, he used to say, " Now 
 we have got into Cumberland, where we can scarcely 
 get a jury to convict a man of murder, even though he 
 has killed his mother ; but they will hang a man for 
 sheep-stealing ! " 
 
 The story is told of a stranger who visited Bewcastle 
 formerly the centre of a wild district for the purpose 
 of examining the Runic pillar in the churchyard. On 
 looking round among the tombstones, he was surprised 
 to find that they commemorated none but female deaths. 
 He made a remark to this effect to the old woman who 
 accompanied him : " Ou, Sir, do ye no ken what for ? 
 They're a' buried at that weary Caerl ! " He found, in 
 fact, that the male inhabitants of the district had either 
 been transported or hanged at Carlisle ! 
 
 The modern Cumberland Statesmen are the northern 
 yeomen of England. They ar men who work hard,
 
 CHAP, i.] CUMBERLAND STATESMEN. II 
 
 live frugally, and enjoy an honest independence. They 
 are neither squires nor labourers. They stand betwixt 
 both. They till their own soil and consume their own 
 produce. They sell the cattle and corn which they do 
 not require, to buy the household articles which they 
 cannot produce. They used to weave their own cloth. 
 In olden times, the " Grey coats of Cumberland " was a 
 common phrase. But all this has passed away ; and 
 statesmen are now sinking into the class of ordinary 
 farmers, or even labourers. 
 
 The statesmen of the mountain districts so many of 
 them as still remain are a very primitive class of 
 people. They know nothing of the rate of discount or 
 the price of gold. They have enough of the world's 
 gear to serve their purpose. They are uncorrupted by 
 modern luxury. They are content ; and happy to 
 enjoy the golden mean of Agur. They pass a simple 
 and inoffensive life amidst the lonely hills which sur- 
 round them. " Go," said one of these statesmen to a 
 tourist, " go to the vale on the other side of yon moun- 
 tain. You will find a house ; enter it, and say that you 
 came from me. I know him not, but he will receive 
 you kindly, for our sheep mingle upon the mountains ! " 
 
 These men have no inclination to change, either in 
 their life and customs, or in their sheep- farming. " At 
 Penruddock," says an agricultural report on Cumberland, 
 " we observed some singularly rough-legged, ill-formed 
 sheep, and on asking an old farmer where the breed came 
 from, he replied, ' They are sic as God set upon the 
 land : we never change them !' " These are the people 
 whom Wordsworth himself a Cumberland man has 
 described with so much character and feeling. 1 
 
 1 Close upon the border, the Cumberland men are rougher and readiet 
 than those towards the south. They have scarcely outgrown the moss 
 trooping life of their forefathers. Many of them are " Bworder Cowpers," 
 dealing in horses and cattle. One of them tried to recommend himself to 
 a travelling Scotsman by claiming kindred, affirming that he was a Border
 
 12 CHARACTER OF STATESMEN. [CHAP. I. 
 
 The state -men of the low-lying districts towards the 
 north are of a sturdier character. They have more 
 mother wit and back-bone. Their forefathers being 
 constantly on the alert to resist the inroads of the Scots, 
 have handed down to their sons their fearless resolution 
 and undaunted courage. They bear the greatest fatigue 
 with patience. They live contented on humble fare, 
 though their hospitality to strangers is open-handed 
 and liberal. Though not rich in money or land, they 
 are rich in character and healthful contentment They 
 are satisfied with their social position, and are even proud 
 of it. To be " an able and honest statesman " used to 
 be one of the highest titles in Cumberland. 
 
 The statesman's household was a school of thrift and 
 industry. The clothing was made at home. The 
 women wore linsey-wolsey cloth of their own making. 
 The young men and lads thought themselves well clad 
 if they went to kirk in homespun hodden -gray. Stalwart 
 sons and comely maidens were brought up on porridge, 
 oatcakes, and milk ; in fact there could be no better 
 food. These were occasionally varied with barley ban- 
 nocks, Whillimer cheese, potato-pot, a bit of bacon, and 
 an occasional slice of salt-beef or mutton in winter. 
 What could they require more ? Their sharpness of 
 appetite was whetted by the keen atmosphere of the 
 mountain air. 
 
 " Come in," said a tenant to his landlord one day, 
 " an hev a bit o' dinner afwore ye gang." The landlord 
 went in amongst the family, the servants, and the 
 labourers, who were about to " set to." Near the end 
 of the table was a large hot-pot, containing beef or 
 mutton, cut into pieces, and put into a large dish along 
 with potatoes, onions, pepper and salt. This was the 
 famous Cumberland " taty-pot." The farmer, after help- 
 Scot. "Gucle faith, I dinna doubt it," quoth the other ; "for the selvage 
 I* aye the warst part o' the web ! "
 
 CHAP. I.] MANNERS OF STATESMEN. 13 
 
 ing himself, thrust the dish towards the landlord, and 
 said, " Noo ye man help yersel, and hoivk in ! Theer's 
 plenty meat at bottom, but its rayther het ! " 
 
 Nor does this food disagree with the well-appetised 
 Cumbrians. They are for the most part men of large 
 stature. They are big-boned and broad-chested. Their 
 firm muscles, well-knit joints, and vigorous hands give 
 them great advantage as wrestlers. What they want in 
 agility and suppleness they make up for in strength. 
 
 Although the Statesman worked hard and lived on 
 humble fare, his wife was a Dame ; his eldest son was 
 the Laird ; and when there was no son, his eldest 
 daughter was the Lady. Thus, while the statesman 
 himself was at the plough, the laird was driving the cattle 
 to market, and the lady was working at the churn. 
 Getting up in the morning was a great point. The 
 Cumberland ballad-maker, when deploring the introduc- 
 tion of new customs fifty years ago, when the country 
 was " puzzened round wi' preyde," goes on to say 
 
 " We used to gan ta bed at dark, 
 
 An' rose agean at four or five ; 
 The mworn's the only time for wark, 
 If fwok are healthy and wad thrive." 
 
 The difference between one statesman and another 
 consisted principally in character. Where the states- 
 man was slow, sluggish, and inert, he gravitated rapidly 
 downwards. No changes were made in the improve- 
 ment of the farm. The old hive became filled with 
 drones. The sons dropped down to the condition of 
 farm servants and day-labourers. When the states- 
 man borrowed money and got into the hands of the 
 lawyers, he never got out of them until the land was 
 sold. 
 
 On the other hand, another statesman, of a better 
 sort, would keep the rooftree up by dint of energy and 
 forethought He would give his sons a fair education,
 
 H DECADENCE OF STATESMEN. [CHAP. I. 
 
 set before them a good example, instil into them prin- 
 ciples of independence and self-help, and send them 
 into the world braced with courage and the spirit of 
 duty. The eldest son became the statesman, like his 
 father before him. The second son sometimes became 
 a "priest" the ordinary name for a clergyman in 
 Cumberland, while the others emigrated to the colonies, 
 or entered into the various avenues of business life at 
 home. 
 
 On the whole, however, it must be confessed that the 
 statesmen of Cumberland, like the yeomanry of Eng- 
 land, have been rapidly disappearing during the last 
 century. Sir James Graham spoke of the cavalcade of 
 mounted statesmen who accompanied Mr. Blamire into 
 Carlisle, on his appointment as High Sheriff in 1828, as 
 " a body of men who could not be matched in any other 
 part of the kingdom. The sight they had seen that day 
 was such as they could never forget. The yeomanry of 
 Cumberland were the finest and purest specimens of a 
 set of men, who in all periods of its history had been the 
 strength and pride of their country." But the fifty years 
 that have passed away since then have seen great changes. 
 Wealth is everywhere absorbing landed property. Small 
 holdings are disappearing ; small estates are blotted out ; 
 and the Cumberland statesman is already becoming a 
 thing of the past. 1 
 
 1 "One thing," says Dr. Lonsdale, "is manifest in the history of the 
 yeomen, and that is, their gradual decadence, especially during the last 
 thirty years. Many a 'canny house,' where yeomen had for centuries kept 
 their yule, taught their sons and grandsons the traditions of their home, no 
 longer shelter 'the weel-kent folk o' ither days.' Even the naihes of their 
 founders are forgotten. This disappearance of names, if not of habitations, 
 in many rural districts, brings about reflections of by no means an agreeable 
 kind. Among many changes affecting both men and interests in these 
 northern counties, there is no change more marked than that arising from 
 the purchasing of real estates and the absorption of small holdings of a few 
 potato fields or share of pasturage, once the pride of decent folk content in 
 their changeless life, by larger landed proprietors. 
 
 ' 111 fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, 
 Where Wealth accumulates and Men decay.' "
 
 CHAP, i.] MOORE OF MEAT,SGATE. 15 
 
 During the long period that George Moore's fore- 
 elders lived at Overgates, few records of their lives 
 have been preserved. They had their part in the 
 border raids. They were always ready to join in the 
 fray when the mosstroopers were abroad. At the 
 western end of Overgates house, there was a con- 
 cealed place in which a nag or charger was kept ; for 
 in those days a nag was almost as good as a man. 
 When the war-cry of " Snaffle, spur, and spear ! " was 
 raised, the Moores of Overgates mounted like the rest, 
 and galloped off to the meeting-place. The border 
 towers and the cattle-keeps were in the valley below, 
 almost within sight of the homestead ; and when the 
 muster took place, away they went after the " ruffian 
 Scots." 
 
 Thus the Moores lived until the troublous times had 
 passed away, and peace fell upon the border-lands. The 
 young men and women intermarried with the sons and 
 daughters of the neighbouring statesmen. For the 
 most part they settled near the paternal home. Thus 
 there were the Moores of Bothel, the Moores of 
 Highwood-Nook, and the Moores of Kirkland all 
 in the parish of Torpenhow. In the churchyard we 
 read the names of the forgotten dead sometimes on 
 a broken gravestone covered with grey lichens. None 
 of them seem to have come to any fame in the world's 
 history. It was a little circle they lived in. Anxious 
 thrift and carefulness were their portion. They lived 
 their lives of joy and sorrow, of homely experience 
 and of daily work, little heedful of the troubles and 
 turmoils of the outer world. They did their duty, 
 and then they' went to rest. 
 
 Thomas Moore, a younger son of the statesman at 
 Overgates, was born in 1/33- He went to Bothel in 
 his youth to assist his brotl er in the work of the 
 farm. In 1773 he went to Meals^ te, where he
 
 1 6 BIRTH OF GEORGE MOORE. [CHAP. i. 
 
 purchased a farm of sixty acres, recited in the deeds 
 as " the Mealsgate tenement in the parishes of Boltoi? 
 or Allhallows." There he lived a careful, frugal, and 
 industrious life. Fair, market, and church, were the 
 only little breaks in his life of daily toil. He married, 
 and had an only son John Moore, the father of George. 
 John did not marry until he was thirty-five. We learn 
 from the Family Bible that on the i$th of February, 
 1800, he brought home Peggy Lowes, the daughter of 
 a neighbouring statesman, as his wife. The register 
 goes on to say that Thomas Moore was born on the 
 27th of January, 1802 ; Sarah on the I7th of January, 
 1804; George on the Qth of April, 1806; Mary on 
 the 5th of March, 1808; and William on the 3Oth of 
 March, 1810. Thomas Moore was now an old man. 
 lie lived to see all his grandchildren born. Then 
 he passed away and was laid amongst his forefathers 
 in Torpenhow church-yard, at the ripe age of seventy- 
 eight 
 
 The house at Mealsgate lies on the main road be- 
 tween Wigton and Cockermouth. It is a house of two 
 stories, standing a little back from the road. A brook 
 runs through the orchard before the house. It wanders 
 along the valley through the Whitehall estate, and 
 runs into the river Ellen, near Harbybrow. A few 
 scattered cottages lie about the place, constituting the 
 village of Mealsgate. 
 
 On entering the Moores' dwelling, you pass at once 
 from the outer door into the general sitting-room. This, 
 in Cumberland phrase, is known as "The House." A 
 large old-fashioned fireplace occupies one end the 
 " ingle neuk," round which the family -held their gene- 
 ral conclave and told stories of the olden time during 
 the winter evenings. At the other end of the room, 
 opposite the fireplace, is the Parlour, which is usually 
 appropriated as a bedroom by the married pair. Behind
 
 CHAP, i.] BIRTH OF GEORGE MOORE. 17 
 
 is the kitchen and the other offices. A staircase of the 
 simplest kind leads up to the four small low-roofed bed- 
 rooms above. 
 
 Such is the house at Mealsgate in which the subject 
 of the following story was born and brought up.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE'S BOYHOOD. 
 
 AFTER the birth, the christening. George Moore of 
 Bothel was to "stand for" the child. He was an old 
 bachelor, a man of good means, and he meant to " do 
 something " for his godson. A large party of Moores 
 assembled at Mealsgate on the christening morning. 
 It must have been regarded as a matter of considerable 
 importance. A chaise was brought from Wigton to 
 convey the mother and child up the hill to JBolton 
 Church. 
 
 Chaises were veiy uncommon in Cumberland in those 
 days. The roads were unsuitable for wheeled carriages. 
 Chaises were called those " queer trundlin' kists on't 
 roads." Horseback was the usual method of convey- 
 ance ; and women rode on pack-saddles. But on this 
 occasion, as the mother was delicate and the child was 
 young, a post-chaise was brought from Wigton to convey 
 them to Church. The child was baptized in the name 
 of his great-uncle and godfather, George Moore. His 
 father afterwards said of him that "he had begun the 
 world with a chaise, and he was likely to end it with a 
 chaise." 
 
 Old George Moore of Bothel, the godfather of the 
 child, was as good as his word. When he died, in 1817, 
 at the ripe age of seventy-two, he left his godson a legacy
 
 CHAP. II.] DEATH OF HIS MOTHER. '9 
 
 of ioo/., together with a big hair-trunk. The ioo/. was 
 to be paid to him when he reached the age of twenty- 
 one ; but by the time it was paid it amounted, with 
 accumulations of interest, to about i/o/. It was then 
 found very useful. The hair-trunk also had its history. 
 It had the letters " G. M." marked in brass nails on the 
 top. The hair-trunk went to Wigton, to London, to 
 America, and is still in the possession of the family at 
 Mealsgate. It is more than 150 years old. 
 
 The earliest recollection of George Moore was a very 
 painful one. He was about six years old when his 
 mother died. She was laid in the parlour, next to the 
 room known as " the house." The boy turned into the 
 parlour as usual, went up to his mother, touched her, 
 but she did not move ! He saw the cold pale face, and 
 the shrouded body. This was his first idea of Death, 
 and it left a startling impression on his mind. He saw 
 his mother taken away by men in black, followed by a 
 long train of mourners ; and he saw her no more. 
 
 The same night he was taken by his father to sleep 
 with him in the same bed from which his mother had 
 been taken in the morning. The boy was frightened, 
 startled, almost horror-struck. He did not sleep; 
 he was thinking of his departed mother. The recol- 
 lection of that day and of that night haunted him 
 all his life. It left in his mind a morbid horror of 
 death. It was so strong that he could never afterwards 
 see a dead person. His intense vitality recoiled from 
 the terrible accompaniments of that mystery which we 
 call Death. 
 
 And yet he had nearly his whole life before him. 
 Such losses as these must soon be forgotten, or remem- 
 bered only with sorrow ; otherwise life would be intoler- 
 able. It might be thought that John Moore, who took 
 his boy to sleep with him that night, was a hard and 
 unfeeling man. But this was not the case. Let George 
 
 C 2
 
 -2o GEORGE MOORE'S FATHER. [CHAP. n. 
 
 Moore himself speak of his father's character. " My 
 father," he says, "was a fine specimen of the North 
 Country yeoman, whose fore-elders had lived at the 
 same place for generations. His integrity, generosity, 
 and love of truth left influences on my life and character 
 for which I can never be too thankful. I have often 
 said that I think he never told a lie in his life. The 
 only time he flogged me was for telling a lie ; and 1 
 never felt so sorry for anything as to have grieved him. 
 
 " His great failing was in believing others too impli- 
 citly. His generosity got the better of his judgment. 
 He lost a great deal of money by becoming bound for 
 friends at public sales of cattle. The purchaser being 
 unable to pay, my father had to find the money. Very 
 often it was never repaid. Had it not been for the 
 thrifty and careful habits of the family, our estate would 
 long ago have passed into strange hands. At the same 
 time, my father was one of the most straightforward of 
 men. He had as great a moral courage as any man I 
 ever knew. I can well remember his ordering a man 
 out of his house who came in drunk, and reprimanding 
 others who had done some bad deed. John Moore of 
 Mealsgate was indeed a terror to evil-doers." 
 
 Some five years after his wife's death, John Moore 
 married again. The children were growing up untrained 
 and ill-tended. There wanted some clever woman about 
 the house to look after the bairns while John was afield 
 at his work. The consequence was that he married 
 Mary Pattinson, sister of the Rev. Mr. Pattinson, of 
 Caldbeck. She proved an active and managing house- 
 mate. She was a good wife as regarded her husband ; 
 but she did not get on very well with the elder children. 
 They regarded her as an intruder, and were predisposed 
 to resist her authority. " My stepmother," says George 
 Moore, "was invariably kind to me, but the elder 
 children probably had a strong prejudice against her.
 
 CHAP, ii.] EDUCATION IN CUMBERLAND. 21 
 
 At all events, as regarded the family, she did not add to 
 the happiness of our household." 
 
 At the age of eight, George Moore was sent to school. 
 The school to which he went was situated at Boltongate, 
 about two miles from Mealsgate. It used to lie at the 
 corner of Bolton churchyard, separated from the church 
 itself by the parish burying-ground. It has recently 
 been pulled down to make room for more graves. To 
 that school George Moore walked daily, wet or dry, to 
 receive his miserable quotum of "education." 
 
 Very little provision was made in those days for the 
 education of the rising generation. Cumberland was 
 no better than the other English counties. Any man 
 who had a stick-leg, or a club-foot, or a claw-hand, 
 thought himself fit to be a teacher. The three R's 
 formed the amount of the accomplishment given. The 
 teaching was altogether lifeless and humdrum. What 
 was knocked into the boys was done for the most part 
 by caning and whipping. In George Moore's case the 
 teaching was given by a man addicted- to drink. His 
 name was Blackbird Wilson. He was called Blackbird 
 because he could imitate the singing of any bird in the 
 neighbourhood, and especially of the blackbird. Here 
 is George Moore's account of him : 
 
 " The master, Blackbird Wilson, was an old man, 
 fond of drink. The scholars were sent out to fetch it 
 for him three or four times a day. He used to drive 
 the learning into us with a thick ruler, which he brought 
 down sharply upon our backs. He often sent the ruler 
 flying amongst our heads. The wonder is that he did 
 not break our skulls. Perhaps he calculated on their 
 thickness. His rule was to drive reading, writing, and 
 arithmetic into us by brute force. He never attempted 
 to make learning attractive. He did not cultivate the 
 understanding or endeavour to teach us the good of 
 knowledge. Such being the case, I was never fond of
 
 22 GEORGE MOORE'S SCHOOL-DAYS. [CHAP. n. 
 
 school. I often played the truant, and rambled about 
 whenever I could get away. Indeed I should have been 
 much oftener absent, had it not been for the dread of 
 the terrible floggings which were then as common in 
 Cumberland as elsewhere. My determination not to 
 study followed me through my school-days ; and often, 
 indeed, have I repented of my folly in not learning as 
 much as I could when at school, for I have often felt 
 the mortification of being ignorant. My faults were 
 those of an energetic and wayward disposition, unhelped 
 by a mother's sympathy and solace." 
 
 When Blackbird Wilson retired from the office of 
 schoolmaster, he was succeeded by Mr. Allison, a 
 humaner and better teacher. The Rev. W. M. Gunson, 
 M.A., has furnished the following information as to the 
 teaching and routine of the school while he attended it. 
 He says, "Dull tradition and immobility are very con- 
 servative in isolated country places like Bolton ; and I 
 believe that an account of my school-time will accurately 
 represent that of George Moore's. The curriculum con- 
 sisted of the three R's, with spelling. I have no recol- 
 lection of learning anything like grammar or parsing. 
 One other thing, however, was carefully taught, the 
 Church Catechism. In Lent, every year, we spent much 
 time in committing it to memory, and on the afternoon 
 of Easter Sunday we were publicly examined in it by 
 the clergyman in the church, in presence of the largest 
 congregation that assembled on any day of the year ; 
 for the parents were there, wishing to hear their children 
 acquit themselves well. 
 
 " The arrangements of the school itself were rude 
 and rough enough. The fire was lighted in the morn- 
 ings, and the school swept out by two of the boys in 
 turn, specially told off for the purpose. Their duty 
 lasted for a week, at the end of which they had the 
 privilege of naming their successors for the following
 
 CHAP, ii.] BARRING OOT. 2 3 
 
 week. When coals were wanted, the money to buy 
 them was raised by levying a tax of twopence or three- 
 half-pence each on all the scholars. Many of the 
 children, who came from a distance, brought a cold 
 dinner with them, and ate it in the school. The time 
 that remained at the midday interval was mostly spent 
 in bathing in the river Ellen, which runs about half a 
 mile from the school. This contributed to cleanliness 
 and health, and gave the boys a love of cold water 
 which clung to them through life. 
 
 " One of the holidays occurred in harvest time. It 
 was secured by a process of barring maister oot. As 
 soon as any of the scholars announced that they had 
 seen t' first stock, 1 a conspiracy was entered into ; and 
 during the midday interval the boys shut themselves up 
 in the school, and barricaded the door and windows 
 against outsiders. On the master returning from his 
 dinner, entrance was denied him. He generally made a 
 show of violence to break in, but of course he never 
 succeeded. When he found his efforts vain, he called a 
 parley. The first condition the boys insisted on was 
 freedom from punishment for the barring oot ; and when 
 that was promised, they then proceeded to negotiate as 
 to the length of the holiday that was to be given. Their 
 rebellion being always successful, was, like other success- 
 ful rebellions in wider spheres of action, regarded as an 
 act of schoolboy loyalty and patriotism, and when it was 
 over, all alike enjoyed its successful results." 
 
 The amusements of the boys during play-hours were 
 in some respects peculiar to the district. Wrestling, or 
 worsling, was their most famous sport. The boys tried 
 their strength with each other. They got to know the 
 best way of takiri hod ; the chips and the hypes ; the 
 buttocks and cross-buttocks ; the back-heeling, the hank 
 and the click inside. The wrestling of Cumberland and 
 
 1 The earliest shock of corn cut.
 
 2 4 SCHOOLBOY WRESTLING. [CHA?. n. 
 
 Westmoreland is well known. The game, as practised 
 there, is not so savage as that of Cornwall. There is no 
 hard kicking of the shins or legs, and the boys or men 
 who have thrown each other continue the same good 
 friends as ever. Men of all classes wrestle, statesmen, 
 ploughmen, cobblers, labourers, and even clergymen. 
 One of the most noted wrestlers in Cumberland was a 
 curate the Rev. Abraham Brown. William Richardson 
 of Caldbeck, and George Irving, the publican at Bolton- 
 gate (whose whisky Blackbird Wilson so much relished), 
 were the most noted wrestlers in the neighbourhood. 
 
 The boys began to try their physical powers early. 
 They wrestled with each other on the village greens. 
 George Moore, like his schoolfellows, often tried his 
 hand. He was strong and wiry; tenacious and perse- 
 vering. He learnt the various tricks of the art ; and 
 before he left school there were few boys who could 
 stand before him. 
 
 Another game of the schoolboys was Scots and 
 English. This was doubtless a survival of the old 
 border warfare. The boys form two parties, which 
 respectively represent the Scots and English. They fix 
 upon two strongholds, at the distance of from sixty to a 
 hundred yards apart. A boundary line is drawn, and 
 each party deposits their coats, waistcoats, and bonnets 
 at the proper hold. The sport then begins. The boys 
 run across the line, and endeavour to make prisoners of 
 each other, at the same time that they plunder the 
 enemy in the most dexterous manner, without becoming 
 prisoners. If they are taken prisoners they are carried 
 to a supposed place of confinement, though sometimes 
 the prisoners are mutually permitted to pillage for the 
 conquerors. The same game is played, with some slight 
 variations, on the Scottish side of the Border. 
 
 Among George Moore's other amusements was that 
 of bird-nesting. He was accustomed with other boys
 
 CHAP, ii.] GEORGE MOORE'S AMUSEMENTS. 25 
 
 to search the bushes which overhung the Dowbeck burn 
 and the trees which skirted the river Ellen. He climbed 
 trees that no one else dared to climb. He searched 
 the Peel Towers of Whitehall and Harbybrow. They 
 were haunted by jackdaws, whose eggs he wished to 
 secure. They built their nests in the old wide chimneys 
 of the towers. With his usual daring, he had himself 
 let down by ropes from the top of the towers to the 
 places where the nests were built. Thus he brought 
 home lots of eggs, and when he had blown them and 
 strung them, he hung them in long rows over the 
 mantelpiece at Mealsgate. 
 
 George Moore was an excellent player at marbles. 
 He was so successful, that the other boys thought that 
 the merit was due to the marbles and not to the player. 
 They consequently bought his marbles for a penny 
 apiece, though they cost him only five for a halfpenny. 
 As he was not allowed any pocket-money, the money 
 thus earned was sometimes found very useful. 
 
 For instance, on one occasion, when eleven years old, 
 he went from Mealsgate to Carlisle to see a man hanged 
 who had passed a forged Scotch note. He was accom- 
 panied by another boy. They started early in the 
 morning, and made their way to Carlisle, walking a 
 distance of seventeen miles. They reached the Sands, 
 where the execution was to take place. But the boys, 
 being so little, could scarcely see over the heads of the 
 people who crowded round the gallows. George, with 
 his usual resolution, determined to push himself forward, 
 and got as near to the gallows as possible. He pushed 
 through amongst the people's legs, and when he got to 
 the troop of dragoons who surrounded the scaffold, he 
 passed under the horses' legs, and thus got to the front 
 rank. He saw all that happened. When the man was 
 hanged, George swooned away. When he came to 
 himself, he found that some hot coffee was being poured
 
 26 D'YE KEN JOHN PEEL. [CHAP. n. 
 
 into his mouth. He could never afterwards bear the 
 taste of coffee. After the execution, he walked home 
 again ; thus doing thirty-four miles walking in a day 
 a remarkable proof of strength in so young a boy. 
 
 George Moore, though an unwilling scholar, enjoyed 
 his truant days and his holidays very much. " Being 
 passionately fond of horses," he says, " whenever I 
 escaped from school I spent the time in leading the 
 horses with the carts of some farmer in the neighbour- 
 hood." He had also the ambition of following the 
 hounds. One day he got hold of his father's half- 
 blind mare and mounted her barebacked. He could 
 not take the saddle, for that might be missed. But 
 away he went in search of John Peel and his hounds, 
 which he understood were to hunt that day over the 
 adjoining fells : 
 
 D'ye ken John Peel with his coat so gray ? 
 D'ye ken John Peel at tJie break of day ? 
 D'ye ken John Peel when he's far, far away, 
 
 With his hounds and his horn in tJie morning ? 
 'Twas the sound of his horn brought me from my bed, 
 An' the cry of his hounds has me ofttimes led ; 
 For PeeFs view-holloa would 'waken tJte dead, 
 Or a fox from his lair in the morning. 
 
 John Peel was an enthusiastic and hair-brained fox- 
 hunter. His name was very widely known. The song 
 from which the above verses are taken is known all over 
 the world, wherever English hunters have penetrated. 
 It was heard in the soldiers' camps at the siege of 
 Lucknow. It is well known in America. Boys whistle 
 the tune, or sing the song, all over Cumberland. 1 
 
 1 John Woodstock Graves, the aulhor of D'ye ken John Peel, gives the 
 following account of its composition : " Nearly forty years have passed 
 since John Peel and I ^at in a snug parlour at Caldbeck among the 
 Cumbrian mountains. We were then both in the heyday of manhood, and
 
 CHAP, iij JOHN PEEL. 
 
 27 
 
 John Peel lived at Uldale, near Caldbeck, between 
 Brocklebank Fell and the High Pike, not far from 
 Bolton church. Everybody knew him and his hounds. 
 They knew where he was to meet and where he was to 
 hunt. He had a rare mongrel pack of hounds. They 
 were of all sorts and sizes, yet they were good hunters. 
 He had an immense affection for his dogs, as they had 
 for him. A mutual feeling seemed to exist between 
 them. One who knew him said, that if he threatened, 
 or even spoke sharply to a dog, he would be found 
 wandering and hiding for two or three days together, 
 unless he had previously expressed his always returning 
 kindness. Whenever they came to a dead-lock he was 
 sure to be found talking to some favourite hound as if it 
 had been a human being. The dogs seemed to know 
 all that he said relative to hunting as well as the best 
 sportsman in the field. 
 
 John Peel hunted everything, from a rabbit to a fox. 
 Even the sheep were not secure against his hounds. 
 Boys used to assemble from all quarters to see the hunt 
 start, and to follow it on foot as far as they could. 
 Happy were they who, like George Moore, could obtain 
 a barebacked horse. For this they would endure any 
 punishment. The first hunt of George Moore's with 
 John Peel's hounds occurred about the year 1816; 
 
 hunters of the older fashion ; meeting the night before to arrange the earth- 
 stopping, and in the morning to take the best part of the hunt the drag 
 over the mountains in the mist while fa hionable hunters still lay in their 
 blankets. Large flakes of snow fell that evening We sat by the fireside 
 hunting over again many a good run, and recalling the feats of each par- 
 ticular hound, or narrow breakneck escapes, when a flaxen -haired daughter 
 of mine came in, saying, ' Father, what do you say to what .Grannie sings ?' 
 Grannie was singing to sleep my eldest son now a leading barrister in 
 Hobart-town with an old rant called Bonnie Annie. The pen and ink 
 for hunting appointments being on the table, the idea of writing a song to 
 the old air forced itself upon me, and thus was produced impromptu, D'ye 
 ken 'John feel with his coat so gray ? Immediately after, I sang it to poor 
 Peel, who smiled through a stream of tears which fell down his manly 
 cheeks: and I well remember saying to him in a joking style, 'By Jove, 
 Peel, you'll be sung when we're both run to earth! '" St.ngs and Balladi 
 of Cumberland and the Lake Country, by S. GlLPlN.
 
 2b SHEPHERDS' FOX-HUNTS. [CHAP. 11, 
 
 though the famous old huntsman lived on till 1854, and 
 died full of honours at the ripe age of seventy-eight. 1 
 
 There was another sort of hunt in which George 
 Moore took a still keener interest than in the hunt with 
 John Peel on a barebacked horse. This was a day with 
 the Dalesmen, who are all keen hunters. The shepherds 
 look upon the fox as their natural enemy. They are 
 not like the low-country hunters, who cherish the fox, 
 find covers for him, and regard the unhallowed man who 
 kills him as a vulpicide. In Cumberland and West- 
 moreland the fox, in lambing time, takes to the hills. 
 On his way he robs some auld wife's henroost : and 
 when he reaches the higher grounds he begins to worry 
 the lambs. The hue-and-cry is got up against him. 
 The shepherds collect their collies, and determine to 
 hunt the fox and destroy him. 
 
 The cry goes abroad that there is to be a hunt. All 
 the runners in the neighbourhood join the shepherds. 
 They bring dogs of all sorts, Scotch terriers, retrievers, 
 Dandie Dinmonts, Bedlington terriers, bulldogs, grey- 
 hounds, foxhounds, and everything that will run. All 
 is done on foot, so that the fleetest is in at the death. 
 The shepherds soon find out the fox. They know where 
 he is by the remains of his last lamb-feast. They track 
 him to the adjoining holes, and his smell soon betrays 
 where he is. Sometimes he is drawn like a badger ; and 
 then he is worried where he is. At other times he hears 
 the yelping of the dogs and the noise of his pursuers, 
 and hastens away. " There he is ! Yoicks ! " There 
 is a terrible run ; up hill and down dale ; through bogs 
 
 1 John Peel possessed a small estate near Caldbeck. He spent the greater 
 part of his fortune in keeping up his hounds and harriers. He used to sell 
 a bit of hi-; land from time to time to carry on the hunt. At length he 
 became much embarrassed. The Cumberland hunters then called a meet, 
 and before parting they sang John Peel in full chorus, presenting him with 
 a handsome gratuity, which enabled him to shake off his encumbrances 
 and to die in peace and quiet.
 
 CHAP, ii.] HARVEST-TIME. 29 
 
 and marshes ; over the fell and down into the hollow 
 beyond, where the fox is lost in some " borrant." But 
 the shepherds are out again next day, and they never 
 cease their efforts until they have killed the fox or 
 driven him away from the sheepwalks. 
 
 George Moore's school-days were not yet over. Though 
 fond of fun, frolic, wrestling, bird-nesting, and hunting, 
 he was yet a general favourite. He was such a helpsome 
 boy. He thought nothing of getting up early in the 
 morning and walking nine or ten miles over the Fells to 
 Over Water to get a basket of fish for the family. In 
 the autumn, he would walk a long way up Binsey Hill 
 for blackberries. During the war time, the necessaries 
 of life were very dear. Everything was taxed to the 
 uttermost. Poor people could scarcely live. Salt was 
 sixteen shillings a stone. This told very heavily on the 
 statesmen ; for salt was necessary for many things con- 
 nected with farming and cattle-keeping. 
 
 "I was much delighted," says George Moore in his 
 autobiography, "when the harvest holidays came. As 
 my brother did not pay me any wages, and as I only 
 had my meat and clothes, I hired myself out, when the 
 home fields were cut, to the neighbouring farmers ; and 
 I was thus enabled to get some pocket-money which I 
 could call my own. I started at sixpence a day, and 
 by the time that I was ten years old I got eighteenpence 
 a day. When I reached the age of twelve, being a very 
 strong boy, I ' carried my rig ' with the men. I sheared 
 with the sickle, and kept time and pace with the full- 
 grown shearers. For this I earned two shillings a day, 
 with my food. This was considered unequalled for a 
 boy of my age to accomplish." 
 
 There were several customs peculiar to Cumberland 
 and Westmoreland which were then always observed in 
 harvest-time. At the finishing of the corn-cutting, the 
 great object of each man was to shear the last shock of
 
 30 A KURN! A KURN! [CHAP, it 
 
 corn, as it was thought lucky to do so. Therefore each 
 tried to hide beneath his feet or at "dyke back" a little 
 shock of corn, so as to get the last cut. He who suc- 
 ceeded, plaited it at night and hung it up on the beams 
 of the house, where it remained until Christmas morning, 
 when it was given to the best milk cow. Before leaving 
 the field, the shearers all clustered together, and one of 
 them said : 
 
 " Blessed be that day that our Saviour was born ; 
 Our maisters got his hay Jwused and all his 
 corn sJwrn I " 
 
 Then all shouted together " A Kurn ! A Kurn ! 
 Halloo ! " That night the Kurn-supper was provided, 
 of which butter-sops formed the principal part. This 
 was composed of wheaten flour baked on a girdle, like 
 oatcakes. It was broken up into small fragments, and 
 mixed with butter, sugar, and rum, and afterwards with 
 half-churned cream. After the supper; songs were sung ; 
 and country-dances and reels were danced to a neigh- 
 bour's fiddle. Sometimes even measure was kept to a 
 tune given by a good singer, or, better still, by the best 
 whistler of the party. 
 
 To return to George Moore's early education. After 
 leaving Blackbird Wilson's school at Boltongate, for 
 which his father paid six shillings and sixpence a 
 quarter, he was sent to Pedler Thommy's school at 
 Crookdake, near Leegate. Thommy had been a pedler, 
 as his name indicated. Though he had broken down as 
 a pedler, he was thought good enough to be a school- 
 master. He was not a good teacher, though he was 
 much less cruel and drunken than the Blackbird. 
 
 About this time George Moore formed an acquain- 
 tance with the Daniels of Newland's Row, Mealsgate. 
 One of the boys was a good wrestler, and George had 
 many a hard struggle with him on the Leesrig pasture.
 
 CHAP, ii.] SCHOOL EDUCATION FINISHED. 31 
 
 In the evenings, he used to go into their house, and 
 there he learnt to knit Joseph Daniels seated at one 
 end of the fender, and George Moore at the other, the 
 girls sitting by at their wheels. They all went to learn 
 dancing together at the Apple-tree public-house at 
 Mealsgate. 
 
 By this time George had reached the age of twelve. 
 His father sent him to a finishing school at Blenner- 
 hasset. He remained there for only a quarter : the cost 
 was eight shillings. " The master," he says, " was a 
 good writer and a superior man indeed a sort of genius. 
 For the first time I felt that there was some use in 
 learning, and then I began to feel how ignorant I was. 
 However, I never swerved from my resolve to go away 
 from home. I had no tastes in common with my 
 brother. I felt that I could not hang about half idle, 
 with no better prospect before me than that of being a 
 farm-servant. So I determined that I would leave 
 home at thirteen and fight the battle of life for myself."
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 APPRENTICESHIP. 
 
 BUT how was the battle of life to be fought ? How was 
 George Moore to enter upon the struggle ? Where was 
 he to begin ? In a very small way, as with all beginnings. 
 A draper in Wigton, called Messenger, having intimated 
 to Daniel Wilkinson that he 1 wanted an active boy, 
 Wilkinson immediately answered, " I know the very boy 
 for you !" : The boy was George Moore. 
 
 Wilkinson, being a friend of the Moores, told them 
 that Messenger would come out some day and see his 
 proposed apprentice. John Moore did not welcome the 
 suggestion. He did not wish his boy to be a draper, 
 or anything of the sort. Why should he not " stick by 
 the land," as his fathers had done before him ? He 
 thought it rather humiliating that either of his sons 
 should enter trade. 
 
 Nevertheless Messenger came out to Mealsgate to see 
 the boy. Old Moore would not hear of George going 
 to Wigton. " If you want a boy take Thomas, but 
 leave me George ; he's far the better worker." Thomas, 
 however, would not go. He was the eldest son, and was 
 heir to the property. If any one was to go, it must be 
 George and not Thomas. 
 
 Mrs. Moore, George's stepmother, wished him to go. 
 He was a favourite of hers, and seeing his eagerness,
 
 CHAP, in.] APPRENTICESHIP AT WIGTON. 33 
 
 she strongly advised his father to let him go to Wigton. 
 She did not think he could be of much use at Meals- 
 gate. He would hang on to the estate ; and after all he 
 could never rise much above the rank of farm-servant. 
 Besides, George reiterated his determination to leave 
 home. He could not get even the wages that he earned 
 on the farm. He wanted to do something for himself. 
 He would go to Wigton. 
 
 In the meantime Messenger had been looking into 
 the lad's face. " L like the look of him very much," 
 said he to his father. " He is strong and active. He's 
 just the boy for me. You must let me have him." At 
 last John Moore, who was an easy, good-natured man, 
 and perhaps somewhat under the control of his wife, 
 gave way. " Well," said he, " I fear I maun part vvi' 
 him ; God bless thee, my lad." It was at length 
 arranged that George Moore should be bound apprentice 
 to Messenger for four years. 
 
 George made the necessary arrangements to leave 
 Mealsgate. He had to part with his donkey, his dearly 
 beloved companion. He sold him to John Dobbins for 
 sixteen shillings, though he had to wait long for the 
 money. Then his clothes and his linen had to be 
 arranged. After everything was ready, they were packed 
 in the hair trunk bequeathed to him by his great-uncle, 
 and sent on to Wigton by the cart. George and his step- 
 mother rode thither on horseback, she clinging to him on 
 the packsaddle behind. There were many things to be 
 arranged at Wigton as to the boy's feeding and lodging. 
 
 Wigton is a small country town, about eleven miles 
 west of Carlisle. It used to be celebrated for its hand- 
 loom weaving and calico-printing; though these trades 
 have now left the place and become absorbed in the 
 great manufacturing centres. It is now principally 
 known for its weekly markets, and its horse and cattle 
 fairs. Its population is nearly stationary. 
 
 D
 
 34 HALF-MOON INN. [CHAP. in. 
 
 Mrs. Moore arranged that George should sleep in his 
 master's house and get his meals in the adjoining public- 
 house the Half-Moon Inn. It was a very bad arrange- 
 ment for a boy brought from 'home, without a friend in 
 the place, to have to go to a public-house and get his 
 meals. It brought him into contact with the drinking 
 part of the population, and put him in the way of joining 
 in their drinking habits. He himself says, " My appren- 
 ticeship will not bear reflection. My master was more 
 thoughtless than myself. He gave way to drinking, and 
 set before me a bad example. Unfortunately I lodged 
 in the public-house nearly all the time, and saw nothing 
 but wickedness and drinking." 
 
 So far as the shop was concerned, George got on very 
 well. He was civil, attentive, and hard working. He 
 soon made friends with the customers. They preferred 
 to be served by him rather than by his master or fellow- 
 apprentice. He gives the following account of his 
 work: "I had to make the fire, clean the windows, 
 groom my master's horse, and dc *nany things that boys 
 from our ragged schools nowadays think they are ' too 
 good for.' I should have been happy enough, but for 
 the relentless persecution and oppression of my fellow- 
 apprentice, who was some years older than myself. 
 He lost no opportunity of being cruel to me. He once 
 nearly throttled me. He tried to damage my character 
 by spreading false reports about me, and telling untruths 
 to my master. Even now, after so many years have 
 passed, I can still feel the burden under which my life 
 groaned from the wrongs and misrepresentations of that 
 time. 
 
 " After about two years this tyrant left, and I became 
 head apprentice. I had now to keep the books, serve 
 the good customers, and borrow money to pay my 
 master's debts ; for by this time he had become very 
 unsteady. The only marvel was that in God's good
 
 CHAP in.] MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE. 35 
 
 providence I did not become a victim to drink myself, 
 as I saw nothing else before me. I slept at the shop, 
 but got my food at the Half-Moon public-house. Then 
 I had to give a glass of spirits and water to all the good 
 customers, even if a parcel was bought as small as a 
 five-shilling waistcoat. 
 
 " I now considered myself of some importance, 
 having an apprentice under me ! He had lots of 
 pocket-money, and I had none. We therefore played 
 at cards, and I won his money. I did it in fair play, 
 having always luck at cards. This gave me a taste for 
 play. I kept a pack of cards in my pocket. I played 
 at cards almost every night. I went to the public-houses 
 and played with men for high stakes. I frequently lost 
 all that I had, but I often gained a great deal. I some- 
 times played the whole night through. Gambling was 
 my passion, and it might have been my ruin. I was, 
 however, saved by the following circumstance : 
 
 " I had arranged an easy method for getting into my 
 master's house at night, after my gambling bouts. I 
 left a lower window unfastened ; and by lifting the sash 
 and pushing the shutters back, I climbed in, and went 
 silently up to my bed in the attic. But my master 
 having heard some strange reports as to my winnings 
 and losings at cards, and fearing that it might at last 
 end in some disaster to himself, he determined to put a 
 stop to my gambling. One night, after I had gone out 
 with my cards, he nailed down the window through 
 which I usually got entrance to the house, and when I 
 returned, and wished to get in, lo ! the window was 
 firmly closed against me. 
 
 " It was five o'clock in the morning of Christmas Eve. 
 That morning proved the turning-point in my life ! 
 After vainly trying to open the window, I went up the 
 lane alongside the house. About a hundred yards up, 
 I climbed to the ridge of the lowest house in the row 
 
 D 2
 
 36 REMORSE AND PENITENCE. [CHAP. ill. 
 
 From thence I clambered my way up to the next 
 highest house, and then managed to creep along the 
 ridges of the intervening houses, until I reached the 
 top of my master's dwelling the highest house of all. 
 I slid down the slates until I reached the waterspout. 
 I got hold of it, and hung suspended over the street. 
 I managed to get my feet on to the window sill, and 
 pushed up the window with my left foot. This was no 
 danger or difficulty to me, as I had often been let down 
 by bigger boys than myself with a rope round my waist, 
 into the old square tower at Whitehall, that I might rob 
 the jackdaws of their nests and eggs. 
 
 " I dropt quietly into my room, and went to bed. 
 Soon after, Messenger came up to look after me, and 
 found me apparently asleep. I managed to keep up 
 the appearance so long as he remained there. I heard 
 him murmuring and threatening that the moment I got 
 up he would turn me out of the place. This only served 
 to harden me. But in the morning the waits came 
 round, playing the Christmas carols. Strangely enough, 
 better thoughts came over me with the sweet music. I 
 awoke to the sense of my wrongdoing. I felt over- 
 whelmed with remorse and penitence. I thought of my 
 dear father, and feared that I might break his heart, 
 and bring his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. 
 
 " I lay in bed, almost without moving, for twenty-four 
 hours for it was Christmas Day. No one came near 
 me. I was without food or drink. I thought of what I 
 should do when I got up. If my master turned me off, 
 I would go straightway to America. I resolved, in any 
 case, to give up card-playing and gambling, which, by 
 God's grace, I am thankful to say, I have firmly carried 
 out. 
 
 " I got up next morning, and the good woman at the 
 Half-Moon Inn, where I took my meals, received me 
 with tears ; as my master had been telling several
 
 CHAP, in.] FORGIVENESS AND AMENDMENT. 37 
 
 persons that he would turn me away, and have nothing 
 more to do with me. She at once sent for two of my 
 master's intimate friends to intercede for me. They 
 came, and after a good deal of persuasion, Messengei 
 consented to give me another trial. From this moment 
 my resolution kept firm as a rock. I gave up all card- 
 playing and gambling. I was very regular in all my 
 habits. I went constantly to a night-school to improve 
 my education ; and I thus proved to all the sincerity of 
 my repentance. 
 
 " It was well for me, and perhaps for many others, 
 that all this had occurred. It has caused me, on many 
 occasions, since I have had hundreds of young men in 
 my employment, to forgive what I have seen wrong in 
 their conduct, and give them another chance. Probably 
 I might not have done this had I not remembered the 
 down-falling course that I had entered on during my 
 apprenticeship at Wigton." 
 
 The rest of George Moore's apprenticeship may be 
 briefly told. He won the affection and trust of his 
 master, who reposed the utmost confidence in him. 
 When the travellers came round for their money George 
 had to find it for them. Indeed the business would 
 have gone to ruin but for his industry and management. 
 Messenger was drinking harder than ever. When on 
 the rampage, his apprentice had to do all that was 
 necessary to keep the business in order. George had 
 often to borrow money from other tradesmen, giving 
 merely his word that it would be paid back. At his 
 own request he removed his lodgings from Messenger's 
 to Nanny Graves's, 1 in Church Street. He took his 
 meals there instead of at the public-house. He was 
 thus removed out of the way of temptation. 
 
 George knew everybody in Wigton. He was a 
 
 1 Nanny Graves was the mother of John Woodcock Graves, the authoi 
 of D'ye ken John Peel.
 
 38 LIFE AT VVIGTON. [CHAP. in. 
 
 general favourite. He used to be seen scampering 
 about the place without his cap; first running into one 
 house and then into another, asking about the inmates 
 " How Betty was ? " " How Nanny was," and " How 
 all the bairns were?" He met his young friends on 
 "snap-nights," and played games with them. In the 
 long summer evenings, after the shop was shut, he met 
 them on the nearest green. There they played at 
 " set-caps " that is, daring each other to do the most 
 venturesome things such as jumping highest, running 
 fastest, or throwing the biggest boy. George kept his 
 hand in at wrestling, and by the time he left Wigton he 
 was considered the best wrestler in the place. 
 
 He had, however, ventured too much. He got wet, 
 took cold, and was laid up with rheumatic fever. Then 
 Mrs. Smith took him to her house, and nursed him 
 carefully. He was ill for about thirteen weeks, and 
 when he was able to go about, he was so spent that 
 scarcely anybody knew him. George never forgot the 
 kindness of Mrs. Smith and her servant Susan. 
 
 He was accustomed, at the end of the week, to walk 
 home to Mealsgate to see his relatives. Being of a 
 sociable disposition, he had a great wish to extend his 
 hospitality to his friends, and he often took one or other 
 of them with him. They were not always welcome at 
 Mealsgate. The stepmother thought they were in the 
 way, or Thomas thought it extravagant to entertain 
 " fremd folks." On such occasions, George took his 
 friends to Aunt Dinah's at Bolton Hall, where they 
 were always made welcome. They were allowed to run 
 about the farm, to ride the horses, to bathe in the Ellen, 
 and do whatever they liked. 
 
 One day George brought with him a friend from 
 Wigton accoutred in boots. Boots were not so common 
 in those days as they are now; clogs being more gene- 
 rally worn. The two lads walked about the fields all
 
 CHAP, in.] BOLTON HALL. 39 
 
 day, and, the grass being wet, the boots became 
 thoroughly sodden. When night arrived, and they 
 prepared to go to bed, the boots had to be got off. 
 First one tried, and then another. The whole family 
 tried in turn to pull them off, but they would not budge. 
 So George's friend had at last to go to bed in his boots, 
 tied about in cloths to save the bedding. 
 
 When George slept at Bolton Hall he usually occu- 
 pied the Parlour. There were strange rumours about 
 that room. It was thought to be haunted. Ghostly 
 tappings were heard inside the wall. The little dog of 
 the house would tremble all over on hearing the strange 
 noises. George was in great dread of the bogle, though 
 he himself never heard the tappings. 1 Yet, with the 
 strong love of sleep for he always slept well he at 
 last went off, heard no more, and was up, bright and 
 joyous, in the early morning. 
 
 To show the confidence with which George Moore 
 was regarded at Wigton, the following anecdote may be 
 related. Mr. Todd, a banker at Wigton, who had often 
 advanced money to enable George to meet the claims 
 of the travellers as they came round, one day asked 
 Messenger to spare his apprentice for a few days, as he 
 wished to send him on a special errand of trust. It 
 appeared that a cattle-dealer of the neighbourhood had 
 a considerable sum of money in Todd's bank ; that he 
 had bought a quantity of cattle in Scotland, and de- 
 sired the banker to send him the necessary money to 
 
 1 The supposed cause of the tappings was ascertained long after George 
 had left Bolton. His uncle, when "sair fresh" one night (that is, pretty 
 full of drink), heard the noises, and getting up, vowed that he would stand 
 it no longer. He got a pick and broke into the wall. A hollow space 
 was f und, and a skeleton hand fell out. This terrified the discoverer so 
 much, that he immediately had the wall built up. How the skeleton hand 
 got in was never discovered. But a legend had been preserved which stated 
 that a stranger was once seen to go into Bolton Hall, and that he never 
 came out again.
 
 40 ADVENTURE WITH A CATTLE-DEALER. [CHAP. in. 
 
 pay for them. It was for this purpose that Mr. Todd 
 desired the help of George Moore. 
 
 The boy, always ready for adventure, was quite 
 willing to give his services, especially to a gentleman 
 who had proved so kind to him as Mr. Todd had been. 
 A horse was provided, and the boy rode away north- 
 ward with several hundred pounds in his pocket. He 
 crossed the border at Gretna, and made his way west- 
 ward to Dumfries. There he met the cattle-dealer, and 
 handed him the money. It was all right. His mission 
 had now ended, and he proposed returning to Wigton 
 by the same road that he had come. The cattle-dealer, 
 however, interposed. " What do you say," he asked, 
 " to help me to drive the cattle home ? " " Oh," said 
 George, "I have no objections." It was only a little 
 addition to the adventure. 
 
 The two remained together all day. They drove the 
 cattle by unfrequented routes in the direction of Annan. 
 At length they reached the shores of the Solway Firth. 
 The proper route into England was by Gretna, though 
 the road by that way was much longer. But the cattle- 
 dealer declared his intention of driving his cattle across 
 the Solway Sands. Here was an opportunity for 
 George to give up his charge, and return home by the 
 ordinary road. But no ! if the cattle-dealer could cross 
 the sands, he could cross. And so he remained to see 
 the upshot of the story. 
 
 The tide was then at low ebb. The waste of sand 
 stretched as far as the eye could reach. It was gloam- 
 ing by this time, and the line of English coast about 
 five miles distant looked like a fog-bank. Night came 
 on. It was too dark to cross then. They must wait 
 till the moon rose. It was midnight before its glitter 
 shone upon the placid bosom of the Firth. The cattle- 
 dealer then rose, drew his beasts together, and drove 
 them in upon the sands.
 
 CHAP, in.] CROSSING SOL WAY SANDS. 41 
 
 They had proceeded but a short way when they 
 observed that the tide had turned. They pushed the 
 beasts on with as much speed as they could. The 
 sands were becoming softer. They crossed numberless 
 pools of water. They they saw the sea-waves coming 
 upon them. On, on ! It was too late. The waves, 
 which sometimes rush up the Solway three feet abreast, 
 were driving in amongst the cattle. They were carried 
 off their feet, and took to swimming. The horses, upon 
 which George Moore and his companion were mounted, 
 also took to swimming. They found it difficult to keep 
 the cattle together one at one side, and one at the 
 other. Yet they pushed on as well as they could. It 
 was a swim for life. The cattle became separated, and 
 were seen in the moonlight swimming in all directions. 
 At last they reached firmer ground, pushed on, and 
 landed near Bowness. But many of the cattle had 
 been swept away, and were never afterwards heard of. 
 Shortly after, George Moore reached Wigton in safety. 
 
 Not long after this event George's apprenticeship 
 drew to an end. He remained with Messenger a little 
 while longer. Messenger was rapidly going to the bad. 
 George Moore could learn little more of his business in 
 Wigton. He therefore determined to leave the place 
 and look out for employment elsewhere. Where 
 should he go ? He could not think of Carlisle. He 
 must go to London : that only would satisfy him. He 
 had not said much of his intentions at home ; but when 
 he at length announced his determination, it came with 
 a shock upon his father and his sister Mary. Mary was 
 his favourite sister. She was about two years younger 
 than himself. When she went into Wigton on market 
 days, she always tried to get a sight of George. One 
 day she lingered about Messenger's shop, passing and 
 repassing the door, but George was busy with his 
 customers and did not see her. She went home greatly
 
 42 THE COUNTRY BOY. [CHAP. 111. 
 
 distressed. So, when George announced his intention 
 of going to London, she joined with her father in en- 
 deavouring to dissuade him from his purpose ; but it 
 was of no use. He had made up his mind, for even in 
 boyhood he never swerved from his purpose. 
 
 At length, after many heart-burnings, it was arranged 
 that George should go to London to see whether he 
 could find any suitable employment there. Before he 
 left Wigton, his father came in to take his final leave 
 of him. He brought thirty pounds with him to pay 
 the boy's expenses. He thought it would be enough, 
 but if George wanted more he must let him know. 
 The parting was very touching. The father grat and 
 the son grat, one against the other. At last Nanny 
 Graves could stand it no longer "What gars ye 
 greet that way ? " she said to John Moore ; " depend 
 upon't, yer son '11 either be a great nowt or a great 
 soomat ! " * 
 
 At length they parted, George's sister Mary going 
 part of the road with him to carry his bundle. The 
 hair trunk, packed with his clothes, was already on its 
 way to Carlisle. On arriving there, he put up at the 
 " Grey Goat " Inn, the usual place* of resort for the 
 Wigton folk ; and next morning, at five o'clock, he 
 started by coach for London. 
 
 And here ended George Moore's early life in Cumber- 
 land. It was a good thing for him that he was born 
 and brought up in the country. Though his education 
 had been small, his knowledge of men was great. He 
 was already able to distinguish character, which can 
 never be learnt from books. The individuality of the 
 country boy is much greater than that of the town 
 boy. His early life is not poisoned by pleasure. He 
 is in active and sympathetic contact with those about 
 
 1 A great nothing, or a great something.
 
 CHAP. HI.] LEAVING FOR LONDON. 43 
 
 him. He knows every person by name and is ac- 
 quainted with their conditions and circumstances. He 
 lives in a sort of family feeling of community with those 
 about him. 
 
 The country boy, in his earliest years, belongs en- 
 tirely to that which surrounds him. He feels a special 
 attraction towards animals, by reason of the individu- 
 ality of their lives. He is acquainted with birds, with 
 the places in which they build, and all their signs, and 
 sounds, and habits. He keeps his eyes open, and learns 
 many things of deep interest and instruction, which 
 colour all his future life. He walks amongst wonders, 
 and gathers new knowledge in the life of every day. 
 At length he takes part in the work and pleasures of 
 man. He ploughs, or sows, or reaps in the fields of 
 the home farm. Or he enjoys country sports running, 
 wrestling, or hunting the rougher the better, and he 
 becomes healthy and robust. In the winter evenings 
 he hears the stories of border life, and thus learns the 
 lessons of his race. He also will be bold and valiant, 
 as his fathers were. 
 
 What old Stilling said to his grandson on leaving 
 home, John Moore might well have said to his son on 
 leaving Cumberland for London : " Your forefathers 
 were good and honourable people, and there are very 
 few princes who can say that. You must consider it 
 the greatest honour you can have, that your grandfather 
 and great-grandfather, and their fathers, were men who 
 were beloved and honoured by everybody, although 
 they had nothing to rule over but their own households. 
 Not one of them ever married disgracefully, or acted 
 dishonourably towards a woman. Not one of them 
 coveted what did not belong to him ; and they alt died 
 full of days and honour."
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 IN LONDON. 
 
 FIFTY years ago, it took two days and two nights to 
 make the journey from Carlisle to London by coach. 
 It was a long, tedious, and wearisome journey. We 
 complain of railways now, but what should we say if 
 we were driven back to the old stage-coaches ? The 
 passenger was poked up in a little box inside, scarcely 
 able to move or get breath. If he went outside, it was 
 delightful by day, but wearisome by night, especially 
 when the weather was bad. He had to sleep sitting, 
 with his back to the luggage and the edge of a box 
 for his pillow. At a lurch of the coach he woke up 
 with a start, finding himself leaning forward or in- 
 clining backward, or likely to fall side-long from the 
 coach. 
 
 Railway travellers now consider themselves very much 
 aggrieved if they are half an hour late ; yet good- 
 natured people of the olden times were quite satisfied 
 if they were only half a day late. Though it then took 
 two days and two nights betwetn Carlisle and London, 
 the journey is now performed, all the way inside, in 
 seven hours and a half, with almost unvarying regularity. 
 Yet we are not satisfied. 
 
 And yet there was a great deal of pleasure in travel- 
 ling by coach fifty years ago. The beauties of the 
 country were never out of sight. You passed through
 
 CHAP, iv.] JOURNEY TO LONDON. 45 
 
 shady lanes and hedgerows ; by gentlemen's seats, with 
 the old halls standing out amidst the clumps of trees ; 
 along quiet villages, where the people, springing up at 
 the sound of the horn, came to their doors to see the 
 coach pass. There was the walk up-hill, or along green 
 pastures or bye-lanes, to ease the horses as they crept 
 along. There was the change at the post-town, the 
 occasional meal, and sometimes the beginnings of friend- 
 ship. All this was very enjoyable, especially to young 
 fellows on their way to London for the first time, to see 
 the great city and its wonders. 
 
 The coach by which George Moore travelled went 
 through Lancaster, with its castle perched on the top of 
 the hill. Then, by a pleasant drive through moors and 
 dales, and by many a pleasant town, though now 
 blurred with the smoke of a thousand chimneys, the 
 coach proceeded to Manchester. The town did not 
 then contain one-third of the population that it does 
 now. From thence the coach drove on through the 
 midland shires to London. It was fine spring weather. 
 The buds were bursting, and many of the trees were 
 already green. . The journey was still interesting, 
 though towards the end it became monotonous. 
 At last, on the morning of the third day, the coach 
 reached Highgate Hill, from which George Moore 
 looked down on the city of London, the scene of his 
 future labours. 
 
 The end of the journey was approaching, and again 
 it became more than usually interesting. Hamlets were 
 passed ; then cottages and villas. Then rows of streets ; 
 although green fields were still dotted about here and 
 there. The enormous magnitude of the place already 
 surprised the young traveller. The coach went through 
 street after street, down Old St. Pan eras Road, down 
 Gray's Inn Lane, along Holborn and Newgate Street, 
 until at last it stopped at the " Swan with Two Necks/'
 
 46 WRESTLING AT CHELSEA. [CHAP. iv. 
 
 in Lad Lane, Wood Street. After paying the coach- 
 man, Moore was recommended to go to the " Magpie 
 and Pewter Platter," for the purpose of obtaining accom- 
 modation. He succeeded ; and went there, hair trunk 
 and all. 
 
 George Moore arrived in London on the day before 
 Good Friday, 1825. He was too much fatigued to look 
 after a situation on that day. On the following morn- 
 ing all the shops were shut. He had therefore to wait 
 until Saturday before he could begin to look fora place. 
 What was he to do on Good Friday ? He knew that all 
 the Cumberland men in London were accustomed to 
 have their annual wrestling-match on that day, and he 
 accordingly went to Chelsea to observe the sports. 
 
 When he arrived at the place, he found the wrestling- 
 green crowded with north-country people, big, brawny 
 men, of great girth, noted wrestlers, and amateur wrest- 
 lers, mingled with sporting and slightly " horsey " people. 
 There were many life-guardsmen and foot-guardsmen ; 
 for it must be known that the Border-land, by reason 
 of the big men it contains, is the favourite recruiting- 
 ground for Her Majesty's body-guards. More life- 
 guardsmen have come from Longtown, and from the 
 Westmoreland and Yorkshire moors, than from any 
 similar localities in the kingdom. 
 
 George Moore found amongst the crowd a young 
 Quaker from Torpenhow, who had won the belt at 
 Keswick a few years before. They had known each 
 other before, and now renewed their acquaintance. 
 George, inspired by the event, entered his name as a 
 wrestler. He was described by some who were present 
 on the occasion, as " very strong-looking, middle-sized, 
 with a broad chest and strongly developed muscles." 
 His hair was dark and curly, almost black. His eyes 
 were brown, and glowed under excitement to a deeper 
 brown. His face glowed with health. His bearing was
 
 CHAP, iv.] CUMBERLAND WRESTLING. 47 
 
 free and open ; it might be called abrupt. But he was 
 civil to everybody. 
 
 To those who do not know the rules of Cumberland 
 wrestling, it may be mentioned that though it is an 
 athletic sport, it is conducted in perfect good humour, 
 the loser always taking his fall as a joke. It is practised 
 by boys and men on the village greens in the north, 
 and is not in any way mixed up with betting or drink- 
 ing, though it is somewhat different in London. The 
 wrestlers stand up chest to chest, each placing his 
 chin on the other's right shoulder, and his left arm 
 above the right of his opponent. Then they grasp each 
 other round the body. There is often a difficulty in 
 takiii hod. Each tries to get an advantage in getting 
 the under-grip. When both men have got hold, the play 
 begins, and they endeavour to throw each other on to 
 the ground. The one who touches the ground first and 
 is undermost, is the loser. Though force goes for much, 
 skill is also indispensable. The " chips," or dexterous 
 strokes, are numerous including the hype, the swinging- 
 hype, the buttock, the cross-buttock, the back-heel, the 
 click inside, and the outside stroke. These would afford 
 ample subjects for the illustration of a beautiful athletic 
 art. 1 
 
 When George Moore's name was called, he " peeled " 
 and stepped into the ring. The first man he came 
 against was a little bigger than himself, but George 
 threw him so cleverly that the question was asked on 
 every side " Who's that ? Where does he come frae ? 
 What's his name ? " His name was soon known, and 
 as he again wrestled and threw his man, he was hailed 
 with the cries of " Weel done, George Moore." The 
 
 1 English sculptors have been imitating the Greek to death. Why not 
 give us some English art? Nothing can he seen more lithe, vigorous, and 
 muscular than the wrestlers on an English village-green in the north of 
 England.
 
 4 3 RESULT OF THE WRESTLING. [CHAP nr. 
 
 difficulties of the wrestlers increase as the sport goes 
 forward. All the weak men have been thrown ; now 
 come the strong against the strong. Observe how 
 careful ihey are in takin' hod. Each strives to gain 
 some advantage over his antagonist. They give and 
 take, and bob and dodge round the ring. Then the 
 cry rises, " They've haud ! " What an excitement ! 
 The men are locked as in a vice ! Every muscle is 
 straining and quivering. Then great strokes are played ; 
 but it is done so quickly that the " chip " can scarcely 
 be seen ; and down goes one of the men, with the 
 other over him. 
 
 As the game proceeded, George Moore had a difficult 
 fellow to meet. He was a man of great weight a 
 well-known champion wrestler, called Byers. He had 
 already settled a " vast o' men ; " and now he had to 
 settle this youth of nineteen from Wigton. George 
 worked his way round about him until he got a good 
 grip. Byers tried to grass him by the right leg hype. 
 Then George, taking Byers firmly in his arms, threw 
 him bodily over his head ! Byers touched the ground 
 first, and George was victor. " Weel done, George 
 Moore ! " was again re-echoed round the ring. 
 
 At length he met a man who was " ower kittle for 
 him " a noted champion wrestler, also from Cumber- 
 land. He was famous for his left-leg striking, and 
 clicking inside the heel. After a long struggle George 
 went down under his opponent's favourite chip. Never- 
 theless he came out of the ring winner of the third 
 prize. After the sports were over, the young fellows 
 came and spoke to him. They knew that he was one 
 of their county-men. His strong Cumberland accent 
 could not belie that. Some of them came from his own 
 neighbourhood. They insisted upon his going with 
 them to the neighbouring public-house, where they 
 treated him to drink.
 
 CHAP, iv.] LOOKS FOR A SITUATION. 49 
 
 The whole incidents of the day must have elated the 
 lad. Though he had always taken pride in his mode of 
 wrestling, his achievements that day constituted him a 
 hero. Acquaintances crowded about him. They wished 
 him at once to arrange for a meeting, to be held in the 
 course of a few days. Betting began for and against 
 him, and he observed that some of the lads were taking 
 
 ' O 
 
 more drink than was good for them. He was at once 
 reminded of his card-playing at Wigton, of his father at 
 home, and of the many reasons why he should keep 
 himself out of this environment of mischief. He ac- 
 cordingly summoned the resolution to tell his nevr 
 acquaintances that he could not attend the appointment, 
 for it was his determination not to wrestle at the pro- 
 posed match. He accordingly left them, much to their 
 indignation. 
 
 He retraced his way to the city alone. In the course 
 of the afternoon he was told that the inn, indeed the 
 very bed in which he had slept, had become notorious; 
 for Thurtell, the murderer, had frequented the inn some 
 time before. This gave him such a horror, that he 
 felt he could not sleep there again. He accordingly 
 looked out for a lodging in the neighbourhood. He 
 was fortunate in finding one near Wood Street. The 
 lodging-house was kept by a motherly body from the 
 north ; and her great kindness to the stranger lad 
 helped to give him a lasting belief in the goodness of 
 woman. 
 
 On the next morning the Saturday between Good 
 Friday and Easter Sunday he set out, full of spirits, 
 to find a situation. The result of his day's work was 
 very disappointing. He was not only discouraged, but 
 provoked. Wherever he went, he was laughed at 
 because of his country-cut clothes and his broad 
 Cumberland dialect. 
 
 But he consoled himself. He did not expect to find a 
 

 
 5 o HLS DISAPPOINTMENT. [CHAP. iv. 
 
 situation at once. He must try again. He would 
 begin on Monday morning, and persevere until he suc- 
 ceeded. There must be plenty of persons in that enor- 
 mous city wanting a draper's assistant. He accordingly 
 went out early in the morning, and returned late at 
 night. The result was the same utter disappointment. 
 Not a person would have him. Some pretended they 
 could not understand his northern dialect. Was such a 
 lad likely to serve customers ? After his first inquiry 
 he was generally shown to the door. 
 
 " The keenest cut of all I got," he says, " was from 
 Charles Meeking of Holborn. He asked me if I wanted 
 a porter 's situation. This almost broke my heart." 
 
 He himself, however, admits that he was rather 
 " green " and uncultivated ; and that there was little 
 wonder that the West-end shopkeepers did not give 
 him a place behind their counters. When afterwards 
 referring to this early part of his career he said, " I had 
 no one to take me by the hand. My very appearance 
 was against me, for the Wigton tailors were not so 
 expert as they are now ; and when I applied for a 
 situation it was difficult to convince them that it was a 
 place behind the counter that I wanted, and not some 
 meaner situation. My dialect too was against me ; for 
 though it is pretty broad now, it was much broader 
 then. After beating about London for an entire week, 
 I began to think myself a not very marketable com- 
 modity in the great city." 1 
 
 Still he persevered. He went nearly all over London. 
 He entered as many as thirty drapers' shops in one day, 
 always with the same result. It was the same in the 
 east as in the west. There was no employment for 
 him none whatever. He passed amid the roar and 
 clatter of the streets pushing his way amongst the keen 
 
 1 Soeech to the boys of the Commercial Travellers' School.
 
 CHAP, iv.] OBTAINS A SITUATION. 51 
 
 eager faces of the city, or amidst the careworn crowds 
 of people like himself, wanting work and unable to 
 obtain it. 
 
 The second Sunday in London came round. He 
 began to realise the solitariness and the solitude of 
 London. Every house looked black at him. Every 
 door was closed against him. He felt himself an utter 
 stranger. No one knew anything of his troubles and 
 sorrows. And if they knew, they would not have 
 cared. What was he among so many ? He thought it 
 almost heartless that these multitudes should be going 
 about on their errands of enjoyment and worship, with- 
 out taking any notice of him. But his was only the 
 case of thousands. To those who are friendless, London 
 is the most solitary place in the world. 
 
 He must, however, send home his promised letter, to 
 tell his father how he was getting on. But when he 
 had written his letter, it was so blotted with tears that 
 he could not send it. He would wait for another week. 
 Early next morning he was at it again. He tried shop 
 after shop : " No vacancy ! " " At last," he says, " I 
 was in despair. I now determined, as I could not find 
 an opening in London, to go out to America. 
 
 " I called at Swan and Edgar's in Piccadilly, and told 
 a young man there, of the name of Wood, that I was 
 going to take rny passage. He then informed me that 
 Mr. Ray, of Flint, Ray, and Co., Grafton House, New- 
 port Market, had sent to inquire if any one knew where 
 I was. Mr. Ray was born in Cumberland himself. His 
 brother owned Lesson Hall, near Wigton. He knew 
 about my father's family, and wished to befriend me. 
 I went at once to see him, and he engaged me, more 
 from pity than from any likelihood of mine to shine in 
 his service. My salary was to be 30 a year; and I 
 joyfully accepted his offer." 
 
 Thus, while George Moore, in his despair, was lament- 
 
 E 2
 
 52 REMOVAL OF HIS HAIR TRUNK [CHAP. iv. 
 
 ing that he had not a friend in London, his friend was 
 waiting for him and even searching for him. Mr. Ray 
 had been informed that the son of his old friend had 
 left Wigton foi* London ; and not seeing him nor hear- 
 ing of him, he had sent round to Swan and Edgar's to 
 make inquiry about him. Cumberland men are generally 
 ready to help each other in time of need. Hence 
 the timely assistance which Mr. Ray rendered to George 
 Moore a kindness which the latter never forgot. 
 
 On the Monday morning after he had been engaged, 
 George Moore set out to enter upon his situation. He 
 must also get his ancestral hair trunk removed to his 
 new quarters. It contained his clothes, his money, and 
 all that he possessed. He hired a man from the street, 
 the owner of a pony-cart, to carry his hair trunk west- 
 ward. After taking leave of the kind landlady, his first 
 friend in the great city, he and the man with the cart 
 started for Newport Market. At some turn of the 
 street perhaps while he was looking about him he 
 missed the man, the pony-cart, and the hair trunk. 
 Surely never was a poor fellow so unfortunate ! 
 
 He scanned the passing crowd. He tried to see over 
 the heads of the people ; but there was no pony, and 
 no hair trunk in sight. Again he felt his utter loneliness. 
 He sat down on a doorstep almost broken-hearted. No 
 one spoke to him ; no one came near him. What was 
 he to the bustling crowd that passed him by ? only a 
 shivering atom on a doorstep ! In his despair, he 
 thought that the man had robbed him, and carried off 
 his all 
 
 He rested on the doorstep for about two hours. What 
 an interminable torture it seemed to be ! He continued 
 to watch the passing crowd. A pony-cart came up ; he 
 looked, and lo ! it was the identical man, and the iden- 
 tical hair trunk ! The carrier had called on his way 
 upon some other errand, and was amazed to miss his
 
 CHAP, iv.] ENTERS HIS SITUATION. 53 
 
 customer. When he came up, he not only laughed at 
 the lad, but rated him soundly for his " greenness " in 
 having lost sight of him, and trusted a stranger with all 
 his things. 
 
 George was full of delight, and in his exuberance of 
 gratitude, he offered the man all the money he had in 
 his pocket, which amounted to nine shillings. But the 
 costermonger was an honest man. "No, no!" said he; 
 " it's very kind of you, but the five shillings that we 
 agreed upon will be quite enough." He then handed 
 him back the four shillings. George Moore never forgot 
 the lesson of that costermonger's honesty. 
 
 His eyes were still full of tears when he entered the 
 warehouse. One who was employed there at the 
 time remembers his first appearance. " On incident- 
 ally looking over to the haberdashery counter I saw an 
 uncouth, thickset country lad standing crying. In a 
 minute or two a large deal chest such as the Scotch 
 servant-lasses use for their clothes was brought in by 
 a man, and set down on the floor. After the lad had 
 dried up his tears, the box was carried up stairs to the 
 bedroom where he was to sleep. After he had come 
 down stairs he began working, and he continued to be 
 the hardest worker in the house until he left. Such," 
 says our informant, "was the veritable debut of George 
 Moore in London. Had you seen him then, you would 
 have said that he was the most unlikely lad in England 
 to have made the great future that he did." 
 
 Everything was strange to him at first the shop, 
 the work, the people, the habits, the life. But he was 
 willing and eager to learn. He had to begin at the 
 lowest rung of the ladder. First he did the drudgery 
 of the house ; then he was moved upwards. He was 
 always ready to do anything. He became a favourite 
 with his companions. Among the young men at 
 Grafton House, with whom he became most intim-ite,
 
 54 HIS LOVE OF CUMBERLAND. [cifAP. IV. 
 
 were three Cumberland lad *, t.vo Scotchmen, and one 
 Cockney. Those from the midland and southern 
 counties thought the Cumbrians generally a rather 
 rough race. They spoke of them as "the rude 
 barbarians of the north." That was, however, half a 
 century ago. 
 
 One of George Moore's companions at Grafton House 
 gives us the following recollections of his life at that 
 time : " He slept in the same small apartment with 
 myself and two others. The room could scarcely be 
 considered up to the modern sanitary conditions of 
 life and health ; yet we got on very well. He was very 
 fond of going to the Serpentine to take an early bathe. 
 Many a tussle we had. He called me a 'lazy old 
 Scotchman ' for not getting up and going out with him in 
 the mornings. But I was no swimmer, and did not like 
 to be made the butt of my companion's ridicule. I was 
 born at the Lowther Hills, in Lanarkshire, where there 
 was scarcely a burn in which we could bathe. There 
 was not a good swimmer in the parish." 
 
 " Next to George's integrity and generosity of cha- 
 racter, was his love of country and patriotism. He was 
 always ' deaving ' us about his native Cumberland. It 
 was the finest country, with the noblest scenery, and the 
 best, strongest, and most vigorous of men. Cumberland 
 men are very clannish. They stick to each other through 
 weal or woe. How is it that the natives of a moun- 
 tainous region are more patriotic than those of a cham- 
 pagne country ? Perhaps this may arise from their 
 seeing fewer objects to divide their attention, as well as 
 from those objects being of a much grander character, 
 and more likely to take a permanent hold upon their 
 mind. Be this as it may, I uniformly noticed, during 
 my three years' residence in London, that young men 
 from Wales, Scotland, and Cumberland pined after 
 their native hills and dales; whereas young men from
 
 CHAP, iv.l . IMPROVES HIS EDUCATION. 55 
 
 the midland and southern counties of England, fell in 
 like a gin-horse to their daily work. They were as 
 much at home in twenty-four hours as a veritable 
 cockney himself. This may probably be a pretty 
 correct solution of the common adage that an English- 
 man is made by Act of Parliament ; that is, that he has 
 no local attachments ; and, provided he is protected by 
 the law of the country, and gets enough to eat and 
 drink, all places are alike to him." 
 
 And now let us give George Moore's account of him- 
 self. " On arriving in London, I obtained a situation in 
 a house of business. I soon found that, coming green 
 from the country, I laboured under many disadvantages. 
 Compared with the young men with whom I was asso- 
 ciated, I found my education very deficient ; and my 
 speech betrayed that I had not lived in London all my 
 life. Indeed it smacked strongly of Cumberland and 
 Cumberland folks. The first thing I did to remedy my 
 defects was to put myself to school at night, after the 
 hours of employment were over ; and many an hour 
 have I borrowed from sleep in order to employ it on 
 the improvement of my mind. At the end of eighteen 
 months I had acquired a considerable addition to my 
 previous knowledge, and felt myself able to take my 
 stand side by side with my competitors. Let no one 
 rely in such cases on what is termed Luck. Depend 
 upon it, that the only luck is merit, and that no young 
 man will make his way unless he possesses knowledge, 
 and exerts all his powers in the accomplishment of his 
 objects." 
 
 When George Moore had been about six months at 
 Grafton House, he one day observed a bright little girl 
 come tripping into the warehouse, accompanied by her 
 mother. " Who are they ? " he asked of one of those 
 standing near. "Why, don't you know?" said he; 
 "that's the guv'nor's wife and daughter!" "Well,"
 
 5 6 HIS MASTER'S DAUGHTER. _ [CHAP. iv. 
 
 said George, " if ever I marry, that girl shall be my 
 wife!" It was a wild and ridiculous speech. "What? 
 marry your master's daughter? You must be n,ad 
 to talk of such a thing." The report went round. 
 The other lads laughed at George as another Dick 
 Whittington. . ; 
 
 Yet it was no wild nor improbable speech. It was 
 the foreshadowing of his fate. The idea took posses- 
 sion of his mind. It was his motive power in after-life. 
 It restrained and purified him. He became more in- 
 dustrious, diligent, and persevering. After many years 
 of hard work the dream of his youth was fulfilled, and 
 the girl did become his wife. Not, however, before he 
 had passed through many trials and difficulties. One of 
 these was of a most serious character, and threatened to 
 cost him his liberty perhaps his life. He has told the 
 story in his own words : 
 
 " At that time it was the duty of the assistants to 
 carry out goods on approbation to the best customers. 
 It was my lot one day to do this, and I sold some 
 articles to a lady of title at her house. I made out my 
 own note of the articles, and then copied out the bill 
 for her, which I receipted. But I had unfortunately 
 made an error, and in copying out her bill made it i 
 more than the amount I had received. The lady, on 
 looking over it afterwards, found out the mistake in the 
 addition, and, thinking that she had paid me the extra 
 sovereign, hastened to Grafton House with the bill. 
 On reference being made to my cheque-book, it was 
 found that the amount entered was i less than the bill 
 which I had receipted, on which the lady pronounced 
 me to be a thief. 
 
 " At this Mr. Ray was very indignant, and told the 
 lady that he did not keep thieves in his house. He 
 kindly told me to try and recollect the circumstances, 
 and endeavour to clear up the matter. Unfortunately,
 
 CHAP, iv.] A SERIOUS MISTAKE. 57 
 
 the more I tried, the more I got bewildered. In de- 
 spair, I suddenly asked the lady the amount of money 
 which she had in her possession when she began to pay 
 me. She said she was astonished at my impertinence. 
 ' And yet/ she added, ' I can furnish you with the in- 
 formation which you require. Lord Conyngham gave 
 me ,20 this morning. I paid so much to the baker, so 
 much to the grocer, and so much to you, and I have so 
 much left.' I noted down the figures, added them up, 
 and found that they made 21, or a pound more than 
 she had received from her husband. 
 
 " I immediately called my employer, and got her to 
 repeat the figures. He was satisfied with their correct- 
 ness. Providentially, I all at once recollected that I 
 had taken down a memorandum of the articles sold- 
 I produced this, and found that I had received the 
 money according to this memorandum, and not ac- 
 cording to the receipted bill which I had left with the 
 lady. Knowing my innocence, I boldly asserted the 
 fact. My employer was satisfied. Nevertheless, the 
 lady left the place in a rage, loudly declaring that 
 ' the boy was a thief! ' 
 
 "But when her temper had cooled down, and she 
 had time to recollect all the circumstances of the case, 
 she relented. In the course of the evening, Lady 
 Conyngham sent a polite letter to Mr. Ray, stating 
 that she was thoroughly convinced that the young 
 man's statement was true, and that she hoped the un- 
 fortunate occurrence would not in any way militate 
 against him. And thus," says Mr. Moore, "ended my 
 escape from Newgate." The laws were then most 
 severe. Forging, stealing, and shoplifting were punish- 
 able with death. Only a short time before, a young 
 shopman at Compton House, in the same neighbour- 
 hood, had been hanged for an offence similar to that 
 of which George Moore had been accused.
 
 5 g DETERMINES TO LEAVE. [CHAP. iv. 
 
 When the lady had left, George at once expressed 
 his determination to leave the house. But Mr. Ray 
 told him to go behind the counter, to show that he 
 was innocent and that not a breath of suspicion was 
 raised against him. George took his master's advice. 
 The moral courage which he had shown raised him 
 in Mr. Ray's estimation. And when the lady's letter 
 arrived, showing that she had been wrong in her suspi- 
 cions, and that George Moore was innocent, his charac- 
 ter was also raised in the estimation of his companions. 
 At the same time he was determined to leave as soon as 
 possible. He had got a thorough dislike for the retail 
 trade. He was unwilling to incur the risk of being sub- 
 jected to a similar charge. In answer to the remon- 
 strance of some of his companions, he said that " he 
 would rather break stones upon the road than remain 
 behind a counter." 
 
 A companion of Moore's, on being applied to respect- 
 ing the circumstance above referred to, says that he has 
 forgotten all about it ; but he adds that " arithmetical 
 blunders were so common in a large retail establishment 
 like Grafton House that it would be looked upon as a 
 very small event. George Moore would have been the 
 very last man to have committed such an act. Indeed 
 stern, truthful integrity was the brightest gem in his 
 character. I often think of him, when I contrast the 
 humble ctibut he made in London with the brilliant 
 future which he afterwards attained, by reason of his 
 own unaided, energetic, and persevering efforts." 
 
 Although about to leave Flint, Ray, and Co.'s service, 
 Mr. Ray kindly volunteered to go into the city and 
 endeavour to procure a situation for his young friend 
 in a wholesale house. He went to Mr. Fisher, a Cum- 
 berland man like himself, and after giving George Moore 
 an excellent character, he induced him to engage the 
 young man at a small salary. The firm of Fisher,
 
 CHAP, iv.] INTERCEDES FOR THE CATTLE-STEALER. 59 
 
 Stroud, and Robinson, Watling Street, was then the 
 first Lace house in the city. George entered it at the 
 beginning of 1826, at the salary of 40 a year. In a 
 letter to his father, he says he now feels himself to be 
 " a made man." 
 
 Before leaving this part of the subject it may be men- 
 tioned that, while he was still at Grafton House, Moore 
 was reminded of the cattle-dealer with whom he had 
 crossed the Solway some two years before. The reason 
 of the unusual crossing was now apparent. The border 
 cattle-dealer, with the usual weakness of his class, was 
 not unwilling to find a stray beast amongst his herd. 
 Perhaps he picked them up as he came along. Now, 
 however, he had been convicted of sheep-stealing. He 
 had more than once been to Falkirk fair and bought a 
 few sheep. But it was curious to notice how they in- 
 creased from day to day as they proceeded southwards. 
 By the help of his clever dog, he contrived to add a 
 sheep now and then to his flock. The sheep-farmers 
 were however on the alert. They noticed the loss of 
 their sheep. They followed the cattle-dealer ; found 
 their sheep amongst his flock ; apprehended him, and 
 had him convicted of sheep-stealing. The sentence 
 passed upon him was transportation for life. 
 
 Transportation was a very different thing then from 
 what it is now. Men sentenced were really transported. 
 They were not let out with a ticket-of-leave to plunder 
 people again. Our cattle-dealer desired very much to 
 evade the punishment. He could think of nothing 
 better than to write to the young man who had crossed 
 the Solway with him two years before. His letter to 
 George Moore reached him in a roundabout way. But 
 immediately on receiving it, he proceeded to see the 
 condemned cattle-dealer. He found the criminal in 
 the hulks, chained hand and foot, and amongst the 
 most horrible riffraff that he had ever seen. The
 
 60 MISTAKEN PHILANTHROPY; [CHAP. iv. 
 
 convict was waiting in the Thames for the next ship for 
 Botany Bay. What should this young man do, but get 
 up a memorial to the Secretary of State to have the 
 sentence mitigated. He sent it down to Cumberland, 
 had numerous influential signatures attached to it, pre- 
 sented the memorial, and actually had the sentence 
 mitigated from transportation for life to fourteen years 
 banishment. 
 
 During the man's absence, his wife maintained her 
 family respectably. She had even saved some money. 
 After the lapse of the fourteen years, the cattle-dealer 
 returned to Cumberland worse than before. He took 
 possession of his wife's money, treated her cruelly, and 
 turned her out of her house. Mr. Moore afterwards 
 admitted that it would have been better if he had 
 allowed the law to take its course. " It was," he said, 
 " the worst-spent philanthropic act that I was ever 
 guilty of." The man himself died only a few months 
 ago.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER. 
 
 WHEN George Moore entered the employment of Fisher, 
 Stroud, and Robinson, in 1826, he found that he had 
 still many things to learn. He was but a raw Cumber- 
 land lad. He had learnt little of manners. He was 
 considered slow. His intelligence had not been awak- 
 ened. At school, he was considered dull. He was 
 much fonder of bathing than of reading, of hunting than 
 of learning. He had a good deal of country conceit, 
 which Mr. Fisher soon took out of him by incessant 
 ridicule. 
 
 " From the fact," Moore says, " of my being engaged 
 unseen (a practice I have always avoided) I suppose I 
 did not come up to Mr. Ray's recommendations. After 
 I had been in the house some weeks, Mr. Fisher began 
 to blame my stupidity. He said he had had many a 
 stupid blockhead from Cumberland, .but that I was the 
 worst of them all. He went on repeating something of 
 this sort two or three times a week for several months ; 
 until I believed that every word he said was true. The 
 conceit was thus entirely taken out of me." 
 
 There were two or three things that George had to 
 study carefully. The first was Accuracy. It was 
 through his want of accuracy that the disagreeable 
 circumstance with Lady Conyngham had occurred.
 
 6 2 THINGS TO BE LEARNT. [CHAP. v. 
 
 His adding up the account wrong by a pound might, 
 with a less forgiving master, have got him into gaol : 
 it might, in fact, have cost him his life. An inaccurate 
 man is utterly unfit for business. He gets himself and 
 everybody else into trouble. He cannot be trusted. 
 The business man must, above all things, be accurate 
 in figures. The inaccurate balance-sheet is worthless. 
 The account must balance, even to a penny. If it does 
 not, the work must be done over again. Thus trouble 
 is caused, business is delayed, and everybody is put into 
 a state of annoyance. 
 
 George Moore also wanted Quickness and Prompti- 
 tude. Country-bred boys are slow, whilst town-bred 
 boys are quick. Time is of little consequence in the 
 village ; whilst time is of every consequence in the 
 city. In the country you may saunter along half 
 asleep ; whereas in the town you must push along wide 
 awake. You see the rapidity of London life in the 
 streets, where everybody is walking with rapidity, bent 
 on some purpose or another. 
 
 It is the same in places of business. Everything is 
 concentrated into a few working hours. During that 
 time, everybody is working at the top of his bent. 
 Hence the rapid movements of the town-bred lad. 
 He maybe shallow and frivolous; he may know next to 
 nothing out of his own groove ; but he must be sharp, 
 smart, and clever. The city boy scarcely grows up ; 
 he is rushed up. He lives amid a constant succes- 
 sion of excitements, one obliterating another. In fact, 
 his reflective powers have scarcely time to grow and 
 expand. 
 
 It is very different with the country boy. He is 
 much slower in arriving at his maturity than the town 
 boy ; but he is greater when he reaches it. He is hard 
 and unpolished at first ; whereas the town boy is worn 
 smooth by perpetual friction, like the pebbles in a run-
 
 CHAP. V.] SELF-EDUCATION AT MIDNIGHT. 63 
 
 ning stream. The country boy learns a greal deal, 
 though he may seem to be unlearned. He knows a 
 great deal about nature, and a great deal about men. 
 He has had time to grow. His brain-power is latent. 
 
 Hence the curious fact that in course of time the 
 country-bred boy passes the city-bred boy, and rises 
 to the highest positions in London life. Look at all 
 the great firms, and you will find that the greater 
 number of the leading partners are those who originally 
 were country-bred boys. The young man bred in the 
 country never forgets his origin. " There is," says La 
 Rochefoucauld, " a country accent not in his speech 
 only, but in his thought, conduct, character, and manner 
 of existing, which never forsakes him." 
 
 George Moore found that he was still without educa- 
 tion, at least of that kind of education which enabled 
 him to keep pace with his fellows. He therefore con- 
 tinued faithfully to attend his night-school, where he 
 endeavoured to learn as much as he could. " I found 
 in this house," said he, speaking of Fisher's, "a first-rate 
 class of young men, principally well-to-do people's sons, 
 well-educated, well-mannered, and well-conducted. I 
 soon found out my lamentable deficiency in education. 
 1 had never cost my father more than 6s. 6d. a quarter 
 for schooling, except the last quarter, which cost 8s. 
 As our hours were shorter than in the retail trade, I 
 went to a night-school, being so much ashamed of my 
 ignorance. I frequently sat up studying my lessons 
 until the small hours in the morning. I often think of 
 those nights as the most usefully spent hours of my 
 life. I learnt more during the eighteen months that 
 I frequented the night-school than I had ever learnt 
 before. If I had not availed myself of that opportunity 
 I should never have had the chance again. From the 
 part in life which I was destined to take, I must 
 often have blushed for my ignorance, and evoked the
 
 64 MOORE'S GUIDING STAR. [CHAP. v. 
 
 sneers of others, which would have very much galled 
 my sensitive nature." 
 
 In after days, Mr. Moore used to say that he had 
 two strong reasons for bearing cheerfully and resolutely 
 the trials of that time. One was, that he knew the fact 
 of his ignorance, and was conscious of how much he* 
 had to learn ; hence his laborious nightly studies, some- 
 times until two and three o'clock in the morning. But 
 the other and more powerful reason was his love for 
 Eliza Ray. He had never forgotten his boyish resolu- 
 tion when he first saw her. " If I ever marry," said he, 
 " that girl shall be my wife ! " This resolution had 
 settled down into a firm and steady purpose. Eliza 
 Ray was his guiding star. He would be faithful, honest, 
 and true for her. He would work night and day for 
 her. He knew that if, through any ignorance or neg- 
 lect, he was expelled from his situation at Fisher's, he 
 would have to relinquish his fondly cherished hopes. 
 Hence his settled determination to cultivate his mind, 
 to improve his business education, and to win the 
 approval of his superiors. 
 
 In the meantime George had been writing to his 
 father at Mealsgate, strongly urging him to give his 
 younger brother William the best education that could 
 be got in the neighbourhood. " It is the best thing 
 you could furnish him with in setting out in the world. 
 It is better than money. Education will enable him 
 to start fair in the world and to push his own way." 
 William was accordingly sent to the best schools. He 
 was a far apter learner than George had been. He 
 had read extensively, and was well versed in literature. 
 But he wanted that in which his brother George was 
 supreme intense perseverance. He knew much, but 
 did little. He could think, but could not work. 
 
 Nevertheless, George had much confidence in his 
 brother William, because of his superior education and
 
 CHAP, v.] BEARING HIS BROTHER'S BURDENS. 65 
 
 his extensive knowledge. He called upon Mr. Ray 
 and interceded with him to take his brother as an ap- 
 prentice. Mr. Ray agreed to his wish. William came 
 up from Mealsgate to London, and settled down at 
 Grafton House. The boy was rather delicate, and did 
 not like the confinement. Nor could he stand the 
 roughnesses of the place so well as George had done. 
 It was part of William's work to carry out and deliver 
 the parcels of goods wh-ich had been bought by customers 
 during the day. 
 
 William found this work very fatiguing and very dif- 
 ficult, because of his want of knowledge of the streets 
 of London. His brother at once went to his help. 
 As the hours of the wholesale houses are much shorter 
 than those of the retail shops, George, when his day's 
 work was over, put on an old coat, and went from the 
 city to the west end to deliver his brother's parcels. 
 Many a winter's night did he walk through wind and 
 rain, with heavy parcels on his shoulders, to deliver 
 them to the customers, thus literally bearing his 
 brother's burdens. 
 
 Mr. Crampton, afterwards his partner, says of him 
 at this time : " My friendship with George Moore com- 
 menced at the beginning of January, 1827, when I 
 found him at Fisher's. We became close companions. 
 His friends were my friends ; and so intimate were we 
 that I seemed to merge into a Cumberland lad. George 
 was very patriotic. All our friends were Cumberlanders, 
 and though I was a Yorkshireman, I was almost in- 
 duced to feign that I was Cumberland too. I was 
 gayer than he, and he never failed to tell me of my 
 faults. He was a strong, round-shouldered young fellow. 
 He was very cheerful, and very willing. He worked 
 hard, and seemed to be bent on improvement. But in 
 other respects he did not strike me as anything remark- 
 able. Among the amusements which we attended 
 
 F
 
 Ctt VISIT TO THE HOl/Si: OF COMMONS. [CHA.P. v. 
 
 together were the wrestling-matches at St. John's Wood. 
 The principal match was held on Good Friday. One 
 day we vrent to the wrestling-field, and George entered 
 his name. The competitors drew lots. George's anta- 
 gonist was a life-guardsman, over six feet high. I think 
 I see Moore's smile now as he stood opposite to the 
 giant- The giant smiled too. Then they went at it, 
 gat hod, and George was soon gently laid upon his back. 
 By this time he was out of practice, and I do not think 
 he ever wrestled again. Besides, he was soon so full of 
 work as to have little time for amusement." 
 
 Among the remarkable incidents of George Moore's 
 early life was an adventurous visit which he made to 
 the House of Commons. The following account was 
 written by himself, at the age of sixty-seven, after he 
 had been invited to stand for the County of Middlesex 
 in conjunction with Lord Enfield : 
 
 " On looking back upon my past eventful life, many 
 strange circumstances crowd upon my mind. After I 
 had been about two years in London, I had a great 
 and anxious desire to see the House of Commons. I 
 got a half holiday for the purpose. I did not think of 
 getting an order from an M.P. Indeed I had not the 
 slightest doubt of getting into the House. I first tried 
 to get into the strangers' gallery, but failed. I then 
 hung about the entrance, to see whether I could find 
 some opportunity. I saw three or four members hurry- 
 ing in, and I hurried in with them. The door-keepers 
 did not notice me. I walked into the middle of the 
 House. When I got in, I almost fainted with fear lest 
 I should be discovered. I first got into a seat with the 
 name of ' Canning ' written upon it. I then proceeded 
 to a seat behind, and sat there all the evening. I heard 
 Mr. Canning bring forward his motion to reduce the 
 duty on corn. He made a brilliant speech. He was 
 followed by many other speakers. I sat out the whob
 
 CHAP, v.] BECOMES TRAVELLER FOR FISHER. 67 
 
 debate. Had I been discovered, I might have been 
 taken up for breach of privilege. Some men are born 
 great ; others have greatness thrust upon them. Little 
 did I then dream that I should at a future period have 
 the offer made to me of becoming member for the 
 City of London, and afterwards for the County of 
 Middlesex." l 
 
 To return to George Moore's position in the firm of 
 Fisher, Stroud, and Robinson. He had now been for 
 some time in the house. He had gained the respect of 
 everybody in it. He was attentive, careful, accurate, 
 hardworking. All the conceit had been taken out of 
 him. Mr. Fisher no longer called him a dunderhead or 
 a Cumberland blockhead. On the contrary, he began 
 to like the smartness, cleverness, and willingness of the 
 lad. At the end of the year, he promoted him to be 
 town traveller for the firm. " Then," says Mr. Crampton, 
 " the character of the man came out. At first his great 
 abilities did not strike me; but when he got scope he 
 burst out, and displayed that energy and perseverance 
 which always distinguished him. He distanced all 
 competitors, and sold more goods than any traveller 
 had done before. He gained confidence in himself 
 (for he had been tamed by Mr. Fisher), he became 
 open and free in his manner, and devoted himself to 
 his duties with immense zeal. Mr. Fisher became 
 proud of his traveller, and George became proud of 
 his firm, declaring it to be the first house in the trade." 
 
 A gentleman still living remembers George's visits 
 to his employer. He then held a situation in one of 
 the first west-end houses. " My principal," he says, 
 "who had the purchasing of the lace goods being 
 fond of good living, and not being blest with much 
 
 1 Mr. ^,. ore's visit to the House of Commons mu^t have been made in 
 June, 1827. Mr. Canning's speech on the Corn Bill was one of the last 
 he delivered : he died on the 8th of August following. 
 
 F 2
 
 68 MOORE'S SUCCESS AS A TRAVELLER. [CHAP. V. 
 
 modesty had no objection to an occasional 'high 
 lunch.' When Moore called for orders, he welcomed 
 him cordially, and suggested, 'We must have a lunch 
 to-day ! ' The traveller promptly responded, on which 
 the principal, turning to the chief shopman, would say, 
 'You know what we want; look through Mr. Moore's 
 stock, and don't be afraid of making a good parcel.' 
 The lunch was eaten, the drink was drunk, and a good 
 parcel was invariably made. Thus at the commence- 
 ment of George Moore's career he did not shrink from 
 expense, provided he could do a large business." This 
 was not a very elevating life ; still it was the life that 
 George Moore had been trained for, and which he had 
 to follow faithfully and zealously. 
 
 He was found to be too good for town travelling. 
 After about eighteen months, his employer sent him 
 on the Liverpool and Manchester circuit. He was then 
 only twenty-three. Indeed, he had scarcely reached 
 manhood. Yet he was selected to occupy this im- 
 portant position. The Liverpool and Manchester dis- 
 trict had been badly worked, and the business had fallen 
 off. He had now to take the necessary means to revive 
 and restore it. 
 
 There was only one method Work ! Work ! Nor 
 did he spare himself. He worked early in the morning, 
 and late at night. Sometimes he "worked" a town 
 before breakfast ; making early appointments with the 
 drapers beforehand. After breakfast he packed up his 
 goods, drove off to another place (for there were no rail- 
 ways in those days), and finished his work at a third 
 town within the day. 
 
 By this means he soon established a large business. 
 That he increased the returns of his employers did not 
 surprise them so much, as the shortness of the time 
 during which he performed his journeys. This arose 
 from his never losing a moment. He had nothing of
 
 CHAP, v.] THE NAPOLEON OF WATLING STREET. 69 
 
 the dawdler about him. When he had -finished his 
 work in one town, he was immediately ready to start 
 for another. 
 
 He used afterwards to say that the position he oc- 
 cupied was very trying, but that it tested the stuff of 
 which a man was made. With him " it was a constant 
 struggle between pride and sensitiveness," though in 
 later years he always considered it to be the best test- 
 ing work for a young man, before his promotion to 
 places of greater trust. 
 
 George Moore was modest in his success. He claimed 
 credit for nothing but his perseverance. His account of 
 the matter always was, " The drapers cannot do with- 
 out Fisher's goods ; " but his contemporary travellers 
 attributed his success more to his powers of persuasion 
 and his capacity for work, than to the qualities of his 
 wares. 
 
 At the inns which he frequented, he was regarded as 
 a sort of hero. The other travellers used to pack up 
 his goods, and thus help him on his way. They took 
 pride in his success and boasted of his greatness. A 
 young traveller who had just entered the northern circuit 
 arrived at the " Star " Hotel, Manchester, while about 
 a dozen travellers were helping George to pack up his 
 goods. " Who's that young fellow they are making 
 such a fuss about ? " " Oh ! It's George ! " " And who's 
 George ? " " What ? Don't you know the NAPOLEON 
 OF WATLING STREET ? Let me introduce you ! " 
 
 One of his fellow-warehousemen at Fisher's having 
 been compelled to leave London on account of bad 
 health, accidentally met George Moore at Manchester. 
 The young man had by this time recovered from his 
 illness, and was again ready for work. George imme- 
 diately interested himself in his behalf. He introduced 
 him to a thriving Manchester firm, by whom he was 
 employed ; and there he settled down and prospered.
 
 7 o COMPETITION AMONG TRAVELLERS. [CHAP, v, 
 
 The gentleman is still alive, and is proud to record his 
 recollections of George Moore. " Whenever he came to 
 Manchester," he says, "I assisted him with his stock in 
 the evenings. Through his geniality he drew around him 
 a large circle of business friends. These helped him to 
 pack up his stock when he was about to set out upon 
 his journeys. It was no uncommon thing to see at the 
 '' Star" Hotel a dozen or twenty of them with him in an 
 evening. 
 
 " On one occasion, when he was passing along the cor- 
 ridor by the bar, an order came from the head-waiter's 
 room for ' Two brandies and cold water for No. 47.' 
 ' Why,' said George Moore, ' that's my number! What's 
 the meaning of this ? ' The explanation given was, that 
 a friend had called upon the waiter, and had ordered 
 the brandies to bs put to Mr. Moore's account, thinking 
 that this might easily be done where the account was 
 so large and so difficult to check. After ample apologies 
 and promises from the waiter to book no more fictitious 
 orders for No. 47, Mr. Moore overlooked the offence, 
 and continued to use the 'Star' as his hotel while in 
 Manchester." 
 
 To show the energy with which he carried on his 
 business, it may be mentioned that on one occasion he 
 arrived in Manchester, and after unpacking his goods, 
 he called upon his first customer. He was informed 
 that one of his opponents had reached the town the 
 day before, and would remain there for a day or two 
 more. "Then," said Moore, "it's of no use wasting 
 my time here, with my competitor before me." He 
 returned to his hotel, called some of his friends about 
 him to help him to repack his stock, drove off to 
 Liverpool, commenced business next day, and secured 
 the greater part of the orders before the arrival of his 
 opponent. 
 
 His extraordinary success surprised his employers.
 
 CHAP, v.] VISIT TO CUMBERLAND. 71 
 
 They had never had such a traveller before. His 
 quickness, his shrewdness, his integrity, his honour- 
 able dealings,- his knowledge of character, were the 
 subject of their constant admiration. He had secured 
 their perfect confidence, and they gave him full scope. 
 After about six months they began to think whether 
 they might not be able to turn his services to further 
 account. The business in Ireland had fallen off. It 
 had become small by degrees. In fact there was 
 scarcely any of it left. The trade had been carried 
 off by an active traveller named Groucock, partner in 
 a firm which had been recently established. Fisher 
 and Robinson accordingly determined to send their 
 young traveller to Ireland to bring back their trade, 
 and if possible to extend it. 
 
 The order was accordingly sent to George Moore to 
 start for Ireland. Before doing so, he took a short 
 holiday in Cumberland. It will be observed that he 
 always had a hearty interest in his native county, and 
 now that he had a little time to spare, he would enjoy 
 himself for a few days amongst his friends. He went 
 from Carlisle to Wigton. He was amazed at the little- 
 ness of the place. When he first saw it he thought it a 
 large town ; and so it was, compared with the hamlet 
 of Mealsgate. But now that he had been in London, 
 walking through miles upon miles of streets to deliver 
 his brother's parcels, or taking orders for his employer, 
 Wigton seemed to have shrunk into the smallest pos- 
 sible dimensions. He could walk from one end of the 
 town to the other in a few minutes. He called upon all 
 his old friends. They received him with enthusiasm. 
 His old master, Messenger, had disappeared. He could 
 not maintain his business after his apprentice had left. 
 Like the bees, he had winged his way southward. 
 
 But George did not stay long at Wigton. His prin- 
 cipal object was to see his father, his brothers and his
 
 72 VISITS THE SCENES OF HIS HOVIIOOD. [CHAP. v. 
 
 sisters at Mealsgate. There he found the old house, 
 the old brook, the old stables, the old trees, the old 
 fields. While everything had beer) changing with him, 
 nothing had changed there. Age had told upon his 
 father ; he was only able to sit in the ingleneuk, leaving 
 the entire management of the farm to his eldest son, 
 Thomas. 
 
 The old man received George with the warmest 
 affection. " Weel, George, how art thou getting on ? " 
 "Oh, bravely! bravely! I am just on my way to 
 Ireland to work up the business there." He looked at 
 George's face. It was the same face, but yet it was 
 different. George had left the old place a boy ; he had 
 returned to it a man. Time had written its lines upon 
 his youthful features. They were keen and eager, and 
 yet they were joyous. His manner was quicker and 
 more active. His London life had evidently sharpened 
 him up. He was strong, healthy, and resolute. 
 
 George spent part of his brief holiday in wandering 
 over the scenes of his boyhood. He lingered by the 
 edge of the stream where he had caught his first fish. 
 He wandered along the hedges where he had discovered 
 his first bird's nest. He went up to Bolton School, 
 where he had been thrashed by Blackbird Wilson. He 
 went up and down the banks of the Ellen. He saw 
 the fields on which he had shorn. In the evenings at 
 sunset he would lean upon his father's field-gate, and 
 listen to the faint far-off sounds that came to him across 
 the tranquil country. How different from the whirl and 
 bustle of London ! 
 
 He visited the burying-place of his fathers at Tor- 
 penhow, and called upon his relatives at Overgates and 
 Kirkland. But his favourite spots were the old towers 
 at Whitehall and Harbybrow, where he had been let 
 down when a boy to harry the rooks' nests. The towers 
 were still in a state of ruin. He dreaa^t it was then
 
 CHAP, v.] BUSINESS IN IRELAND. 73 
 
 only a dream that these towers might yet become his 
 own. And yet his dream was fulfilled. 
 
 After a few days of delighful recreation, full of 
 reminiscences of the past old thoughts and impressions 
 rising up and meeting him at every step he at length 
 prepared to start for Ireland. He was accompanied on 
 his way by some of his old friends. They went with 
 him to Allonby, where they dined together; and then 
 they saw him set sail for Ireland. 
 
 Arrived in Dublin, he set to work in right good 
 earnest to bring back his masters' business. He had 
 now, as he said, a " grand confidence in himself," and he 
 was determined to make Fisher's name carry all before 
 him. He worked very hard, from morn till night. He 
 was up in the morning early, called upon his customers 
 during the day, packed up his goods in the evening, 
 and set off by the night coach for the next town upon 
 his route. For weeks together the only sleep he secured 
 was on the outside of a coach ; but he slept soundly. In 
 the intervals of his work, when he felt unrested, he 
 would throw himself on a sofa and fall sound asleep. 
 
 To sleep well is one of the greatest blessings of life. 
 " Sleep," says Sancho Panza, " wraps one all round like 
 a blanket." George Moore had the gift, which is com- 
 mon in strong men and great natures, of sleeping almost 
 at will. When he was worried or overworked he would 
 say : " Let me have an hour or two's sleep." A resting 
 space was thus put between the pressure of the past and 
 the work of the future ; and he came out of his sleep 
 again strong, cheerful, and vigorous. 
 
 Whilst travelling over Ireland he frequently met his 
 competitor, Groucock, the traveller who had so greatly 
 interfered with Fisher's Irish business. He was a young 
 man, though some years older than Moore. He is 
 described by those who knew him as " of delicate ap- 
 pearance, but very clever and shrewd." Before Moore's
 
 74 ENCOUNTER WITH GROUCOCK. [CHAP. v. 
 
 appearance in Ireland, he had taken the lion's share of the 
 lace trade ; but now he had a foeman worthy of his steel. 
 
 Moore met Groucock frequently in the course of his 
 journeys. Moore worked with greater celerity, and very 
 soon divided the trade with Groucock. The com- 
 petition between them became keen. Moore worked 
 harder than ever, and at last he succeeded in getting 
 back all the best customers for Fisher's. " I repre- 
 sented," said Moore, " the best house in the world, and, 
 with all the buoyancy and ambition of youth, I worked 
 hard, and gradually succeeded in taking the largest share 
 of the business." 
 
 George once met Groucock at a town in the north of 
 Ireland. Groucock invited him to sup with a friend 
 after the day's work was over. The invitation was 
 accepted. In the course of the evening their plans 
 were discussed. George openly mentioned the town 
 to which he was next due, and at what hour he would 
 start. He afterwards found that Groucock had started 
 the day before him, reached Belfast, and taken up all 
 the orders for lace in the place. This caused some 
 bitterness of feeling between the two travellers. But 
 George, not to be outdone, immediately left Ireland 
 for Liverpool. He worked the place thoroughly, then 
 started for Manchester, and travelled through the great 
 northern towns, working night and day, until he had 
 gone over the whole of the ground, and returned to 
 London full of orders. This in its turn greatly chagrined 
 Groucock, who had intended to take Lancashire on his 
 way home. 
 
 In fact Groucock found it necessary to come to terms 
 with his indefatigable competitor. Through a mutual 
 friend, he made overtures to him. He offered him what 
 Moore called " the incredible salary of 500 a year," if 
 he would travel for his house instead of for Fisher's. It 
 was a very tempting offer, for Moore's salary was only
 
 CHAP, v.] MOORE LEAVES FISHER'S. 75 
 
 a year a sum out of which he could barely 
 contrive to live. The wonder is that Fisher and 
 Robinson had not voluntarily increased his salary, 
 considering the enormous business that he had brought 
 to their firm. 
 
 But in answer to Groucock's overture, Moore's answer 
 was firm and direct. He at once refused the offer. " I 
 will be a servant for no other house than Fisher's. The 
 only condition upon which I will leave him is a part- 
 nership." At length, in self-defence, Groucock yielded 
 to his terms, and in June, 1830, at the age of twenty- 
 four, George Moore entered as partner into the firm of 
 Groucock and Copestake, long afterwards known as 
 that of Groucock, Copestake, and Moore. 
 
 Before he left Fisher's he finished one of his most 
 successful journeys. He did not say a word to the 
 customers about his intended change. He returned to 
 London to give up his accounts, and then he made the 
 important announcement to his employers of his altered 
 position in the trade,
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PARTNER AND TRAVELLER. 
 
 THE firm of Groucock and Copestake was established 
 in 1825. The partners started on a very small scale. 
 '! heir first place of business was over a trunk-shop at 
 No. 7, Cheapside. One little room contained their little 
 stock of goods. There was small space for clerks or 
 warehousemen. Mr. Copestake was the principal clerk 
 and warehouseman, while Mr. Groucock was employed 
 in travelling for orders. 
 
 The business grew by degrees. Mr. Groucock was 
 an active traveller. He largely increased the orders, 
 and at length the room over the trunkmaker's shop 
 became too small. The firm was crowded out by the 
 increasing stock. They looked about for more suitable 
 premises. They found them at No. 62, Friday Street, 
 and took possession of them in 1829 ; believing that the 
 accommodation would be sufficient for doing a larger 
 business. George Moore was taken in as a partner in 
 the following year ; and a removal to more capacious 
 premises was soon found necessary. The firm removed 
 to Bow Churchyard in 1834, and the premises there, 
 with successive alterations and enlargements, still con- 
 tinue the headquarters of the house. 
 
 Though the firm had been doing a considerable busi- 
 ness throughout the country, their capital in stock,
 
 CHAP, vi.] GROUCOCK, COPESTAKE, AND MOORE. 77 
 
 fixtures, and cash amounted to only 4,650. To this 
 George Moore added ^670, which, he says, " my ever- 
 to-be-revered father supplied me with." l The partner- 
 ship was to be for three years, during which the junior 
 partner was to receive one-fourth of the profits. But at 
 the end of that period, if his partners were not satisfied, 
 he was to be paid out his share of the capital, and the 
 engagement was to cease. 
 
 Behold now our young hero of twenty-four travelling 
 partner for the firm of Groucock, Copestake, and Moore. 
 His power of work at that time must have been extra- 
 ordinary. His perfect health, his iron constitution, and 
 his power of will and perseverance, enabled him to get 
 through an enormous amount of labour and fatigue. 
 Some of his fellow-travellers compared him to a lion, 
 others to an eagle. He had the power and endurance 
 of both. 
 
 He worked with a will. He was now working for 
 himself. He had still his great hope before him. He 
 was ever faithful to his first love ; and now, he thought, 
 she was coming nearer to him. " I believe," he after- 
 wards said, " that I never could have surmounted the 
 difficulties and hardships which I had to encounter, but 
 for the thought of her. I thought of her while going 
 my rounds by day, and I thought of her \\hile travelling 
 by coach at night. The thought of her was my greatest 
 stimulus to exertion." 
 
 It has been well said that this episode in Mr. Moore's 
 busy career shows that the romance of life is not con- 
 fined to Belgravia, and that it supplies another to the 
 thousand proofs that a pure and honourable attach- 
 ment arms a young man against the siren attractions of 
 
 1 His rather raised $ool. by mortgaging his estate. The remaining ijol 
 was the money (with accumulated interest) which his great-uncle George 
 had Icfc him, together with the hair trunk.
 
 78 A COMMERCIAL PANIC. [CHAP. vi. 
 
 idleness, and the " pleasures turned to pain," with which 
 our crowded cities abound. 
 
 Mr. Moore selected for his travelling ground the dis- 
 tricts in which he had before been so successful while 
 travelling for Fisher Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin, 
 Belfast, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Mr. Groucock, who 
 had few equals as a traveller, selected the midland dis- 
 tricts, including Nottingham, where he purchased the 
 greater part of the lace sold by the firm. There was 
 another traveller for the southern districts, and a town 
 traveller. This constituted the whole of the travelling 
 staff. 
 
 The first year's returns were comparatively small. 
 Trade was very bad. It was a perilous time. A com- 
 mercial panic existed throughout the country. The 
 political excitement arising from the Reform Bill agita- 
 tion was very great. There was severe pressure for 
 money; and many of the weaker houses went to the 
 wall. Distress prevailed in Lancashire. Glasgow was 
 almost bankrupt. There were disturbances in Spital- 
 fields and riots at Barnsley. In the midst of these 
 difficulties, trade in lace (a thing that could easily be 
 done without) was one of the first to suffer. 
 
 Nevertheless George Moore continued his journeys. 
 Whatever could be done, he did. His usual day's work 
 occupied about sixteen hours. It must also be observed 
 that he worked on Sundays as well as Saturdays. Like 
 many other commercial travellers, he occupied his 
 Sunday mornings in preparing his accounts and looking 
 over his stock. As a rule he was up two nights a week. 
 He would merely throw himself on a sofa for a few 
 hours' sleep before resuming his journey. The thought 
 of resting to take a few hours' pleasure never entered 
 his mind. He was occupied with business, and with 
 business only. It was work, work, from morning till 
 night
 
 CHAP, vi.] GP:OKGE MOORE'S POPULARITY. 79 
 
 Yet he was of a cheerful and social disposition, and 
 continued to make many friends. He was popular 
 everywhere. Though he outstripped others in the race 
 of commerce, he never made an enemy. At night, when 
 he was making up his accounts, his volunteer friends 
 came round him and helped him to pack up his goods 
 for his next journey. They were always eager to speed 
 him on his way. Even the servants at the various inns 
 which he frequented ran to help him. 
 
 Mr. Crampton, who was with him at Fisher's, and 
 afterwards became his partner at Bow Churchyard, 
 says of him at that time " He made personal friends 
 wherever he went, and he kept them. George Moore's 
 name was a household word all over the country. His 
 friends used to keep their christenings and festive days 
 till he came round ; and he had god-children enough to 
 found a colony." 
 
 Mr. Felix Brown, afterwards one of his branch 
 managers, has given the following account of his first 
 introduction to George Moore : " The first time I saw 
 him was at the Union Hotel, Birmingham, at eleven 
 o'clock at night, in the year 1832, when I assisted him 
 and his partner to take their stock. I was struck with 
 his quickness and kindness ; and as I was constantly 
 taking models for my own action in life, I shelved him 
 as one. I suppose the good impressions then made were 
 mutual ; for in a few days I was engaged to represent 
 the firm, when I took the senior partner's journey. In 
 my efforts to succeed, I was greatly stimulated by the 
 indomitable perseverance of Mr. Moore, and by his 
 generous, frank manner of doing business. I soon dis- 
 covered that he could do with a moiety of most men's 
 hours of rest ; for though his body might be reposing, 
 his mind was at work. 
 
 " On my second introduction to him at Dublin, where 
 I was summoned to assist him, we occupied a double-
 
 go MR. BROWN'S ACCOUNT OF HIM. [CHAP. vi. 
 
 bedded room. My usual habit was, when I laid my 
 head u^on my pillow, to forget the world and its cares, 
 and g " to sleep. But on this occasion my companion 
 kept tailing to me, I trying hard to keep awake and 
 listen. But when I dropped into the stupor of slumber 
 I was suddenly wakened up with a voice ' Brown ! 
 Brown ! what a fellow you are to sleep!' At this time 
 I was a little timid in my new life, and to shake this 
 out of me he sent me to call upon his most important 
 customers, quietly enjoying his practical though useful 
 jokes upon me. 
 
 "Success covers many shortcomings. This being the 
 case with myself, I established a confidence with him 
 which was never shaken, but strengthened and grew 
 until his death. During my forty-five years connec- 
 tion with him I observed this consistent attachment to 
 those who had worked for him and with him in his 
 early life; and when he had attained to eminence, none 
 were ever more welcome at his hospitable board than 
 the honest, upright companions of his youth. My 
 opportunities of meeting him in the early career of the 
 house were few, but when we came within a few miles of 
 each other in the course of our respective journeys, we 
 always embraced the opportunity of meeting. His 
 custom was to invite all our customers to dine at my 
 hotel, when he made me the star of the evening. 
 
 " During the first ten years I took no holiday. This 
 rather surprised him. Being popular on my journey, I 
 was unwilling to give it up to any one who might be sent 
 thither to relieve me. I told him so. The prompt answer 
 was, ' Will you take a holiday if / take your journey ? ' 
 I accepted his offer. He took my place, and greatly 
 exceeded the returns over the corresponding month of 
 the preceding year. He told all my friends that I had 
 gone to France, and that on my return they would 
 hardly know me because of my French accent and
 
 CHAP, vi.] DETERMINATION TO OBTAIN ORDERS. 8l 
 
 manners. I was often surprised at his memory. He 
 remembered the smallest incident, whether in business 
 or philanthropy. Indeed I shall never forget his kind- 
 ness to myself and to all connected with me." 
 
 Mr. Moore had, of course, many rebuffs to encounter 
 in the course of his journeys as a commercial traveller. 
 With sufficient confidence in his own abilities, he had no 
 personal pride. Though rebuffed a dozen times, though 
 bowed out of a shop again and again without an order, 
 he would call again with his " Good morning," as brisk 
 and cheerful as ever. He used to say that it was a bad 
 plan to fall out with a customer, however rude he might 
 be. He talked with them, he joked with them, he amused 
 them, and finally he brought them round to his side, 
 which was to order a good parcel. 
 
 Many are the stories still told by commercial travellers 
 about George Moore's determination to get orders. He 
 would not be denied. If refused at first, he resorted to 
 all sorts of expedients until he succeeded. On one 
 occasion he sold the clothes off his back to get an order. 
 A tenacious draper in a Lancashire town refused to deal 
 with him. The draper was quite satisfied with the firm 
 that supplied him, and he would make no change. This 
 became known amongst the commercial travellers at the 
 hotel, and one of them wagered with George Moore that 
 he would not obtain an order. 
 
 George set out to try. The draper saw him entering 
 the shop, and cried out, "All full ! all full, Mr. Moore ! 
 I told you so before ! " " Never mind," said George, 
 " you won't object to a crack." " Oh, no ! " said the 
 draper. They cracked about many things, and then 
 George Moore, calling the draper's attention to a new 
 coat which he wore, asked " What he thought of it ? " 
 "It's a capital coat," said the draper. "Yes, first rate; 
 made in the best style by a first-rate London tailor." 
 The draper looked at it again, and again admired it. 
 
 G
 
 83 HOW HE GOT ORDERS. (CIIAI-. vi. 
 
 " Why," said George, " You are exactly my size ; it's 
 quite new, I'll sell it you." "What's the price?" 
 "Twenty-five shillings." "What? that's very cheap." 
 " Yes, it's a great bargain." " Then I'll buy it," said 
 the draper. 
 
 George went back to his hotel, donned another suit, 
 and sent the "great bargain," to the draper. George 
 calling again, the draper offered to pay him. " No, 
 no," said George, "I'll book it; you've opened an 
 account." The draper afterwards became one of his 
 best customers. 
 
 On another occasion a draper at Newcastle-upon- 
 Tyne was called upon many times without any result. 
 He was always " full." In fact he had no intention of 
 opening an account with the new firm. Mr. Moore got 
 to know that he was fond of a particular kind of snuff 
 rappee, with a touch of beggar's brown in it. Ke 
 provided himself with a box in London, and had it filled 
 with the snuff. When at Newcastle, he called upon the 
 draper, but was met as usual with the remark, " Quite 
 full, quite full, sir." " Well," said Mr. Moore, " I scarcely 
 expected an order, but I called upon you for a re- 
 ference." "Oh, by all means." 
 
 In the course of conversation George took out his 
 snuff-box, took a pinch, and put it in his pocket. After 
 a short interval he took it out again, took another pinch, 
 and said, "I suppose you are not guilty of this bad 
 habit ? " " Sometimes," said the draper. George handed 
 him the box. He took a pinch with zest, and said, 
 through the snuff, "Well, that's very fine!" George 
 had him now. He said, " Let me present you with the 
 oox , I have plenty more." The draper accepted the 
 box. No order was asked ; but the next time George 
 called upon him he got his first order, and numerous 
 others followed. 
 
 With George Moore's energy and iaboriousness the
 
 CHAP, vi.] INCREASE OF THE L'SINESS. 83 
 
 business rapidly increased. At the end of the three 
 years' partnership, he had made himself so necessary to 
 the firm, that his services could not be dispensed with. 
 He was accordingly made equal partner with the others, 
 taking his third share of the profits. " Groucock and I," 
 he says, "extended the business so rapidly that poor 
 Copestake was often very hard up to pay the accounts 
 for lace. I did almost double the business of any other 
 traveller on the road. Had it pleased God to lay me 
 up for three months, I believe it might have olaced the 
 house in difficulty ; but I was as strong as a lion, and 
 worked generally sixteen or eighteen hours a day." 
 
 At this time, and for nine years after, Moore had no 
 place to call his own, not even a lodging. He was 
 travelling about during the whole year, not sleeping 
 more than two or three nights in one place. He arranged 
 his plans, however, so as to reach London the week 
 before Christmas. He looked forward to this day as the 
 great event of the year. A large company of friends 
 was invited to meet him. The enjoyment and hospi- 
 tality of those days, though it might be of a rough and 
 simple character, lived long in the recollection of many 
 besides himself. Some have said, " There have been no 
 Christmases like them since." The gatherings took 
 place in one of the rooms of the warehouse in Friday 
 Street, and afterwards in Bow Church Yard. Moore 
 always slept in a bed made up for him in the house. 
 This was his only holiday during the year. 
 
 There were other things to be talked about by the 
 partners during these annual meetings. There was the 
 position of the house amidst the failures that were con- 
 stantly occurring the breakings of banks, the scarcity 
 of money, the knowing whom to trust and whom not to 
 trust. It was indeed a time of great difficulty, and one 
 of peril for so young a house, with so small a capita! at 
 its command. Mr. Moore says of^this period, " Al- 
 
 G 2
 
 g^ EMBARKING FOR IRELAND. [CHAP. Yl. 
 
 though Mr. Copestake never went through the hardships 
 that I did, he must have had a great deal of menta\ 
 anxiety to provide money. I laboured day and night. 
 Our business increased every year. It was my duty to 
 initiate the new travellers and drill them into their 
 work, and to open out to them fresh journeys. In the 
 course of my peregrinations I visited every market-town 
 in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, with very 
 few exceptions. I also visited the Nottingham market, 
 where we had to thank the manufacturers for their always 
 unbounded confidence. Groucock and I also travelled 
 through most of the towns of Belgium and France to 
 buy lace, and to open out operations for the future. 
 Independently of this, I worked my own journey single- 
 handed. For twelve years I never missed, excepting 
 once, starting for Ireland on the first Monday of every 
 month." 
 
 George Moore looked upon the Irish voyages as his 
 rest for the month. So soon as he got on board he 
 went to his berth, and slept soundly until the ship was 
 in sight of port. It was not, however, always so easy 
 to get on board. His voyage was usually undertaken 
 from Liverpool ; but sometimes from other ports. The 
 passenger-boats forty-five years ago were very different 
 from what they are now. There were few steamers at 
 that time. Most of the voyages were made by sailing- 
 ships. Hence the occasional slowness of the voyages 
 from England to Ireland. It sometimes took sixteen 
 hours to get across ; though we have heard of a case in 
 which it took six weeks to bring a regiment of militia 
 from Cork to Yarmouth. 
 
 On one occasion George Moore embarked at Ply- 
 mouth for Dublin. The vessel by which he was to sail 
 lay at anchor some distance from the shore. It was a 
 wild winter's night, and the sea was running high. The 
 captain at first refused to weigh anchor, but at Moore's
 
 CHAP, vi.] CROSSING MORECAMBE SANDS. 85 
 
 urgent request he consented to take him on board. His 
 next difficulty was to induce the sailors to face the 
 sea in an open boat ; but at length he hired a sufficient 
 number of men to row him out to the ship. The boxes 
 containing his stock of lace were brought down to the 
 shore and hoisted into the boat, lying high and dry 
 upon the beach. Moore had a servant with him, much 
 older than himself, to look after the boxes. This man's 
 fears so far overcame him that he lost all self-command, 
 and entreated his master not to endanger his life and 
 his lace in that open boat. " Stop behind then/' said 
 Moore, " for I am determined to go." He then sprang 
 into the boat and signalled to the sailors to start. It 
 was, however, thought necessary to lash them together 
 with ropes to prevent them being washed into the sea. 
 
 The boat was then launched through the surf, and 
 for some moments it was hidden from sight by the 
 waves. It was more than an hour before the boatmen 
 fought their way to the vessel through one of the wildest 
 storms that broke along that rocky coast. Eager and 
 friendly eyes watched them until they reached the ship at 
 anchor. The lace boxes were hoisted in ; Moore followed 
 last ; and at length, when the storm had somewhat 
 abated, the ship sailed for Dublin and reached the port 
 in safety. 
 
 At another time Mr. Moore had a narrow escape 
 from drowning while crossing Morecambe Sands. He 
 had been travelling in Cumberland, by Carlisle, Mary- 
 port, and Whitehaven. He had arrived at Cartmel, in 
 Lancashire, near the head of Morecambe Bay. He 
 was driving his own two-horse conveyance, containing 
 a large quantity of valuable lace. Being unwilling to 
 lose a moment, he determined to make a short cut 
 across the sands to Lancaster, where he was next due. 
 But he seems not to have known the dangers of the 
 journey.
 
 86 DANGERS OF THE CROSSING. [CHAP. vr. 
 
 When the tide at that part of the coast is low, the 
 sea runs very far out. Only a little strip of blue is 
 seen in the distance. A large extent of sand and mud 
 is laid bare at the head of the bay. From Cartmel to 
 Poulton-le-Sands, is about nine miles across. If the 
 journey can be accomplished in that way, it saves a 
 distance of about fifty miles round the rivers Kent and 
 Leven. The sands had long been used as a sort of 
 desert highway. It was the custom to have a chartered 
 guide, called the Carter, to attend and conduct strangers 
 across the sands, which were constantly shifting. The 
 registers of the parish of Cartmel show that not fewer 
 than a hundred persons have been buried in the church- 
 yard who were drowned in attempting to cross the 
 sands. This was independent of the numerous burials in 
 the churchyards of adjacent parishes on both sides of 
 the bay. As late as the spring of 1857 a party of ten 
 or twelve young men and women, who were proceeding 
 to the hiring market at Lancaster, were overtaken by 
 the tide, and the whole of them were drowned. 
 
 George Moore reached Cartmel towards evening. He 
 did not take time to inquire as to the state of the 
 tide, but drove off at once towards the sands. It was a 
 reckless undertaking, as he soon found out. He drove 
 along with speed. But he was scarcely half way 
 across the sands before he saw that the tide was 
 turning. The man who was with him in the carriage, 
 jumped out and went back. But George, believing 
 that he was on the right track, drove on. The water 
 was now approaching. It was coming on like a mill 
 race. He flogged his horses as he had never flogged 
 them before. The sand shifted under the horses' feet. 
 Then he turned them to one side, and drove them where 
 their feet held. A mirage rose before him, and he 
 seemed to see the land. But it disappeared and reap- 
 peared again and again. The situation became terrible.
 
 CHAP, vi.] RESULT OF THE PARTNERSHIP. 87 
 
 The water was now upon him, and the boxes behind him 
 were swimming. He drove first this way, and then that. 
 The firm ground failed him. He was driving towards 
 destruction, for he was driving towards the open sea ! 
 
 At length he heard a loud shout. It proceeded from 
 some person to the left. He looked round and discerned 
 through the haze a man on horseback shouting and 
 waving his hands. It was one of the mounted guides 
 stationed on the shore to watch the dangerous tracks. 
 The man spurred his horse into the water, suddenly 
 turned round, and waved to the man in the carriage to 
 come onward in that direction. Moore understood his 
 position at once. His horses were now swimming. He 
 pulled them round by sheer force in the direction of the 
 land By dint of flogging and struggling the horses at 
 length touched the ground. They dragged the carriage 
 up the bank, and Moore's life was saved. 
 
 To return to the results of the partnership. At the 
 end of the second year, George Moore's share of the 
 profits amounted to .695. His capital invested in the 
 concern was now 848. The income he had made 
 by his year's hard work did not amount to much, but he 
 was laying the foundations of a large business. For 
 some time it doubled itself yearly. All the partners 
 had their hearts in the work. They lived economically. 
 They put all their spare capital into the concern. Like 
 Moore, Groucock was constantly on the road. When 
 not travelling in England he was travelling abroad, 
 buying lace to supply the constantly-increasing demand. 
 Copestake confined himself to the house. He managed 
 the finances of the firm. He was an excellent ware- 
 houseman. He never spent a day out of the office. 
 Mr. Moore says of him : " For half the time that I have 
 been a partner with him he never took a day's holiday. 
 I never took a day for the first thirteen years during alJ 
 the time that I travelled."
 
 3 ACTION AGAINST A RIVAL. [CHAK vi. 
 
 With all these heads and hands at work, the firm 
 could not but thrive. The business increased from year 
 to year, and yet it was carried on with a comparatively 
 small capital. At the beginning of 1832 the firm owed 
 14,133, whilst the stock on hand was valued only at 
 8,435, though the book-debts and cash in hand 
 amounted to 14,406. In tact the firm was trading 
 close upon its means, and it could only keep alive by 
 turning over its capital again and again in the course of 
 the year. Then there were the bad debts, and in such a 
 time of mercantile distress they must have been con- 
 siderable. 
 
 The position of the firm began to be talked about 
 amongst men in the lace trade. One of their special 
 rivals made no secret of the matter. He told his friends 
 that Groucock, Copestake, and Moore were trading 
 beyond their capital, and would soon be unable to meet 
 their liabilities. The credit of merchants is a vital 
 point. Their virtue, like that of Caesar's wife, must be 
 beyond suspicion. Stories like these, whispered about, 
 soon affect the credit of the merchant. They cease to 
 be able to buy on like terms with others. It was there- 
 fore found necessary to put a stop to these rumours in a 
 summary manner. An action was commenced against 
 a particular slanderer in the Court of Common Pleas. 
 The case was tried before Lord Abhiger and a special 
 jury. The counsel for the firm was Mr. Thesiger, after- 
 wards Lord Chelmsford ; and the counsel for the 
 defendant were the Attorney-General (Sir J. Campbell) 
 and Sir F. Pollock. 
 
 In the course of the evidence it came out that the 
 defendant had gone to the London agent of Messrs. 
 Heathcoat, and Co., the large lace manufacturers at 
 Nottingham, and informed him that there was a great 
 deal of talk in the trade about a lace house in a Church- 
 yard. " Do you mean Groucock and Company ? " asked
 
 CHAP. VI.] SUCCESS OF THE PLAINTIFFS 8$ 
 
 the agent. " Yes, it was Groucock and Company." He 
 went on to tell the agent that the house could not get 
 over the 4th of March, having made a bad debt of 
 ^2,000 in Sheffield ; and besides, that the great ex- 
 pense to which they had gone in travellers and clerks, 
 and the many losses they had suffered, rendered it 
 certain that they must stop ! The defendant went down 
 to Nottingham and propagated the same statements ; 
 the result of which was that Groucock and Co. 's traveller 
 was prevented buying goods at the ordinary price. 
 
 It was a wily and deep-laid scheme for the ruin of the 
 firm. " It is impossible," said Mr. Thesiger, " to esti- 
 mate what injury may have been done to the plaintiffs 
 by the course which has been pursued. Private credit, 
 like public, depends entirely upon opinion. The plaintiffs 
 are persons of great respectability ; their trade has 
 flourished : but however deeply their roots may have 
 struck, and however widely their branches may have 
 been spread, still their whole business may be over- 
 thrown by the breath of suspicion." 
 
 After a careful summing-up by Lord Abinger, the jury 
 gave a unanimous verdict for the plaintiffs damages, 
 three hundred pounds. They did not place the amount 
 to the credit of the firm, but divided it amongst the Lon- 
 don charities. The honour and reputation of the house 
 were thus vindicated. The fact of their having been 
 assailed in such a public manner by their rival, brought 
 many new friends to their help. They were even offered 
 numerous sums of money on loan ; but they declined 
 to accept these proffered kindnesses. The trial gave 
 them an additional start, and they carried on their 
 increasing trade more successfully than ever. 
 
 Mr. Moore had in the meantime continued his friend- 
 ship with Mr. Ray, his former employer. He saw his 
 little rosebud growing up into womanly grace and beauty. 
 - At length he told his secret. He was refused. After
 
 oo GEORGE MOOKE'S MARRIAGE. [CHAP. vi. 
 
 this, an interval of five years passed. Five years is a 
 long time in a man's life. It makes ties and breaks 
 them. Still he went on remembering her. Like all 
 true lovers, he always had doubts as to his success in 
 winning her. As he expresses it "he had served for 
 her with an aching heart longer than Jacob served for 
 Rachel." 
 
 At length he heard that some favoured suitor had 
 many chances of being with her, which were quite unat- 
 tainable for him. Mr. Ray was still most friendly, and 
 George continued his visits to the family, when in town. 
 With his usual perseverance he at last succeeded. On 
 the 1 2th of August, 1840, he led his first love, Eliza Flint 
 Ray, to the altar. And thus his boyish resolution was 
 at last fulfilled.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TRIP TO AMERICA HUNTING. 
 
 MR. MOORE'S marriage did not greatly interfere with his 
 business pursuits. His honeymoon tour lasted only a 
 week. He went back to his journeys again. His first 
 house in London was at 17, Canterbury Villas, Maida 
 Hill, but he was rarely at home. He set out for Ireland 
 on the first of every month ; and he continued to make 
 his ordinary rounds in the northern towns of England 
 during the rest of the month. 
 
 At length, in 1841, after the business of the firm had 
 become well established, he partially gave up travelling. 
 They had now three town travellers and ten country 
 travellers. Mr. Moore confined himself to drilling the 
 new men, and introducing them to his customers. When 
 a journey was not working well he took it in hand 
 himself, in order to give it another push. 
 
 When a traveller was laid up, or went on his holiday, 
 Mr. Moore took his journey until he returned. It was 
 difficult work for the traveller to do any business on that 
 road for some time after. On one occasion Mr. Moore 
 took the journey into Wales, and sold so many goods 
 that the traveller who followed him had almost nothing 
 to do during his next journey. 
 
 The business had by this time so much increased, that 
 the premises in Bow Churchyard were again enlarged.
 
 9a GIVES UP TRAVELLING. [CHAP. VTI. 
 
 Houses in Bread Street were bought and included in the 
 warehouse. Amongst these was the house erected in 
 place of that in which John Milton was born. A bust of 
 John Milton stands on the site of his birthplace. The 
 house itself was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. 
 
 When George Moore gave up travelling, and took to 
 office work, the change of occupation soon told upon his 
 health. During his journeys he had lived for the most 
 part out of doors. He had breathed fresh air, taken 
 plenty of exercise, and enjoyed the best of health. But 
 now that he had become a warehouseman, and sat at a 
 desk in a stuffy part of the warehouse, breathing impure 
 air and taking little exercise, his health gave way. He 
 began to be hasty and irritable. From being cheerful, 
 he became sombre and melancholy. He had an excru- 
 ciating pain in his head. He could not sleep at night. 
 He took his business to bed with him, and rose up with 
 it again in the morning. Bow Churchyard was his night- 
 mare. Everything else was prospering with him. Life 
 was the same as before, and yet he could not enjoy it. 
 In short, he was ill ; and then he thought of the doctor. 
 
 He consulted Surgeon Lawrence, 1 of Whitehall Place, 
 one of the most distinguished men of his day. After 
 stating his case, Mr. Lawrence said, " I see how it is. 
 You have got the City Disease. You are working your 
 brain too much and your body too little." " But what 
 am I to do?" asked Mr. Moore. "Well, I'll tell you. 
 Physic is of no use in a case such as yours. Your 
 medicine must be the open air. You may spend part of 
 your time in gardening ; or you may fish, or shoot, or 
 hunt ! " "I cannot garden," replied the patient ; " I 
 never fired a gun in my life ; fishing would drive me 
 mad ; and I think that 1 must take to hunting." " Can 
 you ride? " asked Mr. Lawrence. " Not much! I rode 
 my father's blind horse barebacked when a boy ; but I 
 1 Afterwards Sir William Lawrence, Bart.
 
 CHAP. VII.] MR. DEVILLE'S EXAMINATION. 93 
 
 have not ridden since." "Well," said Mr. Lawrence, 
 " You had better go down to Brighton and ride over the 
 downs there ; but you must take care not to break your 
 neck in hunting." 
 
 In the meantime Mr. Lawrence recommended George 
 Moore to go to Mr. Deville, the phrenologist in the 
 Strand, to have his head examined. Phrenology was 
 very much talked about in those days. George Combe 
 and James Simpson were its great apostles, and many 
 medical men believed in it. Mr. Moore says that Mr. 
 Lawrence was not a strong believer, but that he was 
 curious to compare the report of Mr. Deville with his 
 own impressions as to his patient's brain. Mr. Moore 
 walked directly from Mr. Lawrence's surgery to Mr. 
 Deville's office, so that there could be no concert between 
 them. To those who do not believe in phrenology, the 
 report, given below, 1 will be considered a remarkably 
 good " guess " as to Mr. Moore's general character. 
 
 1 "This is a large brain, with a good deal of power. If called fairly 
 into action and fairly exercised, must take a good station in society, but 
 being subject to act with great energy, more particularly under excitement, 
 it will require some care not to overwork it. The moral sentiments, the 
 feelings and propensities, being nearly equally balanced, everything that is 
 likely to excite the latter should be avoided. 
 
 "The intellectual regions being large, you should, with but little effort, 
 possess a highly useful general knowledge, and be well fitted for the law, 
 the bar, a scientific, mechanical, mercantile, or physiological occupation. 
 Kind to the youn^r, and warm and zealous in friendship, it may require a 
 little exertion occasionally to hold in check the lower feelings. Anger, a 
 little smart if offended, but soon over upon a kindly feeling being shown. 
 
 " Firmness and determination are strong points in the character. The 
 views taken and opinions put forward not readily given up ; and if a little 
 excited, strongly expressing the views taken, having the power, by a com- 
 ma d of words, to put forward and advocate the same ; but a slight modi- 
 fication of the feelings manifested at times might be very useful. 
 
 "Those powers fit you to act as a delegate to represent ihe views of a 
 body, or others ; being sensitive to proper positions in society, a motive for 
 some of the actions, but not stooping to servile means to obtain them. A 
 strong sense of honour and justice ; not bigoted upon religion. 
 
 "Not at a loss for words to express your views and language easily. 
 History, science, mathematics, mechanics, and philosophy may be readily 
 applied to highly useful purposes. Here is power for mirth, humour, and 
 imitation, drawing, or something in the arts, though colouring will require 
 attention, if not some difficulty. Fond of system and method, with a dis
 
 94 HUNTS WITH THE HARRIERS. [CHAP. v;:. 
 
 Mr. Moore proceeded to Brighton with his wife. He 
 hired a horse and hunted with the harriers across the 
 Downs. He managed to keep his seat. The horse he 
 rode was not frisky, nor were there any fences to leap. 
 He hunted two or three times a week, during the month, 
 while he remained at Brighton. He now thought that 
 he was a sufficiently good rider to follow the hounds 
 across country. 
 
 Shortly after his return to London he went to his first 
 fox-hunt. The meet was at Chipping Ongar, about 
 thirty miles from town. He sent his horse overnight to 
 meet Colonel Conyer's foxhounds ; and he himself started 
 next morning at six, with two friends. He wore white 
 cords, and was rather smartly got up for the occasion. 
 The day was fine ; the meet at the cover was most in- 
 spiriting men, dogs, and horses sky, sun, and land- 
 scape were splendid. A fox was found. Tally-ho ! 
 Tally-ho ! and away they went. Moore's first jump 
 was over a rotten bank fence. The horse, not getting 
 sufficiently forward, tumbled back into a stagnant ditch, 
 with Moore under. After great difficulty, man and 
 horse were at length got out, the rider covered xvith 
 mud, and his white cords blackened. But his pluck was 
 up, and determined to go straight, he remounted, and set 
 the horse again at the fence. He got over and went on 
 at a gallop. 
 
 He had some difficulty in sticking on. The horse did 
 not care for jumping. When he came to a hedge, he 
 preferred rushing through it, to jumping over it. But 
 there were ditches and walls that must be jumped. On 
 
 like to gaudy colours in dress or furniture. Some feeling for poetry and 
 music if cultivated. 
 
 '' In conclusion, it is difficult to say what such a brain, with perse\ trance, 
 could not do, than what it is capable of doing." 
 
 "Signed, JAMES DKVILLE. 
 
 " January 10, 1844.''
 
 CHAP, vii.] HIS FIRST DAY'S HUNTING EXPERIENCE. 95 
 
 such occasions Moore usually went over the horse's head, 
 and picked himself together on the other side. He 
 mounted again and pushed on, nothing daunted. If 
 others could follow the hounds, why should not he? 
 Wherever a jump was to be taken, he would try it. 
 Over he went. Another tumble ! No matter. After a 
 desperate run, he got seven tumbles. Sometimes he was 
 down ; sometimes the horse was down ; and sometimes 
 both were down together. 
 
 At the end of the run the horse was blown, and 
 thoroughly done up. Old Colonel Conyers Master of 
 the hounds seeing George Moore's bloody face, his 
 smashed hat, his ragged and dirty clothes came up to 
 him and said, " Young man, you have much more pluck 
 than prudence. If you don't take care you will be 
 getting your neck broken some day ; I advise you to go 
 home." Of course the Colonel had no idea that the 
 young man was merely following his doctor's prescrip- 
 tion. At all events Moore went away, for the fox was 
 killed and the hunt was over. He concludes his first 
 day's hunting experience with these words : " I was 
 nothing the worse. On returning to the inn, I changed 
 my clothes, and drove home the same night, having 
 driven sixty rniles that day, besides the run." 
 
 He adds a few words about bold riding. " Whatever 
 other people may say about riding to hounds, I have 
 always contended that no man ever rides bold unless he 
 has had a few good tumbles. This, my first day, took 
 away all fear ; and ever after, if I rode a really good 
 horse that I had confidence in, I was generally in the 
 right place in the run, and at the end. I always contend 
 that more accidents take place with timid riders than 
 with bold ones." 
 
 On his next visit to his doctor he was recommended 
 to take a long rest, and to try a change of scene if pos- 
 sible. Lawrence advised him to go to Australia, or
 
 06 TAKES A LONG HOLIDAY. [CHAP. vn. 
 
 America, or the Cape of Good Hope anywhere for a 
 long rest. Mr. Moore had not had a real holiday for 
 about nineteen years not since he had entered Flint, 
 Ray, and Co.'s in 1825. While he travelled for Fisher's, 
 his life was full of hard work. He had now been travel- 
 ling eleven years for his own house. During that time 
 he never had a holiday. He had been burning the 
 candle at both ends, and now he was suffering for it. 
 
 He at length made up his mind to set out upon his 
 first holiday. His partners were rejoiced at his proposal, 
 for they had observed how much his health had been 
 failing of late. The journey must be done at once. One 
 evening he went home to his wife and said, " You must 
 get my things ready: I am going to America to-morrow!' 1 
 She was of course surprised. " Why did you not tell me 
 before ? " " Well, it was of no use unsettling your mind 
 beforehand. Now lam ready to go." His preparations 
 were easily made. Commercial travellers are ready to 
 start in any direction on a moment's notice. His baggage 
 was accordingly got ready, and by cockcrow the following 
 morning he was off on his journey to America. 
 
 He sailed from Liverpool for New York on the I7th 
 of August, 1844, by the Great Western steamship. No 
 subject of interest occurred during the voyage. His prin- 
 cipal business was tramping the deck, smoking cigars, and 
 consuming meals at the ordinary intervals. " I laid down," 
 said Mr. Moore, " the following rules, which I hope to be 
 able to keep : Rise at half-past seven, walk on deck till 
 breakfast, read at least six chapters in the Bible the first 
 thing after breakfast, then walk on deck for an hour till 
 lunch, afterwards write for an hour, then walk on deck 
 for another hour, then read any books I have till dinner, 
 between dinner and tea walk and talk, and take stock of 
 the passengers, of whom there are all sorts, then whist 
 until ten, and turn in." 
 
 After a pleasant voyage, which extended for about
 
 CHAT, vn.] ARRIVAL AT NEW YORK. 97 
 
 fourteen days, the Great Western reached New York on 
 the 3 1st of August. Mr. Moore, during his holiday, 
 combined business with pleasure. Though he went to 
 churches and theatres during his travels, his principal 
 visits were to the importers of lace. He had obtained 
 letters of introduction from Barings, Overend and Gurney, 
 and others, which opened all doors to him. A few notes 
 may be given from his journal. He first mastered the 
 geography of the City of New York, and then went the 
 round of his calls : 
 
 " A long day. Observed with regret the loose mode 
 of doing business. All busy. They appear to think 
 good times will last for ever. Nearly all have failed at 
 one time or another. Bankers discounting liberally at 
 present, and all appear to be trying who can sell cheapest. 
 . . . Took a turn among the retail shops to see their 
 system. Mr. T. A. Stewart, Broadway, and a few others, 
 are done upon the London style, but the lower class 
 take any prices they can get. 
 
 " Had a long consultation with my old friend and 
 fellow-apprentice, Joseph Blane, who is in prosperity, 
 esteemed by all who know him, and in possession of the 
 best information about the standing of the different 
 parties in the dry-goods trade. Had interviews with 
 Brown Brothers (the Rothschilds of America), from 
 whom I received marked kindness and most liberal offers 
 to transact our money operations. . . . Dined with Joseph 
 Blane at his house in Broadway. This was one of the 
 pleasantest days I spent since I left my own fireside. 
 It brought old recollections to my memory that had long 
 since been buried scenes of my boyhood, when Blane 
 and I were serving our apprenticeship in VVigton." 
 
 During the course of Mr. Moore's visit to New York 
 he saw many of the public institutions, more particularly 
 the New York Infant Orphan Asylum, with which he 
 was very much interested, being himself a subscriber 
 
 H
 
 98 THE SOLITARY SYSTEM. [CHAP. vii. 
 
 to the London Orphan Asylum. He also inspected the 
 New York Hospital or Bloomsbury Asylum lor the 
 Insane, the Tombs, one of the New York prisons, and 
 some public places of rescrt. " One morning," he says, 
 " I bought three splendid racoon skins, one of them for 
 
 M r< j 1 of Liverpool, who, when I was about to leave 
 
 my native shore, put a magnificent diamond ring upon 
 my finger, as a mark of gratitude, he said, for a disin- 
 terested act on my part towards him long, long ago, 
 and which he considered had been the ground-work of 
 his fortune." 
 
 After remaining about six weeks in New York, Mr. 
 Moore journeyed southward to Philadelphia. He there 
 called upon the commercial people whom he wished 
 to see. He found, however, that they were mostly 
 supplied from New York. He was delighted with the 
 Fairmount Waterworks, which bountifully provided the 
 inhabitants of Philadelphia with fresh water ; the site 
 on which they stand commanding a magnificent view 
 of the city. He also visited the grave of the immortal 
 Franklin, the splendid Gerard College for the education 
 and maintenance of orphans, the Pennsylvanian Hospital 
 founded by William Penn, and the Eastern Penitentiary, 
 where he saw the solitary system in full operation. 
 
 "The solitary system," he says, "is abominable. I 
 could not walk a happy man beneath the open sky 
 by day, or lay me down upon my bed at night, with 
 the consciousness that one human creature was suffering 
 this awful punishment, and I the cause of it, or con- 
 senting to it in any degree. ... I was much interested 
 with one prisoner, who had nearly completed his seven 
 years. He stated that he had been guilty of stealing 
 one hundred dollars, and that, his conscience upbraiding 
 him, he took them back previous to being found out ; 
 and still he was sentenced to this frightful punishment, 
 I left the place labouring under a feeling of melancholy.
 
 CHAP, vii.] BALTIMORE THE SHAKERS CHAMPLAIN. 99 
 
 I next visited the Blind Asylum, where we saw the 
 system of reading by raised letters beautifully carried 
 out. They take thirty boys and thirty girls upon the 
 charity, and educate them so that they can get a living 
 in after life. Strange to say, they sometimes get mar- 
 ried. I bought some of their work, contributed to the 
 charity, and l^ft much pleased." 
 
 His next visit was to Baltimore, the capital of Mary- 
 land " the first Slave State that I had ever been in. 
 A shudder involuntarily came over me. Having worked 
 up my imagination, I fancied every black I saw was 
 a slave. Many of them, however, are free. The women 
 here, as in Philadelphia, are very handsome, though they 
 look rather delicate.". He then went to the Capitol at 
 Washington, and from thence again to New York. 
 After receiving his letters from home and replying to 
 them, he set out for a short journey in Canada. He 
 sailed up the river Hudson, and describes the magni- 
 ficent scenery as he passed along. He visited Albany, 
 Troy, and the Shaker village of Watervleit. Of the 
 Shakers he says, " All the possessions and revenues of 
 the settlement are thrown into a common stock, which 
 is managed by the elders. They are capital farmers, 
 and good breeders of cattle ; honest and just in all their 
 transactions ; the only class of people, gentle or simple, 
 who can resist thievish tendencies in horse-dealing." 
 
 Mr. Moore's next route was along the Champlain 
 Canal. The boats had been taken off Lake George for 
 the winter. " This fifty miles of road," he says, " was 
 the most frightful travelling I ever had. Great black 
 bears prowl here. Trees and planks were laid across 
 the road to fill up the holes. There were frequent 
 openings in the bridges that a horse might have gone 
 slap into. After going two or three feet into holes, and 
 after many, as I supposed, hairbreadth escapes, we at 
 length arrived at White Hall, at the junction of the 
 
 II 2
 
 ioo VISIT TO CANADA. [CHAP. vn. 
 
 canal and lake navigation." Mr. Moore then steamed 
 along Lake Champlain one of the most beautiful lakes 
 in America surrounded by majestic scenery. He 
 reached St. John's, within the frontier of Canada. From 
 thence he proceeded to Montreal by railway and steamer. 
 At Montreal he called upon his customers, and " found 
 them all most civil and polite : indeed I cannot speak 
 too highly of them." 
 
 From Montreal he went to Quebec. There was little 
 business to be done there. His voyage was for the most 
 part one of pleasure. And yet the weather was cold 
 and muggy ; winter was fast drawing on. The sail down 
 the St. Lawrence was nevertheless most agreeable. He 
 went over the most notable sights in Quebec the 
 Plains of Abraham, where Wolfe fell, and where a 
 paltry monument had been erected ; and over the forti- 
 fications, where the ingenuity of military skill had been 
 exhausted to produce another Gibraltar. 
 
 He next proceeded westward, to Kingston, Toronto, 
 Hamilton, and Niagara. His visit to the Falls was one 
 of the great events of his life. It is not necessary to 
 give his description. Indeed no one has yet been able 
 to describe the impression which Niagara makes upon 
 the mind. " It is wonderful to think," says Mr. Moore, 
 "that the outpourings of the lakes Superior, Huron, 
 Erie, Michigan, and St. Clare covering a surface of 
 150,000 square miles, all roll down the 157 feet fall, 
 witii sixteen times the force of all the water-power of 
 Great Britain." 
 
 From Niagara Mr. Moore went by Buffalo, Rochester, 
 and Albany to New York. There he took leave of all 
 his friends and customers, and went on to Boston, to 
 vicit it on his way homeward. The weather was wet 
 and dirty ; a cold east wind was blowing ; and he did 
 not see the town to advantage. " The houses," he says, 
 "are bright, and have a gay appearance. The sign-
 
 CHAP, vii.] BOSTON IMPRESSIONS OP A-MKFIC^. it.. 
 
 boards are painted in gaudy colours. The gilded letters 
 are so very gilded ; the bricks are sos^rj/red ; the blinds 
 and area-railings are so very green. The plates upon 
 the street-doors are marvellously bright and twinkling ; 
 yet all looks so slight and unsubstantial in appearance. 
 The suburbs are, if possible, still more unsubstantial- 
 looking. Nevertheless, the city is a beautiful one, and 
 cannot fail to impress all strangers favourably." 
 
 Mr. Moore called upon the representative of his house 
 in Boston, Mr. Schofield, of Henry and Co.'s, Man- 
 chester, " the most decided man of business I had met 
 with for many a long day." He was much impressed 
 by the Boston merchants. " They are first-rate business 
 men," he says ; " no auctions, which I detest ; no over- 
 stocks, which will be the ruin of New York ; everything 
 is well assorted, and in good condition. In fact I felt as 
 if I had been in an English town ; for the men of busi- 
 ness here are more English-like than the Americans 
 generally." Mr. Moore was pleased with his visit to 
 Boston ; the more especially as it opened up a large 
 new business connection for his firm. 
 
 He had now done his work; and he was ready to 
 leave by the next steamer for England. Before he left 
 he made this entry in his notebook : " I am bound to 
 add that, during my visit to America, I have met with 
 the most open, frank, and communicative people that I 
 ever came in contact with ; and also that I frequently 
 had occasion to blush for my own ignorance both about 
 Europe and America. To use a common expression, 
 the Americans are a wide-awake people. Their schools, 
 their cheap publications, their thirst for knowledge, and 
 their naturally quick perceptions, place them above the 
 usual level in society. America must rise, and that it 
 will become a great country is my earnest wish and 
 belief. " 
 
 Mr. Moore left Boston by the Acadia on the 1st of
 
 i OKY AT XSOJTINGHAM. ICUAP. vn. 
 
 November, 1844, and reached Liverpool in fourteen 
 days, _ after an absence of about three months. He 
 came home like a giant refreshed. His health was re- 
 stored. He had recovered his brightness of spirit, and 
 \vas ready again to enter upon his labours with renewed 
 zest and vigour. 
 
 One of the first results of Mr. Moore's visit to Ame- 
 rica was the establishment of a branch of the firm at 
 Nottingham. They also erected a lace-factory in the 
 town. It was begun in January, 1845, and finished at 
 the end of the same year. The lace manufactured was 
 of various kinds and qualities, from twopence per 
 dozen yards to fifteen shillings per yard. They also 
 manufactured lace edgings, silk and cotton nets, and 
 lace curtains a very important article in the trade. 
 About three hundred and sixty women were employed in 
 the factory, and about thirty men in the warehouse. 
 
 While working at his business, Moore again resumed 
 his fox-hunting. In the memoir he has left behind him, 
 he says that he was urged to do so by Dr. Lawrence on 
 his return from America. His first day's hunting with 
 Colonel Conyers had been very disastrous. On that 
 day he had ridden a hired horse. Now he would ride a 
 horse of his own. He bought a brown mare, six years 
 old, for thirty pounds. He sent her down to Brick 
 Wall, near Welwyn, Herts, where he hunted with Mr. 
 Brand's (afterwards Lord Dacre's) hounds, for five or 
 six seasons. There being no railway at that time, Mr. 
 Moore drove down to Finchley to breakfast. He arrived 
 there punctually at seven. He was never five minutes 
 out of time. The servants were so confident of his 
 appearance that as the clock struck seven they opened 
 the door, expecting to see him descend from his trap. 
 From thence he drove to the meet. Sometimes it was 
 twenty or twenty-five miles off. After the hunt he re- 
 turned to Finchley, dined, and got home the same night.
 
 CHAP, vn.] RESUMES FOX-HUNTING. 103 
 
 Mr. Moore could not but enjoy this exhilarating and 
 health-giving exercise. He enjoyed the fresh air, the 
 open country, and the rapid movement. There was the 
 find by the covert-side, the hunt across country, and the 
 brush at the finish. Hunting is a thoroughly English 
 sport. It is a sort of mental tonic. It makes men active 
 and spirited. It gives presence of mind ; and though it 
 may be a sort of self-indulgence, it is constantly teach- 
 ing all sorts of self-denial. 1 " The Englishman," says 
 Emerson, " associates well with dogs and horses. This 
 attachment to the horse arises from the courage and 
 address required to manage it. The horse finds out who 
 is afraid of it, and does not disguise its opinion." 
 
 Hunting is one of the outcomes of the national cha- 
 racter. It brings together, on terms of equality, all 
 classes of society. Foreigners can never understand 
 how English gentlemen find amusement in riding 
 after foxes at the risk of breaking their necks. When 
 the late Prince Consort and his brother, Duke Ernest, 
 first came to England, they were taken to see everything, 
 
 1 Mr. Moore cut from a newspaper the following paragraph, and inserted 
 it in his case-bojk : 
 
 "When a Aeries of 'concerts for the people' was begun in Edinburgh, 
 Dr. Guthrie, of the Scotch Free Church, was present to give his counte- 
 nance and support to the undertaking. He said, ' I have come here to 
 lend my countenance as a minister to innocent amusement. I remember 
 when I was a boy at college, and tha was not yesterday, I used to go to 
 Duddingston Loch on Saturday afternoon, in winter, and there I saw a 
 reverend and grave divine paying at what do you call it? Curling. 
 My great ancestor, Guthrie, one of those who were martyrs in the old days 
 for Scotland's right and truth, was one of the first curlers in the county of 
 Ayr. He was a first-rate fisher, but I could try him at that. He was a 
 famous fox-hunter : I have more respect for my neck than to try that. I 
 have no sympathy, I have no patience, with that sickly, distempered reli- 
 gion that frowns upon innocent amusement. All my life I have had a liking 
 for amu-ement. In that Gospel which I have the honour to preach, I find 
 nothing forbidding such amusement. I maintain here and though all the 
 bigots in the world were here, I would still maintain it that there is 
 nothing in the glorious Gospel antagonistic to human nature. Amuse- 
 ment is not corruption. Every creature bas its love of amusement. I 
 have come here as a minister for the purpose of giving my sanction to this 
 amusement.' "
 
 I0 j HUNTING AT TRING. [CHAP. vii. 
 
 and amongst other sights they were taken to the hunt- 
 ing-field. They thought that every one, as at court, 
 would go according to rank, first a prince, then a 
 duke, then a marquis, and so on ; but they were greatly 
 disconcerted at seeing a butcher's boy riding up to the 
 fence and going straight over it before them. 
 
 " I sincerely believe," says Mr. Moore, " that Dr. Law- 
 rence was right in the advice he gave me. Nothing 
 could have tended so much to restore me to health as 
 active outdoor exercise. Before the season was over I 
 felt wonderfully recovered. It was also a great pleasure 
 to me to meet the country gentlemen who belonged 
 to the hunt. They were kind, outspoken, and hospit- 
 able. My companion, Joshua Wimbush, having given 
 up hunting about this time, I presented him with a 
 portrait of himself in hunting costume, as a mark of 
 my sincere esteem for him and his valued father, my 
 intimate friend, and in gratitude for their invariable 
 kindness and hospitality. 
 
 " Lord Lonsdale had now started two packs of hounds, 
 and the kennels being at Tring, I resolved to join his 
 hunt. I may state that I was the first man that ap- 
 peared with his foxhounds in scarlet. I was there the 
 first day that he hunted. For some time we had very 
 bad sport, as the country had not been hunted for some 
 years, and our huntsman did not understand his busi- 
 ness. But after another season we got old Morgan, who 
 had hunted for Mr. Conyers. From that time we gra- 
 dually improved. I now kept two horses, and could 
 ride as well as any of them. My friend Mr. J. P. 
 Foster, 1 having joined me, we took a leading position in 
 the hunt, and great consideration was always shown to 
 us by Lord Lonsdale, Mr. Brown, the deputy-master, 
 the huntsmen whips, and all the gentlemen of the hunt. 
 
 " In the autumn of 1853 Mr. Howard, of Greystoke 
 
 1 Of Foster, Porter, and Co.
 
 '. vu.J A GOOD RUN. 105 
 
 Castle, whose hunting-seat was at Thornbury Castle, 
 Gloucestershire, invited me to send my horses there, and 
 to hunt with Lord Fitzhardinge's hounds. Whatever 
 may be said of my lord's character, I amazingly enjoyed 
 his hounds, as well as Mr. Howard's hospitality. One of 
 the most extraordinary runs we had was over what they 
 term the Rhein country. We had a run of about an 
 hour and a quarter, during which we had to cross about 
 twenty rheins, or water jumps, from ten to twenty feet 
 wide. 
 
 " I rode my old chestnut, one of the best brook- 
 jumpers in the world, though he was an awful puller. 
 He was sure to get over them far enough. Out of a 
 field of upwards of a hundred, there were only six of 
 them up at the kill. Indeed I was not up, for at the 
 very last jump a farmer got into one of those deep 
 rheins, and in pity I stopped to assist in getting him 
 out He thanked me much, and told Mr. Howard that 
 I had saved his life. Mr. Howard himself got into one 
 of the rheins just at the start, arid if help had not been 
 at hand he would certainly have been drowned or killed, 
 for he got wedged in with his horse, and could not 
 easily be extricated. One of the rheins which I jumped 
 across was 18 feet 4 inches wide. I believe I jumped 
 some wider. On the following day many people came 
 to see the old chestnut that had made the Great Jump. 
 The consequence was that he and myself got into some 
 notoriety. A long account of the run appeared in Bell 's 
 Life of the following week. 
 
 " I returned to London, and resumed my hunting with 
 Lord Lonsdale's hounds. 1 spent many pleasant days 
 in this hunt, never failing to meet my valued friend 
 Mr. Foster. As there were four packs of hounds within 
 twenty miles of Tring, we occasionally varied our expe- 
 rience, and sometimes hunted with Baron R rthschild's 
 hounds, as well as with Lord Southampton's. Indeed I
 
 i '. EFFECTS OK HUNTING. [CHAP. vn. 
 
 may say that I have hunted with nearly all the packs of 
 hounds within sixty miles of London. 
 
 " I could relate many good runs that I have taken a 
 good place in, but one will suffice. In 1857 I was out 
 with Lord Southampton in his best country. There was 
 a field of about two hundred. As I had distinguished 
 myself in a run with the same hounds three years before, 
 upon my old chestnut, by simply following Jem Mason, 
 I determined again to follow this excellent leader. We 
 had a run of an hour and twenty minutes, and out of 
 all this large field there were only Jem Mason (the first 
 whip), myself, and Peter Rolt, up at the kill. All the 
 rest were a long way behind. 
 
 " Hunting is considered by some to be a low sort of 
 pastime. But this is a great mistake. You meet with 
 some of the most polished and refined gentlemen in the 
 land. I do believe that a man who thoroughly under- 
 stands hunting, and can get across country, can do most 
 things well. It is one of the best of our national sports ; 
 and who would do away with these ? It has influenced 
 our character ; and produced a race of hardy and daring 
 soldiers. 
 
 " Without egotism, I may say that I did some good in 
 Lord Lonsdale's hunt. They all knew that I hated 
 lying, swearing, and loose conversation, and my presence 
 had perhaps some influence in checking these things. I 
 was instrumental in getting up a large subscription for 
 the Herts and Beds Infirmary, and another for the 
 agricultural societies of all the districts through which 
 we hunted. 
 
 "In my conscience I do not believe that there is any 
 wickedness in hunting. But I must in candour acknow- 
 ledge that hunting on Saturdays makes one think, when 
 sitting in church on the following day, of the meet and 
 tne run, rather than of the service and the sermon. I 
 have always considered hunting was necessary for my
 
 CHAP, vii ] EVIL TO HIM THAT EVIL THINKS. 107 
 
 health, and I think so now. If I could have kept my 
 health without resorting to it, I might have employed 
 my time more valuably in doing good to my fellow- 
 creatures. But it is in this as in so many other things : 
 ' Honi soft qui mal y pense;' Evil to him that evil 
 thinks."
 
 CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 SAFETY-VALVES. 
 
 BUSINESS and hunting did not altogether absorb the 
 energies of George Moore. He had opportunities of 
 engaging in other work. He hunted two days a week 
 in winter. But what was he to do with his surplus 
 energy in summer ? There were a thousand things to be 
 done in London, by those who would take the trouble 
 and pains to do them. When Mr. Moore's partners 
 found him entering upon some new work, they would 
 say : " He has got another safety-valve." 
 
 One of the first things which he did, after giving up 
 travelling and settling down in London, was to become 
 the director of a life assurance society, of which he 
 afterwards became the trustee. He did not accept the 
 office without giving his fair equivalent of services. He 
 was not a mere honorary director. He did not think 
 that he had done his duty by eating his lunch and 
 drinking his sherry. He did his best to increase the 
 business of the office. He besought his friends to insure 
 their lives. When customers came up from the country 
 he took them to the office to get them to make their 
 proposals. 
 
 He had many conversations with the young men 
 employed in his warehouse. "Is your life insured?" 
 he would say. No ' " " Then you must do it at once."
 
 en. vin.] DIRECTOR OF LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY. 109 
 
 If they were married, he urged tt upon them as an indis- 
 pensable duty. "You must insure for the benefit of 
 your wife and children. Remember it is one of the 
 most self-denying acts you can ever have it in your 
 power to perform." 
 
 The insurance society with which Mr. Moore was 
 connected, was the National Mercantile Association. 1 
 He requested the travellers for his house to act as 
 agents for it. The travellers, being constantly on the 
 move, and paying their periodical visits to all the large 
 towns in the kingdom, succeeded in bringing a large 
 amount of new business to the society. This was cer- 
 tainly doing a good work ; for the man who succeeds 
 in inducing another to insure his life, to a certain extent 
 secures his widow and children from want in the event 
 of the insurer's death. In order to induce the travellers 
 to work for the office, Mr. Moore and his colleagues 
 introduced a clause into the articles of the association 
 providing that a certain share of the profits should be 
 appropriated to the support of the Commercial Tra- 
 vellers' Schools, with which Mr. Moore had already 
 become intimately associated. 
 
 Another of George Moore's Safety-valves was the 
 Cumberland Benevolent Society. This was the first 
 charitable association with which he was connected. 
 When he first came to London, and while he was in 
 receipt of a very small salary, he subscribed to it his 
 first guinea ; and he continued ever after to be a mem- 
 ber of the association. The origin of the society is 
 scarcely known. It appears, from the old minute-books, 
 to have been formed about the year 1734, by a number 
 of gentlemen from Cumberland, who met for the pur- 
 pose of talking over the scenes and reminiscences of 
 their early life. 
 
 From a social meeting, it gradually became converted 
 
 1 It has since been amalgamated with another company.
 
 no CUMBERLAND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. [CHAP. vm. 
 
 into a benevolent institution. In the year 1812 it was 
 resolved that a fund should be formed for the relief of 
 distressed persons of Cumberland and their families 
 who were resident in the metropolis. Such was its 
 position when George Moore gave his first guinea to the 
 institution. This, his first act of benevolence, was like a 
 grain of good seed cast into the ground. It sprang up 
 afterwards into a tree of goodly fruit. 
 
 As Mr. Moore prospered, he increased his subscrip- 
 tions. He became prominent in the society, not only 
 for his liberality, but for the active part which he took 
 in the annual festivals given in support of the insti- 
 tution. At the dinner of 1850, when he officiated as 
 steward, his health was proposed. His speech, in 
 answer to the toast thanking him for his services, is 
 worth giving : 
 
 " He said it was ungenerous to call upon him for a 
 reply, as he had distinctly and emphatically declined to 
 appear to-night to take any part in the oratory. He 
 could not, however, but appreciate the intended com- 
 pliment, looking at the multifarious positions he held, 
 perpetual steward for the anniversary dinners for the 
 last twelve years, committee-man, trustee to their funds, 
 and occasionally master of the ceremonies at their balls. 
 Although he had on the present occasion mustered a 
 dozen friends to indulge in the cup of unalloyed charity 
 that peculiar beverage, which, the more it is indulged 
 in, the more healthy does the appetite for it become 
 yet he could not be expected on many more occasions 
 to have such a force of benevolent spirits to rally round 
 him. He had been favoured by Providence to assume a 
 commercial position, which enabled him to assist, and 
 generally to succeed, in placing Cumberland youths in 
 comfortable situations. To those aspirants for com- 
 mercial honours in the city of London, his first advice, 
 on procuring situations for them, was ' When you can
 
 CHAP, vin.] RAISES FUNDS FOK THE SOCIETY. in 
 
 afford it, give a guinea to the Cumberland Benevolent 
 Institution ; it will mark your position ; it will make 
 you feel that you have taken your stand as a philan- 
 thropist. It will raise your own moral power of action, 
 in feeling that you have a stake in the well-being of 
 your once prosperous, but now fallen and unfortunate 
 fellow-countrymen.' The more they were blessed with 
 success in this world, the greater was their responsibility. 
 Property has its duties as well as its rights. Take from 
 me," he concluded, " one kind word of gentle reproof 
 although at this late hour it may not be considered in 
 good taste that we have each and all of us this duty 
 to perform towards our less fortunate fellow-creatures. 
 And mark my parting admonition. It is better for you 
 to become bankrupt by charitable contributions here, 
 than to become bankrupt by ill deeds hereafter." 
 
 The funds of the institution did not, however, increase 
 so rapidly as Mr. Moore desired. The number of indi- 
 gent Cumberland men receiving pensions was increased 
 to forty-five ; but there were many deserving applicants 
 who were turned away year after year. Mr. Moore tried 
 to put his rich Cumberland friends to shame. He said 
 at one of the dinners, that there were four firms in one 
 street in London chiefly composed of Cumberland men 
 whose returns amounted to between two and three 
 millions sterling a year ; and yet some of them had not 
 sent them a farthing towards the benevolent fund. They 
 seemed to have found it easier to make money by trade 
 than to spend it on charity. He regretted to say that 
 he knew many a Cumberland man in London who was 
 literally " rolling in wealth," and had more money than 
 he knew what to do with, who had never favoured them 
 with his presence, nor even allowed his name to appear 
 in their list of subscribers. 
 
 Mr. Moore accordingly found it necessary to do some- 
 thing to replenish the funds of the institution. He called
 
 112 THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SCHOOLS. [CH. vm. 
 
 a meeting of his countyrnen at his office, the scene of 
 so many works of benevolence, and urged them to 
 assist him in restoring the efficiency of the society. Mr. 
 Ferguson, M.P., afterwards referring to this meeting, 
 says : " There was not much talking, but a good deal of 
 action. Mr. Moore headed a subscription list with a 
 donation extending to three figures, and a strong bar- 
 rier was thus erected against the threatened danger of 
 decline. " The tide was turned ; the institution was 
 saved ; and Mr. Moore to the end of his life continued 
 one of its most indefatigable supporters. 
 
 But a still more important Safety-valve was George 
 Moore's connection with the Commercial Travellers' 
 Schools. He could not but take a deep interest in this 
 institution. He himself had won his spurs as a com- 
 mercial traveller. His extraordinary success in that 
 capacity had been the foundation of his fortune. In 
 one of his notes he says : " As a body, I entertain the 
 highest regard for the commercial travellers. They 
 were the companions of my early struggles. I have 
 always sympathised with them. I know the risks which 
 they run, the temptations to which they are exposed, 
 and the sufferings which they have to undergo. They 
 spend most of their time away from their homes and 
 their families. They are exposed to every change of 
 weather, from the heat of summer to the storms of 
 winter. They are liable to be cut off by bronchitis and 
 lung diseases. When they die in the service of their 
 employers, what is to become of their children ? They 
 have been able to save but little money, for they are for 
 the most part badly paid. Here, then, is a fine oppor- 
 tunity for charity to step in and help to save the little 
 ones deprived of their father's care." 
 
 Such was Mr. Moore's idea of the necessity of a 
 charity for the maintenance and education of the 
 children of Commercial Travellers. The subject had
 
 CHAP, via.] BUILDING OF THE NEW SCHOOLS. 113 
 
 for some time been talked about. The idea of forming 
 an institution originated with John Robert Cuffley, a 
 commercial traveller well known " on the road." He 
 was warmly supported by Mr. George Stockdale, Mr. 
 Roberts, and a few other travellers. They called upon 
 Mr. Moore and placed the matter before him. He at 
 first doubted whether commercial travellers would be 
 induced to combine to support such an institution. But 
 he said to the deputation, " Go on ; try what you can do 
 to raise money and collect subscriptions, and call upon 
 me again." 
 
 They went on. They collected in a few months about 
 2,000, and they then called upon Mr. Moore. He was 
 now ready to go heartily with them, and to give to the 
 society the full influence of the firm in which he was a 
 partner. A public meeting was held at the London 
 Tavern on the 3Oth December, 1845, with George Moore 
 in the chair. The meeting was highly successful. Mr. 
 Moore undertook to be the Treasurer of the institution, 
 and Mr. J. Masterman, M.P. for the City of London, 
 consented to be chairman. From that time, the success 
 of the project became assured. Mr. Moore devoted 
 himself heartily to the work ; and it was mainly by his 
 energy and widespread influence that the institution took 
 root, grew, and flourished, with a rapidity unexampled 
 in the history of any other Orphan charity. 
 
 The rules of the institution were drawn up and passed 
 at a general meeting of the subscribers held in the 
 following year. The first election of 'twenty children 
 (boys and girls) took place in June, 1847. Premises had 
 already been secured at Wanstead for their accommoda- 
 tion. During the next year, thirty more children were 
 elected ; and in the first annual report, published about 
 the autumn of 1848, the names of these children were 
 published. At the second annual examination of the 
 children, held at the London Tavern, it was stated that 
 
 I
 
 U 4 CANVASSING FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS. [CHAP. vin. 
 
 within a period of two years from the opening of the 
 schools, sixty children were provided for within the 
 establishment, which number will be increased by twelve 
 more. It was also urged that Irom the rapidly increas- 
 ing claims upon the bounty of the charity it was necessary 
 to obtain larger premises than the institution at present 
 possessed, and an earnest appeal was made to the com- 
 mercial body, urging them to co-operate in the raising 
 of a building fund that should be sufficient to provide 
 the requisite accommodation. 
 
 Mr. Moore at once set to work to raise the requisite 
 money for the purpose of building the new institution. 
 To use his own words : " I made the institution a part 
 of my business. I canvassed the various houses in 
 London for funds. I travelled to Bristol, Manchester, 
 and Liverpool to summon meetings of the commercial 
 men, and appeal to them in favour of the charity." 
 
 At the annual examination of the pupils in 1849, Mr. 
 Moore stated that at least fifteen thousand pounds would 
 be required to proceed with the erection of the new 
 buildings. At the anniversary festival in December, 
 1850, Mr. Moore, in forwarding his subscription (for his 
 doctor had prevented him attending the meeting), 
 addressed a letter to the Lord Mayor, who was in the 
 chair, in which he said : " I hoped, as treasurer, that 
 I should have had the pleasure of reporting that we had 
 raised the whole of the building fund, whereas we have 
 only raised one-third of it. Will you, with your usual 
 eloquence, stimulate your guests to form deputations fur 
 the purpose of canvassing Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, 
 and the other large towns, where, I have no doubt, the 
 merchants and travellers will respond to the call in the 
 generous and noble manner that Manchester, Bristol, and 
 Glasgow have already done. Thus we should soon have 
 a building without a farthing of debt, which, as treasurer 
 I have a great ambition to achieve. Will you tell the
 
 CHAF. vni ] THE COMMERCIAL TRAVF.T.T F.RS. 115 
 
 commercial men of the United Kingdom that only a 
 tenth of their number have subscribed, and tell those 
 also who have not yet subscribed, that their treasurer, 
 as an old traveller, feels humiliated that every com- 
 mercial traveller in England cannot afford to give his 
 guinea a year. A very little economy (three farthings a 
 day) would enable the institution to educate, maintain, 
 and clothe the orphan children of every deceased brother, 
 and to make the widow's heart rejoice." 
 
 In this way he urged onward the progress of the 
 institution. He would not be resisted. He had taken 
 the thing in hand, and it must succeed. He bore down 
 every opposition. He encouraged some and shamed 
 others into generosity. He told the commercial tra- 
 vellers that, no matter what their salary, they ought to 
 subscribe to the schools ; if not, they were v^ry poor- 
 hearted creatures indeed. He told their employers that 
 they did not pay their travellers with sufficient liberality, 
 for the calling of a commercial traveller was a very hard 
 one, especially when they travelled on commission. At 
 a public dinner at Manchester he said that he knew of 
 several melancholy instances of destitution which were 
 not the result of improvidence or prodigality, but from 
 the most inadequate payment to meet the expenses of 
 the road. 1 
 
 At length sufficient money was obtained to enable the 
 schools to be built. Mr. Moore at first dreaded setting 
 the architects to work. He was in favour of purchasing 
 some old mansion, which might be turned into suitable 
 
 1 A commercial traveller, referring to this statement in a letter to the 
 Sun, said "Mr. Moore, I am sure, will receive the best thanks of all 
 travellers for his kind consideration ; the more so from the fact of his being 
 himself a principal, and for many years a traveller, and, to his credit, the 
 architect of his fortune by indomitable application and industry. I have 
 known him many years. Ofttimes do I recollect him leaving his bed 
 before sunrise in the spring of the year, continuing hard at work until the 
 cock announced early morn a^ain ; so that he is the very best authority for 
 everything that a traveller requires and desires." 
 
 I 2
 
 ,,6 THE BUILDINGS FOUNDED. [CHAP. vm. 
 
 premises. But, fortunately for the institution, the London 
 and North- Western Company were desirous of selling 
 a piece of land at Pinner for the purpose of encouraging 
 building in the neighbourhood. This piece of land, con- 
 sisting of twenty-five acres, proved to be an excellent 
 investment; as it might afterwards have been sold for 
 twice the money. The original estimate of the building 
 .was .15,000, but to suit the limited means of the 
 institution, the architects reduced it to 10,000. 
 
 The foundation-stone was laid on the 2oth of July, 
 1853. It was intended that Prince Albert should have 
 laid the first stone, but he was prevented from being 
 present by indisposition. This greatly marred the 
 enjoyment of the day. John Masterman, Esq., M.P. 
 for the City, performed the duty in place of his Royal 
 Highness. Mr. Moore deposited the coins, the chairman 
 laid the first stone, and Dr. Vaughan, then Head Master 
 of Harrow, delivered an impressive prayer. 
 
 At the dtjeuner which followed, the health of Mr. 
 Cuffley was proposed, and in replying, he said that 
 though he congratulated himself on the fact of having 
 been one of the original founders of the school, and 
 one of the first list of 230 who made up 2,300 guineas 
 to begin with, the institution would never have reached 
 its present prosperous condition had it not been for the 
 unremitting exertions of George Moore, the treasurer. 
 
 Renewed exertions had still to be made to increase 
 the funds of the institution. Mr. Moore continued to 
 be the head and front of the movement. He made 
 special journeys into the country to collect money. He 
 trusted a good deal to the anniversary dinners of the 
 institution. He invited all his friends to attend them. 
 He called upon them beforehand, and set down the 
 sums they were to give. He was declared to be " an 
 indefatigable beggar ; " but he did not mind the nick- 
 name, provided he could get the necessary subscriptions.
 
 CHAP, viii.] MR. DICKENS AND GEORGE MOORE. 117 
 
 For the purpose of inducing his friends to attend the 
 anniversary dinners, he endeavoured to secure the best 
 and most popular chairman. He had a great friendship 
 for Charles Dickens, and on two occasions Mr. Dickens 
 consented to act as chairman at the anniversary dinner. 
 He also succeeded in securing Lord Lytton, Mr. 
 Thackeray, the Duke of Cambridge, and successive 
 Lord Mayors of London. 
 
 Mr. Forster, in his Life of Dickens, says that "of 
 all the societies, charitable or self-assisting, which his 
 tact and eloquence in the chair so often helped, none 
 had interested him by the character of its service to 
 its members and the perfection of its management so 
 much as that of the Commercial Travellers. His 
 admiration of their schools introduced him to one 
 who acted as their treasurer, and whom, of all the 
 men he had known, I think he rated highest, for the 
 union of business qualities in an incomparable measure, 
 to a nature comprehensive enough to deal with masses 
 of men, however differing in creed or opinion, humanely 
 and justly. Mr. Dickens never afterwards wanted 
 support for any good work that he did not first think 
 of Mr. George Moore : and his appeals were never 
 made to him in vain." l It is singular, also, that Mr. 
 Dickeris should have adopted his title of " The Un- 
 commercial Traveller" from his visits to the Com- 
 mercial Schools, and from his taking the chair at 
 the anniversary dinners of the institution. 
 
 1 Mr. Forster adds in a note, "If space were available, Mr. Dickens's 
 letters would supply many proofs of his interest in Mr. George Moore's 
 admirable projects ; but I can only make exception to his characteristic 
 allusion to an incident that tickled his fancy very much at the time. ' I 
 hope,' he says, (25th of Augu t, 1853.) 'you have been as much amused as 
 
 I am by the account of the Bishop of 's visit to my very particular 
 
 friend Mr. George Moore's schools. It strikes me as the funniest thing I 
 ever ?aw his addressing those unfortunate children concerning Colenso. 
 I cannot get over the ridiculous image I have erected in my mind of the 
 shovel-hat and apron holding forth, at that .'afe distance, to that sage 
 audience. There is nothing so extravagant in Rabelais, or so satirically 
 humorous in Swift or Voltaire.' "
 
 n8 MR. DICKENS'S SPEECH. [CHAP. vm. 
 
 The first of the dinners at which Mr. Dickens pre- 
 sided was given in commemoration of the foundation 
 of the schools at Pinner. Mr. Dickens delivered one 
 of his best speeches. He described the old travelling 
 and the new the travelling by coach and the travel- 
 ling by railway and the imperfect domestic relations 
 of the commercial traveller. " It is to support the 
 school for their orphans," he said, " founded with such 
 high and friendly objects, so very honourable to your 
 calling, and so useful in its solid and practical results, 
 that we are here assembled. It. is to roof that building 
 which is to shelter the children of your deceased friends 
 with one crowning ornament the best that any building 
 can have namely, a receipt-stamp for the full amount 
 of the cost. It is for this that your active sympathy 
 is appealed to for the completion of your own good 
 work." 
 
 It may be mentioned that during the previous weeks, 
 Mr. Moore had been engaged in making strenuous 
 efforts to raise the requisite sum of money to complete 
 the building, and pay for it in cash. He had visited 
 the principal commercial towns. On the night before 
 the anniversary dinner, he had been at Manchester. 
 Tlrs will explain the reference made by Mr. Dickens, 
 when proposing the health of Mr. Moore, " A name," 
 he said, " which is a synonym for integrity, enterprise, 
 public spirit, and benevolence. He is one of the most 
 zealous officers whom I have ever seen in my life. 
 He appears to me to have been doing nothing during 
 the last week but rushing into and out of railway 
 carriages, and making eloquent speeches at all sorts 
 of public dinners in favour of this charity. Last even- 
 ing he was at Manchester, and this evening he conies 
 here sacrificing his time and convenience, and exhaust- 
 ing in the meantime the contents of two vast leaden 
 inkstands, and no end of pens, with the energy of fifty
 
 CHAP, viii.] MR. MOORE'S REPLY. 119 
 
 banker's clerks rolled into one. But I clearly foresee 
 that the treasurer will have so much to do to-night, 
 such gratifying sums to acknowledge, and such large 
 lines of figures to write in his books, that I feel the 
 
 o 
 
 greatest consideration that I can show him is to propose 
 his health without further observation, leaving him to 
 address you in his own behalf." 
 
 Mr. Moore briefly referred to the results of his 
 operations in the provinces, and more particularly at 
 Manchester. "It was a remarkable fact," he said, " that 
 a charitable dinner had never before taken place at the 
 town of Manchester. He supposed that many gentle- 
 men would expect that, having been on a perigrination 
 to Manchester, he would have to report the accession of 
 something like 1,500 new members and 12,000 sub- 
 scriptions. But he could assure them that he had no 
 such results to announce. He had only obtained 158 
 annual subscribers, and 1,150 in donations. He hoped 
 that people in the country were not jealous of them, 
 looking upon their schools as a piece of metropolitan 
 centralisation. On the contrary, he should feel much 
 obliged by their provincial friends taking the whole 
 thing into their own hands. This was not a London 
 school, but a National school, established for the benefit 
 of commercial travellers all over the country. It was 
 therefore the bounden duty of every commercial traveller 
 to support it. He wished the gentlemen from the 
 provinces to know that on this occasion they had not 
 rejected one child ; and he could tell them another 
 thing, which repaid him for all his anxiety, and that 
 was, that the children, after they had been boarded and 
 educated, had all been provided with situations. It had 
 fallen to his lot to provide for a good many. He had 
 spoken of the gloom that was hanging over commercial 
 circles. He hoped it would soon pass away ; but it 
 must be remembered that the rapid transit by railway
 
 120 PR1NLK AUlKKT Ol'ENS THE SCHOOLS. [CHAC. via. 
 
 was calculated to alter the prospects of commercial 
 travellers. His opinion was, that although these gentle- 
 men might be styled the ' ambassadors of commerce, 1 
 and were the means of filling the warehouses with 
 customers, many of the commercial houses were not 
 sufficiently grateful for that result." 
 
 The Schools were opened on the 27th of October, 
 1855. Prince Albert was present on the occasion. The 
 children, a hundred and forty-two in number, were 
 ranged at the entrance of the Schools to receive His 
 
 O 
 
 Royal Highness. The band of the Coldstream Guards 
 played the National Anthem. An address was read 
 by Mr. Roberts (of Longmans and Co.), to which the 
 Prince returned a suitable answer. The children sang 
 the Old Hundredth Psalm. Dr. Vaughan, Head Master 
 of Harrow, offered prayer. The children then sang 
 " God save the Queen " ; after which the Prince, amidst 
 great cheering, declared "the building opened." 
 
 After the presentation of purses, the Prince carefully 
 examined the building. No place escaped his notice. 
 He expressed himself greatly satisfied with the arrange- 
 ments, and said that he had received some valuable 
 hints for the Wellington College, then in course of erec- 
 tion. After consenting to become patron of the schools, 
 and presenting 100 guineas to the building fund, His 
 Royal Highness left Pinner amidst enthusiastic cheering. 
 
 The day was considered a red-letter day in the history 
 of the institution. In commemoration of the event of 
 the Prince's visit, the last Wednesday in October of 
 each year is called " The Orphans' Day," when a collec- 
 tion in aid of the funds of the Schools is made in the 
 commercial-room of almost every hotel in the kingdom. 1 
 
 1 At a meeting held on the 27th December, 1857, at which Mr. 
 Thackeray was in the cliair, Mr. Moore said, " Some had objected to the 
 contributions arising from the Orphans' Day ; but the-e subscriptions were 
 really obtained from those who did not subscribe regularly to the funds of 
 the institution. These simultaneous calls, as some gentlemen were pleaded
 
 CH. vni ] MR. MOORE'S ADVICE TO THE SCHOLARS. 121 
 
 The Schools were built at a cost of about 2 5 ,000 Two 
 hundred children (boys and girls) were fed, clothed, and 
 educated in the institution. The education was for the 
 most part of a practical character ; but where a boy 
 showed particular merit he was enabled, by the scholar- 
 ships that were afterwards established, to proceed to the 
 City of London School, and ultimately to Cambridge or 
 Oxford. It was Mr. Moore's great pleasure, : n future 
 years, to go down to Pinner on the examination days, 
 and to exhort the boys who were about to leave school 
 as to their conduct in after life. They stood up before 
 him, and he gave them their farewell address : 
 
 " Do not," he said on one occasion, " let your want of 
 success depress you ; but struggle on. Labcur hard 
 and continuously, and you will win in the end. Do 
 not allow a rebuff or a comparative failure to check 
 your exertions towards the attainment of ultimate suc- 
 cess. When I came up to London, a poor lad, without 
 a friend in the world, people's hearts did not seem to be 
 so large as they are now. Instead of having situations 
 found (as I am happy to say is the case with most of 
 you), boys in those days had often to beg in vain for 
 employment. After beating about London for an entire 
 week, I began to think myself a not very marketable 
 commodity in the great city. At length I got employ- 
 ment. I had to submit to many rebuffs. The artificial 
 estimate I had formed of myself completely vanished. 
 All nonsense was effectually taken out of me. To per- 
 severe and conquer all difficulties appeared to me a duty. 
 I determined that no one should henceforth justly call me 
 stupid ; and ultimately I had my re.vard, for I was ap- 
 pointed to one of the best situations in the firm I had 
 
 to call them, were not from those who paid their guinea a year, but from 
 the grumblers on the road, those who never subscribed : and he believed 
 that about eight out of every ten of the children win had been recipients 
 of the benefits of the institution were the orphans of those who had never 
 subscribed to it at all."
 
 122 ADVICE ABOUT BOOK-KEEPING. [CHAP. vm. 
 
 entered a commercial traveller to the principal northern 
 towns. This formed the first stepping-stone to my pre- 
 sent position. I therefore advise you, young men just 
 entering into life, never to be daunted by difficulties. 
 Persevere ! persevere ! and you will be sure to conquer 
 in the end." 
 
 On another occasion, remembering how he had once 
 been nearly ruined when at Flint, Ray, and Co.'s, through 
 his want of knowledge of arithmetic, he said: "Book- 
 keeping is the very key of your position. The records of 
 the Bankruptcy Court show how many colossal fortunes 
 are wrecked ; how many growing prospects are blasted, 
 through ignorance of this vital part of commercial know- 
 ledge." He urged the boys to observe the strictest in- 
 tegrity in all their dealings ; to think not merely of 
 their earthly master, but of the Divine Being from whom 
 nothing could be concealed. He also urged them to 
 recollect that in any moment of temptation, not merely 
 their own character, but the reputation of the institution 
 that had done so much for them, was at stake. He ad- 
 vised those who had received prizes not to be too much 
 elated at their success, and not to be led away by the 
 idea that knowledge by itself could command success 
 without thorough honesty and perseverance. At the 
 same time he assured those who had not got prizes that 
 they ought not to be discouraged ; but that they might 
 rest assured that integrity and earnest perseverance 
 would be sure to command success, whatever station 
 of life they might be called upon to fill. 
 
 On another occasion he said : " You are about to enter 
 upon the battle of life, in which perhaps the competi- 
 tion has never been so severe as at present. Whatever 
 abilities you may have, you may be assured that you 
 never will succeed unless you are in earnest." He re- 
 commended them to study the value of time, and to 
 remember that time was money, not only for themselves,
 
 CHAP, vill.] INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY. 123 
 
 but for all with whom they might have dealings ; and 
 he assured them that perseverance and punctuality 
 would ever bring success and reward, even though 
 great abilities were wanting. " Don't," he said, " depend 
 upon your relatives and friends. There is nothing like 
 individual responsibility. If you have self-respect, and 
 trust to your own resources, by God's strength you will 
 succeed. ' God helps those who help themselves/ " 
 
 After the institution had been in existence for about 
 twenty years, it was a proud thing for George Moore to 
 say that, " with a single exception, no child educated in 
 that school had turned out badly. They had gone out 
 into the world and maintained the character of the 
 institution. He hoped that that would be the case fot 
 many long years to come,"
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 VISITS* TO CUMBERLAND. 
 
 IN the midst of his prosperity, George Moore never 
 forgot " auld Cummerland." His mind was always 
 turning back to the home of his birth, and to the 
 scenes of his boyhood. The very name of Cumber- 
 land had a charm for him. When any Cumberland 
 lad called upon him at his office, he welcomed him 
 cheerfully, asked him to his house, and often got him 
 a situation. 
 
 We find amongst his letters an invitation to a young 
 man near Wigton to come up to London. Mr. Moore 
 had been devoting a good deal of his time to find out 
 for him a situation. " Come up," he says, " by the first 
 cheap train. You can see the Great Exhibition, as it 
 closes on Saturday week j 1 and if either of your sisters 
 
 wished, they might accompany you. Mr. , late of 
 
 the Wigton bank, whom I am trying to get a situation 
 for, lives at a boarding-house near by. You can dine 
 with me every day till I get you placed ; and your 
 sisters also, if they accompany you. . . . Assure your 
 mother from me that I will always take an interest in 
 you so long as you deserve it, but no longer. I have 
 found out from experience that I cannot assist those 
 who will not assist themselves. I need not say that 
 1 The letter was written in September, 1851
 
 CHAP, ix.] HELPS HIS OLD FRIENDS. 125 
 
 when you come to London I hope that you will attend 
 a place of worship twice every Sunday, and read at 
 least one chapter of your Bible daily. Always act 
 unto others as you would expect them to act towards 
 you. I must say, however, that I have great hopes of 
 you, or I would not have taken so much time and used 
 so much influence in endeavouring to place you in a 
 good house." 
 
 George Moore never forgot any of his early friends. 
 If he could do anything for them, or for their children, 
 he would spare no efforts. His old master, Messenger, 
 for whom, notwithstanding his failings, he had a great 
 respect, failed in business after his apprentice had left 
 for London. His breakdown was one of the numerous 
 instances of the effects -of drink. Messenger came up 
 to London, where he obtained a situation. Then his 
 health failed, and he was obliged to give up work. He 
 applied to George Moore, who maintained him while he 
 lived, and paid his funeral expenses at his death. He 
 helped in the same manner the fellow-apprentice who so 
 often thrashed him, and once nearly choked him, while 
 serving his apprenticeship at Messenger's. The man 
 broke down in the world, and appealed to his fellow- 
 apprentice. George Moore had long ago forgiven him, 
 and was only too glad to help him in his time of need. 
 
 When a new building was erected at Wigton for the 
 accommodation of the Mechanics' Institute, George 
 Moore did not forget the place in which he had spent 
 so many years. At the first meeting held in the new 
 building, a letter was read from him to the Secretary, in 
 which he said : " I think I cannot commence the new 
 year (1851) better than by sending you a cheque for ten 
 guineas for the Wigton Mechanics' Institute. The remi- 
 niscences of my boyhood, and all that concerns the town 
 where I made my entrance into commercial life, are dear 
 to me. I am not insensible to my many deficiencies and
 
 r2 6 SHAP WELLS. [CHAP. '*. 
 
 imperfections caused in some degree by my lack of op- 
 portunity for learning during my school days and appren- 
 ticeship. Impress upon the minds of the apprentices 
 how valuable they may make their hours of recreation, 
 and how they may make them useful in influencing 
 their future destiny in life. To those who have spent 
 part of their time in public-houses, in frivolous amuse- 
 ment, and in idle gossip, I would say, let them endeavour 
 to cultivate learning and science; and, above all, the sub- 
 lime truths of the Gospel. God speed your meeting ! " 
 
 George Moore was induced to pay his visits to Cum- 
 berland when harassed with his violent headaches. 
 Indoor life did not agree with him. He must have 
 plenty of exercise, and breathe the fresh air of the 
 mountains. A favourite place of his was Shap Wells, 
 in Westmoreland. The Wells, which have strong medi- 
 cinal properties, are in the very middle of Shap Fells'. 
 The hotel stands alone near the Spa, many miles from 
 the nearest villages. The moorland country is here 
 seen in perfection. Nothing but heather and rocks, 
 and mountain streams forcing their way in many inter- 
 rupted channels amongst them. There is not a tree 
 visible, except the few stunted fir-trees near the hotel. 
 The change of seasons in the landscape is observed only 
 by the varying beauty of the mosses in spring time, and 
 by the purple carpet of heather in the autumn. Some 
 consider the place a wilderness of heath and rocks ; but 
 to Moore it was a paradise. He delighted in the strong 
 wind blowing fresh over the mountains. The complete 
 change, perhaps, more than the waters of the Spa, did 
 him a world of good. 
 
 Mrs. Moore usually accompanied him on those occa- 
 sions ; for she had relatives to visit near Wigton. Mr. 
 Moore sometimes took the Cockbridge Inn, at Meals- 
 gate, and filled it with friends whom he had invited from 
 London. On one occasion his partners, Mr. Copestake
 
 CHA?. IX.] GEORGE MUST " BREK." 127 
 
 and Mr. Groucock, accompanied him. They were taken 
 over Mr. Moore's favourite haunts, to the Peel Towers 
 at Whitehall and Harbybrow, to Torpenhow, to Bas- 
 senthwaite Water, and to Skiddaw. 
 
 His brother Thomas, the Statesman, was working on 
 at Mealsgate in the old way. He was cultivating his 
 bit of land ; and sometimes found it hard to make the 
 ends meet. Thomas was amazed at his brother's " ex- 
 travagance," bringing these Londoners in post-chaises 
 from Carlisle, and giving them such feed and drink for 
 nothing at the Inn. It could only end in one way. 
 " George," he said, " is sure to brek ! " Thomas could 
 not believe that the profits of any trade could bear 
 such a terrible outlay. "Yes," he said, "George is sure 
 to brek, and then he maun come on the parish ! " 
 
 But a great event was in store for Cumberland ; no 
 less than a visit from the Lord Mayor of London ! In 
 1854, when Alderman Sydney was Lord Mayor, Mr. 
 Moore induced him and the Lady Mayoress to accom- 
 pany himself and Mrs. Moore on a visit to Cumber- 
 land. The affair caused quite a sensation throughout 
 the county, as the inhabitants had never seen a " real 
 live Lord Mayor" before! The party first arrived at 
 Low Wood Inn, Windermere. They spent a few days 
 there. " We drove," says Mr. Moore, " in an open car- 
 riage and four to Patterdale Hall, the seat of William 
 Marshall, M.P. From thence we were rowed on the 
 lake to Lyulph's Tower, the romantic resort of Henry 
 Howard of Greystoke Castle. On the following day 
 we went to see some Cumberland wrestling on the 
 island near Low Wood. The people were wonderfully 
 astonished to see the London Lord Mayor looking just 
 like other people and taking such an interest in their 
 proceedings. 
 
 " At St. Bees I invited the West Cumberland 
 magistrates and gentry to meet him at dinner. On
 
 128 VISIT OF THE LORD MAYOR. [CHAP. ix. 
 
 the following day, the Cumberland and Westmoreland 
 Agricultural Society held their meeting at Whitehaven ; 
 and there we went, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress 
 being the observed of all observers. I introduced hun- 
 dreds of all ranks and grades to them. The agricultural 
 dinner took place in the evening, Sir James Graham in 
 the chair. When the health of the latter was drunk, he 
 replied with his usual spirit. But he said one thing, 
 which made me very nervous. After eulogising the 
 beauties of the county and the qualities of the people, 
 he said that his friend Mr. Irton, M.P., by his side, had 
 told him that the people of Cumberland ' were very fond 
 of drink ! ' This caused an uncomfortable sensation. 
 Although the statement was true, yet this was not per- 
 haps the best time for uttering it. However, Sir James 
 Graham with his good tact turned it off with a jest, and 
 all ended well. 
 
 " We next proceeded to Sir Wilfrid Lawson's, Bray- 
 ton, where we received every hospitality. They are the 
 kindest people in the world, and I shall never forget the 
 consideration shown to me by each member of their 
 family. Sir Wilfrid Lawson and most of his family are 
 teetotallers, but the Lord Mayor pronounced his wine 
 the best he had ever drunk. Next day we rode to 
 Allonby, a delightful watering-place. We proceeded 
 from thence to Wigton, the town where I served my 
 apprenticeship." 
 
 A deputation from Wigton had waited on the Lord 
 Mayor at St. Bees, to request his presence at a public 
 dinner to be given to himself and to his friend Mr. 
 George Moore. His Lordship could not attend the 
 public dinner ; but he agreed to spend a few hours with 
 the townsmen of Wigton. The dinner therefore assumed 
 the form of a banquet. The two guests, on approaching 
 the railway station from Brayton, found an immense 
 concourse of people assembled. A carriage and four
 
 CHAP. ix.J GEORGE MOORE'S "OLD STORY." 129 
 
 awaited them. The streets were lined with people, who 
 cheered them as they passed. On arriving at the inn, 
 Mr. Moore introduced his distinguished guest to all the 
 notabilities of Wigton. 
 
 The proceedings went off well. The health of Mr. 
 Moore was proposed by Mr. Reed, an old friend. In 
 reply, George told the old story one of which he was 
 never tired the story of his own life. A few extracts 
 from his speech may be given : 
 
 " I assure you that I scarcely expected or wished that 
 any honour of this demonstration should be paid to me, 
 but to my worthy friend the Lord Mayor of London. 
 This evening carries my mind back to the time when I 
 first migrated to the metropolis from this town. It is 
 just thirty years ago, for I am now forty-seven. If you 
 knew the troubles, difficulties, and anxieties that I have 
 gone through, you would be convinced that a great deal 
 depends upon one's own efforts. It is often said with 
 reference to a man who has improved his position, 
 ' What a lucky fellow he is ! ' But depend upon it, if 
 you were to rely upon luck, you would in the end find 
 yourself very much mistaken. I may say that 1 attri- 
 bute much of my success to having had proper ideas 
 instilled into me by my parents. My father was known 
 to many in this company ; he was a man of probity, an 
 honest Cumberland statesman, who always spoke the 
 truth and despised what was not straightforward. * * * 
 I left London to visit you with as much buoyancy of 
 spirits as ever a schoolboy left school. And if Provi- 
 dence spares me, I shall always be glad to meet you 
 in my native county at least once a year." 
 
 Mr. Rigg, in responding for " The Town and Trade of 
 Wigton," expressed the hope that more of the appren- 
 tices would achieve the distinction that Mr. Moore had 
 done or, as he was going to say, GEORGE Moore, for 
 that was the name by which he was best known in 
 
 K
 
 llo A HUNTING VISIT TO CUMBERT.AXD. [CHAP. \K. 
 
 Cumberland." To which Mr. Moore replied, "Ay, 
 always call me that if you please." 
 
 The next day the Lord Mayor went to Mealsgate. 
 " There," said George Moore, " is the place where I was 
 born." It was a fine feature in his character to main- 
 tain his early attachments to venerate his father, to 
 love his relations, and to do all that he could to help the 
 people of his neighbourhood. How many self- raised 
 rich snobs are there who deny their birth-place, forget 
 their relations, and, looking down upon their early life 
 as a thing to be forgotten, aspire to rank amongst the 
 higher classes of what is called " society." 
 
 On a future occasion Mr. Moore paid a hunting visit 
 to his friend Sir Wilfrid Lawson, whose son (the present 
 baronet) was master of the Cumberland foxhounds. 
 He went down in November, and had some memorable 
 hunts. The meet was at the Brayton kennels. The 
 master "held hard" until the arrival of the officers 
 of the Carlisle garrison. The field consisted of thirty- 
 five riders, well mounted and ready for the fray. A 
 neighbouring fox cover was beat, and signs were heard 
 of the game being afoot. A deep chorus was wafted 
 from the further side. The inspiring " tally-ho ! " was 
 sounded, and Reynard stole away, the hounds crashing 
 after him through the whins. After crossing Aspatria 
 Road, the fox made for the plantations round Brayton, 
 crossed the lawn before the Hall, where Sir Wilfrid 
 Lawson, on his favourite chestnut, showed in front. The 
 huntsmen in pursuit took the heavy dropleap into the 
 park. The fox sped away to Crookdale Mill, over 
 the Leesrigg pasture, and on to Bolton Common. He 
 crossed to the right by Well-rash and the How to 
 Bolton Gate; thence on to the ridge of the hill to 
 Sandalc, Fauld's Brow, and the mountains thereabout. 
 He took refuge in a quarry in Rush Fell, but was speedily 
 dislodged, when, aftqr a very short view, he was pulled
 
 CHAP, ix.] HUNTING IN CUMBERLAND. 131 
 
 down, after an hour and fifty minutes of very hard 
 running. 
 
 Mr. Moore says : " I greatly enjoyed this visit. I 
 had never hunted in Cumberland since I rode my 
 father's old horse, bare-backed, after John Peel's harriers. 
 Wilfrid Lawson is an excellent master, civil and obliging 
 to all ; not what I would call a bold rider, but he always 
 knows his way, works his hounds well, and shows excel- 
 lent sport. We had an excellent run, that appeared 
 in Bell's Life. What added much to my pleasure was 
 that I had trodden every yard of the ground in my 
 boyhood, and had not seen many parts of it since 
 then. It was a real delight to me to be well up 
 all through the run, and when the WJw-hoop ! came, I 
 got the brush." 
 
 George Moore was already a great favourite in Cum- 
 berland. He was proud of his county, and his county 
 was proud of him. Wigton had welcomed him with 
 enthusiasm. The country gentry invited him to their 
 houses. Men of both sides of politics showed him 
 marked courtesy and kindness. " I have not forgotten," 
 he said, "my own position. I have sprung from the 
 people and I hope I have done them no dishonour. I 
 also trust that with all my worldly prosperity I have 
 never forgotten the poor relations surrounding the place 
 of my birth." 
 
 On one occasion he was invited by Lord Carlisle to 
 visit him at Naworth Castle, one of the hoary places of 
 antiquity in the north. The Castle is a characteristic 
 specimen of a great border fortress, when war was the 
 normal condition of the northern counties. Here "Belted 
 Will " of whom Lord Carlisle was so proud kept his 
 garrison of a hundred and forty men, and held the 
 border, while he reigned in a state of peace. He was the 
 terror of the moss-troopers and the scourge of the Scotch 
 freebooters. Fuller, the Church historian, says of hin), 
 
 K 2
 
 i 3 z VISIT TO NA WORTH CASTLE. [CHAP. ix. 
 
 that " he sent many of them to that place where the 
 officer always does his work by daylight." 
 
 On the present occasion, however, the entertainment 
 was of a more peaceful character. A number of the 
 neighbouring gentry had been invited to Naworth to 
 witness the sports at Talkin Tarn. A regatta took place 
 on the lake. There was afterwards a bout at wrestling, 
 which Mr. Moore greatly enjoyed. " Lord Carlisle," he 
 says, " in his usual easy, good-humoured way, made every- 
 body happy about him. In the evening we dined at 
 Naworth Castle, about twenty in number. I shall never 
 forget the thoughtful, kindly way in which the Earl in- 
 troduced me to his mother, the Dowager Countess. At 
 the end of a sumptuous entertainment we were about to 
 retire I thought to the drawing-room when Lord 
 Carlisle, putting his arm in mine, took me with him, 
 and from behind a screen we saw the full length of 
 Belted Will's Hall, about eighty feet long. There we 
 saw some fifty or sixty in what seemed curious cos- 
 tumes, dancing at full swing. I had heard the music 
 before, but I thought it was outside, on account of the 
 company staying in the castle. I was surprised at the 
 sight, and could scarcely believe my eyes ; the livery of 
 the servants dancing looked like old court-dresses. It 
 seemed like a scene in fairyland. As we walked along 
 the ancient hall and approached the dancers, Lord 
 Carlisle asked me if I would join in. ' Yes,' said I, ' by 
 all means.' He then introduced me to Mary, 'the 
 dairymaid,' and away we went. I had never seen so 
 good a sample of buxom Cumberland lassies before. All 
 the company joined in the dance, his lordship included, 
 and we kept it up till a late hour. 
 
 " To see the kindness and courtesy of his lordship to 
 all his domestics did my heart good. How they, one 
 and all, must have loved him ! Afterwards, when Lord 
 Carlisle was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, I
 
 CHAP. IX.] THE EARL OF CARLISLE. IJ3 
 
 spent a delightful morning with him in Phoenix Park. 
 I joined him at a distinguished dinner, which he gave 
 the same evening. Each gentleman present must have 
 felt that Lord Carlisle paid a special attention to himself, 
 for he was kind, cheerful, and considerate to every one. 
 Among the pleasant things he said to me was, that he 
 was sure his brother Charles would be delighted that 
 I had dined with him. 
 
 " I must say that the Hon. Charles Howard has shown 
 me unvarying kindness, and T feel a real attachment to 
 him. Many a happy day have I spent with him at 
 Greystoke Castle ; and indeed to him and other members 
 of the Howard family, I can never be grateful enough 
 for their interest I may say their friendship." 
 
 Such were amongst the pleasant days that George 
 Moore spent in Cumberland while he was merely a man 
 of business, and before he had become possessor of a foot 
 of land in the county.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WORK IN CUMBERLAND. 
 
 IT must not be supposed that Mr. Moore devoted him- 
 self wholly to amusement during his summer holidays 
 in Cumberland. He was a cheerful whole-hearted man, 
 ready to enjoy himself and to take part in the pleasures 
 of both old and young. 
 
 During the early part of his career, he had visited 
 Cumberland at irregular intervals. He remained for a few 
 days visiting the lakes and the mountains, and returned 
 again to his business in London. But when he was able 
 to remain for a longer period, and to live for a month or 
 two at Mealsgate, he was able to investigate the moral 
 and social condition of the place where he was born. 
 
 In the summer of 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Moore made 
 a considerable stay in Cumberland. Being already 
 interested in the education of the children of com- 
 mercial travellers, he proceeded to make inquiries as 
 to the education of the children in Mealsgate and the 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 He found that education was making no progress. 
 It was no more advanced than when he left Cumber- 
 land. There was no desire for better education, and 
 very little for more knowledge. The schools had done 
 well enough for their fathers and grandfathers. Why 
 should not the children be left to learn their A B C in
 
 CHAP, x.] THE COUNTRY-FO'.KS DRONIN T G ON. 135 
 
 quiet ? Why bother them with certificated masters and 
 new methods of instruction ? 
 
 In fact the country-folks were asleep. They were 
 droning on in the old way. Everything was in a state of 
 stagnation. While the world outside was undergoing 
 rapid movement, the world in this little bit of England 
 was standing stock-still. The schools were there, but 
 nobody looked after them, neither gentry, clergy, 
 statesmen, nor ratepayers. 
 
 Such was the state of things when George Moore came 
 down to Alealsgate to take his holiday. He was one of 
 those men who could not be idle. If there was no work 
 ready at his hand, he made work. He was of an active, 
 persevering, indefatigable temperament. Here was work 
 to be done, and he immediately set to work to do it. 
 He would stir up the indolent stagnation of his neigh- 
 bourhood, and rouse the people into activity. He would 
 infuse into them some of his own energetic spirit. 
 
 His first effort was to secure the erection of a new 
 school-house at Bolton, in lieu of that at Boltongate, 
 where he had received his first instruction from Black- 
 bird Wilson. How he succeeded will be best told in 
 his own words : 
 
 " As I have already confessed, I was ashamed of my 
 education when I first entered the house of Fisher and 
 Co. During my visits to Cumberland I observed with 
 grief and sorrow that no improvement had taken place. 
 The people, though shrewd and intelligent, have great 
 narrowness of thought. Perhaps this is not to be won- 
 dered at, as they scarcely ever travel beyond their 
 market town. I had often heard my revered father say 
 that he had never travelled further than to Gilsland 
 Wells, or to Carlisle, a distance of fifteen miles. I also 
 found the people very suspicious of foreign dictation. 
 They did not like to have their schools, any more than 
 their farms, interfered with. The schools, of course, were
 
 136 THE LOCAL SCHOOLS. [CHAP. x. 
 
 very bad. Most of the schoolmasters were composed of 
 men who could not succeed in any other occupation. 
 They were for the most part disabled by accident or 
 demoralised by drink. 
 
 "The yeomen and farmers nevertheless liked the 
 schools, partly because they had been educated at them, 
 as well as their fathers before them. People in local 
 districts, far removed from towns, wish their institutions 
 to spring up naturally among themselves, and to be the 
 growth of their own class. It does n'ot matter how bad 
 they are ; they do not wish them to be interfered with. 
 This I found to be my first great obstacle. They shied 
 at my benevolent notions. They kept me at a distance. 
 They did not see why they should subscribe for a new 
 school when they had an old school of their own. They 
 knew the native education which they had received ; but 
 they knew nothing of the national education which I 
 desired to introduce amongst them, under the periodical 
 examination of Her Majesty's Inspectors. 1 I may also 
 observe that the mistresses' schools, or dames' schools, 
 
 1 We must here state the opposite view of the case. The writer was an 
 intimate friend of George Moore's. "Although education," he says, "was 
 at that period very low in Cumberland, and is, in its present transition 
 state, not very hi ,'h now, it was easier, before the Church or the Govern- 
 ment undertook the education of the people, for a clever youth to get 
 advanced in a commercial and mathematical education than it is at present. 
 There was free trade in schools, and there was always some schoolmaster 
 in a village, or not far off, who could take a pupil far on in mathematics, 
 and in an English education. One of these noted men, was a predecessor 
 of George Moore's schoolmaster at Boltongate. This man was Robert 
 Elliot. He could teach navigation, and had the character of making 
 ' grand ' scholars. When a boy made a mistake in fractions, Robert u>ed 
 to say he was lil.e a butcher at Maryport, who had made a deal of money, 
 but who, like hi n, did not know much about fractions and decimals. One 
 day a friend asked him if he would take a share in a ship that was building 
 in the harbour. The butcher replied, ' He didn't mind.' ' Would he have 
 a sixteenth ? ' ' O wounds ! ' said he, ' it's far too much for me, a third or 
 a fourth is quite enough ! ' " Notwithstanding this defence of the old 
 system, it must be observed that these grand teachers, such as Robert 
 ii-lliot or Dr. Hilton, were quite exceptional. It should be remembered 
 that Robert Elliot was succeeded by Blackbird Wilson, a bad teacher as 
 well a< a drinker.
 
 CHAP, x.] THE OLD SCHOOLMASTERS. . 137 
 
 were no better than those of the masters'. They were 
 even worse. 1 
 
 " The old masters saw that my new system would re- 
 volutionise theirs. The trustees of the endowed schools 
 knew very well that they had never taken the slightest 
 interest in their management. And the clergymen, 
 whose duty it was closely to superintend them, scarcely, 
 if ever, entered the buildings. The masters were en- 
 gaged without any testimonials. They only took to a 
 schoolmaster's life when they could do nothing else. 
 So that a want of capacity seemed to be the only quali- 
 fication necessary fora schoolmaster. I found that those 
 who ought to have taken the lead and management of 
 the tchools the landowners, the farmers, the clergymen 
 w-^re all alike. They either could not or would not 
 find time to enter into the depths of the subject of edu- 
 cation. Nor could they examine the claims of those 
 who made application for the office of teacher. They 
 knew less about education than about any other subject. 
 
 " In my native parish, that of Bolton, containing 
 I, ICO inhabitants, there were three schools. Two of the 
 masters were addicted to drink. They had no books, 
 and had no proper method of teaching. The third was a 
 poor fellow, a collier who had fallen down a coal-pit. His 
 leg was badly broken, and had to be cut off. This acci- 
 dent was his only qualification for the office of school- 
 master ! I must always express my gratitude for the 
 way he behaved when he found out what I was striving 
 at. He said to me, ' Mr. Moore, I know I'm not fit to 
 be a schoolmaster, but how am I to live ? ' I said, ' If 
 you will come to London I will get you a situation ; and 
 if you do your best, I promise you I will never let you 
 
 1 One of these dames is still remembered by many now living in the 
 pari-h of I or( enhovv. The book used in the school, after the sptlling 
 'oouk, was the New Tes auient. When a child came to a word the mistress 
 did not know, sne would say. "Spell it, call it summ'at, and go on."
 
 138 NEW SCHOOL AT IJ JLTON. [CHAP. x. 
 
 want.' He trusted my word, and with great persever- 
 ance on my part, I succeeded in getting him a situation. 
 He has got on step by step entirely by industry and good 
 conduct, and for many years he has been a trusted and 
 valuable clerk of the Great Eastern Railway Company. 
 I really feel a great pride in his success, and am always 
 pleased to welcome him to my house. 1 
 
 " I may here observe that I would have built the new 
 school at Bolton myself. But I have always found that 
 if I can induce other people to subscribe, I enlist them 
 in my favour to some extent, or at all events avoid their 
 opposition. Accordingly, I personally canvassed all the 
 parish. I did not despise a shilling subscription, pro- 
 vided I could make a friend or neutralise an opponent. 
 The best freeholders in the parish consented to become 
 trustees. An excellent school, with a schoolmaster's 
 house, was erected at a cost of about 6$o. I selected 
 a good teacher from the National Society's Training 
 School. I fixed the fees at about half the rate of the 
 old schools, and relied upon an annual subscription to 
 make up the deficiency. 
 
 " It is scarcely necessary to speak of the vexatious 
 opposition which I experienced in getting the school 
 built and set to work. After it was opened, the poor 
 master and his wife were perplexed and worried by the 
 parents, who would not have their children taught in 
 classes, but separately and individually, as under the 
 old system. Many took their children away on this 
 account. But we held on. With God's blessing and 
 
 1 A friend of Mr. Moore's gives the following recollection : "It \\as a 
 treat to hear George Moore's tales of the past, in striving to polish the 
 crude habits and customs of his native countymen by introducing a better 
 sysieni of education, and his constant stirrinys-up of the old conservative 
 do-nothing parsons. There are many who will re-collect how he would tell 
 of a \\ooden-legged schoolmaster of the olden type, for whom he was 
 compelled to procure a more mechanical limb, the thumping spoke of a 
 cart-wheel being a hindrance to the man's getting urufuable employment in 
 London."
 
 CHAP, x.] MR. MOORE'S VISITS TO THE SCHOOLS. 139 
 
 the master's Christian spirit, all opposition was even- 
 tually overcome. I shall ever respect this good man, 
 John Moorby, for the difficulties which he encountered, 
 the prejudices which he reconciled, and the admirable 
 manner in which he performed the duties of his calling 
 as teacher of the young." 
 
 Mr. Moore was by no means satisfied with what he 
 had done at Bolton. He had only begun his work, and 
 was determined to go forward with it He was very 
 much in favour of doing one thing at a time, and doing 
 it thoroughly. He proceeded to visit all the schools in 
 the neighbourhood, for the purpose of ascertaining their 
 condition. He went more p... ticularly on examination 
 days, when he took a number of prize books with him, 
 which he gave to the most proficient scholars as rewards 
 for their past labours, and as stimulants to their future 
 perseverance. In this way he visited the grammar- 
 school at Uldale, and the free school at Bothel, in the 
 parish of Torpenhow. On these occasions he addressed 
 the children, impressing upon them the necessity of con- 
 stantly attending school and of strict attention to their 
 duties ; for there the foundations of their future destiny 
 were to be laid. 
 
 It was always a joyful day for the children when 
 George Moore attended the school, for, after the exami- 
 nation, he provided the scholars with an abundant tea- 
 feast. After tea he would take the children into some 
 adjoining field, where he "scrambled" nuts and sweet- 
 meats among them, and gave small prizes for races and 
 other gymnastic amusements, in which the children, boys 
 and girls, eagerly contended. 
 
 About the year 1853 Mr. Moore was appointed trustee 
 of Plumbland School, and with the determination to be 
 thoroughly posted up in the details of every institution 
 with which he was connected, he made frequent visits to 
 the school to ascertain its actual condition. Plumbland
 
 I 4 c THR ALI.HAl LOWS SCHOOL. [CHAP. x. 
 
 had always been considered the best school in the dis- 
 trict. Its endowment amounted to about .87 a year. 
 The master was Andrew Bell, the " father of Cumber- 
 land schoolmasters." Mr. Moore, at his first visit, was 
 pleased with the smartness of the scholars, and requested 
 permission to have a public examination of the school. 
 This took place in August, 1854, the Rev. W. M. Gun- 
 son, of Bagrow, officiating as inspector. The examina- 
 tion was eminently satisfactory. Mr. Moore made a 
 distribution of prizes, and promised to revisit the school 
 for a similar purpose in the following year. It has been 
 stated that " the idea thus dropped into his fertile brain 
 soon developed, until, what was at first but the natural 
 gratification of a desire to make himself acquainted with 
 his new responsibility, ended in the Competitive Scheme, 
 which gave so great a stimulus to education in the 
 district." 
 
 Another school was wanted at Allhallows, adjoining 
 Bolton. The parish was very small, containing only 
 abov:t 250 inhabitants. The Rev. W. M. Gunson in- 
 forms us that it was he who first suggested the building 
 of this school. He began to solicit subscriptions from 
 the landowners and farmers towards the erection. There 
 were of course many objectors. They said, " We shall 
 never get thirty children to the school, and then how can 
 we pay the master ? " Nevertheless, the subscription 
 was set on foot. On Mr. Gunson's mentioning the 
 scheme to Mr. Moore, he at once took it up warmly. 
 He offered to pay half the deficiency in the money that 
 was rcqu : rcd, and, as a matter of fact, Mr. Gunson and 
 Mr. Moore paid, in equal shares, about four-fifths of the 
 cost of the building. 
 
 Like most good efforts, the scheme met with success. 
 The people of the neighbourhood had seen what an 
 ornament Bolton school and schoolmaster's house were 
 to the parish, and they knew how much good the new
 
 CHAP, x.] IMPROVEMENT OF THE SCHOOLS. 141 
 
 schoolmaster was doing. When Allhallows school was 
 built and opened, it was soon filled with children. There 
 were about- two acres of ground in connection with the 
 school, which were worked by the scholars themselves. 
 It was laid out in small plots ; and the master had a 
 portion for his own use. John Green was a certificated 
 teacher, and he proved an excellent schoolmaster. His 
 wife, to the astonishment of the parish, taught the girls 
 sewing. Such a thing had never been known in the 
 neighbourhood. The number of pupils grew to between 
 sixty and seventy ; for the excellence of the teaching 
 attracted scholars from the neighbouring parishes, 1 
 
 Among the other schools. in which Mr. Moore took a 
 special interest, were Bothel school and Bromfield 
 school. These were both endowed. When Mr. Moore 
 first examined Uldale school, above referred to, he found 
 that it was ill-contrived, badly ventilated, and without 
 conveniences of any sort. " After a great deal of per- 
 severance," he says. " I got the Committee of Council 
 on Education to confirm a plan for enlarging and im- 
 proving the school. They had seen, by the report of 
 Her Majesty's inspector, that I was in earnest about 
 improving the education of Cumberland. They showed 
 me a great deal of consideration and gave a good grant 
 of money. The school was thus greatly improved, 
 and the teacher was stimulated to new efforts by the 
 regular annual inspection. Since then, the improve- 
 ment in this school has been quite marvellous. 
 
 " Bothel school was the worst of the lot, miserably 
 small for so large a parish, badly ventilated, and filthy 
 in the extreme. The deed of the London property 
 the rental of which formed the endowment of 50 
 
 1 It may be remarked, that within the ground attached to the building, 
 there stands a stone pillar with an inscription, stating that there had pas ed 
 the famous military road connecting Ellenborou^h (Maryport) with Old 
 Carlisle, two of the fortified sites on Adrian's Wall from sea to sea, 
 
 A D. CXX.
 
 ! 4 2 THE PERAMBULATING LIBRARY. [CHAP. x. 
 
 had been lost. It had not been seen within the 
 memory of man. This was a formidable opposition 
 to any alterations or improvements. After three or 
 four years' perseverance and hard work, we have got 
 the school greatly enlarged, and an excellent master's 
 house built. We have received a new deed through 
 the Charity Commission and the Committee of Council 
 on Education. The school is now under regular in- 
 spection, and is doing a great deal of good. The 
 education given in it is a credit to the county." As 
 for Bromfield school, Mr. Moore adds : " I have tried 
 hard to get this school renovated, but up to this time 
 I have not achieved anything, except to get the school 
 placed under Government inspection." This, however, 
 was accomplishing a great deal 
 
 We must now interrupt this record of Mr. Moore's 
 educational achievements, by referring to the move- 
 ment which he initiated for carrying on the education 
 of boys and girls after they had left school. Every 
 one knows that only the beginnings of education are 
 learnt at school. In the country, boys and girls leave 
 at about twelve years old, just as they are beginning to 
 acquire the first outlines of knowledge. And unless 
 they continue their education after they have left school, 
 they continue children intellectually throughout life. If 
 they have not the power or the means of forwarding 
 their own education, they must be helped. George 
 Moore was one of those who helped them liberally : by 
 libraries, reading-rooms, and evening-classes. He 
 founded the Perambulating Library, a simple, cheap, 
 and efficient method of maintaining adult education in 
 the country districts, and of keeping reading people 
 in contact with the pure and healthy literature of the 
 time. 
 
 The idea of the perambulating library was not new. 
 But George Moore did not mind whether it was new
 
 CIMP. x.] STATIONS OF THE LIBRARY. j 43 
 
 or not. He found it suited for his purpose, and he 
 adopted it. It may be mentioned that the system 
 of itinerating libraries was founded in 1817 by Samuel 
 Brown, of Haddington. He was a man of pure mind, 
 of great perseverance, and worked zealously throughout 
 his life for the good of his fellow-creatures. He began 
 his system with a library of 200 volumes. These were 
 increased from time to time until they reached 3,850 
 volumes. The number of branch libraries throughout 
 the County of East Lothian was gradually increased, 
 until there was not a village and scarcely a hamlet in 
 the county that was not supplied with a stock of 
 valuable books. Thus the invaluable habit of reading 
 was not only developed, but fostered and kept alive. 
 The writer of these lines remembers with thanks the 
 good effects of the library upon himself. When a boy, 
 labouring under ill-health, he rummaged and read the 
 books of nearly the whole library, and thus laid 
 the foundations of a considerable amount of useful 
 knowledge, But to. return to George Moore's opera- 
 tions. 
 
 In the year 1851 he resolved to establish his peram- 
 bulating Hbra vy. He did so in conjunction with Mr. 
 Richard /\bbatt and Mr. J. P. Foster. He made a 
 journey from London to Cumberland for the purpose 
 of starting the scheme. He called a meeting of the 
 clergymen and laymen likely to take part in the work. 
 The rules were adopted, the books were bought, and the 
 library was set in operation. It embraced nine villages, 
 situated somewhat circularly. These were selected as 
 the Stations. A librarian was appointed in each of 
 them, to-give out the books to the subscribers, who paid 
 a penny a month, or a shilling a year. The names 
 of the villages or stations were Ireby, Torpenhow, 
 Bothel, Mealsgate, Crookdake, Bolton Low Houses, 
 Boltongate, Sandale, and Uldale. A neat case of new
 
 144 THE LIBRARY FETES. (CHAP. X. 
 
 or fresh books was delivered to each station every six 
 weeks by a paid messenger. 1 
 
 The perambulating library proved a great success. 
 The books were nearly always out. The country people 
 were thus induced to read good books. At the end of 
 the first year's operations, in 1852, a grand//tewas held 
 at Kilhow, while Dr. Cowan was president of the asso- 
 ciation. About six or seven hundred people were 
 present. After several speeches had been made, the 
 company danced on the lawn, and the evening finished 
 with fireworks. Another entertainment of a similar 
 character was given at Grange, High Ireby, in the 
 following year. This also was attended by a great 
 number of people. There were the usual speeches, 
 tea, dancing, and fireworks. 
 
 But the most important fete was held in August, 
 1856, when Mr. Moore became president of the institu- 
 tion. On this occasion the new president determined 
 to outshine all previous efforts to entertain the people 
 Dr. Cowan kindly permitted him to use the grounds of 
 Kilhow for the purpose. 
 
 The magnificent scenery by which Kilhow is 
 surrounded, the hills and valleys, with Skiddaw in the 
 distance, rendered the day one of great delight. 
 There seemed to be a general holiday in the neigh- 
 bourhood. People came from all the villages where 
 the perambulating library had its stations. But many 
 came from greater distances. The road to Kilhow 
 was crowded with omnibuses, carriages, phaetons, 
 cabs, and other vehicles. The mayor of Carlisle was 
 there, and many of the neighbouring gentry; with 
 
 1 This messenger was John Sanderson, a noted walker. In 1822 he per- 
 formed the feat of walking 150 miles in 48 succes ive hours. He accom- 
 plished it two hours within the time, and did the last four miles within an 
 hour. John Sanderson was long seen on the roads, with a case of books in 
 a light vehicle, running them to the next station, dressed in a scarlet 
 hunting-coat of George Moore's.
 
 ciJAi'. x.] GEORGE M^Oi<.E AT K.ILHUW. 145 
 
 pedestrians almost innumerable. The Warwick Bridge 
 brass band attended, and played to the dancers on the 
 lawn. Some fifteen hundred persons took tea in the 
 marquee which Mr. Moore had caused to be erected, 
 and refreshments for about two hundred persons were 
 provided in the house. 
 
 Several speeches were delivered ; Mr. Moore, as 
 president of the library, taking the first place. After 
 referring to his election as president, and to the fact 
 that the society emanated from himself and one or two 
 others, he said that if he had lived in the county he 
 should have attended to the duties of the office with 
 more zeal and ardour. " However, having been elected 
 your president this fine summer's day, I shall feel 
 happy to do my duty to the best of my power. I wish 
 to remind you that you are assembled here as working 
 men in particular. Nobody works harder than I do. 
 Some of you may think it very pleasant for me to 
 come here and make speeches. Perhaps you may 
 think that I have got into my present position by 
 accident. There you are very much mistaken. I can 
 assure you that it required a great deal of hard work, 
 anxiety, determinatipn, and wear and tear of brain. 
 All have the same chance and opportunity that I had 
 when I left this part of the county. Many of you, 
 indeed, have been far better educated than I was ; and 
 if I had received a better education I might have been 
 able to do more good and have effected much greater 
 improvements. But since I left my native county I 
 have used every means to improve myself ; and yet 
 I have not done half enough. There is nothing more 
 calculated to improve the mind than reading good 
 books ; and I hope that each gentleman here, and 
 especially the clergy, will use their best exertions to 
 induce their neighbours to become subscribers. I can 
 only say that unless you are anxious to improve your 
 
 L
 
 146 VILLIliRb, BISHOP Oi'~ CARLISLE. [CHAP. x. 
 
 minds, you will do nothing. God only helps those 
 who help themselves ; and unless you assist yourselves, 
 and help yourselves, no other person can possibly help 
 you. Such has been the result of my long experience 
 in the commercial world." 
 
 Mr. Moore stated in the course of his speech that 
 he expected that the Bishop of Carlisle (Villiers) would 
 have been present on the occasion; but that he would 
 certainly preach at Bolton parish church on the fol- 
 lowing Sunday. Mr. Moore had invited the Bishop 
 to come over to Bolton during his visit to Cumberland, 
 and his Lordship gladly complied with the request 
 The event caused a great excitement in the neighbour- 
 hood. A bishop had never preached in Bolton church 
 before. Most of the parishioners had never even seen a 
 bishop. Hence the concourse of people that crowded 
 Bolton Church on that wet Sunday morning. The 
 Bishop preached a sermon which made a great im- 
 pression. Mr. Moore says, " His powers of preaching 
 are great. He is most persuasive. He shows the 
 greatest firmness with the greatest kindness. I think 
 him the most large-hearted Christian gentleman I ever 
 knew. He is also very honest and straightforward in 
 his opinions. I think it the greatest blessing, that he 
 is sent to my native county to regenerate it ; and with 
 God's blessing he will." 
 
 A mutual friendship sprang up between the Bishop 
 of Carlisle and George Moore. The Bishop visited 
 him in London, and in the following year George 
 Moore visited the Bishop at his residence at Rose 
 Castle. He was greatly pleased at the open-hearted 
 reception at the free and easy manner of the family 
 towards him, and at the " impressive family worship." 
 George Moore had, however, a little business to do 
 on this occasion. He wished his lordship to preach 
 at Bothel, in aid of the school funds, and to accom-
 
 CHAP, x.] THE PREACHING AT BOTHEL. 147 
 
 pany him on his journey. They started early on 
 Sunday. 
 
 " It was a lovely morning," says Mr. Moore. " We 
 had a pleasant drive of sixteen miles. Whilst going 
 along, the Bishop (as I thought jokingly) asked me 
 what he was to say in his sermon, as he always 
 preached extempore. I said he was to tell them that 
 the school was a disgrace to the country, that it was 
 without ventilation or any conveniences, that it was 
 enough to engender not only disease but all sorts of 
 immorality that the sin of the neighbourhood was 
 illegitimacy and drunkenness. We reached Bothel, 
 and he preached to a crowded congregation. To my 
 utter astonishment, he told them exactly what I had 
 suggested. But he put it most judiciously, honestly, 
 and forcibly. He made a great impression. I acted 
 as pew-opener, and wedged every seat full. After the 
 sermon there was a good collection. 
 
 " After dining at Mealsgate we proceeded to All- 
 hallows Church. His Lordship was to preach there 
 in aid of the Church of England Education Society, 
 a society in London, which had given several grants to 
 both Allhallows school and Bolton school, and in 
 which both the Bishop and myself were deeply inter- 
 ested. Allhallows Church is perhaps the smallest in the 
 county. On our arrival I found the churchyard was 
 crammed. I inquired why the doors of the church 
 had not been opened. The reply was that the church 
 was full ! I was delighted, because I had calculated upon 
 this ; and the Bishop and I had come to an under- 
 standing, that if the people were too numerous to get 
 admission to the church he would turn out and preach 
 to them in the churchyard. On inquiring of him 
 what I could do, he said, ' Bring a table and a chair, 
 and put them in a situation out of the glare of the 
 sunshine.' 
 
 L 2
 
 148 THE PREACHING AT ALT, HALLOWS. [CHAV. x. 
 
 " I got all arranged, and looked round. I think it 
 was the grandest sight I ever saw. There must have 
 been from eight to nine hundred people sitting on 
 the gravestones, or on the grass plats in the open 
 air, with the hills of Cumberland and the woodland 
 scenery in the distance. The bishop preached a most 
 powerful and forcible sermon, and made a deep impres- 
 sion on the people. He was as much pleased as I was. 
 It was the first sermon he had preached in the open 
 air." 
 
 George Moore long continued to take the same 
 interest in the Cumberland schools. He visited them 
 yearly. He gave prizes, addressed the children, and 
 treated them to tea and sports after the examinations. 
 At length he resolved to extend the principle, and not 
 only to make the children of one school compete with 
 each other, but to bring the various schools together 
 and make them compete with every other school. 
 "In August, 1857," he says, "I suggested to Her 
 Majesty's inspector that we should have a monster 
 examination of all the schools in the immediate 
 neighbourhood of Allhallows. When the examination 
 took place, the schools were nine in number. More 
 than thirty boys and girls from each school underwent 
 examination. Prizes of books were awarded to all the 
 successful candidates. The examination passed off with 
 great falat. Many of the surrounding gentry were 
 present, as well as the neighbouring clergymen. After 
 the examination, I gave a luncheon at Mealsgate to 
 between seventy and eighty of the gentry and clergy 
 of the district. I gave tea to about five hundred 
 children and their parents, and supper to seventy or 
 eighty trustees and their families, and to others who 
 took an interest in education. 
 
 " It is extraordinary how much good results from 
 bringing all these people together. Parents and
 
 CHAP, x.] MR. MONCRTEFF'S CIRCULAR. 149 
 
 children take the greatest interest in the proceedings. 
 Education is thus popularised among the people. 
 The success of this meeting induced me to suggest 
 to the Rev. G. R. Moncrieff, Her Majesty's inspector, 
 that he should issue a circular in anticipation of a 
 similar examination in August, 1858." 
 
 The circular was issued by Mr. Moncrieff. It 
 began : " The success of the examination recently held 
 at Allhallows school has induced Mr. George Moore of 
 London to propose to me to hold a similar examination 
 next year. The undermentioned are the regulations." 
 Ten children were to be sent from each school 
 certificated by the master. The subjects for examina- 
 tion were the Book of Genesis and the Gospel of St. 
 Mark ; reading, arithmetic, mental arithmetic, writing 
 from dictation, writing from copy, geography, English 
 grammar, and (for girls) needlework. The prizes were 
 to be ten shillings to each successful candidate, and 
 gift-books were to be distributed amongst the whole 
 body of children. 
 
 The competitive examination of 1858 greatly out- 
 shone its predecessor. The Bishop of Carlisle, Her 
 Majesty's inspector, the clergymen of the district, and 
 about three thousand people of the neighbourhood, 
 were present. The pupils of the various schools 
 mustered about 800 strong. Without regard to the 
 spacious marquee, brought by Mr. Moore from London, 
 and to the banners and mottoes with which it was 
 ornamented, we proceed to the examination of the 
 scholars themselves. The actual examinations had 
 occupied several days of hard work. Then came the 
 closing day, when the pupils had to be finally examined 
 and the prizes had to be awarded. The preliminary 
 viva voce examination had begun at an early hour in 
 the morning. During the whole of the day, the school- 
 room was crowded. The zeal and care of the inspec-
 
 150 THE EDUCATIONAL REVIVAL. [CHAP. x. 
 
 tors were only equalled by the attention and assiduity 
 of the scholars. Then came the final reward, when 
 the whole party proceeded to the Green, where the 
 Bishop of the diocese called the successful candidates 
 before him. 
 
 Some time previously, amidst an immense crowd of 
 spectators of all ranks and classes, the names of the 
 successful scholars, and of the specially successful 
 schools, were read out, and a list of the prizes that 
 were to be awarded. The latter consisted of everything 
 that could be thought of; and it was no slight task, 
 as time passed on, to find prizes that would differ and 
 be attractive from year to year. Watches, sewing- 
 machines, china tea-services, teapots, desks, and books 
 were the favourites for the masters. It was much 
 easier to provide a variety for the scholars. 
 
 After the Bishop had distributed the prizes to the 
 successful candidates, the Old Hundredth was sung 
 by the assembled multitude ; the Bishop addressed the 
 audience, and also, in a special manner, the children. 
 A few more addresses were delivered, and the meeting 
 separated. 1 
 
 George Moore had now given a fair start to the 
 school education of Cumberland. The Bishop called 
 it "a revival." He had generously assisted in the 
 building and enlargement of the schools. He had insti- 
 tuted a system of competitive examination. He now 
 desired that the Diocesan Education Society should 
 take up the work and carry it on throughout the county. 
 Accordingly, at the meeting of the society, held at 
 Carlisle a few days after the examination at All- 
 hallows, Mr. Moore offered an annual subscription of 
 
 1 A few years later, the number of schools competing (they were called 
 in Cumberland " Moore's Lot '') had become so great that the Lords in 
 Council on Education decided that the Government inspectors must no 
 Ion ,er be allowed to go on with this examination unless they chose to do so 
 during their holiday.
 
 CHAP, x.] RESULTS OF THE REVIVAL. 15, 
 
 a hundred pounds, and such further help as might be 
 necessary, to encourage improvement in the schools 
 of Cumberland. The offer was accepted, Mr. Moore 
 stating that, "as long as he was spared the Allhallows 
 examination should be kept up. It was the most 
 decided way of stimulating all parties scholars, parents, 
 friends, squires, clergymen, and above all schoolmasters. 
 They could have no conception how it would act 
 upon the parents of the children. In fact that was the 
 pivot upon which the success of the whole scheme 
 depended." 
 
 There can be no doubt as to the great benefit that 
 was conferred upon the rising generation by the ener- 
 getic action of George Moore. There were few resi- 
 dent landowners in the neighbourhood ; the clergy had 
 before taken little interest in education ; and the farmers 
 rested strong in the conservative notion that " what 
 had satisfied their fathers would do well enough for 
 them ! " George Moore returned to his native county 
 after a life of hard work, and roused them all up. 
 The clergy were induced to take an interest in the 
 schools, and the farmers were at length compelled to 
 look after the education of their children. Not only 
 were the schools properly built and inspected, but 
 Sunday-schools were also established in many parishes. 
 Sunday-schools had not existed, there before. The 
 attendance at church was greatly increased. A new 
 life was infused into the district. Boys and girls found 
 a new interest in life, and these boys and girls were yet 
 to be the men and women of Cumberland. 
 
 "There is no work," says George Moore, "that I 
 have ever undertaken that has given me greater satis- 
 faction than the result of my design to raise and 
 better the schools, by giving them a higher standard 
 to aim at. The schoolmaster has been reached through 
 the medium of the pupils ; for the success of the latter
 
 152 SUCCESS OF THE EXPERIMENT [CHAP, x 
 
 at the examinations, proved the very best advertise- 
 ment for the teacher. His energies were awakened, 
 and he set to work to improve and raise the character 
 of his scholars. The experiment proved the motto of 
 'helping others to helj themselves.' The parents 
 observed the schools which had succeeded best at the 
 examinations ; and they could not be content with 
 a lower means of instruction when a better was within 
 their reach." 
 
 Such was the work in Cumberland on which George 
 Moore spent his holidays. We return again to his 
 beneficent work in London.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 POLITICS PHILANTHROPY. 
 
 THE work done by George Moore in Cumberland was 
 only holiday-work. The greater part of his time was 
 spent in London. His business required a great deal 
 of attention. When he gave up travelling in 1841, 
 the firm employed ten country travellers and three 
 town travellers. But now, in 1852, it employed seven- 
 teen country travellers and ten town travellers. The 
 premises had again been considerably enlarged, and 
 an entrance made into Cheapside. It was found neces- 
 sary to open branches in the larger towns of the 
 kingdom. The expense of conveying a huge bulk 
 of stock from one town to another, runs away with 
 profits. Hence warehouses were taken in Manchester, 
 Liverpool, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Plymouth, Bristol, 
 Brighton, Norwich, and Portsea. Warehouses had been 
 established in Glasgow, Dublin, and Paris, about six 
 years before. 
 
 In carrying on a large business of this kind, know- 
 ledge of character is essentially necessary. The most 
 successful merchant is not the man who personally 
 works the hardest but the man who possesses the 
 greatest powers of organisation, whose experience 
 and knowledge, combined with common sense, enable 
 him to discern character and select the men best fitted
 
 154 PRICKED SHERIFF OF LONDON. [CHAP. xi. 
 
 to carry out his operations. George Moore was great 
 in these respects. His insight into character seemed 
 almost to be the result of instinct. He had a rapid 
 power of judging whom he could trust. And he rarely 
 made a mistake, either in the heads of departments, 
 or in the partners who from time to time were intro- 
 duced into the firm. 
 
 One would have supposed that with such a large 
 and rapidly-increasing business, George Moore would 
 have had little time to attend to the organising of 
 charitable institutions. But it was with him as it is 
 with many other hard-working business men. If you 
 wish to have any good work well done, go to the busy 
 man, not to the idle man. The former can find time 
 for everything. The latter can find time for nothing. 
 Will, power, perseverance, and industry enable a man 
 not only to promote his own interests, but at the same 
 time to help others less prosperous than himself. 
 
 In the midst of his many labours Mr. Moore was 
 "pricked " by the Lord Mayor, in June, 1852, as Sheriff 
 of London. Mr. Grissell, the well-known contractor, 
 was " pricked " with him. Mr. Moore was then so 
 much occupied with the benevolent institutions which 
 he had started, as well as with his own business, that 
 he could not indulge in the luxury of holding the office 
 of sheriff. It would have involved him in many civic 
 dinners. It might have led to a knighthood. It might 
 have led to the office of Lord Mayor. But he could 
 not give up the works of benevolence which he had 
 undertaken to prosecute, nor could he give up the 
 additional time from his business, which holding the 
 office of sheriff would have involved. He accordingly 
 declined the offer. Mr. Grissell did the same ; and 
 the fines of .400 each, or ^800 in all, were levied 
 from the recusants, and paid into the funds of the 
 Corporation.
 
 CHAP, xi.) REFUSES TO SERVE. 155 
 
 More honours were offered to him, which for the 
 same reasons he refused to accept. He was unani- 
 mously elected alderman by the liverymen of Cord- 
 wainers' ward, and a second time by those of Bread 
 Street ward. He refused to serve in both cases. " I 
 once thought," he says, " that to be Sheriff of London, 
 or Lord Mayor, would have been the height of my 
 ambition. But now I have neither the ambition nor 
 the inclination to serve in either office. To men who 
 have not gained a mercantile position, corporation 
 honours are much sought after; but to those who 
 have acquired a prominent place in commerce, such 
 honours are not appreciated. At the same time I 
 am bound in gratitude to say that I have always re- 
 ceived the most marked courtesy and consideration 
 from the corporation, even although I did not feel 
 disposed to join it." 
 
 In the same year that he was " pricked " sheriff, Mr. 
 Moore was nominated by the Lord Mayor, at the 
 request of Lord Palmerston, and appointed to the 
 Lieutenancy of London. He accepted the office, which 
 involved no extra labour ; but " up to this day," he says 
 (February 10, 1858), "I have not got my regimentals 
 nor my court-dress." He was also invited to represent 
 the electors of Nottingham in Parliament. He had 
 many opportunities of being sent to Parliament un- 
 opposed. But he invariably refused. He was of 
 opinion that Parliament should be composed of the 
 best, wisest, and most highly educated men in the 
 country. He always averred that he was not one of 
 such men. 
 
 He was not a bigoted politician. He never took an 
 extreme side. He did not like sudden changes of any 
 sort. He was a moderate Liberal. He wished rather 
 to repair the breaches in the constitution which time had 
 made, than to pull it down by radical changes, and
 
 156 GEORGE MOOKE'is POLITICS. [CHAP. xi. 
 
 endeavour to reconstruct it upon no very certain foun- 
 dation. He thought that the best of all things to adopt 
 was to educate the people up to the highest standard ; 
 so that they might be fitted for whatever privileges 
 Parliament might think proper Lo confer upon them. 
 Such was the course which he himself adopted in his 
 endeavours to improve the education of the rising 
 generation. 
 
 Mr. Moore was however a strong friend of free 
 trade. As early as 1845, when Mr. Cobden was 
 agitating the country in favour of the county regis- 
 tration movement, and urging people to buy freehold 
 qualifications, so that they might vote for county 
 members of Parliament, Mr. Moore and five others 
 bought a small freehold in Middlesex, and during 
 twenty years and upwards they all voted for free- 
 trade candidates. Mr. Moore stuck to the free- 
 trade movement, and when the corn laws were repealed 
 the firm of Copestake, Moore and Co., were amongst 
 the largest subscribers to the Cobden Fund. 
 
 Besides the repeated invitations to stand for Notting- 
 ham, where he could have commanded a large amount 
 of support, he was also invited to stand for West 
 Cumberland. "On this occasion," he says, "had I even 
 felt the inclination to accept it, I believe that I could 
 not have succeeded, as in that quarter they think 
 more of landowners than of rag-merchants. However, 
 I never could get my own consent to go into the House 
 of Commons. First, because if I had gone there, I 
 could not have rested satisfied with being a silent 
 member. It is my nature to make myself master of 
 all that I have to do with. Then the business of the 
 House of Commons would have occupied much of my 
 time. It would have acted detrimentally to me in taking 
 me from my own business, to which 1 was in a measure 
 bound, and in which 1 have so large a share. Not to
 
 CHAP. XL] ELECTION IN CUMBERLAND. 15; 
 
 have done my share of work, would have been dishonest 
 in principle. And secondly, because I knew my value 
 to the many charitable institutions to which I am so 
 warmly attached. Apart from my business pursuits, I 
 considered this to be my proper sphere of usefulness." 
 
 Mr. Moore, however, warmly assisted in canvassing 
 for his political friends. Thus he took an active 
 interest in the return of Lord John Russell and the 
 other Liberal candidates for the City of London in 
 1852. He also canvassed the Cumberland voters in 
 London, and took down with him forty-four East 
 Cumberland freeholders to vote for Mr. C. Howard 
 and Mr. William Marshall. This he did without a 
 shilling of expense to the candidates. " This hard 
 work," he says, "almost knocked me up. We won 
 the election by a large majority. At the dinner given 
 by the members I felt so ill that I was obliged to 
 leave the table, and therefore could not make the two 
 speeches that were assigned to me. I returned with 
 Mr. Howard to Greystock Castle, and the quiet soon 
 restored me. I afterwards went to Shap Wells to 
 meet Mrs. Moore. The waters there always benefit 
 me. 
 
 " What was my surprise, when at Shap Wells, to 
 receive a visit from Lord Lonsdale. He invited 
 me to stay with him at Lowther Castle. I had 
 been determinedly opposed to his candidates. I had 
 come down from London expressly to assist in 
 returning the Liberal members. I was so much sur- 
 prised, that I declined the invitation ' No,' said he, 
 ' I have come over expressly on purpose to invite 
 you.' ' If that be the case/ said I, ' I shall do myself 
 the honour of visiting you.' On my arrival at the 
 castle I found it was filled with the opposite party in 
 politics. They could not make out how it was that I 
 should be there, and 1 must confess that at first I did
 
 I S 8 LORD JOHN RUSSELL. [CHA;-. xi. 
 
 not feel quite at home. But his Lordship's and Colonel 
 Lowther's kindness, and indeed that of all the party, 
 soon made me feel as easy as a glove. I felt 
 myself a little in the way when politics were the topic 
 of conversation. But to Lord Lonsdale's credit be 
 it said, that he never, either directly or indirectly, 
 hinted at making me a convert. I have since felt 
 that it was a most friendly act to invite me to his 
 house, when the heat of the party contest had scarcely 
 subsided." 
 
 At the General Election of. 1857, Lord John Russell 
 again stood for the City. He had become somewhat 
 unpopular at the time, for what reason he did not 
 know. At first he thought of giving up the seat, and 
 trying another constituency ; but, on second thoughts, 
 he determined to stand. He sent his nephew, Mr. 
 Russell, to Mr. Moore, to ask if he would be deputy- 
 chairman of his committee. By all means ! George 
 Moore threw himself heart and soul into the contest. 
 A large meeting of voters was held at the London 
 Tavern, when Lord John made a magnificent speech, 
 and created a deep impression "on the electors. Mr. 
 Moore seconded a vote of confidence in him, which 
 was agreed to. Mr. Moore also seconded his nomination, 
 and worked hard for him until he was returned. " I 
 entertained," says Mr. Moore, " his Lordship and Lady 
 Russell, and his friends, at Bow Churchyard. The 
 large crowd that followed him excited a great sensation. 
 He was decidedly the popular candidate. Owing to his 
 old friends and colleagues turning against him, he got a 
 great deal of sympathy ; as Englishmen do not like to 
 see a man victimised. 1 have always been an ardent 
 admirer of Lord John, and he was pleased to think that 
 on this occasion I had been instrumental in securing 
 his return. 
 
 " On the same night," he continues, " I started for
 
 CHAP. XT.] CONTEST FOR WEST CUMBERLAND. 159 
 
 Brayton to assist Wilfrid Lawson in his contest for 
 West Cumberland. I never had such a hard week's 
 work in my life. On the first day, Monday, William 
 Lawson and I were at Crookdake at half-^ast six in the 
 morning. We had two excellent hunters under us, and 
 went straight across Leesrigg pasture, jumping all the 
 fences to Allhallows and Torpenhow. After canvass- 
 ing with energy, we finished the night by arriving at 
 Brayton at 10 o'clock P.M. The following day was 
 the nomination day. Wilfrid drove me to Cocker- 
 mouth. He was the popular candidate, though not the 
 candidate to win. There I had a rencontre with my 
 friend George Bentinck. He told me that I had no 
 business to make such a dead stand against their party. 
 However, after a paper war we got reconciled again, 
 and were as good friends as ever. 
 
 " I found that all the farmers voted with the 
 landlords. They were not allowed to think and act 
 for themselves. The screw was put on in every shape. 
 Out of a large constituency, Wilfrid Lawson was beat 
 by about 250 votes. I took charge of the polling 
 booth at Bolton, my native place. I did not throw a 
 chance away. But there is no satisfaction in elections. 
 They cause strife, heartburnings, and all sorts of evil. 
 
 " The election was over on the Friday. We had an 
 excellent day's fox-hunting on Saturday. I started for 
 London the same night, very much tired with my hard 
 week's work. I paid the entire expenses of the 
 London canvass, and the expenses of such voters to 
 Cumberland and back as could not themselves pay the 
 cost of the double journey, and I got a great deal of 
 abuse from the yellow 1 papers ; and "thus ended the 
 West Cumberland election." 
 
 In the year 1854, Mr. Moore removed his residence 
 
 1 Yellow papers. In most counties yellow is Whig ; but in Cumberland 
 it is Conservative.
 
 I6o KENSINGTON PALACE GARDENS. [CHAP xi. 
 
 from Oxford Terrace to a mansion in Kensington 
 Palace Gardens. He always regarded this as an 
 extravagant step. He had lived very happily in a 
 small house. Why should he remove to a larger one ? 
 Nevertheless, the site was bought and the build- 
 ins: was begun. The house cost him about double 
 
 o tj 
 
 the estimate. "Although," he says, "I had built 
 the house at the solicitation of Mrs. Moore, I was 
 mortified at my extravagance, and thought it both 
 wicked and aggrandizing mere ostentation and vain 
 show to build such a house. It was long before 
 I felt at home in it, nor did it at all add to our happi- 
 ness. I felt that I had acted foolishly. But, strange 
 to say, a gentleman offered to take the house off my 
 hands and to give me three thousand guineas profit. 
 I made up my mind to accept this offer ; but my dear 
 wife had taken such an interest in the house that we 
 could not decide to sell it. I accordingly declined the 
 offer. 
 
 " As our young men and women at Bow Churchyard 
 had been instrumental in helping me to gain the wealth 
 for building such a house, I determined that they 
 should be the first to visit us. We gave a ball to 
 about 300 of our own people, and allowed the young 
 men to invite their female friends, to equalise the sexes- 
 After the dancing there was a grand supper. We gave 
 a second ball to all the porters and their wives, the 
 drivers, and the female servants. There were about 
 two hundred in all. We employed omnibuses to 
 bring them to the house and send them away. They 
 got abundant refreshment, and danced to their hearts' 
 content. 
 
 " After this we kept a great deal of company. The 
 house was looked upon as a work of art. All our 
 friends expected to be invited to see it and partake of 
 our hospitality. We accordingly gave a large dinner
 
 CHAP, xi.] VISITS THE PRISONS. l6l 
 
 weekly, until we had exhausted our numerous friends 
 and acquaintances. My wife kept an account of above 
 eight hundred who dined with us. But happiness does 
 not flow in such a channel. Promiscuous company takes 
 one's mind away from God and His dealings with men; 
 and there is no lasting pleasure in the excitement." 
 
 We return to Mr. Moore's philanthropic work, which 
 was really the crown and glory of his life. It will 
 be remembered that he was fined .400 for refusing 
 to accept the position of sheriff. 
 
 Notwithstanding this act of injustice, he thought it 
 right to perform some of the duties which are supposed 
 to belong to the office. " Although," he says, " I did 
 not eat any of the civic dinners, I determined to visit 
 every prison in London." He first visited the new 
 City prison at Holloway. He was received by the 
 Rev. Mr. Cohen, the chaplain, who took him over the 
 gaol. Mr. Cohen says, " He took the most intense 
 interest in the whole place, and in the inmates thereof. 
 He was making a tour of the prisons and reformatories all 
 over London. His practical view of things led him to 
 suggest the establishment of a reformatory for discharged 
 prisoners." 
 
 Mr. Moore says that he was struck with the fact, that 
 when he inquired of the chaplains what became of the 
 poor fellows after the expiration of their term of im- 
 prisonment, their answer was, " They can do nothing but 
 return to stealing, as nobody will employ them." " I at 
 once determined," says Mr. Moore, " with God's help, to 
 establish a Reformatory for young men. I enlisted my 
 valued friend, James Cunliffe, banker, in the cause ; and 
 we immediately took large premises and grounds at 
 Grove House, Brixton Hill. 
 
 " I called upon Lord Shaftesbury to consult him on 
 the subject. I was much pleased with my visit and the 
 
 M
 
 t62 LORD SHAFTESBURY. [CHAP. xi. 
 
 great encouragement which I received. Experience has 
 convinced me that Lord Shaftesbury is the most zealous 
 and persevering philanthropist of the day. He is 
 always ready for every good work, and I never knew 
 any man who could get through so much. He never 
 tires of doing good. He has extraordinary tact and 
 ability as a chairman ; and he has perhaps had more 
 experience in that position than any living man. His 
 kind and courteous manner, his large-heartedness, and 
 his zeal in every good movement, will give him an im- 
 perishable renown, and an everlasting inheritance with 
 his Heavenly Master. 
 
 " Lord Shaftesbury consented to be our president. 
 We engaged Mr. as governor. And now my 
 anxieties and troubles began. This person had been 
 in the City Mission, and was inspector of Ragged 
 Schools. But, in my opinion, he was the worst man of 
 business I ever knew. With all our endeavours, we 
 could not get the establishment to work satisfactorily. 
 We certainly got it filled with young men, but the 
 governor had not the slightest moral influence over them. 
 They caballed ; they became insubordinate ; and the 
 whole affair got into disorder. In fact we found that 
 
 Mr. was a hypocrite in disguise, and we got rid of 
 
 him, pretty well sickened with the work. 
 
 " But I am not in the habit of giving up things in 
 this way. Persevere has always been my motto ; and I 
 determined to try again. We had a long lease of the 
 premises, and I felt that we must do something to 
 establish the work on some firmer foundation. I felt 
 however that I had undertaken a job that I could not 
 manage by myself. I lost my excellent friend James 
 Cunliffe by sudden death ; and my other colleagues 
 rarely came to my help. The whole burthen was thus 
 thrown upon me. 
 
 " But Providence very often steps in at the right time
 
 CHA.P. xi.] MARRIAGE FEES PAID BY MR. MOORE. 163 
 
 to help us. On looking about, I found that Mr. C. T. 
 Jenkinson and Mr. Joseph Moore lived close to the 
 reformatory, and that they were willing to join me. 
 Mr. Bowker also rendered me the greatest assistance, 
 giving up much time to it ; and to their invaluable 
 superintendence I am indebted for the increased suc- 
 cess which for some time attended the work. We have 
 been fortunate in our new governor. He was young and 
 inexperienced at first, but he improves every year. I 
 may now say (November Qth, 1857) that this has been 
 the most interesting work that I have ever been engaged 
 in. You can observe the good you are doing. You 
 have ocular demonstration of it. When the men come 
 in, they look like fiends, sunk in sin and degradation ; 
 but when we train them to work and send them out, 
 they are altogether changed in outward appearance, and 
 also, I trust, in soul and in spirit." l 
 
 One of the most remarkable and almost unique 
 forms in which George Moore displayed his benevo- 
 lence, was in marrying people who were not, but who 
 ought to have been, married. The City Missionaries, 
 with whom he was in constant communication, found 
 multitudes of men and women living together without 
 the ceremony of marriage having been performed. 
 The women were in a disreputable social position. The 
 children were growing up illegitimate. In order, there- 
 fore, to protect the women and give them a tie upon 
 their husbands, as well as to give their future children a 
 legitimate start in society, he paid the marriage fees of 
 
 1 This passage was written in 1857. The reformatory was then flourish- 
 ing, and, it was hoped, doing good. Mr. Moore was the soul of the work 
 so long as it lasted. He visited it often, and gave freely. He also exerted 
 his influence to induce others to help him. It existed for about ten years. 
 But the second manager proved no better than the first ; and his mal- 
 administration eventually wrecked the institution. Besides, the lease of 
 the premises was up. The buildings were falling to pieces, and the Refor- 
 matory was at length closed. Mr. Moore u<ed to say in later years " that 
 this was the only work he had begun and given up." 
 
 M 2
 
 1 64 REFORMATORY AND REFUGE UNION. [CHAP. xi. 
 
 thousands of persons. He did this for about twenty 
 years. It was all done privately. The clergymen who 
 performed the ceremony knew nothing of the donor of 
 the marriage fees. The people who had been married 
 never knew their benefactor. The whole of the work 
 was done through the City Missionaries, who kept the 
 matter secret. 
 
 We have before us a letter to George Moore, dated 
 August 4th, 1854, in which the missionary says: "I 
 find on inquiry that we have 7 or 8 yet in hand of 
 the wedding fund. Constant demands are being made 
 upon it; but I have found it needful to check incon- 
 siderate applications. Glad should I be if all were 
 married who are living together in an unmarried state. 
 But I am wishful that the means we still have should 
 be applied to the assistance and relief of those who see 
 and feel that they have done wrong, and who had not 
 the means of doing right." Mr. Moore continued to 
 help these people to get married, to the close of his 
 life. We find from his accounts that he paid more 
 than five hundred pounds for marriage fees. 
 
 His connection with this undertaking revealed to 
 him one of those dreadful things in cities that lie 
 almost unheeded about us, the demoralisation of 
 multitudes of women who, in their right position, 
 should be the safeguards of society. He cordially 
 concurred with his friend Mr. Robert Hanbury, M.P., 
 in endeavouring to establish a refuge for fallen women. 
 The work was full of difficulties. It could only be 
 done through the medium of women themselves. And 
 yet how few respectable women are there who will con- 
 descend to come into communication with the lowest 
 of their sex ! Mr. Moore, at one of the meetings of 
 the Reformatory and Refuge Union, offered to give 
 a hundred pounds annually for the first two female 
 missionaries who would work amongst the fallen. " With
 
 CHAP, xr.] HIS THOROUGH EARNESTNESS. 165 
 
 God's help," he says, " I am determined to persevere 
 in this good cause. But it is more difficult to grapple 
 with than any matter I have ever undertaken. Mr. 
 Hanbury is as zealous as myself. We may do some 
 good. At all events we can place those whom we re- 
 claim in homes and refuges. They are to be pitied and 
 cared for. The rascality of man is cruel, disgraceful, 
 and abominable. How many men are there who make 
 the destruction of poor unsuspecting girls their study. 
 If there be men who are to experience the curse of God, 
 it is they." 
 
 One who knew Mr. Moore at this time says of him : 
 " It must have boen soon after the Reformatory and 
 Refuge Union was established that I first knew George 
 Moore. His brusque business-like way of discussing 
 the questions which were proposed at the committee 
 marked him in my mind as an exceptional character. 
 When the introduction merged into an acquaintance, 
 and afterwards into a friendship, I was increasingly im- 
 pressed by the downright thoroughness with which he 
 carried out whatever he put his hand to. No half-and- 
 half measure met with his support. Like a sturdy 
 blacksmith, he struck with the sledge-hammer of his 
 honest opinion, caring little how the sparks of his 
 bluntly-expressed views might fall on those around 
 him. 
 
 " George Moore's desire to be useful in his day and 
 generation was greatly strengthened by his pecuniary 
 resources. He gave ungrudgingly, but never without 
 satisfying himself that it was for a sound and well- 
 matured object. Such a plan must have often involved 
 him in great trouble ; but if it were more generally 
 adopted by other rich philanthropists, it would to a 
 great extent prevent much mischievous almsgiving." 
 
 One of George Moore's next objects was to endeavour, 
 in conjunction with others, to establish a home for
 
 i66 AN INCURABLE HOSPITAL. [CHAP. xi. 
 
 Incurables. "The same year," he says, "in which I 
 resolved to do some good to my fellow-creatures, I 
 visited the hospitals, and found that many patients were 
 turned out as Incurable, hospitals being for the cure of 
 diseases, and not for the accommodation of those who 
 could not be cured. These destitute creatures had no 
 prospect before them but starvation or the workhouse. 
 To persons brought up in respectability, this was almost 
 equal to death. I was glad to join with James Peek in 
 assisting Dr. Reed in his project for founding a hospital 
 for incurables. I was. made a trustee of the institution. 
 As the candidates for election were all visited by the 
 committee, I had the opportunity of seeing many cases 
 of woeful misery ; men and women who had been well 
 brought up, prostrated and broken down by incurable 
 diseases ; in many cases starving from want of the 
 common necessaries of life ; strangers to everything like 
 comfort or luxury ; and with no prospect before them 
 but protracted dying and the grave. My dear friend 
 Charles Dickens has given a vivid account of these poor 
 neglected suffering creatures ; and he has called all 
 benevolent spirits to assist in establishing a home for 
 the help of the incurables." 1 
 
 The institution was not however established until 
 some years later. When Dr. Reed called upon Mr. 
 James Peek on behalf of the Asylum for Idiots, the 
 latter suggested that the establishment of an asylum 
 for incurables would be a noble wind r up to his life ; and 
 
 1 In an article published in Household Words, August 24th, 1850, Mr. 
 Dickens says : 
 
 " It is an extraordinary fact that among the innumerable medical chanties 
 with which this country abounds there is not one for the help of those who 
 of all others most require succour, and who must die, and do die, in th ju- 
 sands, unaided. It is indeed a marvellous oversight of benevolence that 
 sympathy should have been so long withheld from precis ly the sufFererj 
 who most need it. Hopeless pain allied to hopeless poverty is a condition 
 of existence not to be thought of without a shudder. It is a slow journey 
 through the Valley of the bhadow of Death, from which we save even the 
 greatest of criminals."
 
 CHAP, xi.] PORTERS' BENEVOLENT FUND. 167 
 
 he offered five hundred pounds as a beginning. At a 
 second visit Mr. Peek offered to double his donation. 
 At the same time Mr. Moore was ready, with several 
 others, to aid Dr. Reed in his benevolent efforts. A 
 small meeting was held in the Egyptian Hall, Mansion 
 House, when a few friends of Dr. Reed formed them- 
 selves into a committee. Funds were gradually collected, 
 and the institution was started. The first home was at 
 Carshalton, and the next at Putney House, Upper 
 Richmond Road. Every bed was full. The applicants 
 for admission continued to increase. Dr. Reed worked 
 to his utmost on behalf of the institution, and its success 
 at his death crowned the self-sacrificing and philan- 
 thropic labours of his life. 
 
 Another institution in which George Moore took a 
 special interest, an institution which, in fact, originated 
 with himself, was the London General Porters' Bene- 
 volent Association. He called the porters of his own 
 establishment together and laid the matter before them. 
 The object of the institution was to relieve disabled 
 porters, and their wives and families in event of their 
 death. He said that he had been as much obliged to 
 porters during his long commercial life as they had 
 been to him. He had never been defrauded by them ; 
 they had conscientiously adhered to their trust ; and 
 they were well worthy of their reward. They had seen 
 many benevolent institutions started for affording relief 
 and assistance to necessitous widows and education and 
 maintenance to their orphan children. Why should 
 they not have a similar institution for the benefit of 
 Porters ? Would they help him to establish this institu- 
 tion ? Their universal reply was, " Yes ! " 
 
 "Then," said he, "you must immediately set to 
 work; you must collect subscriptions; you must invite 
 your fellow porters to join you ; and when I see that 
 you are in earnest, come to me again, and we shall
 
 168 GEORGE MOORE A GENERAL HELPER. [CHAP. XI. 
 
 launch the Porters' Benevolent Association at a public 
 meeting!" The porters found many persons willing to 
 help them merchants, travellers, and porters them- 
 selves. The first public meeting was held at the Shaftes- 
 bury Hall, Aldersgate Street, on the 9th December, 
 
 1857. Upwards of seven hundred porters were present. 
 A committee was elected to frame rules for the govern- 
 ment of the Association. 
 
 The Association was fairly launched at a public meet- 
 ing held in the London Tavern, on the i6th February, 
 
 1858. George Moore took the chair. He had sum- 
 moned all his friends to be present, and there was a 
 goodly array of London merchants and warehousemen 
 on the platform. About twelve hundred porters were 
 present. " A more gratifying scene," says Mr. Moore, 
 " I never beheld. I made a speech to my mind, which 
 I seldom do. I inaugurated and launched the institu- 
 tion to my own satisfaction, and to that of all present. 
 I have a great regard for this class of men, and no one 
 can know them better than I do, from my long experi- 
 ence of their value. We ought to bear one another's 
 burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. I have now 
 resolved to work this institution well, and to start no 
 other. I think that I have now my work fairly laid 
 out." 
 
 The resolution " to start no other institution " soon 
 broke down. He could not be idle. It was like Sir 
 Walter Scott saying, " Kettle, kettle, don't boil ! " The 
 kettle will boil, notwithstanding all resolutions to the 
 contrary. Mr. Moore did not stop here. His help was 
 never wanting where ignorance had to be educated or 
 fallen humanity reclaimed. His large heart and liberal 
 hand were always ready to help on every good and 
 noble work. 
 
 " The riches which God has given me," he says, 
 " may, if rightly used, be a blessing to many ; but, if
 
 CHAP. xi. J SYMPATHY THE GREAT SECRET. 169 
 
 otherwise, they may only prove a curse and a snare." 
 He did not take so much pleasure in giving as in doing. 
 What he gave, he gave with fellow-feeling and sympathy. 
 One of his maxims was, " Sympathy is the great secret 
 of life." At Kilhow he said, " If the world only knew 
 half the happiness that a man has in doing good, he 
 would do a great deal more. We are only here for 
 a time, and ought to live as we would wish to die." 
 
 George Moore had discovered what many people 
 never find out, that man's duty in the world is not 
 merely to " get on " without regard for others, or to 
 spend his accumulated money on mere selfish gratifica- 
 tions ; but to help those who want help, to instruct those 
 who want instruction, and to endeavour to lift them up 
 into the higher light of civilization and Christianity. 
 Every year he wrote the following words in his pocket- 
 book. They became ingrained in his soul, and to a 
 certain extent, formed his creed : 
 
 " What 1 spent I had : 
 What I saved I lost : 
 What I gave I have."
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 RELIGIOUS LIFE DEATH OF MRS. MOORE, 
 
 MR. MOORE left amongst his papers many passages 
 relating to his religious life. In the early part of his 
 history he thought very little about religion. He was 
 satisfied to do the work of the time without thinking 
 much of the life to come. To him, as to many others, 
 the words might be applied, " Rejoice, O young man, 
 in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days 
 of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, 
 and in the sight of thine eyes ; but know thou, that for 
 all these things God will bring thee into judgment." 
 
 The philanthropic efforts in which he had been 
 engaged arose for the most part from the promptings 
 of a benevolent heart. This was especially the case 
 with the Commercial Travellers' Schools, to which he 
 devoted so much of his time and attention, and also 
 with the Cumberland Benevolent Institution, to which 
 he gave his first spare guinea. His life had been one 
 of prosperity. He had suffered no great sorrow. The 
 societies with which he was connected prospered like 
 himself. He had " troops of friends." He was solicited 
 to occupy the highest offices. Everything went well 
 with him. 
 
 And yet much suffering awaited him. Dear friends 
 fell away from him one by one. He began to think of
 
 CHAP, xii.] GEORGE MOORE'S ILLNESS. 171 
 
 the uncertainties of human life, and then he thought of 
 the future. 
 
 In 1850, he spent three months at Shap Wells and 
 St. Bees. His nervous system was at that time much 
 shattered. He said he felt as if his brain were worn 
 out. He could not bear the sight of a book or of a 
 letter. The very moaning of the ocean oppressed him. 
 The pain in his head was intense. Once he could 
 sleep at will ; now he could not sleep at all. He was 
 greatly depressed in his mind. He thought upon his 
 past life, and felt how much better his life might have 
 been. The following passages from his papers will 
 illustrate this point : 
 
 " I have always been obliged to act from sudden 
 impulse, never having had time to think or mature my 
 thoughts. I have always been obliged to act as 1 
 thought, or my poor brain would have been over- 
 whelmed with the variety of subjects I had to deal 
 with. 
 
 " In looking back upon my past life, I have a great 
 deal to deplore and repent of. In my struggling days, 
 when I travelled and worked on Sunday and Saturday, 
 and sometimes all night, I scarcely ever heard the Word 
 of God. I did not understand the scheme of salvation ; 
 yet, strange to say, I had a sincere belief in the efficacy 
 of prayer. 
 
 " I was a popular traveller, and was much courted 
 both by customers and brother travellers. At that 
 time of day, the dinner hour was one, and the mis- 
 chievous pint of wine was the daily allowance, with 
 hot suppers and grog at nights. I often thank God 
 that I did not become a drunkard. My temptations 
 were very great. All customers that came to see my 
 stock of goods were invited to drink, no matter at what 
 hour. 
 
 "During my travelling days I had no time to think.
 
 172 DEATHS OF HIS FRIENDS. [CHAP. xn. 
 
 At night I tumbled into bed without asking God's 
 blessing, and I was generally so tired that I fell asleep 
 in a few minutes. 
 
 " It was not until I gave up travelling that I 
 regularly went to any church, and then I attended 
 the ministry of the Rev. Daniel Moore. For the first 
 time I felt my conscience pricked. About this period 
 my brother-in-law, the Rev. Mr. Ray, died suddenly. 
 This was a great blo\v. I felt that in the midst of life 
 we are in death. But the Spirit of God was not 
 in me. I had no peace of conscience. God wrestled 
 with me, and sorely afflicted me. When I was at St. 
 Bees, in 1850, I gave up all hopes of ever being well 
 again, and I then for the first time felt my real 
 danger. 
 
 " It pleased God gradually to restore me to health. 
 For a long time afterwards I felt my brain giving way if 
 I worked too hard. I never hoped to be able to attend 
 to business again. I have always had a great pleasure 
 in business ; and felt that it might have shortened my 
 days if I gave it up. So, on my recovery I continued 
 to take part in my business as before." 
 
 Mr. Moore's next great blow arose through his busi- 
 ness connection. He says, " I had no sooner recovered 
 my health so as to be able to attend to business than my 
 worthy partner Mr. Groucock broke down. His illness 
 gave me great concern. His complaint was ossification 
 of the artery near the brain. The Rev. J. O. Jackson, 
 and afterwards Mr. Bowker, travelled with him ; and 
 changes of scene of all sorts were tried both at home 
 and abroad, but with no avail. His health gradually 
 declined, and he died in 1853." 
 
 Mr. Moore had many religious conversations with" Mr. 
 Groucock, whose thoughts had latterly almost entirely 
 dwelt on religious subjects. Their mutual friend, Mr. 
 Hitchcock, of St. Paul's Churchyard, had taken many
 
 CHAP, xii.] HIS RELIGIOUS DIFFICULTIES. 173 
 
 occasions to speak with Mr. Moore as to the importance 
 of not neglecting his soul's interests while occupied 
 with the cares of this life and the anxieties of a great 
 business. 
 
 Mr. Moore says, after one of these interviews, " How 
 I long to realise the forgiveness of sins, as promised in the 
 words, ' He that spared not His own Son, but delivered 
 him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also 
 freely give us all things ? ' and ' This is a faithful 
 saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus 
 came into the world to save sinners.'" His thoughts 
 were thus strongly directed to the state of his mind 
 and heart. 
 
 Among his most intimate friends, to whom he opened 
 up his anxieties and conflict of soul, were the Rev. 
 Daniel Moore and Mr. Bowker, of Christ's Hospital. 
 He was much helped by both of them. He also had 
 letters and conversations on sacred subjects with Mr. 
 Moggridge (Old Humphrey). Of the latter he says, 
 "How I envied his mind and heart! Yet he lives on 
 only a scanty pittance. He called "upon me once when 
 I was in a desponding mood. How he comforted 
 and supported me! He was one of the most lovable 
 old men I ever knew. His mind was as pure as the 
 snowdrop." 
 
 Mr. Moore continued greatly depressed. He suffered 
 almost as much as Mr. Groucock had done. He after- 
 wards thanked God that he had not been left to die in 
 that state of melancholy. Nor did he as yet see his 
 way clearly. The world was too much with him. To 
 use his own words, " I only enjoyed a moderate share oi 
 worldly religion. My works were greater than my faith, 
 and I had no peace, and little happiness, save in excite- 
 ment. I had never felt any gratitude to God for my 
 prosperity, nor for my many worldly blessings." He 
 regretted also " his irritable temper, his quickness at
 
 174 STRIVES FOR A BETTER LIFE. [CHAP. xu. 
 
 retort, and his i-nconsiderateness for other people's 
 feelings." He desired to throw these things off like 
 a garment. His spirit was willing, but his flesh was 
 weak. 
 
 " I trust," he says in another passage, " that I am 
 beginning to see and feel the folly and vanity of the 
 world and its pleasures. Oh that I could feel that I had 
 at length entered the strait gate, and was travelling the 
 narrow road that leadeth to eternal life ! As Newton 
 says, I know what the world can do and what it cannot 
 do. It cannot give or take away that peace of God 
 which passeth all understanding. It cannot soothe a 
 wounded conscience like mine, nor enable me to feel 
 that I could meet death with comfort. I feel a constant 
 conflict of conscience with inclination, of the desire to 
 do right against the promptings of evil. I feel that I 
 am unstable as water poor, weak, and simple. If I 
 could realise faith in Jesus, I should be wiser and 
 stronger, and abound in grace." 
 
 In this way did George Moore strive and struggle for 
 peace to shine on his inner life. He regretted deeply 
 that he had never been instructed in the knowledge of 
 the Bible in his youth ; and that for many years he had 
 paid little attention to religious matters. The only 
 thing he realised was the " knowledge of his depraved 
 heart." He prayed for the new birth ; he longed to be 
 converted ; he hoped for some special signal of his 
 change. He expected that after this, he would be no 
 longer a prey to doubts, fears, or temptations. He says, 
 " I have been earnestly praying for the last two years 
 for God to give me some sudden change of heart, but no 
 sudden change comes. I read and hear of some whose 
 wills are given up to God, and that they have com- 
 munion with Him. I do not experience this, and 
 sometimes think that it is no use trying or praying." 
 
 Sometimes he could not sleep at night from anxiety,
 
 CHAP, xil.] HIS PRAYERS NOT ANSWERED 175 
 
 but would rise and pray for help from above. He 
 vexed himself about difficult and perplexing questions 
 of doctrine, such as election and predestination ! He 
 invited his friends to tell him what they meant, but he 
 could get no insight. " I do not understand the doc- 
 trine," he says ; " it is a mystery. But this I know, that 
 " Christ died for all men.' " He sometimes thought 
 that God had hidden His face from him. He sought 
 repentance with tears. God did not appear to answer 
 his prayers. " If He hears my prayers," said he, " He 
 does not answer them. He has said, ' Come unto Me, 
 all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give 
 you rest.' But I get no rest no peace of soul. Yet I 
 must persevere, for God is the same yesterday, to-day, 
 and for ever." 
 
 At length comfort came to him. Light began to dawn 
 on his soul. " I am determined," he says, " for the future, 
 not to perplex my mind with seeking for some extra- 
 ordinary impressions, signs, or tokens of the new birth. 
 I believe the Gospel. I love the Lord Jesus Christ. I 
 receive with confidence the promise that ' He that 
 heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, 
 hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemna- 
 tion, but is passed from death unto life.' ' 
 
 And again, " The new birth must be a change of 
 mind, from ungodliness to belief in and worship of God, 
 through our blessed Mediator. This is expressed in 
 the Old Testament by the promise of God : ' A new 
 heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put 
 within you ; and I will take away the stony heart out of 
 your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. * * * 
 And cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall 
 keep my judgments, and do them * * * ; and ye shall 
 be my people, and I will be your God.' " 
 
 Without further analysing his self-revelations, we may 
 return to Mr. Moore's works of benevolence and mercy,
 
 176 ESTABLISHES FAMILY PRAYERS. [CHAP. XII. 
 
 which were, in fact, the actual outcome of his struggling 
 faith and his believing soul. He had often thought of 
 improvi ^ the spiritual condition of the young men in 
 his employment. He remembered the time when he 
 himself had served in London, with no one to care for 
 him. He had no guidance, no direction, no home in- 
 fluences to guard him against evil courses. Provided he 
 did his day's work, it was enough ; he might do as he 
 liked with the rest of his time. 
 
 It was the same in most warehouses at that period. 
 The young men were allowed to take their own course. 
 They went to theatres and other night resorts. They 
 amused themselves in the evenings as they best could. 
 At the premises in Bow Churchyard, the young men 
 got up a stage and scenery, and performed plays. 
 
 To raise the character and improve the spiritual con- 
 dition of the persons employed by the firm, Mr. Moore 
 proposed to establish family worship at a quarter to 
 eight every morning. His first difficulty was to obtain 
 a suitable room for the purpose, as every portion of 
 space in the warehouse was fully occupied. He spoke 
 to his partners on the subject ; and though they thought 
 it would not -work well, they willingly agreed to every- 
 thing that he proposed. At last he resolved to turn 
 four or five beds out of a room, and begin family 
 worship there. 
 
 It was sometime before there seemed to be any 
 prospect of success in the movement. " A failure on 
 this subject," says Mr. Moore, " would have been very 
 unsatisfactory to all parties concerned. To attempt to 
 force young men to be religious would probably have 
 had a diametrically opposite effect. I knew that if I 
 had asked our old hands to attend, and they had 
 refused, it would have placed us mutually in a wrong 
 position. I therefore consulted some of those that I 
 thought were well disposed, and they readily agreed.
 
 CHAP, xii.] SERVICES AT BOW CHURCHYARD. 177 
 
 For some time a good many attended, one of the older 
 men doing the duty. The numbers fluctuated. At times 
 there were very few ; at other times none at all ; and 
 at last the meeting for morning prayers almost expired. 
 
 " As I was determined with God's blessing to con- 
 tinue them, and as one of our young men had studied at 
 St. Bees for the ministry the Rev. Mr. Richardson l 
 and as I had got him a curacy at St. Andrew's, Black- 
 friars Road, I engaged him to attend to the morning 
 prayers at fifty guineas a year. I now considered it my 
 duty to insist upon all the apprentices regularly attend- 
 ing family worship." 
 
 The Rev- Mr. Richardson commenced his duties 
 as chaplain on the 28th of January, 1856. It was 
 announced that he had been one of the young men 
 employed on the establishment, as it was supposed that 
 this would have less the appearance of interference. 
 The attendance was voluntary, with the exception of 
 the apprentices. The service was at first commenced in 
 a small room, but it was soon found necessary to 
 enlarge the accommodation. The service consisted in 
 reading the Word of God, with a short exposition, and 
 prayers, all within a quarter of an hour. 
 
 That the service was successful, the following petition 
 of the employes will show: "The young men who 
 habitually attend morning prayer in the establishment 
 are desirous to see their numbers increased ; and in 
 order to secure this desirable object they beg to suggest 
 
 1 Mr. Richardson says, " My note of introduction to Mr. George Moore, 
 in January, 1850, at once secured me an appointment in the establishment 
 at Bow Churchyard. When I afterwards left and went to St. Bees, I 
 wrote to Mr. Moore in reference to an address made by Mr. Groucock to 
 the young men. Mr. Moore replied, ' I am glad to hear from you at St. 
 Bees, more particularly as it is to be hoped the Spirit of God has moved 
 you to a calling so sacred and responsible. . . I shall with great pleasure 
 take upon myself to present you with Dr. A. Clarke's Commentary on the 
 Bible, in Mr. Groucock's name.' " The Rev. Mr. Richardson is now vicar 
 of St. Benet's in the East. 
 
 8
 
 i?8 PROGRESS OF FAMILY WORSHIP. [CHAP. XH. 
 
 most respectfully to the firm that the hour of attendance 
 should be altered to eight o'clock, thereby affording an 
 opportunity to those who live .out of the house, and 
 others who would find it more convenient to attend at 
 that time than at a quarter to eight." 
 
 The privilege was at once conceded by the partners. 
 The attendance rapidly increased. The young men 
 began to take a special interest in the undertaking. 
 Many of them helped Mr. Richardson in his Ragged 
 and Sunday-schools. A young men's mutual improve- 
 ment society was started, as well as a Sunday-morning 
 Bible-class. The moral atmosphere of the place im- 
 proved, and yet Mr. Moore was not satisfied. " I may 
 here acknowledge," he says, in 1857, "that notwith- 
 standing all my anxiety to benefit them, I do not appear 
 to be able to do all the good that other people do. I 
 suppose it is a false delicacy on my part, perhaps a 
 want of moral courage. Yet, when I take the chair at 
 a lecture, which takes place as often as they like, I 
 generally take the opportunity of urging the young men 
 to pursue a godly, moral, and straightforward course in 
 life ; and they invariably receive my advice and admo- 
 nitions with the greatest kindness." 
 
 Besides the young men of the house, there were the 
 young women to be attended to. Mr. Moore had 
 great difficulty in getting them to attend family wor- 
 ship ; but with the same perseverance, he induced them 
 to attend Mr. Richardson's service. He also got the 
 City Missionary whom he had by this time appointed, 
 to conduct family worship to the workwomen in Milton 
 Street. Notwithstanding all his efforts, Mr. Moore 
 says : " I am ill at ease with what I have done. I have 
 fallen far short of my endeavours. I feel the great 
 responsibility that rests upon me. I wish them all to 
 feel that they have souls to be saved. We have great 
 mutual respect one for another. I always recollect that
 
 CHAP, xii.] PASTORAL DUTY IN CUMBERLAND. 179 
 
 I was a young man myself, and I might have been a 
 servant yet, but for God's help." 
 
 Referring afterwards to the progress made in the 
 attendance at family worship at Bow Churchyard, he 
 says, " The chaplain now reports most favourably of the 
 large attendance abprayers. He says that the seed he 
 is sowing will in due time produce good fruits. I 
 find that I have not got on so well with the young 
 women at our house in St. Andrew's Hill. Although 
 I have made many vigorous efforts to increase the 
 number of attendants, I must still persevere. If I 
 cannot drive them, I will do all in my power to lead 
 them. 
 
 " I can say without egotism that all the people in our 
 employ are perhaps better cared for in these respects, 
 than in any other establishment. There is a mutual 
 regard between the employers and the employed, which, 
 I think, is an example to the commercial world. We 
 seldom have a case of dishonesty or drunkenness. They 
 all attend places of worship, and I believe that a high 
 tone of morality prevails throughout the house." 
 
 At the same time that Mr. Moore was attending to 
 the spiritual improvement of the young men and women 
 in his employment in London, he was deeply impressed 
 with the idea of raising the spiritual standard of his 
 native county-people in Cumberland. Besides the schools 
 which he had built, and the competitive examinations 
 which he had provided for the benefit of the rising 
 generation, he felt that much had yet to be done for the 
 elevation of the adult population. As far back as 1850 
 he had thought and felt much about the ignorance pre- 
 vailing in the districts near which he was born. Many 
 of the inhabitants never went to church, and the clergy- 
 men were seldom seen within their doors. Pastoral 
 duty was almost unknown. There were some excep- 
 tions, especially where the clergymen had been appointed 
 
 N 2
 
 i8o MISSIONARIES IN CUMBERLAND. [CHAP. xii. 
 
 during recent years ; but as several of the parishes had 
 non-resident rectors, there were few to whom the parish- 
 ioners could turn for spiritual help. Much had been done 
 to awaken an interest in religion by Sir Wilfrid Lawson 
 of Brayton, who had organised evangelistic services in 
 his own neighbourhood. 
 
 Mr. Moore resolved at his own expense to appoint 
 a lay missionary for his native village of Mealsgate. 
 The County-town's Mission found an excellent man for 
 his purpose in John Heritage. George Moore thus 
 speaks of him and his labours : 
 
 " The people were so ignorant that it was to be ex- 
 pected he would meet with many rebuffs and even insults ; 
 but he was armed with the power of the Holy Spirit, and 
 visited them house by house. Had the people 'known 
 that I had been the means of sending him, they would 
 have abused me as they did him. Many wondered who 
 had sent him, and for a long time they believed that he 
 had come to get money out of them. At first no one 
 showed the poor man any sympathy except my brother. 
 Indeed he had not the countenance or support of a single 
 individual of standing. But in spite of many discourage- 
 ments, he laboured away faithfully, zealously, and honestly, 
 and some seeds that have been sown will doubtless bear 
 fruit. It filled my heart with gratitude to God to see 
 the Sunday-school at Quarryhill filled with children. In 
 the case of many of them, this was the only education 
 they received. Until this good man went amongst them, 
 they had never heard of a Saviour's name. Who can 
 tell the good that these poor children may do to their 
 ignorant parents ? I have always thought that a child 
 with knowledge is the best of missionaries in a poor 
 man's home. 
 
 " I was so much pleased at the success attending the 
 first missionary, that I next thought of Wigton, where I 
 had served my apprenticeship. The place was then in
 
 CHAP, xii.] MR. MOORE'S HELPERS IN CUMBERLAND. 181 
 
 a dark state. I asked help and advice from friends in 
 Carlisle, but they gave me little encouragement. My 
 partner, Mr. Groucock, had just died and left the Town 
 Mission Society $oo. They therefore made me a grant 
 of 20 for three years ; and with some further help from 
 Cumberland men residing in London I got another 
 missionary appointed. 
 
 " Emboldened by this success, I held a meeting of 
 three or four friends in Carlisle, and proposed that we 
 should establish a Scripture Reader in every market 
 town in the county. They thought I had gone mad ; 
 especially after hearing of the difficulties I had encoun- 
 tered at Mealsgate and Wigton. Some promises of help 
 were made at that meeting, but they were never fulfilled. 
 Still my motto, then and always, has been ' Never 
 despair.' I got the County-town's Mission to promise 
 me 20 the first year, provided I could get four more 
 missions established in as many places. The first kind 
 friend who came forward to my help was Thomas Scott 
 of Brent House, Penrith. The next was Mr. Wilson of 
 Broughton Grange, who in like manner promised to raise 
 the means for establishing a missionary at Maryport 
 and the collieries in the neighbourhood. The next was 
 Mr. Fisher of Woodhall, for Cockermouth. And the last 
 was Mr. Wilson, who promised the means for establish- 
 ing a missionary at Whitehaven. My friend John Grey 
 also established a Scripture Reader at Workington. 
 
 " Some time after, Peter James Dixon established a 
 missionary at Longtown. Thus we went forward until 
 I had got eight men at work. The Hesket Caldbeck 
 mining district was next thought of, and through the help 
 of Mr. Howard of Greystoke Castle, a missionary was 
 appointed. The excellent Bishop of Carlisle, Montague 
 Villiers, gave me his cordial sympathy and help. 
 
 " I must acknowledge," says Mr. Moore, " that God 
 raised up men to assist me in a marvellous manner I
 
 182 USES OF MISSIONARY HELP. [CHAP. xn. 
 
 never saw the direct working of God so manifest in any 
 work I ever undertook ; and I never knew a mission 
 more blessed in its result. The great point is to get the 
 right men in the right places, for unless a Scripture 
 Reader is steeled with the Spirit of God, he can be of 
 little use in his sacred calling. I have always kept them 
 well supplied with Mr. Ryle's and other tracts, and 
 monthly periodicals. I sent as many as twenty pounds' 
 worth of tracts at a time. I had the Band of Hope 
 Almanacs framed, and given to poor people, conditional 
 on their putting them up in place of the filthy and abomin- 
 able prints which hung about their rooms. Each mission 
 was supplied with a good library. The books were lent 
 very largely, and were instrumental in doing a great 
 deal of good." 
 
 Again, he says, with reference to the opposition which 
 he encountered " I am bound to say, although I do it 
 with sincere and heartfelt regret, that in establishing 
 these missionaries they were in many instances strenu- 
 ously opposed by the clergy. This was to me incom- 
 prehensible. In business we like to get men to do our 
 work well. If we be servants, we like to see our master's 
 work done well. Is not expounding the Word and 
 prayer doing the work of our Master ; and why should 
 not clergymen help Christ's servants in doing this work ? 
 I believe in my conscience that missionary work is the 
 best way of getting at the poor, the degraded, the out- 
 cast, and the drunkard. The missionary easily gets at 
 the people, face to face. The clergyman often only 
 preaches to them. He is not able to elicit their opinions, 
 or to get at their hearts. It is a melancholy fact, but 
 true, that the poor in this country are not a Church-going 
 people." 
 
 To return to Mr. Moore's personal affairs. Though 
 his house in Kensington Palace Gardens was finished and 
 occupied, it took a long time to furnish it properly. At
 
 CHAP, xii.] MRS. MOORE'S ILLNESS. 183 
 
 this time Mrs. Moore who had been long ailing, was 
 now very ill. She suffered greatly during her journey 
 from Shap Wells to London. She then took to bed, and 
 remained there for many months. 
 
 " Her dreams of happiness in her new house," says 
 Mr. Moore, "have been sadly marred by her severe 
 affliction. The great anxiety she went through during 
 its building and furnishing have not been repaid ; she 
 has ceased to enjoy these splendid rooms. Now it 
 appears like a wilderness. During my melancholy fore- 
 bodings of God's providence to us, I wonder what is 
 ordained for the future. What a blessing it is that the 
 future is unknown to us poor mortals ! . . . I have never 
 seen the use of hoarding up money. We may gather 
 riches, but can never know who is to spend them. God 
 preserve me against the sin of covetousness. It is a 
 curse that eats out the heart and dries up the soul of a 
 man." 
 
 Everything was done for the restoration of Mrs. 
 Moore's health. The best physicians and surgeons were 
 called in and consulted. They declared her to be 
 seriously ill. The anguish of her husband cannot be 
 described. He had served for her twice the length of 
 time that Jacob had served for Rachel, and now the 
 great sorrow of the world was to come upon him. She 
 was to be taken away, and he was to be left desolate. 
 Mr. Moore says : 
 
 " A few days after Sir Benjamin Brodie's opinion of 
 the helplessness of her state, my dear wife began to 
 settle her worldly affairs. She gave away all her jewellery 
 as keepsakes to her valued friends. Their letters of 
 thanks nearly broke my heart. She gave away every 
 article of her dress. She gave me a list of poor pen- 
 sioners that are to have quarterly allowances so long as 
 they live. She dictated and signed twenty letters that 
 are to be sent to some of my valued friends, with a copy
 
 184 PURCHASE OF WHITEHALL ESTATE. [CHAP. xii. 
 
 of my portrait. 1 She wrote down the names of friends 
 that are to receive a letter after she is gone to her rest. 
 She arranged the mourning and presents for our servants. 
 She had the names written down of the gentlemen who 
 are to attend her funeral. She left a book full ot memo- 
 randa to be carried out after her death. In fact, it is 
 more difficult to say what she has not arranged, than 
 what she has. One thing, however, she has not told 
 me, but it is written down for my guidance. It is that 
 I must place her remains where I wish my own to be 
 placed ; as it is her earnest wish that we should lie 
 together." 
 
 It so happened that Mr. Moore had just completed 
 the purchase of the Whitehall Estate in Cumberland. 
 It occupies the greater part of the parish of Allhallows, 
 Mealsgate, where Mr. Moore was born, is very near the 
 parish church. He had long desired to buy the estate, 
 and so soon as it was offered for sale, he purchased it. 
 He had now the place he most desired to possess in 
 Cumberland. Amongst other pleasant things in pros- 
 pect, he wished it to be the summer residence of his 
 wife ; but, alas ! it was now to be her tomb. A private 
 mausoleum in Allhallows Church belonged to the 
 estate ; and there the burial-place was prepared. 
 . Mrs. Moore died on the 4th December, 1858. Her 
 remains were conveyed to Cumberland. On arrival at 
 
 1 This is Mrs. Moore's last letter : " DEAR SIR, Some time ago a 
 number of gentlemen formed themselves into a committee and subscribed 
 a large sum, unknown to Mr. Moore, for the purpose of having his minia- 
 ture taken by the distinguished Cumberland artist Carrick, and presenting 
 it to me. It was very much against Mr. Moore's wishes, but having been 
 urgently solicited by myself and by the subscribers, he at last reluctantly con- 
 sented. The subscribers afterwards kindly presented me with several im- 
 pressions, and knowing the respect you bear to my husband, I have great 
 pleasure in presenting you with his portrait. With kind regards, believe 
 me, 
 
 "Dear Sir, yours truly, 
 
 "E. F. MOORK. 
 "Tug RBV. THOMAS RICHARDSON."
 
 CHAP, xn.] INTERMENT OF MRS. MOORE. 185 
 
 Carlisle, Mr. Moore slept in the Station Hotel. It 
 seemed strange to him, that while in his comfortable 
 bed, his dead wife should be laying cold in the railway 
 truck outside, within sight of the hotel windows. The 
 funeral party set out on the following morning, and 
 arrived at Leegate Station on the nth December. 
 
 When the body was lowered into its place at All- 
 hallows churchyard, Mr. Moore fairly broke down. 
 " The thought struck me," he afterwards said, " that my 
 poor corruptible body would be the next to lie in the 
 same place ; and I ejaculated a prayer that our spirits 
 might be again found in the region of bliss, where the 
 wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." 
 
 Mrs. Moore was long remembered in the neighbour- 
 hood by those who had experienced the blessings of her 
 bounty. She used to say that she took more pleasure 
 in administering to the wants of the poor than in visiting 
 the affluent and the wealthy. A splendid monument 
 was afterwards erected by Mr. Moore to her memory at 
 Wigton, in the shape of a memorial fountain. Mr. 
 Woolner was the sculptor, and Mr. Knowles the archi- 
 tect. The general design is that of an obelisk, imposed 
 upon a massive pedestal of polished granite. The height 
 of the whole is about thirty-two feet. The four bas- 
 reliefs, executed by Mr. Woolner, are in his finest style. 
 They are inscribed on each side of the square block of 
 granite, eight tons in weight, forming the die of the 
 pedestal. The subjects are, Feeding the Hungry, 
 Clothing the Naked, Comforting the Afflicted, and In- 
 structing the Ignorant, The water fountain which 
 forms part of the monument, is skilfully worked into 
 the design. The architecture of the memorial almost 
 puts to shame the humble shops and dwellings by which 
 it is surrounded. It is situated at the end of the street 
 in which Messenger's shop is situated, where George 
 Moore served his apprenticeship.
 
 r86 ORGAN PRESENTED TO WIGTON CHURCH. [CM. xil. 
 
 In the month following Mrs. Moore's death, Mr. Moore 
 presented an organ to the parish church of Wigton. It 
 was opened on the 26th of January by the organist of 
 Carlisle Cathedral. The full cathedral choir assisted on 
 the occasion. The Bishop of Carlisle preached in the 
 morning, and the Rev. Mr. Simpson of Carlisle in the 
 evening. The shops and places of business were closed 
 as a compliment to Mr. Moore, and the church was 
 crowded at both services. The organ bears the follow- 
 ing inscription : 
 
 " In gratitude to Almighty God, and in remembrance 
 of early days, this organ is presented to the parish 
 church of Wigton (the town where he served his ap- 
 prenticeship) by George Moore, A.D, 1859."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 ITALY PHILANTHROPIC WORK IN LONDON. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE had lost what was dearest to him on 
 earth. He had lost her who had been his helper in 
 youth and his companion in riper years, who had 
 watched over his success and enjoyed his prosperity. 
 His first thought was, that he was left solitary and 
 alone in the world. He felt as if he could have no 
 further joy in life. He prayed for spiritual help and 
 spiritual comfort. A fortnight after Mrs. Moore's death 
 he writes in his diary : " I feel that God's grace is 
 giving me more power daily to sustain my drooping 
 Spirits. I do not wish to refrain from sorrow, or hide 
 realities from myself. I do not wish tribulation to 
 work insensibility, but I want patience and patience 
 not forgetfulness, but experience not unconcern, 
 but hope." 
 
 His old malady, sleeplessness, came back. He got 
 up in the morning between four and five, lit his own 
 fire (not wishing to disturb the servants), and read and 
 wrote. This threatened again to injure his health. His 
 medical advisers ordered him to leave home and busi- 
 ness for a time, and take recreation in a foreign tour- 
 At length he determined to visit Italy in company 
 with Alderman Sidney and young Mr. Copestake. 
 The last thing he did before leaving London was to
 
 1 88 JOURNEY TO ITALY. [CHAP. xm. 
 
 visit the Royal Free Hospital, in Gray's Inn Lane. 
 He was then the chairman of the board of manage- 
 ment. 
 
 The party started on the 3Oth of December, and 
 reached Paris on the following day. . . " I could have 
 wept," says Mr. Moore, " at my lonely position." But 
 time works wonders. New sights and new scenes, day 
 by day, occupied his attention. At Lyons, he called 
 upon Mr. Milsom, silk merchant, a gentleman who had 
 for many years devoted himself to the maintenance of 
 the Vaudois churches, more particularly those situated 
 in the high Alps of Dauphiny. After an interesting 
 conversation with Mr. Milsom, during which Mr. Moore 
 gave him some help for the poor Vaudois, the party left 
 for Avignon, Aries, and Marseilles, where they first saw 
 the Mediterranean, sleeping under its deep blue sky. 
 Touching at Cannes, Mr. Moore called upon his old 
 friend Lord Brougham, who gave him a hearty wel- 
 come. Lord Brougham riveted him by his conver- 
 sation for an hour ; asked about the progress of the 
 competitive examinations at one of which he had 
 delivered the prizes and sent him off full of en- 
 couragement. 
 
 At Nice he visited Count Guichiardini, who explained 
 to him the improvements which he had made in the read- 
 ing of the Scriptures at Florence, and the great progress 
 which Italian Protestantism was making throughout 
 Italy. Mr. Moore afterwards called upon his customers 
 at Nice, and found them " a seedy lot." By way of 
 Spezzia and Carrara, he reached Florence, and there 
 he had " a delightful conversation " with the Rev. W. 
 Gordon as to the progress of the Italian and Vaudois 
 churches. 
 
 The party reached Siena. There they heard that 
 the brigands were out. Tb^y had attempted a robbery 
 during the previous n : g' t. " \Ve may thank our stars,"
 
 CHAP, xin.] ARRIVAL AT ROME. 18; 
 
 says Mr. Moore, " that we have escaped. We started 
 early and ascended a steep hill. At the top we had 
 a splendid view. Shortly after descending the hill on 
 the other side, we entered the Campagna of Rome. 
 When we first saw St. Peter's we gave three cheers. 
 We reached the long-wished-for Rome late in the 
 evening." 
 
 Rome is a city past description. The very word of 
 Rome is a mighty name. What processions of nations 
 it has seen ! Consuls, emperors, and popes have 
 governed it. Generation after generation have left 
 their marks there triumphal arches, palaces, baths, 
 forums, theatres, and above all the Coliseum. " I was 
 quite amazed, bewildered, and astonished with Rome," 
 says Mr. Moore, " it is an almost incredible city. I 
 was reminded of the early apostolic times. In one 
 place I saw where St. Paul's hand had been chopped 
 off; in another where he had been suspended and 
 tortured, head downwards ; and in another where his 
 body lay." 
 
 " Ah ! little thought I, when in school I sat, 
 A schoolboy on his bench at early dawn, 
 Glowing with Roman story, I should live 
 To tread the Appian. . . or to turn 
 Tow'rds Tiber. . . or to climb the Palatine." 
 
 So says Rogers. Mr. Moore was wholly absorbed 
 by the sight of the Roman remains. He had the 
 honour of being accompanied through the city by 
 Monseigneur Howard, one of the handsomest and 
 courtliest of men. He pointed out the most wonder- 
 ful things in Rome, and gave him an entree to the 
 best society. Mr. Moore visited the Pope's gardens; 
 ascended the dome of St. Peter's; attended St. Peter's 
 at the Festival of the Purification of the Virgin ; saw 
 High Mass at the Church of the Jesuits, when all the 
 Cardinals in Rome were present; witnessed the Car-
 
 190 PROPOSED MEMBER FOR NOTTINGHAM. [CHAP. xin. 
 
 nival ; saw St. Peter's and the Vatican by torchlight, 
 and the Coliseum by moonlight the Coliseum, the 
 monarch of all views, desolate within, but glorious 
 without. 
 
 The tour included a journey to Naples by the Pon- 
 tine Marshes, the ascent of Mount Vesuvius, a visit 
 to Pompeii and Herculaneum, and a voyage to Capri. 
 After returning to Rome the party separated. Mr. 
 Moore set sail for Marseilles and arrived in London 
 on the 2$th of March, having been absent for about 
 three months. His health was greatly improved, and 
 he was again ready for work. 
 
 On his return to London George Moore found two 
 letters and a telegram inviting him to stand for Notting- 
 ham. Mr. Walter intended to retire and offer himself 
 for Berks. The Liberal electors of Nottingham ac- 
 cordingly met to arrange for their next representative. 
 Four gentlemen were put to the meeting, and on a 
 show of hands being taken for each, the choice fell 
 upon George Moore. His name was again put to the 
 meeting, and he was unanimously selected. On the 
 message reaching him, he was greatly disconcerted. 
 He had many other things to attend to, which had been 
 neglected during his absence. We give his own words : 
 
 " I am sorely perplexed about Nottingham. Every 
 one urges me to accept it. If I am to be a member 
 of Parliament, this appears to be the time and the 
 opportunity. But I feel that my abilities are not 
 equal to the task. My education is deficient." At 
 length he enters these words : " I decline standing 
 for Nottingham, though I am almost certain of being 
 returned. My objections are : 
 
 " i. That my education is not equal to the position ; 
 and I have a great dislike of public speaking. 
 
 " 2. That I can do much more good in other ways 
 than by representing Nottingham in Parliament
 
 CHAP, xiii.] RETURN TO LABOURS OF LOVE. 191 
 
 "3. That it would keep me more and more from 
 serving God and reading my Bible." 
 
 In his letter to the Nottingham committee he advised 
 them to decide upon electing Mr. Samuel Morley. On 
 the day after his refusal he enters in his diary, " I have 
 been severely condemned to-day about Nottingham. 
 Certainly such a chance will never occur again. But I 
 have a higher motive than mere ambition. Worldly 
 honours are golden fetters for the soul." 
 
 Mr. Moore returned to his labours of love. He was 
 at this time Treasurer to the Cumberland Benevolent 
 Society, Treasurer to the Commercial Travellers' Schools, 
 Trustee to the Warehousemen's and Clerks' Schools, 
 Trustee to the Cord wain ers' and Bread Street Ward 
 Schools, Trustee to Nicholson's Charity, Governor and 
 Almoner of Christ's Hospital, Trustee to the Penny 
 Bank in Milton Street, Chairman and Trustee of the 
 Young Men's Christian Association in Marlborough 
 Street, Chairman of the General Committee of the 
 Royal Free Hospital, Trustee of the Metropolitan 
 Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Associa- 
 tion, Member of the Board of Management of the 
 Royal Hospital for Incurables, Trustee of St. Mat- 
 thew's Church, St. George's in the East ; and also 
 trustee or chairman of the various institutions in 
 Cumberland to which we have already referred. 
 
 On the same day in which Mr. Moore declined to 
 stand for Nottingham, he attended a dinner of the 
 Royal Hospital for Incurables, an institution in which 
 he had taken a great interest. His position as member 
 of the board was not without some disagreeable re- 
 sults. On the 3Oth of July, 1859, he writes in his 
 diary, "I attended a meeting of the board, and pre- 
 vented a quarrel about the proposed site for the 
 building." The site was afterwards a source of great 
 discord. The founder of the institution desired that
 
 192 THE ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR INCURABLES. [CHAP. xin. 
 
 the permanent building should be erected at Coulsden, 
 on the side of a bleak hill. Mr. Moore went to see 
 the place, and was not at all satisfied with it It was 
 not, he thought, fitted for the residence of incurable 
 patients. 
 
 He also found that the estate was without water. He 
 sent his private secretary to the place to bring him two 
 bottles of water, one from the valley underneath the 
 estate, and another from the opposite hill, for the pur- 
 pose of being analysed. The result of his inquiries 
 was, that Coulsden was not the site for an hospital for 
 incurables. He stated his opinion without reserve at 
 the board. A majority of the directors were of the 
 same opinion. The minority determined to appeal to 
 the subscribers ; and a meeting was held at the London 
 Tavern for determining the site. The following is from 
 Mr. Moore's diary : 
 
 " A most exciting meeting at the London Tavern. 
 The room was packed with two hundred ten-and- 
 sixpenny votes, just purchased. They swamped the 
 majority of the board. They will now build at 
 Coulsden. 1 As I have conscientious objections to 
 that place, I retired from the Royal Hospital." 
 
 Mr. James Peek, Lord Raynham, and others left 
 with him. They were not, however, disposed to relax 
 in their efforts to provide a permanent home for the 
 incurables. They took immediate steps to raise another 
 home, for which there was abundant room. After can- 
 vassing their friends for subscriptions, they held a meet- 
 ing at the Mansion House. The following is again from 
 Moore's diary, 2oth July, 1861 : 
 
 " I have exercised the talent God has given me at the 
 
 1 After all, the Royal Home was not built at Coulsden. After Dr. 
 Reed's death, Melrose Hall, Putney Heath, was purchased, and has since 
 been largely extended. It is a most valuable institution. At his death 
 Mr. Moore left it a legacy of two thousand pounds, and the directors have 
 set apart a portion of the building as " George Moore's Ward."
 
 CHAP, xiii.] THE BRITISH HOME FOR INCURABLES. 193 
 
 Mansion House to-day. I made a forcible speech in 
 seconding a resolution to form the British Home for 
 Incurables. I felt in earnest, and God gave me words. 
 I hope He will prosper this undertaking." 
 
 A large sum of money was collected, and numerous 
 annual subscribers were obtained. The British Home 
 for Incurables was then started at Clapham Rise. Mr. 
 Moore was appointed treasurer. Mr. Peek says of his 
 efforts : " He took a very active part in the institution, 
 and adhered firmly to it to the end of his days, lending 
 both his purse and his personal efforts to its success." 
 Thus two homes for incurables were established, both 
 of which continue to help the sick and unfortunate, and 
 to extend the blessings of mercy and charity to those 
 who cannot in any respect help themselves. 1 
 
 Mr. Moore was fully occupied with many other things 
 after his return from the Continent. He worked for 
 others more than for himself. He rose early, and after 
 a ride on his favourite horse Zouave, he frequently went 
 to Bow Churchyard to join his young men at family 
 worship. It did his heart good, he often says, to see 
 the numbers that were present. The young people 
 were cheered by his attendance. They saw that he was 
 in earnest. In the forenoon he had his business to 
 attend to, letters to write, and orders to give. But he 
 was often drawn away from his business by other things. 
 His partners, he often says, were the best of men, and 
 
 1 The secretary to the institution informs us that the British Home for 
 Incurables has been a great success. " Since November, 1861, there have 
 been elected to the benefit of the Home 124 in-patients ; and 270 pensioners 
 of 20 a year have also been elected. I remember on one occasion, a few 
 years ago, when Mr. Moore was in Cumberland, I wrote to him asking 
 him to accept the office of steward at the festival dinner. By return of 
 post I received one of his characteristically concise notes, which usually 
 came to the point at once, saying that if I would persuade nine other 
 gentlemen to give a hundred pounds, he would give the tenth. I am happy 
 to say that the work was accomplished, though without such an incentive I 
 should never have got together in the short space of six weeks so large a 
 sum from so limited a number of gentlemen," 
 
 O
 
 194 BEGGING EXPEDITIONS. [CHAP. xni. 
 
 never interfered with his doings. He could easily add 
 an hour or two to his day's work. 
 
 Whether in town or country, whether in sorrow or in 
 joy, he was perpetually at work. When a society or 
 institution was getting short of funds, the promoters 
 endeavoured to enlist him. He was not so much inter- 
 ested in the affairs of the institutions that were thriving, 
 as about the institutions that were failing and going 
 down for want of funds. Everybody concerned in 
 charitable institutions in London knew that Mr. Moore 
 was one of the most indefatigable of beggars. 
 
 Yes, a great deal of the charitable work of London 
 is done by begging. The bulk of men are so busily 
 engaged in money-making that they have no time to 
 think of anything or anybody else. They enter the 
 City in the morning ; they are engaged in business all 
 day ; and they leave it in the evening for their pleasant 
 home in the country, little thinking of the wretched, 
 forlorn, neglected thousands, who suffer tke blackest 
 bitterness of poverty in the richest city in the world. 
 
 For nearly twenty years of his life, George Moore, 
 went round amongst his friends, and amongst many 
 who were not his friends, and implored them for money 
 on behalf of the charitable institutions of London. 
 With his friends he was often very abrupt. When he 
 entered their offices they knew what he was about. 
 They saw it in his face. " What is it now, Mr. Moore?" 
 " Well, I am on a begging expedition." " Oh, I know 
 that very well. What is it?" "It's for the Royal 
 Free Hospital an hospital free to all, without any 
 letters of recommendation. I want twenty guineas." 
 " It's a large sum." Well, it's the sum I have set down 
 for you to give. You must help me. Look sharp!" 
 The cheque was got, and away he started on a fresh 
 expedition. 
 
 But he often visited those who were not his friends,
 
 CHAP, xiii.] ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL. 195 
 
 men rolling in wealth, but who had never subscribed a 
 farthing to any charitable institution men of a single 
 idea, Money, and how to make the most of it, men 
 bound up in selfishness and utterly regardless of the 
 misery of their fellow-creatures. On such occasions 
 George Moore was met with rebuff after rebuff. This 
 sickened him for the day ; and he went home tired of 
 his work. But he returned to his begging next day, 
 until he had made up the sum that he wanted. " I 
 must not be discouraged," he' said ; " I am doing Christ's 
 work." 
 
 The Royal Free Hospital, to which attention has been 
 called, was founded in this way. In the winter of 1827 
 a wretched girl, under eighteen years of age, was seen 
 lying on the steps of St. Andrew's Churchyard, Holborn 
 Hill, after midnight, actually perishing from disease and 
 famine. All the hospitals were closed against her, 
 because at that time letters of recommendation were 
 required before patients could be admitted to the public 
 hospitals, and then only on certain specified days. The 
 girl died two days after, unrecognised by any human 
 being. This distressing event being witnessed by the 
 late Mr. W. Marsden, surgeon, he at once set about 
 founding a medical charity, in which destitution and 
 disease should alone be the passport for obtaining free 
 and instant relief. On this principle the Free Hospital 
 was established in 1828. Look at me: I am sick, 1 
 am poor, I am helpless, I am forlorn ! Such were the 
 patient's credentials. 
 
 When the cholera broke out in 1832, the Free 
 Hospital threw open its doors to all persons afflicted 
 with that dreadful malady, notwithstanding that the 
 other hospitals had closed their doors against them. Her 
 Majesty the Queen became its patron, and commanded 
 that in future it should be called the Royal Free 
 Hospital. It struggled on from year to year. It had 
 
 O 2
 
 196 ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL. [CHAP. xill. 
 
 great difficulties to contend with, the greatest of which 
 was its want of funds. It was in this state when George 
 Moore took it up. 
 
 " I joined it," he says, "at the urgent request of my 
 late dear friend Dr. Rice of Christ's Hospital, simply 
 because it was in difficulties. I have continued to stick 
 to it because it is free to all who are poor and destitute, 
 without any order of admittance. I am sure that this 
 hospital is less abused than any other in London, as 
 every applicant undergoes a strict ordeal of inquiry into 
 his circumstances and position ; whereas at other hos- 
 pitals the orders from governors get sadly abused, and 
 many people who are able to pay get their medical 
 attendance for nothing ; the tendency of this arrange- 
 ment being to pauperise the population. 
 
 " The Royal Free has struggled hard, and yet has 
 done immense good. On Christmas Day, 1856, I 
 resolved, after going over it, to raise a thousand guineas 
 for the hospital on the following conditions : That I 
 would give a hundred guineas, and my partner, Mr. 
 Copestake, another, provided the committee would find 
 the remainder. The proposition failed. The committee 
 could not find the eight hundred guineas. I then deter- 
 mined in June that I would raise the money myself. I 
 made my subscription two hundred, and I personally 
 begged for the remainder. With Mr. Copestake's sub- 
 scription, it made eleven hundred guineas. I have often 
 said that faith without works is dead. If the Royal 
 Free is to remain ready with eight beds unoccupied for 
 want of funds, it is an everlasting disgrace to this 
 wealthy London. I cannot conceive any excuse that 
 the most niggardly miser can have for not giving his 
 money to an hospital like this." 
 
 This, however, was only the beginning of Mr. Moore's 
 work for the hospital. It was the last institution that 
 he had visited before setting out for the Continent. It
 
 CHA?. Xlii.] BEGGING FOR THE ROYAL FREE. 197 
 
 was one of the first that he took up on his return. A 
 few days after, he took the chair at the quarterly 
 meeting. He writes in his diary on the i8th April, 
 1859, " Had a hard day's begging for the Royal Free 
 Hospital, with Mr. Nicholson " (the secretary). In the 
 following May, Lord Carlisle, at his request, took the 
 chair at the annual dinner, when a large sum was 
 obtained. He induced the Fishmongers' Company to 
 vote a grant of a hundred pounds, and ten pounds 
 annually to the hospital. Indeed the Fishmongers' 
 Company bled very considerably in support of the 
 charities with which Mr. Moore was connected during 
 the time that he was on the court. 
 
 To pass on to the close of Mr. Moore's connection 
 with the hospital. In 1863 he resolved that the free- 
 hold of the land should be purchased; for the large 
 ground rent, as well as the interest on the mortgage, 
 were a heavy annual charge upon the funds. A special 
 appeal was made, and George Moore set \o work to 
 beg the requisite money. In working for the purchase, 
 he used to say that he wore off the soles of a pair of 
 boots. On the /th of April he says, " I am persevering 
 to get the money to buy the freehold of the Royal 
 Free. Morrisons have sent me a hundred pounds. If 
 I did not think it Christ's work, I should not submit to 
 the unpleasant duty of begging." And again, on the 
 I /th, he says, " Had a long day canvassing for money 
 for the Royal Free. I think that few men would take 
 the trouble and unpleasant office of begging money 
 that I do." On the 24th he says, " Canvassed the 
 west-end bankers for the Royal Free. I am worrying 
 myself every day about it." On the 1st of May he 
 says, " I have collected myself ^"4,300 for buying the 
 freehold of the hospital, and obtained about four hun- 
 dred annual subscribers." On the 6th of May Charles 
 Dickens took the chair, when the result of the appeal
 
 igS BRITISH ORPHAN ASYLUM. [CHAP. xni. 
 
 was made known, and an additional large subscription 
 was obtained. After this the Royal Free Hospital got 
 into comparatively easy circumstances, and it is now 
 one of the most valuable institutions in the metropolis. 1 
 Mr. Moore's usual practice in helping any insti- 
 tution that was in difficulties, was to set out with his 
 own liberal subscription, and then to ask others to give 
 the same amount ; or he would offer a subscription 
 towards raising a certain sum, provided the remaining 
 subscriptions could be obtained from others. For in- 
 stance, when he heard that the British Orphan Asylum 
 was languishing, and that there were fifty or sixty 
 orphan children wanting admission of whom the 
 governors could only elect four he wrote to an ener- 
 getic friend on the committee, proposing to give a 
 hundred guineas, provided nine others would do the 
 same. The members were thus roused to exertion. 
 They did not like to lose Mr. Moore's offer, and they 
 set to work to raise the remaining sum. At the end 
 of four months Mr. Moore's energetic friend called upon 
 him with his list made up. "Thus," he says, "by 
 making a hard bargain, a thousand guineas was raised 
 for the institution." 
 
 1 In the report of the hospital for 1877 it is stated : " In the year 1863, 
 mainly through the zealous exertions and personal influence of the late 
 George Moore, Esq. (then chairman of the committee), the freehold of the 
 hospital was purchased from the Right Hon. Lord Calthorpe, at a cost, 
 inclusive of incidental charges, of .5,265 los. yd., the whole of which sum 
 having been raised by a special appeal, the property of the hospital, dis- 
 encumbered of interest on mortgage, and of annual rental, was vested in 
 trustees. " In another passage, the following words occur : ' ' Mr. Moore 
 for many years filled the office of chairman of the general committee, and 
 he was an active member of the committee and of the weekly board, as 
 well as one of the trustees of the hospital. It was whilst filling the office 
 of chairman of the committee, in 1863, that Mr. Moore suggested the 
 expediency of raising funds for the purchase of the freehold of the hospital ; 
 and, as many of the governors of the hospital are aware, it was mainly 
 owing to his zealous exertions and personal influence that this important 
 work was accomplished. Mr. Moore's liberality towards the charity did 
 not cease with his life ; for he bequeathed a legacy of ^3 ooo to the hospital, 
 which is directed by his will to be applied in some way that may yield a 
 permanent benefit to the institution."
 
 CHAP xni.] LONDON PORTERS' BENEVOLENT. 199 
 
 In this way he induced others to take part in his 
 begging for money. There were, however, many cases 
 in which he alone could do the work. For instance, the 
 London Porters' Benevolent Institution had for the most 
 part originated through his influence ; and after he had 
 taken the chair at the London Tavern to inaugurate it, 
 he felt bound in honour to see it established, and free 
 from its difficulties. Thus we find him, shortly after his 
 return from the Continent, canvassing the large houses 
 for the Porters' Benevolent Association. He got about 
 600. A few days later he says, " I canvassed the 
 city for the Porters' Benevolent Association. Got Mr. 
 Walker and Mr. Morley to finish the wholesale houses;" 
 and two days afterwards, he adds, " I concluded the 
 canvass for the porters." 
 
 Mr. Moore also took a great interest in the Ware- 
 housemen's and Clerks' Schools. In fact, this insti- 
 tution, like the Porters' Benevolent, was started in his 
 warehouse. The subject was mooted by Mr. Richard 
 White as early as December, 1853. His object was to 
 have a school for the orphan children of the warehouse- 
 men and clerks, such as the Commercial Travellers had 
 at Pinner. Mr. White enlisted the sympathies of the 
 young men in the house, and the influence thus created 
 extended to the other houses in the city. Funds were 
 gradually collected. Some of the wholesale houses 
 gave handsome subscriptions. Mr. White was made 
 deputy-chairman of the board. In 1854 six children 
 were selected for maintenance and education. The 
 number gradually increased as the funds increased, until 
 now it supports about 250 children yearly. 
 
 Although Mr. Moore helped the institution liberally, 
 and cheered it on through every difficulty, when he 
 found that it had got into safe hands into those of Mr. 
 Leaf and Mr. Morley he abstained from the active 
 r.:anagement of its affairs. He let well alone. He
 
 200 DICKENS AND COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS. ICHAP. xm. 
 
 visited and examined the schools. He attended the 
 private and public meetings of the institution, and 
 helped in it in all ways, by speeches and contributions. 
 On the 3<Dth November, 1859, he enters in his diary, "I 
 attended the Warehousemen's and Clerks' Schools for 
 five and a half hours. Made a speech which prevented 
 me from sleeping. The money announced for the 
 building is 6,000. He refused to take the chair at 
 one of the annual dinners, " because," he said, " if I 
 accept the invitation, I shall be called upon to take the 
 chair at all sorts of charitable institutions. I am not fit 
 to undergo the speaking, or to endure the sleepless 
 nights that follow the dinners." 
 
 Of all the orphan schools with which he was con- 
 nected, the Commercial Travellers' was his first love, as 
 it continued to be his last. Whenever he had an after- 
 noon to spare, he went down to Pinner to visit the boys 
 and girls. He took with him many distinguished friends : 
 the Bishops of Carlisle, Durham, Ripon, and London, 
 amongst others. Charles Dickens took great interest in 
 them. He was twice the chairman of the anniversary 
 dinners once in 1853, and again in 1859.* Mr. Dickens 
 was an excellent chairman. His speeches were graphic 
 and eloquent, and they were always well reported. This 
 tended to give a considerable impetus to the institution. 
 All the influences which Mr. Moore could exercise were 
 employed for the benefit of the Commercial Travellers' 
 orphans. 
 
 1 On this occasion Mr. Moore sent out four hundred letters, signed by 
 himself, urging his friends to attend and support the institution by their 
 subscriptions. The following is Mr. Dickens's letter in answer to Mr. 
 Moore's invitation to take the chair: " MY DEAR MR. MOORE, My 
 public engagements are so numerous, and I am so much occupied, that I 
 believe nothing less than your note would have induced me to undertake a 
 chairmanship. But I have a great respect for you, and I know what a good 
 and well-ordered society that is in whose behalf you exert yourself. So I 
 am at its (and your) disposal for the next dinner; but I have to stipulate 
 that it must not take place on the 23rd December or on the 1st of January. 
 Ever faithfully yours ; CHARLES DICKENS."
 
 CHAP. :;in.] A CLOSE EYE TO SUBSCRIPTIONS. 201 
 
 A circumstance may be mentioned in proof of this. 
 He had at one time been a director of the National 
 Mercantile Assurance Company. As it required too 
 much of his time, without any corresponding beneficial 
 result, he gave up the directorship, but afterwards 
 became a trustee. At an early period in the history of 
 the company, it had been arranged in the trust deed 
 that, on account of the large amount of business 
 brought in by the commercial travellers, one-sixteenth 
 of the profits should be given over to the Commercial 
 Travellers' Schools. Mr. Jenkin Jones, the manager, 
 finding that, in course of time, this sixteenth migh^ 
 amount to a very large sum, insisted (after Mr. Moore 
 had given up his directorship) upon its being converted 
 into a subscription of a hundred guineas annually. This 
 was agreed to. 
 
 Shortly after, the manager made arrangements to 
 transfer the business of the office to the Eagle Insur- 
 ance Company. Mr. Jones made very good terms for 
 himself, but not for others. It was found that he 
 had not informed the Eagle of the hundred guineas 
 annual subscription to the Commercial Travellers' 
 Schools. On ascertaining this, Mr. Moore at once 
 called upon Mr. Jellicoe, the manager of the Eagle, 
 and informed him, that as trustee, he would, unless 
 the subscription were continued, "stop the amalga- 
 mation." Mr. Jellicoe at once saw the justice of 
 the arrangement, and the annual subscription was 
 continued. 
 
 It would be impossible to give an account, in detail, 
 of the enormous amount of work that Mr. Moore 
 accomplished during this part of his life. Scarcely a 
 day passed during which his time was not fully occu- 
 pied, with business, with correspondence, with inter- 
 views, with beggings for charities. He went from 
 one meeting to another ; from an orphan charity school
 
 202 HARD WORK AMONG THE POOR. [CHAP. xm. 
 
 to an hospital ; from a bible society meeting to a 
 ragged school tea ; from a young men's Christian 
 association to a working man's institute. 
 
 He attended to the wants of the poor in his own 
 locality. There was a very wretched district at that 
 time in Kensington, since swept away to make room 
 for Baron Grant's house and grounds, to which he 
 devoted a good deal of his attention. Mrs. Bayley, 
 the author of Ragged Homes, and How to Mend Them, 
 had established day and Sunday-schools and mothers' 
 meetings in this poor neighbourhood, and she worked 
 hard to improve the people. Mr. Moore was always 
 ready to help her with his pen, his presence, and his 
 purse. He often took the chair at the tea-meetings of 
 the Ragged School, and spoke to the poor people from 
 his heart. 
 
 Mr. Moore also supported the Working Men's In- 
 stitute at Kensington, started by Mrs. Bayley. He 
 took the chair at the first meeting, and made a long 
 speech. The institution still thrives. Though it was 
 " a pill to take the chair " on any occasion, he was 
 repeatedly called upon to preside at Bible-Society meet- 
 ings, at Ragged-school meetings, and at meetings of 
 young men's Christian associations in Exeter Hall and 
 at Marlborough Street. 
 
 From these works he was occasionally called away 
 by political or social movements. On the 2/th of June 
 he seconded Lord John Russell's nomination for the 
 City ; after which Lord John, the Lord Mayor, and 
 a large party lunched with him at Bow Churchyard. 
 His connection with politics induced his friends to 
 urge upon him to represent some constituency in parlia- 
 ment. His friend Mr. Hanbury asked him, in 1861, 
 if he would stand for Marylebone ? " No," he replied, 
 " I can make better use of my time than that. There 
 are many abler persons than myself willing and
 
 CHAP, xni.] FINDS SITUATIONS FOR YOUNG MEN. 203 
 
 anxious to enter parliament ; but how few there are 
 who are willing to help the ragged and orphan children ? 
 That is my work. No, no, let me remain as I am." 
 
 But again he was requested to represent a consti- 
 tuency in parliament, and this time it was the highest 
 constituency in England the City of London. His 
 answer was the same as before. He declined the honour 
 with much respect. " I do not think," he says, " that 
 I have either the brains or the education required to 
 represent the City. Indeed, I had no idea that I 
 should be considered strong enough for the place." 
 
 Another characteristic of George Moore may here 
 be mentioned. He was the constant resort of young 
 men wanting situations. If he could not provide for 
 them in his own warehouse, he endeavoured to find 
 situations for them amongst his friends. He took no 
 end of trouble about this business. After his young 
 friends had obtained situations, he continued to look 
 after them. He took down their names and addresses 
 in a special red book, kept for the purpose, and re- 
 peatedly asked them to dine with him on Sunday 
 afternoons. He usually requested that they should 
 go to some church or chapel in the evening. We 
 find repeated entries in his diary to the following 
 effect : 
 
 "Dined twenty-two of the boys that I had got 
 situations for ; besides the people that were staying 
 in the house. I never forget that I had no one to 
 invite me to their homes when I first came to London." 
 
 He used to give these yovng men good advice. He 
 told them that he would never forget them. And he 
 held out to them the importance of conducting them- 
 selves well in the situations that he had obtained for 
 them. They must do it, he said, for their own honour 
 as well as for his.
 
 204 LETTER FROM A CARLISLE DRAPER. [CHAP. xin. 
 
 It was, no doubt, well for these young fellows to 
 know that they were not left alone in London ; but 
 that there was a good man at their back, who was 
 ready to justify them and encourage them in all that 
 was right and excellent. 
 
 The following letter represents George Moore's kindly 
 disposition towards young men. It came to the author 
 of this book quite unsolicited. The writer of the letter 
 had heard that a memoir was in course of preparation, 
 and he desired to bear his testimony to the goodness 
 of George Moore. 
 
 " When I went to London, I had some difficulty in 
 obtaining a situation. I then applied to Mr. Moore, 
 who had already received a letter as to my character. 
 He told me that there were more hands in his own 
 place than he had work for ; ' but,' said he, ' keep up 
 your spirits, and I'll get you a place.' Accordingly he 
 wrote for me a letter of recommendation to a draper 
 at Blackheath. He said, on giving it to me, ' If you 
 do not succeed, come to me again, and I will give you 
 a letter until you get a place.' He asked me how 
 much money I had. I told him I had just received a 
 post-office order for three pounds. He said, ' You can 
 have the loan of two or three pounds now, or come to 
 me when you have finished your three pounds.' He 
 next asked if I had dined. I answered ' Yes. ' ' Well,' 
 said he, ' Cumberland lads can always take two dinners ; 
 follow me.' He led the way through the warehouse 
 to a private room, where I dined again. When leaving 
 me, he said, ' Any time you are passing, come in and 
 dine with the young men, lots of whom I am sure you 
 must know. ' I remember his words well, for they were 
 the only kind words spoken to me while I was seeking 
 for a situation in London." 
 
 It may be added that the letter of recommendation
 
 CHAP, xiii.] KINDNESS TO YOUNG MEN. 205 
 
 which Mr. Moore wrote to the draper at Blackheath 
 immediately secured an appointment for the young 
 man. Many years have passed since then, and the 
 writer of the above letter is now a v prosperous man 
 in the city of Carlisle.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 LONDONERS OVER THE BORDER. 
 
 IN the beginning of 1856, Mr. Dickens called attention 
 in his Household Words to the rapidly increasing popu- 
 lation in the neighbourhood of the Victoria Docks, 
 situated at the easternmost end of London. The 
 district being separated from London itself by the 
 East India Docks and the River Lea, Mr. Dickens 
 designated the district as " London over the Border." 
 
 The population consisted of an agglomeration of the 
 refuse of London. They were the sediment or dregs 
 of the great city. They had been pushed eastward 
 by the vast mass of struggling life in London, across 
 the River Lea, into the Essex marshes. The navvies 
 and labourers went first, to excavate the docks and 
 build the quay walls. Warehouses and manufactories 
 followed, with a teeming mass of miserable people, 
 willing to work at anything, so that they could but 
 earn a scanty pittance to live upon. They lived by 
 the manufacture of vitriol, of patent manure, and of 
 other foul-smelling productions, which the health-loving 
 city had driven away by nuisance-laws beyond the Lea 
 to the untenanted Essex marshes. 
 
 When the docks and warehouses had been finished 
 houses were erected for the occupation of the inhabit- 
 ants. Everybody knows what London contract cottages
 
 CHAT, xiv.] EAST LONDON POOR. 207 
 
 are. They are erected by the hundred, of the worst 
 and cheapest materials, of mud scraped from the 
 streets and burnt into brick, of half-rotten wood put 
 together in the most slovenly manner, offering a very 
 poor protection against the winds and storms of winter. 
 The ground on which these miserable dwellings stood 
 had only recently been reclaimed from the Essex 
 marshes. Some of them appeared to be built on 
 islands of liquid filth ; and in wet weather the roads 
 were literally impassable. All the diseases arising 
 from malarious exhalations ague, fever, rheumatism 
 were constantly present in the district. 
 
 The Victoria Dock constituted the centre of the 
 population. The people who lived in the contract 
 cottages, endeavoured to obtain some of the irregular 
 employment which docks always furnish. None but 
 the very poor lived there, except, perhaps, the keepers 
 of ginshops and beerhouses. There was no church, 
 no chapel, no school, no workmen's institute nothing 
 that was in any way calculated to improve or uphold 
 the moral and physical condition of the population. 
 
 In 1857 tne Bishop of London appointed a clergy- 
 man to take charge of the place. An iron church was 
 built and fitted up, and the clergyman, Mr. Douglas, 
 began his operations under the greatest difficulties. 
 He could scarcely find a house fit to live in ; but at 
 length he settled down next door to a labourer. Well- 
 to-do workmen would not live in the district. When 
 they had done their day's work, they fled into some 
 healthier place to sleep in. When there was no work 
 at the docks, there was nothing but poverty in the 
 district. 
 
 There being no such thing as resident gentlemen in 
 the neighbourhood, and no parochial charities to fall 
 back upon, the clergyman, in one of his direst extre- 
 mities, determined to appeal to public opinion. In the
 
 208 MR. DOUGLAS'S APPEAL. [CHAP. xiv. 
 
 course of one of the constantly recurring periods of 
 destitution, when the cry for food and fire was frightful, 
 Mr. Douglas inserted a letter in the Times appealing for 
 help. 1 The editor supported the appeal in a leading 
 article. Nothing could have better helped Mr. Douglas 
 in his merciful intentions. The public responded heartily. 
 Some sent money for food ; some for clothing ; some 
 for a school for young females; some for the building of 
 a new church. People of all classes and orders contri- 
 buted men, women, and children. Two touching little 
 notes were received from West Wickham. One of them, 
 in a child's round hand, reads thus: A da and her brother 
 send a small gift for the distressed around the Victoria 
 Docks. 
 
 Mr. Douglas did the best that he could for the imme- 
 diate relief and employment of the poor. He gave 
 coals, food, clothing, and money to the most destitute. 
 
 1 Times, 23rd December, 1859. In the leading article which supported 
 Mr. Douglas's appeal, the following passages occur : " Probably never in 
 this world and. if Dr. Whewell's theory is to be believed, never in the 
 universe was there, far and wide, such prosperity, comfort, and happiness 
 as are brought by this Christmas to some hundred thousand homes. There 
 are blazing fires, abundant cheer, brothers and cousins, youthful prizemen, 
 dancing girls, games and forfeits, contented servants, and everything that 
 love and money can bring together in this happy isle. . . . Read Mr. 
 Douglas's account of his Londoners over the Border poor fellow-townsmen 
 pushing, or rather pushed by the glacier-like pressure of this vast mass of 
 struggling life out into the Essex marshes. Compare the scenes he pictures, 
 with those we started with : and then answer whether progressing pros- 
 perity has not a poor cousin of its own in the form of progressive misery. 
 . . . There is a battle with the marsh ; it is the oldest fight of all with 
 chaos itself. ... A tone of distress pervades the narrative, and saddens 
 the very flow of the words. One may perceive the restlessness of fever, the 
 flush of the ague, consumptive weakness, and mental prostration invading 
 the very mind of the man who witnesses and describes these sad scenes. 
 No doubt the faithful pastor must suffer this martyrdom. The hopeful 
 Church expectant knows the danger, and looks for the rough and rash 
 enthusiast to bear the brunt, and stand the infection of misery. . . . Clergy, 
 working curates, Scripture-readers, the light infantry and riflemen of the 
 Church, are wanted for this work. The pre s, too, must help them ; for 
 how else shall they be heard ? . . . But for the present, industri .-us 
 people are there, sick, famished, and dying, even at this Christmas. \Ve 
 write in the confidence that Mr. Douglas will soon be able to do something 
 for them."
 
 CHAP, xiv.] - A GREAT SUBSCRIPTION. 209 
 
 He employed a number of young women to make gloves, 
 and others to make shirts. He employed boys to cut 
 firewood and split laths. The boys were enrolled as 
 cadet volunteers, and were drilled by a sergeant thrice 
 a week. Without some such provision, hundreds of 
 them must inevitably have become thieves and vaga- 
 bonds. An industrial kitchen was started, in which 
 women were taught to cook food properly ; and a soup 
 kitchen was also established for the relief of the very 
 poorest. 
 
 By the end of 1860 as much as ; 14,000 had been re- 
 ceived by Mr. Douglas. His most sanguine hopes had 
 never reached one-tenth of this magnificent bounty ; and 
 yet it had been realised and greatly exceeded. " The 
 distribution of charity since last winter," he said, in 
 another letter to the Times, " has relieved much distress, 
 and probably averted great evils ; but it has not, to my 
 certain knowledge, pauperised a single individual. The 
 best proof of this js the eagerness with which my poor 
 people avail themselves of every opportunity for work 
 which is afforded them." 
 
 And now began the voice of detraction and envy. 
 Here was a clergyman with 14,000 in his possession, 
 doing what he liked with it; using so much for a parish 
 church ; so much for a school; so much for a parsonage. 
 Was this to be allowed to go on ? Certainly not. Let 
 us see how much money he has received, how he has 
 expended it, and what balance remains. Perhaps he 
 has spent the money for his own purposes. At all 
 events, let us know ; let his accounts be examined and 
 audited. Such was the tone of the letters which ap- 
 peared in the newspapers. 
 
 Mr. Douglas then appealed to Dr. Tait, Bishop of 
 London, to institute an inquiry into his accounts, and 
 to ascertain the actual disposal of the money intrusted 
 to him by the public. The Bishop requested Mr. Moore 
 
 P
 
 2io INVESTIGATING ACCOUNTS [CHAP. xiv. 
 
 to undertake the inquiry by himself. Mr. Moore hesi- 
 tated to undertake this responsibility single-handed ; but 
 at the same time he expressed his readiness to enter upon 
 the inquiry in the interest of the public, provided he was 
 associated with some gentleman of acknowledged repute. 
 The following occurs in his diary: "The Bishop of 
 London has prevailed upon me to undertake the investiga- 
 tion of the charges made against the Rev. Mr. Douglas. 
 I have chosen Alderman Dakin as my colleague. The 
 affair is exciting great interest. God give me wisdom 
 to come to a right decision ! " 
 
 The inquiry began and lasted for about a fortnight. 
 Mr. Moore started at nine in the morning for the Vic- 
 toria Docks, and worked for about twelve hours daily at 
 the accounts. " It is a most trying inquiry," he says in 
 his diary : " there is a great deal of bad blood ; and the 
 accounts are complicated. My task is appalling. But 
 with God's assistance, I shall get through." 
 
 The accounts were very complicated for this reason : 
 Mr. Douglas had done the whole of the work himself. 
 He had no committee, no secretary, no bookkeeper to 
 help him. He had received hundreds of letters with 
 contributions, and had entered them anyhow. He was 
 one of those clergymen, of whom there are many, who 
 know little about business. He was afraid to pay a 
 large sum for a professional bookkeeper, thinking it 
 would be spending money that was intended for the 
 poor. Hence the complication of the accounts. 
 
 The commissioners had accordingly to go over the 
 whole of the affairs in detail, the moneys that had been 
 received and the moneys that had been expended. Mr. 
 Moore's private secretary attended to take down the 
 minutes of the commissioners. Everything that had 
 been done since the appearance of Mr. Douglas's letter 
 in the Times was taken into consideration. The person 
 who had publicly challenged the appropriation of the
 
 CHAI>. xiv.] EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES. 2ii 
 
 money was present, attended by his solicitor ; so that 
 nothing was left unattended to. The contributions in 
 cash, and the letters accompanying them nine hundred 
 in number were read and considered. Mr. Douglas 
 also submitted his statements of receipts and expen- 
 diture. 
 
 Numerous witnesses crowded the doors, anxious 
 to give evidence in favour of their pastor; and many 
 of them were examined and cross-examined. The 
 accounts for coal, provisions, glove-making, wood-cutting, 
 soup-kitchens, needlewomen, and clothing, were gone 
 into in detail. The memoranda of minutes taken at 
 the several meetings, and the statement of accounts, 
 amount to about a hundred closely-written pages, so 
 that it is impossible to give any sufficient abstract of 
 them. The whole interest centred in the balance-sheet ; 
 and to the astonishment of those present, and of the 
 public, they balanced to a shilling. 
 
 A report was prepared and sent to the Bishop of 
 London, containing the result of the commissioners' 
 examination- 1 While entirely acquitting Mr. Douglas 
 of the malversation of funds with which his enemies had 
 charged him, the commissioners added : " We deem it 
 our duty to express a feeling of regret that Mr. Douglas, 
 who seems to have been actuated by the best motives in 
 all that he did, and to have displayed great energy, 
 labour, and self-denial, should not have thought it neces- 
 sary to associate himself at the outset with some well- 
 known men of business to share his responsibility. 
 
 " It is our decided opinion that no single individual 
 should alone undertake the office of almoner for the 
 public ; and the great use of the present inquiry may 
 be to show the danger and anxiety to which any one 
 may be subject who unwisely undertakes such an office. 
 
 1 The report appeared in the Times, 4th February, 1861, and was 
 followed by a leading article on the following day. 
 
 T 2
 
 212 HOME MISSION SOCIETIES. [CHAP. xiv. 
 
 We are accordingly glad to observe in Mr. Douglas's 
 letter, published before his administration had been 
 challenged, that 'as soon as possible all these branches 
 will be placed in the hands of a committee of manage- 
 ment.' 
 
 "We would estimate character more by the amount 
 and activity of its virtues, than by its freedom from 
 defects. We have felt it right, in the impartial dis- 
 charge of the anxious duty committed to us, to point 
 out some defects of administration which indeed Mr. 
 Douglas has himself admitted to us but we unhesi- 
 tatingly affirm our belief in the purity of his motives 
 and in the honesty of his conduct ; and we trust he may 
 be spared for many years to labour in a district where so 
 much requires to be done, and for the accomplishment 
 of which he seems to be peculiarly fitted." 
 
 Mr. Moore returned to his City work, to his Reforma- 
 tory and Refuge Union, to his meetings for fallen women, 
 to his Bible societies, to his milliners' dressmakers' and 
 needlewomen's meetings, 1 to his Royal Free Hospital, 
 and to his various orphan and ward-schools. He did 
 not mind the particular class of men with whom he 
 worked, provided they were good Christian men. He 
 worked with Churchmen, Dissenters, Methodists, Catho- 
 lics. " I often thank God," he said, writing to his sister 
 in April, 1860, "that I am not a bigot in religion, as I 
 have really little choice between the Church of England 
 and the Dissenting bodies. But as I have been brought 
 up a Churchman, I stick to it. Many of the Bishops 
 and clergymen are my most intimate friends, yet I have 
 the greatest respect and affection for the Rev. Samuel 
 Martin, Independent ; Dr. Brock and Baptist Noel, 
 Baptists ; and Mr. Arthur and Dr. Punshon, Wesleyans. 
 
 1 On the 1st of June, 1858, he says, " I attended the meeting of the poor 
 worn-out milliners, dressmakers, and needlewomen. I must work in this
 
 CHAP, xiv.] SERVICES AT BOW CHURCHYARD 213 
 
 As long as men preach Christ, I am with them, heart 
 and hand." 
 
 George Moore took a particular interest in the Home 
 Mission Societies. He held that clergymen and minis- 
 ters were not enough for the work there was to be done 
 in London. The ignorant, he said, must be excavated 
 from the mass of sin and wickedness. He held that city 
 missionaries, who could see the people face to face in 
 their unexplored dens, were the best of all men to do 
 the work. Here Churchgoers, who paid for a pew,and, 
 did their fashionable weekly Churchgoing, were not the 
 people whom he respected, so much as those who came 
 out of the regular ruts, and helped the uncivilised by their 
 sympathy, by their good advice, and by their good works. 
 
 He continued to take the deepest interest in the spiri- 
 tual condition of the young men in Bow Churchyard. 
 He obtained the best of lecturers. On one occasion 
 Miss Marsh addressed a crowded meeting in the dining- 
 hall at Bow Churchyard. The attendance at morning 
 prayers increased after that event ; but shortly after it 
 slackened. Then he called in Dr. Brock to consult with 
 him as to what should be done to improve the attend- 
 ance. Next morning Mr. Moore attended family wor- 
 ship, and found only thirty out of about three hundred 
 young men in the house present. " We must make much 
 greater efforts," he said, " but refrain altogether from 
 making the young people hypocrites. Every thing .must 
 be done voluntarily." 
 
 The whole affair was under a cloud. It was sleepy, 
 lingering, and becoming useless. He then called in the 
 Rev. Mr. Rodgers, and had a long discussion with him 
 and the Rev. Mr. Richardson as to the reorganisation 
 of the scheme. A few nights later, the Rev. H. Stowell 
 Brown addressed a crowded meeting. Mr. Moore took 
 the chair, and informed the audience that he had ar- 
 ranged with Mr. Rodgers to assist Mr. Richardson in
 
 2i 4 NATIONAL ORPHAN HOME. [CHAP. XIV. 
 
 the discharge of the spiritual duties. He afterwards 
 spoke to all the fresh young men, and told them that he 
 expected they would attend family worship. He writes 
 in his diary : " I am deeply anxious to get the service 
 at Bow Churchyard arranged before I leave for Cumber- 
 land " ; and on the following day he enters : " To Bow 
 Churchyard at 8 A.M. Mr. Rodgers prayed and ex- 
 horted. I am now determined to have him." From 
 this time the attendance gradually improved, until at 
 length, as we shall find later on, the institution became 
 firmly rooted and established. 
 
 Among the numerous charities, hospitals, orphanages, 
 schools, and missions, which Mr. Moore helped with his 
 mind, and hand, and purse, may be mentioned the 
 National Orphan Home. He first became connected 
 with it in the year 1861. We find him writing in his 
 diary on the 24th of April : " Went to the National 
 Orphan Home, Ham, to finally organise and set in 
 motion all the improvements. I never worked more 
 earnestly for any institution than I have done for this." 
 The object of the charity was to receive orphan girls, 
 without distinction as to religion, into a home where 
 they could obtain a plain English education and prac- 
 tical instruction in the kitchen, house, and laundry, so 
 as to fit them for domestic service. 
 
 Mr. Moore stuck to this institution throughout his 
 life. He was a member of the committee and helped 
 forward every means for promoting the objects of the 
 Orphan Home. He used to supplement the funds on 
 the occasion of the anniversary dinner. He often begged 
 for the institution. There was in his word " My friend," 
 which all who remember him will recognise an appeal 
 which could not be refused. His last munificent act 
 for the Home was to head a list with a thousand guineas, 
 provided four thousand more could be obtained. He 
 begged for the rest, and filled up the list.
 
 CHAP. X'v.l GEORGE MOORE'S LONELINESS. 215 
 
 The secretary of the institution informs us " That it 
 was not only in the institution itself that he took an 
 interest, but in the welfare of the officers connected with 
 it. It was his annual custom to invite the different 
 secretaries of the societies with which he was connected 
 (and they were large in number) to his hospitable 
 board ; and take the opportunity of showing the in- 
 terest he took, not only in their temporal but their 
 spiritual welfare." 
 
 After the death of Mrs. Moore, he felt very lonely in 
 his magnificent mansion. " I feel very desolate," he 
 says in his diary, " and have no one to care for me but 
 Christ." Again he says, "I retired to rest, depressed 
 with my lonely condition. Here I have no continuing 
 city. Let me seek one that is to come. What matters 
 about my lonely condition ? It cannot be for many 
 years, for life is fleeting." Sleeplessness again beset him. 
 He enters these words, after one of his sleepless nights : 
 " The sound of cock-crow, heard in the early morning, 
 serves to remind us of many profitable reflections, 
 associated with the example of those who have gone 
 before us, as well as with the duties that devolve upon 
 ourselves." 
 
 At length he again began to entertain company. The 
 first friends that he invited to his house, after the death 
 of his wife, were his old Cumberland chums in London. 
 Some of them had risen in the world, whilst others had 
 made very little progress. Yet they spent a pleasant 
 evening together, talking of old times, and canny 
 Cumberland ways. Perhaps they compared, some with 
 gratitude, others with regret, their different social 
 positions. Many subsequent dinners succeeded. The 
 house was often full of company. Sometimes Mr. Moore 
 gave up his bed, and had to sleep in a neighbour's house. 
 
 He curiously mixed up his guests Bishops, Business 
 men, Dissenters, Methodists, and poor friends from
 
 216 DIOCESAN HOME MISSION. [CHAP. xiv. 
 
 Cumberland. On one occasion we find him entertaining 
 the Bishop of Carlisle, Dr. Brock (Baptist), the Provost 
 of Queen's, the Rev. Mr. Martin (Independent), Pro- 
 fessor Cope, the Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, and others. The 
 number usually entertained was twenty-four. He had 
 often five dinner parties of this number within a fortnight. 
 He followed up with a dinner to " nineteen of the boys 
 that I have got situations for." 
 
 His house was used for many purposes. He had 
 Bible-readings and expositions every alternate Monday. 
 He took the greatest and most characteristic interest in 
 these simple gatherings of fifteen or twenty persons, 
 principally men, for the study of the Bible. His friend 
 Mr. Bowker, of Christ's Hospital, presided over them, 
 and George Moore often says in his diary, " these meet- 
 ings are the happiest evenings of my life." 
 
 The Kensington Auxiliary Bible Society, the Pure 
 Literature Society, the Book-hawking Society, the Open 
 Air Mission, the Diocesan Home Mission, and the Theatre 
 Preaching Commitee, frequently held their meetings at 
 George Moore's house in Kensington Palace Gardens. 
 
 The Diocesan Home Mission was established in the 
 summer of 1857, chiefly through the instrumentality of 
 Dr. Tait, then Bishop of London. The object of the 
 Diocesan Home Mission was to provide the means 
 of the Gospel for thousands of persons in London 
 who could not be reached by the ordinary parochial 
 machinery. Amidst the spread of buildings in the 
 neighbourhood of London, whole masses of people be- 
 came congregated together, without a school, without a 
 church with nothing but a gin-shop. The Licensed 
 Victualler is very watchful of these new settlements. 
 He is there long before the school and the church. Hie 
 bright gas-lit gin-shop is the best-frequented place in 
 the neighbourhood ; and he often makes a fortune and 
 retires, before the church has made its appearance.
 
 CHAP, xiv.] THEATRE PREACHING. 217 
 
 It was, as we have said, to supply the defects in the 
 parochial system that the Home Mission was established. 
 Its object was to infuse a missionary character into the 
 Church, and to bring the people under the influence of 
 religious ministrations. In connection with the objects 
 of the Home Mission, were open-air preaching in sum- 
 mer, and theatre preaching in winter. If the people, said 
 the clergy, can't come to us, we must go to the people ; 
 we must find them in their popular resorts, and endea- 
 vour to make them listen to the Gospel. 
 
 The first open-air service was begun in Covent Garden, 
 and conducted by Lord Wriothesley Russell. It was 
 followed by other services, conducted by clergymen and 
 members of the mission. Thus multitudes of people 
 were enabled to hear the Gospel who had never heard it 
 before. Churches, in the opinion of many of the lower- 
 class Londoners, are for the well-to-do, or for those who 
 have got Sunday clothes. Indeed, few know much of the 
 ignorance, the recklessness, the thriftlessness and the 
 degradation of the neglected classes of London. During 
 winter, preaching in the open air is scarcely possible. 
 The cold and biting weather drives everybody within 
 doors. It was accordingly determined to hire the 
 theatres for Sunday preaching. 
 
 Mr. Moore threw himself into this movement with all 
 the energy of his nature. He was present at the first 
 committee. He attended one theatre after another on 
 Sunday afternoons, took the chair, and gave out the 
 hymns. He appeared on all sorts of stages, mostly in the 
 poorest parts of London at the Pavilion Theatre, the 
 Victoria Theatre, the Garrick Theatre, the Sadler's Wells 
 Theatre, the Standard Theatre, and others. The best 
 preachers in London took part in the work, and on 
 many occasions from three to four thousand persons 
 were present at the services. 
 
 Mr. Moore not only used his own house for the promo-
 
 218 GEORGE MOORE'S DIARY. L CHAP. xiv. 
 
 tion of these and other efforts, he also used the dining- 
 room at Bow Churchyard. We find him, while the 
 theatre preaching was going on, inviting a large party, 
 about a hundred in all, to dine there. Among them were 
 Lord Shaftcsbury, Lord Ebury, the Honourable A. Kin- 
 naird, Robert Hanbury, Esq., R. C. L. Bevan, Esq., 
 Samuel Morley, Esq., and about seventy of the most 
 eminent ministers and clergymen of all denominations. 
 The Earl of Shaftesbury, in returning thanks for his 
 health, which had been proposed by Mr. Moore, said that 
 "with regard to the amount of good which their excel- 
 lent host had so kindly represented him as doing, the 
 fact was, that Mr. Moore himself was doing a much 
 greater amount of good, though his modesty would not 
 permit him to allude to his efforts for the social and 
 spiritual welfare of his fellow-men. Mr. Moore was 
 doing incalculable good, unseen and unknown, except 
 by those who were the subjects of it, whilst the good 
 that he himself was doing was on the surface, and was 
 consequently seen and known to all men." 
 
 One of the most singular things in Mr. Moore's life, 
 was his Diary. No matter how busy he was whether 
 in the warehouse, or at charities, or at meetings for 
 various purposes he found time to write down a short 
 account of his day's work, and often of his thoughts and 
 experiences of life. He continued to do this for about 
 twenty years, whether well or ill, whether at home or 
 abroad. We are thus enabled to ascertain his everyday 
 life, and his everyday thoughts. Some of the extracts 
 from his diary have already been given, but a few dis- 
 connected thoughts may also be added. 
 
 " I wish," he says, " that my faith was as strong as 
 my works ; and I also wish that the works of many of 
 those with whom I have to do were as strong as their 
 faith. With some faith is everything, and works 
 nothing."
 
 CHAP, xiv.] EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY. 219 
 
 " The trouble we expect scarcely ever comes. How 
 much pain the evils cost us that have never happened." 
 
 " How often clouds and darkness overshadow our 
 minds. They clear away like an uplifted fog, and you 
 see the clear blue sky above them." 
 
 " All sorrows, follies, errors, committed towards us 
 by other have their edges wonderfully softened off by 
 retrospection." 
 
 " When a man is faithful and true in small things, 
 depend upon it that he will be faithful and true in great 
 things. Great principles depend upon small details." 
 
 " ' Godliness is God-likeness.' It is seated in the 
 heart. Godliness makes a man content with his cir- 
 cumstances. Godliness is not carelessness. No one 
 is so rich as to be at liberty to be extravagant. God- 
 liness does not remove the curse of labour, but 
 dignifies it." 
 
 " A man has just as much Christianity as he has 
 Humility. Oh, God ! give me more humility. Enable 
 me to keep myself in the background. But I must 
 live for others as well as for myself." 
 
 " Better be wrong in the effort to do right, than be 
 indifferent." 
 
 " There is no greater mistake than in investing 
 religion with gloom. Wisdom's ways are ways of 
 pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." 
 
 " The enchantments of the world are dangerous to 
 the spiritual health, as tending to stupefy the soul, and 
 bring it into captivity and spiritual lethargy." 
 
 " The grand interpreter of the Word of God is 
 common sense." 
 
 " How often have I found that apparent adversity 
 has worked far greater happiness than the greatest 
 prosperity. He that sows in tears shall reap in joy." 
 
 " That which is wanted to hold together the bursting 
 bonds of society, is not so much kindness, as sympathy"
 
 220 EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY. [CHAP. xiv. 
 
 " In the present life we can only judge a man by his 
 works. Hereafter, when the councils of the heart are 
 made manifest, works will be judged by the man him- 
 self. ' A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of 
 things he possesseth."' 
 
 " I am convinced that profuse chanty to the poor, 
 given indiscriminately and without inquiry, does no real 
 good. It fosters idleness. It rears up a class of pro- 
 fessional mendicants. It promotes dissolute habits 
 amongst beggars, and enormously increases the evil 
 it is meant to relieve. Like Lord Brougham, I think 
 that Drink is the mother of Want and the nurse of 
 Crime." 
 
 It may be stated that Mr. Moore makes frequent 
 mention in his diary of the benefits which he received 
 from attending the ministrations of the Rev. J. W. 
 Reeve, of Portman Chapel. " He makes the scheme of 
 salvation," he says, " much plainer to me than any one 
 else." In another place he says, " He is one of the 
 best companions one can have. He makes the house 
 bright by staying in it." And so on, all through the 
 diary.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 WHITEHALL, CUMBERLAND. 
 
 WHITEHALL is an old Border tower in the parish of 
 Allhallows, about six miles south-west of Wigton. It 
 is situated in a green valley on the banks of the 
 Dowbeck, a little burn which runs into the River 
 Ellen about a mile further on. Within sight of White- 
 hall is another old border tower, Harbybrow, a very 
 picturesque object in the scenery of the neighbourhood. 
 These towers were erected about the end of the fifteenth 
 century, as strongholds against the inroads of the Scots. 
 Whitehall in early times belonged to the Border 
 Percys. The Salkeld family next occupied it, and 
 from them it descended to the Northumberland 
 Charltons. Its proprietors had always been Roman 
 Catholics. They were strong Jacobites, and sym- 
 pathised with, if they did not actually take part in, the 
 risings in favour of " The King over the Water " in 
 1715. Any one who has read Redgauntlet will 
 remember the incident of young Alan Fairford being 
 confined in " Fairladies," where he had an adventure 
 with Father Buonaventure. There is reason to believe 
 that Whitehall is the " Fairladies " x described by Sir 
 Walter Scott. 
 
 1 "They had not," say? Sir W. Scott, "proceeded a pistol-shot from 
 the place where they parted, when a short turning brought them in front of
 
 222 WHITEHALL AND HARBYBROW. [CHAP. xv. 
 
 After the union, when the Borderers had no further 
 need for strongholds, a house connected with the tower 
 was erected, most probably by the Salkelds, for the 
 purposes of residence. Their arms are still to be 
 found on the building, and their initials are "carved on 
 almost every doorhead. But in course of time, the 
 place fell to decay. The owners went to live on their 
 estates in Northumberland. The house and tower 
 remained in their partially ruined state until quite 
 recently. The old hall of the building was used as a 
 cow-shed and granary. Another part of the building, 
 which forms three sides of a square, was occupied as a 
 residence by the steward of the Charltons. 
 
 Whitehall is close to Mealsgate, where George Moore 
 was born. It was his pleasure, as a boy, to fish in 
 the Ellen, and wander about the valley in which 
 Whitehall and Harbybrow are situated. It will be re- 
 membered that he climbed the Peel towers, and harried 
 the jackdaws' nests in the old chimneys, or in the 
 hollow places of the walls. Every spot of the ground 
 was known to him. His forefathers had lived in the 
 neighbourhood from time immemorial, and their 
 descendants the statesmen still farmed their own 
 small estates at Overgates, at Kirkland, and at Meals- 
 gate. George Moore was much attached to the place. 
 When he became a prosperous man he often thought 
 of buying the Whitehall property, especially after he 
 
 an old mouldering gateway, whose heavy pinnacles were decorated in the 
 style of the seventeenth century, with clumsy architectural ornaments, 
 several of which had fallen to decay and lay scattered about, no further 
 care having been taken than just to remove them out of the direct approach 
 to the avenue." After the men proceeded up the avenue, Fairford found 
 that they were "traversing the front of a tolerably large mansion-house." 
 " At last, by ascending some stone steps, decorated on the side with griffins 
 or some such heraldic anomalies, he attained a terrace in front of the place 
 of Fairladies ; an old-fashioned gentleman's house of some consequence, 
 with its range of notched gable-ends and narrow windows, relieved here 
 and there by an old turret about the size of a pepper-box." Redgautttltt t 
 Ch. xv.
 
 CITAP. xv.] PURCHASES THE WHITEHALL ESTATE. 223 
 
 had made it his custom to pay an annual visit to 
 Cumberland, to look after the schools he had built 01 
 helped to build, and to preside at the competitive 
 examinations which he had established. 
 
 At length, in 1858, the Whitehall estate, which now 
 included Harbybrow, 1 was offered for sale. He had 
 now the opportunity of having a " stake in the hedge," 
 in his dear Cumberland. He could thus realise the 
 words of Wordsworth 
 
 " When wishes formed 
 In youth, and sanctioned by the riper mind, 
 Restored him to his native valley, here 
 To end his days." 
 
 " On the 7th October," he says, " I arranged about 
 purchasing the Whitehall estate. I hope I shall not 
 put my trust in land, yet I think I am justified in 
 buying it. I have worked very hard for all that I have 
 gained." At length he bought the Cumberland Border 
 Tower and the estate over which he had shorn when 
 a boy. 
 
 But a great deal had to be done before he could enter 
 into possession of his Northern Home. Mr. Moore was 
 under great obligation to his friend, Henry Howard, of 
 Greystoke, during the rebuilding of Whitehall. 
 
 Mr. Howard had advised that the best architect, and 
 the most famed for the restoration of old places, should 
 be employed. Mr. Salvin was accordingly persuaded 
 to undertake the work. During the next three or four 
 years Mr. Howard not only saw the plans, but con- 
 stantly went over to Whitehall to judge about the 
 alterations. George Moore speaks of him as my " head 
 clerk of the works;" and at another time, "I owe 
 everything to Mr. Howard. What anxiety he has 
 
 1 The Border tower of Harbybrow, about half a mile from Whitehall, 
 was formerly in the possession of the Highmores. It is the scene of one 
 of the later Border Ballads.
 
 224 RESTORATION OF WHITEHALL. [CHAP. xv. 
 
 spared me about this building . This is another proof 
 of the many services I have received from him during 
 seventeen years." 
 
 Two hundred navvies were employed to remake the 
 terrace and replace the bowling-green. The ruined 
 buildings were repaired. The cows were turned out of 
 their byres ; and the old hall restored to its former 
 uses. The old rooms and the old rafters were carefully 
 preserved. New rooms were built on the old founda- 
 tions. The outline of the whole was preserved, as far 
 as possible, so that the entrance by the forecourt, the 
 square tower to the east, the gables to the west front, 
 and the bastions of the terrace wall, should look as 
 they had done to the possessors of Whitehall for 
 centuries past. 
 
 All this occupied several years. But in the mean- 
 while George Moore continued his annual visit to 
 Cumberland to carry on the competitive examinations. 
 This usually occurred in July or August. 
 
 When he began school examinations, he had no wish 
 to keep the direction of them in his own hands. His 
 object was to influence opinion, and to get them estab- 
 lished, extended, and taken up by the Diocesan Educa- 
 tion Society. He accordingly rejoiced when they took 
 up the religious part of the scheme, and extended them 
 to all Cumberland. 
 
 Another movement that Mr. Moore started at this 
 time, was Book-hawking by colporteurs. The Peram- 
 bulating Library was doing good work, but Mr. Moore 
 desired to see the benefit of reading good books more 
 widely extended. This could only be done by sending 
 men about the country with books for sale. They 
 might also in some sense be made missionaries, as 
 was the case with the colporteurs who kept Protes- 
 .tantism alive in France during its long period of 
 persecution under the Bourbons.
 
 CHAP, xv.] BOOK-HAWKING ARRANGEMENTS. 225 
 
 Mr. Moore gives the following account of his con- 
 nection with the book-hawkers. " I was on the com- 
 mittee of the Pure Literature Society, and one of its 
 principal working supporters. This circumstance brought 
 under my notice the great good that was to be done by 
 book-hawking societies. I resolved to start two book- 
 hawkers for Cumberland, giving them ^25 each for the 
 first year. Cumberland people are very slow to adopt 
 or support any new projects. Numerous objections 
 were raised to the scheme. Many thought that books 
 were of no use to working people. They said that a 
 rural population was better off without education and 
 information. Others feared the dangers of the book- 
 hawkers as missionaries." 
 
 Nevertheless, a book-hawking society was started in 
 Cumberland. It was supported chiefly through the 
 influence of Mr. Moore. From the report of 1858, we 
 find that 635 Bibles, Testaments, and Prayer-books, 
 had been sold during the year, and 1,598 copies of other 
 books. The Bishop of Carlisle took the chair at the 
 first meeting, which was held at Carlisle. After some 
 discussion, Mr. Moore observed that so far from seeing 
 any necessity to relax their efforts, he saw great cause 
 for encouragement in the number and character of the 
 books sold. They could not expect great success all 
 at once. They must walk before they could run. 
 Almost every county in England supported a book- 
 hawking society, and it would be a disgrace to Cumber- 
 land not to do the same. As for talking about with- 
 drawing one of the hawkers, he should be ashamed of 
 the county which gave him birth were he to do so. 
 He urged that instead of reducing the number, the 
 society should go on increasing them. Instead of 
 withdrawing one, he moved that three others be ap- 
 pointed, which was done accordingly. 
 
 We quote this, merely to show the thoroughness 
 
 Q
 
 226 COUNTY TOWN MISSION. [CHAP, xv 
 
 with which he proceeded with his work. If a scheme 
 was good, and worthy of support, why not urge it 
 on by every possible effort ? He stirred up the people 
 about him. He called them into activity, and made 
 them work with himself. In the same way he 
 urged on the County Town Mission in Cumberland, 
 which he had instituted. The local clergy were in- 
 different to it at first. "Some of them," he said at 
 Wigton, "are like dogs in the manger; they will not 
 work themselves, nor let others work." But he called 
 in his friend the Bishop of Carlisle (Villiers) and the 
 Dean (Dr. Close), They helped, him to establish the 
 Country Towns Mission ; and the local clergy then 
 followed their example. 
 
 The Bible Society was one of his most cherished 
 objects. For about twenty-one years he invariably 
 took the chair at the local meetings held in Allhallows 
 School. He summoned friends from a distance to 
 attend it Bishops, Deans, and Clergymen, with minis- 
 ters of other denominations. The meetings were very 
 successful. 
 
 He was made justice of the peace, and attended the 
 sittings of the magistrates at Wigton. He was present 
 at the meeting of the Archaeological Institute at Carlisle, 
 and contributed various objects of antiquarian interest. 
 He was made chairman of the Wigton Agricultural 
 Society, though there he was not in his proper element. 
 One day he accompanied Mr. Howard of Greystoke 
 Castle to the Penrith Cattle Show. At the dinner 
 which followed the exhibition, he was called on to make 
 a speech. " I could not speak about cattle," he says, 
 "but I brought in my favourite subject, Education, and 
 worked it well. At least, so the speech reads in the 
 newspapers." 
 
 It was a good time for the school-children when 
 Mr. Moore went down to Whitehall. Indeed it was
 
 CHAP, xv.] HUNTING IN CUMBERLAND. 227 
 
 a good time for everybody, rich and poor. He stirred 
 everybody up. The first thing he did was to look 
 after the schools. He came down about the time of 
 the competitive examinations. Indeed he never missed 
 them. Crowds of children came to Allhallows School 
 to be examined. He had the Bishop and Dean of 
 Carlisle, Lord Brougham, and others to distribute the 
 prizes. There was luncheon, tea, and supper for all, 
 numbering often 1,500 or more. 
 
 There was no end to the hospitality at Whitehall. 
 One day he received the Rifle Volunteers. "They 
 came along the road playing a lively tune. They and 
 the farmers, about four hundred in all, got a good hot 
 dinner. I carved for all." Every time he was at 
 Mealsgate, while the reconstruction of the house was 
 going on, he gave the workmen an entertainment before 
 he left for London. He also provided for their religious 
 instruction, and sent the missionary whom he had ap- 
 pointed, with interesting books and periodicals likely to 
 be of use to them. 
 
 Mr. Moore returned to his old amusement hunting. 
 He had sold his horses some years before, when he 
 was in great sorrow ; but now he could resume his 
 wonted exercise. " Mr. Howard," he says, " tempted 
 me this morning to ride one of his horses. I felt 
 as much at home in the saddle as ever ; but I got 
 a good tumble to remind me of olden times. I 
 really enjoy the hunting. It does my health so much 
 good." 
 
 He also hunted with his friend Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 
 master of the West Cumberland foxhounds. " I rode 
 my bay mare to-day. She nearly pulled my arms off. 
 Yet we had a splendid run an hour without a check. 
 I kept a good place." 
 
 The estate also had to be shot over ; but though Mr. 
 Moore could hunt, he was not much of a shot. He 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 PARTRIDGE SHOOTING. [CHAP. xv. 
 
 invited his friends down from London to shoot over 
 the grounds. Sometimes he went out by himself. He 
 says in his diary (i3th August) : " Rose at 5 A.M. and 
 ascended the mountain ; I came to a village called 
 Watendlath, the most primitive place I ever saw in 
 Cumberland. I entered one of the houses. There was 
 no fire-place, but only logs of wood and turf burning 
 on the floor. I ascended the moors. The birds were 
 very wild, and I only got a brace and a half. Drove 
 back to Mealsgate very tired." On the ist of September 
 partridge-shooting began. 
 
 One day, when he was accompanying his friend 
 Colonel Henderson through the Waver wood, on a 
 partridge-shooting expedition, a curious ramshackle 
 object appeared before them. It seemed to be a sort 
 of big drosky with a long broad trunk at the back end. 
 "What is that?" asked the Colonel. "Why," said 
 George Moore, " that is the trap which I have driven 
 into every market town in Great Britain and Ireland ! " 
 In fact it was the carriage in which George Moore 
 had travelled through the country while achieving his 
 success as a commercial traveller. 
 
 There was one thing that struck Mr. Moore very 
 much during his visits to Cumberland, and that was 
 the low rate of pay of the clergymen. Every one re- 
 members the story of the Rev. Robert Walker, curate 
 of Seathwaite, Cumberland, whose stipend amounted 
 to only seventeen pounds ten shillings yearly. He 
 could not live upon that ; so he kept a school, tilled 
 his glebe, and spun yarn for home use. And yet he 
 married and brought up a family of eight children. 
 He maintained one of his sons at Trinity College, 
 Dublin, until he took orders and entered the church. 
 
 In the olden times the chapels in the Dales were 
 very small, affording room for about only half a dozen 
 families. The stipends were so small that they could
 
 CHAP, xv.] POOR PAY OF CLERGYMEN. 229 
 
 not maintain a clergyman, and the curacies were often 
 held by unordained persons. These were, however, 
 afterwards admitted to deacon's orders without any 
 preliminary examination. The pay was often not more 
 than three or four pounds a year, and the Reader used 
 to maintain himself by other occupations, such as that 
 of clogger, tailor, or grazier. 
 
 The times were very hard for statesmen in those days, 
 and still harder for clergymen. They were subject to 
 poverty and even to actual distress. It is difficult to 
 understand how they contrived to live and bring up 
 a family. There was a gentleman called Marshall, 
 parish priest at Ireby. His stipend was only 35 a 
 year. Yet upon that he married, brought up a family, 
 and gave his children a good educntion. He and his 
 daughters built their own house. The daughters tall, 
 handsome girls led the horses which carried the stones, 
 and Marshall himself did most of the building. The 
 wonder was how they contrived to build it. They called 
 it Puzzle Hall, but no one could solve the puzzle. It 
 remains Puzzle Hall to this day. 
 
 The stipends of clergymen were still very low 
 almost at starvation point when Mr. Moore began his 
 inquiries as to their temporal condition. He makes the 
 following entry in his diary (Aug. 22, 1859) : 
 
 "To my astonishment I find from the Bishop that 
 he has in his diocese eleven livings under 50 a year; 
 nine under 60 ; sixteen under 70 ; twenty-six under 
 80 ; twenty-one under 90 ; and thirty-five under 
 100; that is 118 clergymen with an average income 
 of about 83 a year ! Is not this melancholy ? It is 
 a satisfaction to me that I have given 500 to augment 
 Allhallows." 
 
 George Moore determined to ventilate this question. 
 At a meeting at Allhallows School, he made a speech 
 which was reported in the newspapers, protesting against
 
 230 RELIEVES DISTRESSED CLERGY. [CHAP. xv. 
 
 the small stipends paid to clergymen. A Mr. Sheehan 
 of Cork, seeing the report of his speech, wrote a letter 
 to the Wigton Journal in which he said, " I know for a 
 positive fact that Mr. Moore has upwards of seventy 
 porters in his establishment, and the half of them are 
 receiving more pay than seventy curates in England and 
 Ireland." No doubt this is true. A writer in Black- 
 wood's Magazine says, " The secret records of the 
 Clergy Aid Society could tell many a piteous tale of 
 dumb and inarticulate suffering of which the world hears 
 nothing and suspects nothing." 
 
 Mr. Moore communicated on the subject with Vil- 
 liers, Bishop of Carlisle, and sent him sums of money 
 from time to time in order to relieve the more distressed 
 clergymen. In the Bishop's answer to his first donation 
 he says, " In two cases during this present week your 
 present has enabled me to help poor clergy ; and I do 
 believe that I have carried essential comfort to homes 
 which I really could not have done without your kind 
 assistance. I cannot help letting you share the plea- 
 sure. . . . The hiring question is still exciting much 
 interest. ... I am hoping to stir up sermons for work- 
 ing classes in Carlisle during Advent." In another note 
 the Bishop says, " One line to thank you for your prompt 
 and liberal reply to my note regarding Allhallows. It 
 is a joy to think that the Lord has not only given you 
 the power but the will also thus to serve Him." 
 
 Two years after the date of this letter the Bishop 
 accepted the see of Durham, and made arrangements 
 for leaving that of Carlisle. When informing George 
 Moore of the intended change he said, " Now, my dear 
 friend, I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without 
 again and again returning my warmest thanks for the 
 increasing kindness and noble generosity I have expe- 
 rienced at your hands. I am afraid there are no George 
 Moores at Durham."
 
 CHAP, xv.] MOORE AND THE BISHOP OF CARLISLE. 231 
 
 During George Moore's visits to Cumberland he had 
 always received the Bishop's cordial support. The 
 Bishop saw that Moore was in earnest in his efforts to 
 improve the education and advance the spiritual wel- 
 fare of the people. An earnest man was the delight of 
 his life. A warm friendship had sprung up between 
 them, which death alone severed. To a certain extent 
 the two friends were alike in character strong, cou- 
 rageous, straightforward, and unflinching in the pursuit 
 of their respective objects. They were alike manly, 
 cordial, and popular. Their intimacy, however, did not 
 last much longer. The Bishop did not hold the see of 
 Durham for more than a year. After a painful and pro- 
 tracted illness he died on the 8th of August, 1861. 
 George Moore's name was among the last words he 
 uttered. 
 
 The arrangements for the repair and reconstruction 
 of Whitehall were now proceeding rapidly. The house 
 would soon be ready for George Moore's reception. 
 But he was alone. He had no wife and no children. 
 One day he went to see an intimate friend. " How 
 blessed he is," said he, " amidst his lovely family. I 
 wonder whether he has a coffin in any cupboard." 
 
 Mr. Moore felt an increasing sense of loneliness. He 
 could only relieve himself by inviting numerous friends 
 to dinner. " I seem to be afraid," he said, " of being 
 alone." Again he says, "I fear I am bringing more 
 anxiety upon myself by establishing a second house at 
 Whitehall. All my thoughts are centred in Whitehall 
 the plantations, gardens, fencing, and such like." At 
 his large, beautiful mansion in Kensington Palace Gar- 
 dens he said, " I feel very lonely, with no one in the 
 house but myself." At length Whitehall was finished, 
 and on the 2nd of October, 1861, he dined in the Hall 
 for the hrst time. 
 
 Some of Mr. Moore's friends hinted to him the neces-
 
 232 REMEDY FOR LONELINESS. [CHAP. xv. 
 
 sity of marrying. He was so social and affectionate in 
 his nature, that solitariness at home depressed him very 
 much and was specially unfitted for him. When he 
 entered his house, tired with his day's work, there was 
 no one to cheer him, no one to sympathise with him, no 
 one to lean upon. No matter how faithful the friends 
 were who came and dined with him, they did not light 
 up his home with joy. When they had departed and 
 the last man had left the door, the host was left solitary 
 and joyless. One day at Whitehall he writes in his 
 diary, " All this afternoon and evening I have had time 
 to think. When shall my solitary state be changed ? " 
 
 One of his intimate friends wrote to him from Brieg 
 in the valley of the Rhone, when on his way to the con- 
 ference at Geneva, giving Mr. Moore his confidential 
 views on this and other subjects. Indeed, Mr. Moore 
 seems to have asked him for his advice. "I have often 
 thought," said his counsellor, " that you might like a 
 partner for the remainder of your earthly career. If you 
 find one of God's sending, she would no doubt add much 
 to your happiness, share all your cares, and spare you 
 much trouble. . . . Wait for a little till she falls in your 
 way, and do not allow yourself to be looking out for 
 one." 
 
 Some months after the receipt of this letter, George 
 Moore found one on whom he could firmly set his affec- 
 tions. In his diary he speaks of her as his " castle in 
 the air." 
 
 He invited her relations, the Wilkinsons and Dents, 
 who were then in London, to dine at his house. " I like 
 them very much," he said, " but they are awful Tories." 
 He sought the lady out, and took her to the private view 
 of the Royal Academy. He found many opportunities 
 of seeing her. His affections were at length deeply en- 
 gaged. He visited her family in Westmoreland. At 
 last he secured the long-prayed-for and long-hoped-for
 
 CHAP, xv.] GEORGE MOORE AGAIN MARRIES. 233 
 
 consent. " I never," he says, " felt so grateful to God in 
 my life." 
 
 It would be out of place to enter into the details of 
 this union. It may be sufficient to state that the young 
 lady was Agnes, second daughter of the late Richard 
 Breeks of Warcop in Westmoreland. That she proved 
 a right loyal and noble wife will be found in the course 
 of the following narrative. 
 
 The marriage took place in St. Pancras Church on the 
 28th Nov. 1861, when they were married by the Rev. J. 
 W. Reeve. The newly-wedded pair proceeded on a 
 tour through France and Italy. 
 
 While at Rome, Mr. Moore made the acquaintance of 
 Mr. Adams-Acton, the sculptor, which afterwards ripened 
 into a friendship. Mr. Moore made the round of the 
 studios with him, and purchased several works of art. 
 Mr. Adams-Acton looks back to that period with much 
 interest. He says : 
 
 " I well remember my first interview with George 
 Moore at Rome. I was impressed with the sturdy terse- 
 ness of his manner, and the way that he looked into, and 
 electrically read your character. He had also a fearless 
 way of probing you, and never parted from your com- 
 pany without knowing more about you ; but withal, his 
 talk was always savoured with kindness and good 
 humour. He had a taste for art, and had always a 
 desire to possess the very best works of the best masters. 
 He accompanied me to some of the best studios in 
 Rome, and on each occasion he purchased works of 
 interest and beauty. 
 
 " He seemed also to enjoy, as few men do, the society 
 of every class of people-; and he had the quickness and 
 perception to make every one about him quite at ease. 
 He expressed as much interest and pleasure in the 
 society of artists and their works, as he would have done 
 with men with whom he had been engaged in matters of
 
 234 MR. ADAMS-ACTON, SCULPTOR. [CHAP. xv. 
 
 business all his life. I remember on one occasion, in 
 connection with M. Dasulavi, a very celebrated landscape 
 painter in Rome, getting up at one of the old Roman 
 osterias in the Trastevere, a dinner as nearly as possible 
 the same as those enjoyed by the Romans of old. Mr. 
 Moore entered into the spirit of the occasion as few men 
 would have done ; and M. Dasulavi spoke of him after- 
 wards as a man of wonderful elasticity of temperament." 
 After a tour of about four months, Mr. Moore and his 
 wife returned to London.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CHARITABLE WORK IN LONDON. RAGGED SCHOOLS. 
 
 MR. MOORE immediately recommenced his charitable 
 work. Mr. Masterman, M.P. for the city, having died 
 during his absence, he was offered the presidency of 
 the Commercial Travellers' Schools. But he declined 
 the honour. " I am very useful now as Treasurer," 
 he said, " and I prefer the useful to the ornamental." 
 He continued to give his utmost support to the institu- 
 tion. He took many of the bishops of London, 
 Ripon, Bath and Wells to Pinner, to examine the 
 scholars and award the prizes. 
 
 At the anniversary dinner of 1863 he had the plea- 
 sure of stating that of the two hundred and eighty- 
 five boys who had left the school, only one had turned 
 out badly. Those who had gone into business had 
 done well ; and all those who had gone to the Oxford 
 Middle-class Examinations had passed. When they 
 considered the number of children who had not been 
 merely saved from ruin, but who had been fairly 
 started in life, surely they had a portion of their reward. 
 It was also pleasant to find that the boys who had left 
 them did not forget the benefits they had received, for 
 several were now subscribing five guineas annually for 
 the benefit of the institution, and some of them had 
 given ten guineas to be life-governors. 
 
 Mr. Moore gave ten pounds annually for the purchase 
 of books, which were distributed amongst the best
 
 236 COMM:;:ICIAL TRAVELLERS' SCHOOLS. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 boys and girls of the schools. The " George Moore 
 Prizes " were usually presented by some distinguished 
 scholar, or by some dignitary of the Church. The 
 object of presenting them was to reward general good 
 conduct and perseverance, as exhibited in the results 
 of a written examination. 
 
 Mr. Moore's substantial help to the institution had 
 been so great that the subscribers desired him to sit 
 for his portrait, to be hung up in the hall as a memorial 
 of his services. The portrait was painted by Sir Daniel 
 Macnee (now President of the Royal Scottish Academy), 
 and was presented at the annual examination of the 
 schools in June, 1864. The honour, Mr. Moore says, 
 was forced upon him. 
 
 In commemoration of the event, Mr. Moore established 
 a scholarship of 7$ a year. The sum was applied 
 to the support and maintenance of a scholar for at 
 least three years at a higher class school. His object 
 was to bridge over the gap between the common schools 
 and the Universities ; and the result showed that he 
 was correct in his anticipations. Mr. Stockdale, chair- 
 man of the committee of management, followed with 
 another scholarship of the same amount. At one of 
 the annual meetings, held in 1872, when the Rev. Dr. 
 Farrar conducted the examination, Dr. Butler, head- 
 master of Harrow, who was present simply as a visitor, 
 was so much struck with the singular ability of one 
 boy, who was about to leave the schools, that he made 
 a voluntary offer to pay for a third scholarship for three 
 years, to enable this boy to be sent to a higher class 
 school. This third scholarship was afterwards con- 
 tinued by Mr. Copestake, George Moore's partner, and 
 is now called the Copestake Scholarship. 1 
 
 1 George Moore also offered to found a scholarship in connection with 
 the Warehousemen's and Clerks' Schools. Mr. S. Copestake and Mr. 
 Charles J. Leaf proposed to do the same, but for some reason or other the 
 offers were refused.
 
 CHAP, xvi.] " KILL YOUR FOX." 237 
 
 At a recent annual dinner of the Commercial 
 Travellers' Schools, the late William Longman, Esq., 
 publisher, occupied the chair. George Moore could 
 not attend, being confined to the house by a bronchial 
 cold. But he wrote a letter to Mr. Longman, which 
 was read to the meeting. He said : " I have most 
 pleasant recollections of our rides across country some 
 years ago, when you were never behind. I only hope 
 that on this occasion you will be able to ride the 
 Travellers hard, and kill your fox'' The chairman 
 explained that by killing your fox Mr. Moore meant 
 that he should get good subscriptions, which he did. 
 
 Mr. Hughes, in replying to the toast of " Success to 
 the Commercial Travellers' Schools," spoke of the 
 energetic character of his partner, George Moore. 
 " When he saw a thing that wanted to be done, he 
 endeavoured to do it promptly and efficiently. If 
 Temple Bar had been in Bow Churchyard, he would 
 have had it removed long ago. If Mr. Moore had 
 been an architect, the new Law Courts would have 
 been finished long since. If he had been an engineer, 
 the Straits of Dover would have been tunnelled before 
 now ! " 
 
 Mr. Moore went about on his different works of 
 charity and mercy. He went from the east to the west, 
 begging for the charities in which he took an interest. 
 He enlisted others in his service. He made them help 
 him. "No recruiting officer," said one of his friends, 
 " ever had a keener eye for a smart-looking recruit than 
 he had for a lively worker in his charitable objects." 
 Mr. Foster says of him, " Of all the persons I ever 
 knew, he had the greatest power of extracting talents 
 from others. No matter what it was, he would make 
 them either work for him,. or work with him. He could 
 never tolerate drones." 
 
 As he begged from all, so he was begged of by all.
 
 238 JOURNEY THROUGH THE COUNTRY. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 An open purse is always assailed. Beggars saw his 
 name on the various charity lists, and inundated him 
 with applications for money. " I am worried," he says, 
 "more and more every day with begging letters. To 
 investigate all these cases is entirely out of my power." 
 For it must be stated that he never contributed to 
 any object without thorough investigation beforehand. 
 Even when he went to Cumberland, parcels of begging 
 letters followed him. At Whitehall be says : " In this 
 lovely place I have received packets of all sorts of 
 applications for money. I really feel astonished at 
 some people's assurance." 
 
 During one of his rapid visits to Cumberland in 
 1862, to look after the reconstruction of the buildings 
 on his estates, he invited the sons of his farmers to 
 go up to London and see the Exhibition. He paid 
 their expenses, and entertained them at his house in 
 Kensington Palace Gardens. The young fellows had 
 never had such a treat before. They saw the Exhi- 
 bition, and went over London, seeing the sights of 
 which they had so often heard. Mr. Moore arrived in 
 London a few days after they had started. " I found," 
 he says, " all my farmers' sons happy and grateful." 
 
 He varied his labours in London with journeys on 
 the business of his house. He went down to Liver- 
 pool and visited all his customers. He says : " I really 
 feel as well up in business as I ever was in my life. 
 Suppose I came to grief, I could still work up a busi- 
 ness, and make it prosper." " I make it an invariable 
 rule in every town I visit to pay my respects to our 
 customers. I have done this to-day, and received 
 everywhere a kind reception. I hope I shall never 
 forget the bridge that carried me over." 
 
 Towards the end of 1862 Mr. Moore took cold at 
 one of his city meetings, and was laid up for some 
 time. The cold took the form of inflammation of the
 
 CHAP, xvi.] SEIZED WITH ILLNESS. 239 
 
 lungs, which was succeeded by pleurisy. Mr. Ray, 
 his brother-in-law, and Dr. Gull attended him during 
 his illness. His life was for some time despaired of. 
 Mrs. Moore attended him during this trying time with 
 rare devotion. She wrote up his diary for him. " My 
 mind," he said one day, " wanders over all the world 
 to my friends, to Cumberland, back again to London 
 to my past sins, to Whitehall, to our rides last 
 summer, and then to the future." He uttered these 
 words with a rapidity truly alarming, probably under 
 the influence of delirium. Then he muttered a great 
 deal about his traveller's life how he used to be away 
 the whole year, coming to Bow Churchyard only at 
 Christmas, constantly travelling, working his brain 
 night and day, because there was a report that the 
 house was breaking, and he knew that the blame 
 would fall upon him, as he had introduced so many 
 new plans. 
 
 Such dreams as these rushed through his mind : just 
 as the whole events of one's past life start up before 
 us in some moment of intense suffering or peril. By 
 and by his dreams passed away. As the bells of old 
 Kensington Church rung out the old year and rung 
 in the new, George Moore fell into a profound sleep, 
 which lasted many hours. It was the turning-point 
 from which his convalescence began. He rapidly grew 
 better. His medical attendant called one day and gave 
 him a strong lecture about the absolute necessity of 
 giving more rest to his brain and more healthy exercise 
 to his body. The advice was listened to, and was 
 followed to a certain extent But so soon as he had 
 got rid of his weakness, he returned to his old work. 
 A brain like his could not be idle. 
 
 He reflected on his narrow escape. " I have been," 
 he said, " in the valley of the shadow of death. I 
 have got up some steps of that ladder which reaches
 
 240 BOW CHUKCIIYARU MKKTINGS. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 to the heavens." He went to his senior partner, Cope- 
 stake, to arrange with him about private affairs, in case 
 God should take either of them, or both. Nevertheless, 
 he continued his old rounds in the city, until sleepless- 
 ness again followed him home. One day he notes the 
 following : 
 
 " I attended the British and Foreign Bible Society 
 Committee ; then the Fishmongers' Company, on ac- 
 count of the Prince of Wales's reception of the 
 freedom ; then the Committee for Theatre Preaching, 
 and the Commercial Travellers' Schools Committee. 
 Had a bad night." No wonder ! 
 
 To get rid of his city work for a time he went down 
 to Cumberland for a holiday. He went in February. 
 Tha weather was fine, and he enjoyed the planting and 
 laying out of his grounds. He was not, however, very 
 much satisfied with the people. " I fancy," he says, 
 " that the folks down .here do not think they have any 
 souls. The churches are comparatively empty." Before 
 he left, he started another colporteur, 
 
 He returned to London in time to see the Princess of 
 Denmark, the future Princess of Wales, make her entry 
 into the city. About a thousand persons were at Fish- 
 mongers' Hall to see the Princess pass. It was a scene 
 that will never be forgotten in England. 
 
 His young men had next to be .attended to. He 
 got up one morning at 6.30, and went into the city to 
 prayers, in the midst of fog and darkness. The Rev. 
 Mr. Rodgers was now conducting family worship to 
 about a hundred daily. Several associations had been 
 started for the benefit of the young men and young 
 women. There were Devotional meetings, Bible classes, 
 a Mutual Improvement Association for adults, and a 
 Self-help Association for apprentices. The library con- 
 tained more than a thousand volumes, and was supplied 
 with upwards of forty daily and weekly newspapers,
 
 . xvi.] GEORGE MOORE'S FAVOURITE BOOKS. 24! 
 
 besides periodicals. Lectures were delivered by men of 
 high position and influence. 1 
 
 We ought also to state, that Mr. Moore took the same 
 
 O ' 
 
 pains with his employes at Nottingham, as he had done 
 \vith those at Bow Churchyard and Milton Street, 
 London. The Rev. Francis Morse, vicar of Notting- 
 ham, himself undertook the office of chaplain at the 
 factory. He said prayers, and gave a short exposition 
 from scripture every morning. Mr. Moore expressed 
 his gratitude to him for the earnest and loving interest 
 which he showed in the work. 
 
 Another feature in Mr. Moore's character was his 
 extensive patronage of religious books. He took edition 
 after edition. He ordered books by the hundred and 
 the thousand, to give to his young men, and to send to 
 the missionaries throughout the country. He bought 
 endless copies of Miss Marsh's books. He sent a copy 
 of Arthur's Italy to every library in Cumberland. He 
 ordered thousands of Ryle's Exposition of St. Luke, 
 which he distributed all over the country. The Memoirs 
 and Remains of Dr. M'Cheyne was a special favourite. 
 
 On the death of Mr. Western Wood, M.P., in 1863, 
 Mr. Moore was again invited to offer himself as candi- 
 date for the City. A deputation of Liberals waited on 
 him, and urged him to stand. Many others, indepen- 
 dent of politics, offered their support. Even the secre- 
 tary of the Conservative Registration Committee in- 
 formed him that in the event of his coming forward 
 they would not oppose him. No ! he would not stand. 
 He could not leave his charitable work ; he could R*>t 
 
 1 Among the lecturers at Bow Churchyard, we find the names of the 
 Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of London, Winchester, 
 Peterborough, and Carlisle, the Rev. Baptist Noel, Dr. Brock, the Rev. 
 Newman Hall, the Rev. J. C. Ryle, Capt. Trotter, Miss Marsh, Mr. 
 Stevenson Blackwood, the Rev. J. Bowen, Dr. Allon, Dr. Parker, the 
 Rev. HughStowell Brown, the Rev. R. Macguire, the Kev. Mr. Arthur, the 
 Rev. Mr. Braden, the Rev. Mr. Maclagan, Dr. Stoughton, Dr. Cutrmings, 
 Professor Fowler, and others. 
 
 R
 
 242 REFUSES TO BE MEMBER FOR THE CITY. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 leave his business. He was still of opinion that he 
 would not be in his right place in Parliament. " Let 
 them get younger men men educated as statesmen 
 should be." Instead, therefore, of offering himself as a 
 candidate, he went to the Guildhall and spoke in support 
 of Mr. Goschen, who was returned. Mr. Moore writes 
 these words in his diary, " How strange is the wheel of 
 fortune ! Who could ever have thought when I left 
 Wigton, that I should have been asked to represent the 
 City of London in Parliament ?" 
 
 On the day after the election he visited a number of 
 poor people. He visited fifty-three of the pensioners 
 of the Fishmongers. At 7 P.M. he attended a Bible 
 reading at one of the dormitories of the establishment in 
 Charterhouse Square, and afterwards visited the Por- 
 ters, a hundred in number, to establish classes for their 
 mental improvement. Besides these classes he took 
 steps to establish a library at 49, Bow Lane, for the 
 use of the porters of London. One day was, however, 
 so like another in his city work, that it would weary 
 the reader to give an account of his labours in detail. 
 
 While engaged in these works he entered the follow- 
 ing words in his diary : " There are many seasons when 
 I am devising, planning, scheming, and arranging. But 
 I have only been rough-hewing as yet. The mason is 
 not a sculptor. My life contrasts greatly with that 
 of many Christians, whose whole lives are full of 
 perplexity, anxiety, and care. But I am not suffi- 
 ciently grateful for all my blessings. When I die 
 I shall carry nothing away. My memory will soon be 
 forgotten. The good deeds I have done (and they are 
 but few) will not descend after me. Every day I feel 
 more and more my unworthiness. I have nothing to 
 rest upon but Christ, yet surely that is enough for me." 
 
 Mr. Moore was already treasurer of many institutions, 
 and now he was appointed treasurer of Garibaldi's
 
 CHAP, xvi.] THE GARIBALDI FUND. 243 
 
 Fund ! Many will remember the extraordinary sensation 
 produced in London by the reception of Garibaldi in 
 April, 1864. Mr. Moore was somehow drawn into the 
 demonstration. He went to Nine Elms Station, with 
 the self-constituted committee, to receive him. He sat 
 with him in the open carriage in which he proceeded 
 through the streets of London to the Duke of Suther- 
 land's palace. He invited him to dine with the 
 Fishmongers' Company. He contributed a hundred 
 guineas towards- buying him an estate in his own 
 country. But Garibaldi was too independent to receive 
 money from his entertainers. Accordingly George 
 Moore divided his intended donation between the 
 Church Missionary Society and the Pastoral Aid 
 Society. 
 
 All this occurred amidst much business and many 
 meetings. The day after Garibaldi's reception, Mr. 
 Moore attended the annual dinner of the British Home 
 for Incurables, where the purse collected by him was 
 the heaviest. The day after, he took the chair at the 
 City Mission Meeting at Kensington. He was still 
 attending the Committee of the Royal Free Hospital ; 
 the Boys' Refuge ; the Ragged Schools ; and other 
 societies too numerous to be mentioned in detail. 
 
 A few entries may be given from his diary : " I 
 visited all the model lodging houses in London. We 
 can do no good for the souls of the poor until we have 
 got their bodies properly housed. I afterwards attended 
 the first meeting of the Boys' Refuge. 
 
 " God often reads us the story of our lives. He 
 sometimes shuts us up in a sick room, and reads it to 
 us there. I shall never forget all that I learnt this time 
 last year [during his attack of pleurisy]. 
 
 "There is a crook in every lot, and a briar beset- 
 ting every path of life, from youth to age. Is not life 
 full of trouble ? We exchange only one scene of trial 
 
 K 2
 
 244 EXTRACTS FROM GEORGE MOORE'S DIARY. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 for another. But so long as God directs, we cannot 
 go wrong. 
 
 "Called upon the Duke of Cambridge at 12 noon. 
 Posted him well up about the Travellers' Schools. He 
 asked me all about my business in the City, and said he 
 was astonished how it could be so easily managed. 
 
 "The Duke of Cambridge [on the following day] 
 took the chair at the Travellers' Schools dinner. He 
 did capitally. I did badly. I told him all I knew. 
 He recollected it, and made my speech." We got 
 ^1,170. I made every exertion that man can do. 
 
 "Bought 752 of M'Cheynes Memoirs, and 500 of 
 Bonar's Way of Peace. Gave them to each of our 
 young people, and to the country town missionaries. I 
 am always watering other people's vineyards. Let me 
 not neglect my own ! " 
 
 Among the new things that he began to support 
 during the years 1865 and 1866, were the Little Boys' 
 Home and the Field Lane Ragged Schools. He began 
 his donations to the former in 1865, and continued his 
 support to the end of his life. 1 He arranged with Mr. 
 Hanbury and others for the purchasing of the land 
 for the Home at Farningham, in Kent. He sent out 
 numerous letters to his friends urging them to sub- 
 scribe. In one of his letters he says, " There are 
 ten Family Homes at Farningham with their groups 
 of thirty boys in each, making 300 in all. Besides 
 the home training which is given them, they are 
 educated by efficient teachers, and trained to industrial 
 work by which they may earn an honest livelihood. 2 
 
 1 In 1866, Mr. Moore gave .200 towards building the Little Boys' 
 Home, and in 1870 Mrs. Moore gave ^1,000 to build the last House. In 
 1876 Mr. Moore left ^3,000 to the institution. 
 
 2 The Home has its workshops, in which are carried on the various 
 trades. First, home : second, education : third, industrial training. All 
 boys over ten years of age are half-timers, attending school and work 
 alternately. The trades are superintended by the Fathers of the Houses, 
 <md embrace breadmaking, printing, shoemaking, engineering, bookbinding,
 
 CHAP, xvi.] THE LITTLE BOYS' HOME. 245 
 
 I wish you to understand that we take in children that 
 are not eligible for any other institution. They are 
 too young for any of the refuges, and too destitute for 
 any of the orphan asylums. We want about ^"2,000 
 a-yea-r to carry on our work, besides our present sub- 
 scriptions." The result of this application was that 
 a considerable additional subscription was obtained. 
 
 The institution was principally founded for the pur- 
 pose of affording a home to ragged boys who were in 
 danger of falling into crime. It was founded on the 
 plan of the Miiller Orphan Asylum at Bristol. It 
 consisted of a series of houses over each of which a 
 house-father and house-mother presided. One of these 
 houses was provided by Mrs. Moore, and is called the 
 " George Moore Lodge." Several boys were sent by her 
 from Cumberland to this Home. 
 
 Mr. Walter has well described the kind of boys who 
 enjoy the advantages of the Home. 1 " They come," he 
 said, " from the highways and byways, the streets and 
 the alleys of this metropolis and other crowded 
 thoroughfares they come from the hedges and lanes of 
 remotest country districts, from the wilds of Cumberland 
 and the moors of Cornwall they are what lawyers 
 called in olden times the flotsam from the wrecks which 
 drift past us in the great tide of human existence." 
 
 And again, in contrast with the district schools for 
 pauper boys, he said : " The characteristic of this 
 institution was that it was a Home ; and a home was 
 what no child could afford to be without. In that word 
 rested the whole secret and charm of the institution. 
 They might, perhaps, remember not very long ago that 
 Lord Beaconsfield, on another occasion in which he 
 
 tailoring, gardening, painting and glazing, carpentering, farming. The 
 woikshops form part of a large central building, which also contains the 
 needle-room, the laundry, the swimming bath, and the superintendent's 
 residence. 
 
 1 At the annual dinner, 1877, Mr. Walter, M.P., in the chair.
 
 246 THE OUTCASTS OF LONDON. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 was equally interested, described home as the unit of 
 civilisation a very happy expression, as he thought. 
 It was the unit of civilisation, because it was the centre 
 of all those domestic affections which make men, 
 women, and children what they are. In fact, all the 
 ideas and associations which impart joy to youth, rest 
 and comfort to manhood, and peace and consolation to 
 old age, cluster round the word. That was the key of 
 this institution, and certainly it was a most happy name 
 to have selected for it." 
 
 Besides attending to the orphan boys of London, 
 Mr. Moore gave a good deal of his time and attention 
 to the outcasts of London. No one knew better than 
 he did, the misery and wretchedness of the lowest dregs 
 of society. He knew the rich and he knew the poor 
 the luxury and seeming brilliant gaiety of the upper 
 ten thousand, and the misery and wretchedness of the 
 lower ten hundred thousand. He knew the "whited 
 sepulchres, which were beautiful without, but within 
 full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." 
 
 He knew London by night as well as by day. He 
 knew it from the East to the West. Many a time 
 he went down to St. George's-in-the-East, and to 
 Wapping, to look after the poor. He accompanied the 
 missionaries into the lowest dens of London. Scarcely 
 a day passed without his being engaged in doing some 
 good work for the destitute ; and yet he grievously 
 complained of the little he could do compared with 
 what he ought to have done. 
 
 One day he enters these words : " Again I went out 
 amongst the poor with the missionary, and relieved 
 them. Such dreadful filth, rags, and poverty ! " How 
 little could he do to uplift them from their wretchedness 
 and misery. He saw what social neglect had done 
 for these poor creatures, debased physically and 
 morally. As for religion, they had never heard of it.
 
 CHAP, xvi.] VISITS LONDON AT MIDNIGHT. 247 
 
 The pale cheeks, the stunted bodies, and the weary 
 eyes of the children, haunted him. He could not get 
 rid of the sight. He was summoned, however, to make 
 new efforts on their behalf. 
 
 One night he went, accompanied by a superin- 
 tendent of police, by the permission of his friend 
 Colonel Henderson, through some of the lowest parts 
 of London. What sights he saw ! Poor ragged souls 
 searching for somewhere to sleep ; drunkards, making 
 night hideous ; wretched women plying their un- 
 hallowed trade. They passed through casual wards, 
 and saw life in its vilest conditions. 1 He was shocked 
 to find human beings in such degradation. Reckless- 
 ness and vice lay huddled together. Faces haggard 
 with woe and brasen with iniquity, were turned up for 
 a moment to the solitary light which gleamed dimly in 
 the apartment. The thieves' lodgings were still worse. 
 There he saw festering masses of criminals, gaol-birds 
 and others, living by c*ime. All this was lying close 
 under the surface of the civilisation of London the 
 richest city in the world ! 
 
 To George Moore it seemed that the only true way 
 of teaching these people was to get hold of them when 
 young, to bring the children of the poor into schools, 
 and thus get them under better influences. Hence his 
 support of ragged schools, and ragged school brigades, 
 in all parts of London. Hence also his support of 
 orphanages, especially for the poorer . classes. And as 
 these people would not go to church, he strenuously 
 supported the city missions, so that the poorer classes 
 might be visited at their own houses and brought under 
 religious influences as much as possible. 
 
 1 This subject was afterwards referred to by the Lord Mayor at a meeting 
 at the Mansion House. He said Mr. Moore had visited by night the West 
 London Union, at Battle Bridge, and informed him of the result of his 
 visit
 
 248 TREASURER TO RAGGED SCHOOLS. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 In June 1866, Mr. Moore was requested to become 
 Treasurer of the Field Lane Ragged Schools. Many 
 years before, he had given fifty guineas to start the first 
 ragged school in London. Since then he had generously 
 supported them. Day by day throughout the year he 
 sent (with the consent of his partners) the surplus pro- 
 visions of his warehouse dinner, which supplied substan- 
 tial meals to a large number of ragged children 
 perhaps the poorest to be found in London. 
 
 The reason why Mr. Moore consented to become 
 treasurer may shortly be explained. It was found that 
 the number of annual subscribers had fallen off, and that 
 the institution was getting into debt. The Committee 
 proposed to get the help of some leading member of the 
 aristocracy ; but one of them said, " No no ! let us get 
 the help of some hard-working, practical man : let us go 
 to George Moore ! " The suggestion was unanimously 
 approved, and a deputation waited upon him at his 
 counting-house. Though already hard pressed by work, 
 when the circumstances connected with the institution 
 were made known to him, he at once consented to accept 
 the treasurership, and went a-begging accordingly. 
 
 We have before us the pass-book in which he entered 
 the names of the new subscribers. He himself started 
 the list with 100 annually. This was an example for 
 others. Barclay and Co., Rothschilds, Mr. S. Morley, 
 followed him. Some houses of great wealth and influ- 
 ence followed very lamely, and many contributed 
 nothing. But the result of the begging was a consider- 
 able increase in the funds of the institution. 
 
 The objects of the institution may be briefly men- 
 tioned. It included baby schools (creches), infant schools, 
 boys' and girls' schools, night schools for girls, and also 
 for men and boys in situations. There was an industrial 
 school for girls, where they learnt to sew and make 
 clothes. There was also a mother's class, to sew and
 
 CHAP, xvi,] USE OF RAGGED SCHOOLS. 249 
 
 mend clothes. The building was a refuge for the home- 
 less poor, men and women. Young women were kept 
 there until situations could be obtained for them. The 
 institution contained a penny bank ; Bible classes ; a 
 ragged church, where as many as from 700 to 900 people 
 attended ; a prayer meeting ; a youth's mutual improve- . 
 ment institute ; and other excellent arrangements. 
 
 To show the depths of society to which the ragged 
 schools descended, it may be mentioned that the parents 
 of the children educated there included beggars, street- 
 singers, street-salesmen, porters, hawkers ; in a word, the 
 migratory and helpless poor of London. The men and 
 women who frequented the Refuge included those who 
 had been overwhelmed by misfortune, but who had never- 
 theless maintained integrity of character ; and who, but 
 for the temporary help of the refuge, must have sunk 
 down in hopeless despair. Bible instruction was given 
 every evening by voluntary teachers, most of whom were 
 engaged in mercantile establishments in different parts 
 of the metropolis, and who therefore had many oppor- 
 tunities of providing destitute persons with employment. 
 
 The Refuges were still more useful as regarded young 
 women, reduced by sudden illness, misfortune, or want 
 of employment, to utter destitution. During the first 
 year of George Moore's treasurership, 1,800 respectable 
 young women took refuge in the institution. Over 800 
 of these found situations, employment, or were restored 
 to their friends. What the fate of these young women 
 might have been but for the refuge, need .hardly be sug- 
 gested. It acted as a friend in need to those who, but 
 for it, were never at any time in their lives more in need 
 of a friend. 
 
 At one of the meetings held shortly after George 
 Moore became treasurer, he said that there were five 
 free schools, in which twelve hundred boys and girls were 
 educated without charge, and through which, since their
 
 250 SUCCESS OF RAGGED SCHOOLS. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 opening, 20,000 children had passed, of whom 4,000 had 
 been placed in situations, thereby gaining their own 
 living. Another feature in the report was the class of 
 young girls of from ten to sixteen, half of whom were 
 already able to earn their livelihood. Then there was 
 , the mothers' class, in which sewing and mending clothes 
 were taught, but the main feature of which was religious 
 instruction in a word, Bible truth. At the ragged 
 church, 200,000 souls had already come under the in- 
 fluence of the Gospel. During the previous year, nearly 
 15,000 persons had benefited by the institution. These 
 were great facts. Experience was the best test of truth. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Brock followed Mr. Moore, and related 
 some interesting facts. One was that of a man originally 
 taken from the " gutter," who after training in a ragged 
 school, went to South Africa, where he became a respect- 
 able member of society, and eventually a Wesleyan 
 preacher. Another case was that of a young man who 
 was trained in the schools, and went out to Canada. 
 Hearing that his sister had become a fallen woman, he 
 got six weeks' leave of absence, came over to London, 
 waited in the Hay market until he met her, and carried 
 her out with him to Canada. There she married, and, 
 with the exception of her brother, was the happiest in 
 the land. 
 
 But the institution was still in difficulties. At the 
 beginning of 1870 it was 2,000 in debt. George Moore 
 sent round a circular amongst his friends, and followed 
 it up with a personal visit. " Long experience," he said 
 in his circular, " teaches us that the most effectual means 
 of relieving poverty and preventing crime is to educate 
 the young in the habits of usefulness and industry before 
 they have become hardened in idleness and crime." He 
 earnestly requested all his friends to visit the institution, 
 and make themselves acquainted with the nature and 
 utility of the works carried on.
 
 CHAP, xvi.] GETS THEM OUT OF DEBT. 251 
 
 He devoted several days to going the rounds of his 
 friends. The result was that by one great effort he 
 cleared off the debt. On the 26th of May he said at 
 the annual meeting that he was happy to be able to 
 inform them that the institution was entirely out of debt ! 
 He did not like debt as regarded either private or public 
 institutions, and he had determined to wipe it off, and 
 get them out of their difficulties. He had collected more 
 than 2,000, and obtained from four to five hundred 
 new subscribers, many of whom had previously enter- 
 tained a prejudice against the schools and the refuges. 
 
 Thus, whatever George Moore undertook to do, he did 
 thoroughly. He spared no pains and shirked no labour 
 in effecting his objeet. Many thought it an undignified 
 thing on the part of a rich city merchant to go about 
 amongst ragged and filthy people; amongst thieves, 
 tramps, and vagrants ; even though it were to elevate 
 their idea of duty, and lift them up into a higher life. 
 He himself said, he felt that nothing could reach to the 
 depth of human misery, or heal such sorrow as theirs, 
 but the love of Jesus the Good Shepherd who yearned 
 over them with Infinite Pity, and had given His life for 
 the sheep. 
 
 It was not so much the amount of money as the 
 amount of thought that he gave to these afflicted people. 
 The poor and the destitute were constantly in his mind. 
 He could not sleep for thinking about them. The weary 
 eyes of the hungry children haunted him. Lowest of all 
 beneath the tramps, the beggars, and the helpless 
 were the miserable women whom he met on his way to 
 the midnight meetings. What could he do to reclaim 
 them ? He did what he could, and yet he was often 
 thrown back by the fruitlessness of his work. 
 
 But he had many encouragements. His labours did 
 not sink into the ground. He shed a sort of sunshine 
 amongst those he worked for. He diffused blessings
 
 252 ENCOURAGEMENT OF SYMPATHY. [CHAP. xvi. 
 
 around him. He had the love of all ; and love is growth. 
 A little kindliness will produce a great deal of happiness. 
 Even a friendly grasp of the hand will help a struggling 
 man upward. It is sympathy that is so much needed. 
 This was the maxim under the influence of which George 
 Moore worked. And thus he lifted up many of his 
 poorer fellow-creatures making them holier, happier, 
 and better. " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of 
 the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto 
 ME."
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 LIFE IN CUMBERLAND. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE'S life was many-coloured. He led a 
 town life and a country life. After tramping the city 
 in search of subscriptions, he went down to Cumberland 
 to ramble over the Fells. When oppressed with brain- 
 work, he started for Brighton, and had a gallop over the 
 downs with the harriers. When wearied with his Com- 
 mittees, he would set out for Tring, hunt with Lord 
 Lonsdale's foxhounds, and be in at the death with the 
 huntsmen. 
 
 Among the happiest days in George Moore's life were 
 the days of his arrival at his Border Tower in Cumber- 
 land. He was then seen at his best. He enjoyed with 
 almost child-like feelings his north-country home. He 
 was there, in true English phrase, really jolly. Instead 
 of sitting in his London office, oppressed with business, 
 or correspondence, or worry, he was in the midst of the 
 scenes of his boyhood, and amongst the friends whom he 
 loved. Everybody knew of his coming, and all who 
 could, welcomed his arrival. 
 
 When George Moore's flag was up, everybody knew 
 that great things were coming. The children of the 
 neighbourhood, more than all, welcomed his arrival ; for 
 were not the competitive examinations coming on, and 
 with them the prizes, the books, the sweetmeats, and the
 
 254 GREAT THINGS AT WHITEHALL. [CHAP. xvn. 
 
 tea-feasts ? He had scarcely settled down in his country 
 home, when friends and acquaintances gathered round 
 him : Archbishops, bishops, deans, nobles, artists, squires, 
 clergymen, dissenting ministers, farmers, merchants, city 
 and county missionaries, schoolmasters, great men from 
 London, and small men from everywhere. 
 
 There was no end of things to be done at Whitehall. 
 The farmers had to be visited, and the repair of the 
 farmsteadings looked to. His own home farm was in- 
 spected, and the state of the shorthorns inquired into. 
 The gardens/the plantations, the fencings, the outbuild- 
 ings, had to be seen, and various orders given about 
 them. 
 
 There were numerous meetings to be attended after 
 his arrival. The Perambulating Library was still on foot, 
 and he presided at the annual meeting. He went to 
 Carlisle and took an active part in the Book-Hawking 
 Society. He attended the schoolmasters' conference 
 at Wigton. He summoned conferences of Scripture- 
 readers to meet at his house. On these occasions, 
 addresses were given in the hall. 
 
 The hall is a grand old place. The walls are wains- 
 coted with oak as in border times, and adorned with 
 armour, spears, steel jacks, horned heads, flags, and 
 banners. How different were Mr. Moore's assemblies 
 in the hall from the scenes in the olden times, when the 
 cry of the men-at-arms as they set out on their border 
 forays, was " Snaffle, spur, and spear ! " 
 
 Although Mr. Moore went down to Whitehall for 
 recreation, he worked almost as hard there as he did in 
 London. He was inundated with letters. One day he 
 says, " The letters I receive are really astonishing, and I 
 have to answer them all myself." After breakfast he 
 retired from the hall into the smoking-room with his 
 bundles of letters. This was his own room. It was 
 fitted up with an escritoire, shelves full of books, and
 
 CHAP, xvn.] LABOURS AT WHITEHALL. 255 
 
 other suitable furniture. Over the quaint old-fashioned 
 oak fireplace was a piece of metal work, fastened into 
 the wall, containing the old saying : " How much pain 
 the evils have cost us which have never happened." 
 This was the place in which he stored his numerous 
 books for prizes, for county missionaries, and for distribu- 
 tion amongst people of all classes and ages. Here he 
 had the photographs of his dearest friends, the pictures 
 of the Pinner schools, and the sketches of his favourite 
 horses. 
 
 He usually occupied this room in the morning from 
 ten till two, rarely allowing himself to be disturbed 
 from his work. Those who wanted him knew they 
 would find him there, though they could scarcely 
 reach him because of the numerous letters which he 
 had answered, and that were strewn about the floor as 
 thick as snow-flakes. He sometimes wrote from thirty 
 to forty letters in a day. " Indeed," he said, " I work 
 harder here than in London." In the same room he 
 gave audience to his tenants, to his outdoor servants, 
 to the labourers on the estate, and to the village 
 missionaries labouring in the surrounding district. 
 
 In the smoking-room also hangs an illuminated 
 tablet, on which is inscribed the address on charity 
 written by St. Paul to the people of Corinth. At the 
 head of the tablet, in large bright letters, are the 
 words, " Charity never faileth ; " and at the end, " Now 
 abideth faith, hope, and charity, but the greatest of 
 these is charity." The words were, in fact, a true 
 illustration of Mr. Moore's character. He took them 
 to heart, and tried to work them out into fact. To do 
 gcod and to communicate was the joy of his life. 
 " The more I give," he said, "the more I get." 
 
 The house was always full. One party succeeded 
 another. It emptied and filled from week to week. 
 One day he records : " All the beds and dressing-
 
 256 LORD BROUGHAM. [CHAP. xvn. 
 
 rooms are filled. Two bishops, the high sheriff, the 
 chancellor of Carlisle, and many more. My dear wife 
 much fatigued." No wonder ! Then the partridge- 
 shooters came, and the house was again " brim full of 
 guests." He had a long day's shooting with them, 
 during which he walked for eight hours. 
 
 In August, 1864, the competitive examinations were 
 at their zenith. He owed the suggestion of this parti- 
 cular examination to the Rev. G. T. Moncrieff, Dr. 
 Simpson of Kirby Stephen and the Rev. Canon Hodg- 
 son. The two first arranged all the details, set the 
 papers, and had all the labour of the examination. 
 Without their knowledge and assistance the thing could 
 not have existed ; and Mr. Moore always acknowledged 
 that these men deserved all the credit of the scheme 
 and the success of its working. In that year the prizes 
 were given by Lord Brougham. Though a veteran in 
 years, his intellect was as unclouded as ever, and his 
 conversation was remarkable for its satire and keenness 
 of observation. He gave proof of his powers when 
 giving an address to the schoolmasters and others after 
 the prizes were distributed. He made a quotation from 
 Milton on the blessings of peace, but his memory failed 
 him at the two last lines. He stood silent, with lips 
 apart and outstretched hand for what seemed moments 
 of suspense, and then repeated two lines of metre which 
 fitly took the place of the right lines. 
 
 After dinner that evening, there were many present 
 who wished to hear Lord Brougham converse ; but he 
 was tired and reserved. George Moore asked him if he 
 thought the Empress of the French had much influence 
 over her husband in Church matters. " She has just the 
 influence," he replied, " that every woman has on her 
 husband : she nags, nags, NAGS, till she gets her own way." 
 
 In August, 1865, the prizes were presented by the 
 Archbishop of York. The Bishop of Carlisle, the Lord
 
 CHAP, xvii.] THE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. 257 
 
 Mayor of London (Alderman Hale), Dr. Percival (Master 
 of Clifton College), Sir Wilfrid Lawson, and other dis- 
 tinguished persons were present. Sir Wilfrid, in the 
 course of his speech, said that Mr. Moore, when he 
 came down among them in Cumberland, acted very 
 much the part of a despotic monarch. They lived, 
 while he was present, under what he called a mild 
 despotism. This day, and the ceremonies connected 
 with it, were, as he might say, one of the "time- 
 honoured institutions of the county," and it must be 
 very gratifying to Mr. Moore to observe how popular 
 and how successful that useful and time-honoured 
 institution had become. 
 
 The Archbishop, after presenting the prizes, made 
 an excellent practical speech on education, and on the 
 system established by Mr. Moore of competitive ex- 
 aminations. He then proceeded : " The reason why 
 so many parishes in this country have no schools is, 
 that the inhabitants don't take an interest in education. 
 They don't value it ; their minds are not right on the 
 subject. The upper classes are content with a low 
 standard of knowledge, and they allow the lower 
 classes round about them to remain uncultivated and 
 untaught. Now, Mr. Moore has done his best to stir 
 up in the country round about a great interest in edu- 
 cation. He knows that as soon as men's minds are 
 directed to the difference between a being thoroughly 
 untaught in everything and a being properly instructed 
 in the knowledge of God and in the knowledge of the 
 world around him, all people with common hearts and 
 with common good feelings will set their minds to work 
 to remove the ignorance, and lead the people out of 
 darkness into light. 
 
 " I think it is a beautiful thing that a man immersed 
 in business to an extent hardly any of us can conceive, 
 yet finds time every year to come here. He does not 
 
 s
 
 25? THE ROMANCE OF CHEAPSIDE. [CHAP. xvn. 
 
 say he is very busy, that he has a headache, or that he 
 wants to go abroad ; but he comes here every year for 
 ten years, and busies himself about these poor children 
 whom we have looked upon with such interest, and to 
 whom he has given a pleasure that will never be for- 
 gotten by them as long as they live. I call that recol- 
 lection of the home of his childhood, which has often 
 shone upon him in the hours of business, and given him 
 the greatest pleasure, a beautiful romance of real life 
 a romance of Cheapside as good as any other romance, 
 and I, for one, feel the greatest interest in it." 
 
 Besides examining boys and girls, Mr. Moore ex- 
 amined cattle and sheep. He was beginning his herd 
 of short-horns. He went to all the cattle-shows. He 
 gave prizes for horses, donkeys, and shepherds' dogs. 
 He was asked to take the chair at the dinners follow- 
 ing the cattle shows, and on those occasions he made 
 speeches. In 1865, for instance, he presided at the 
 dinner following the Cumberland Cattle Show, the 
 Wigton Farmers' Club, the Wigton Cattle Show, the 
 Cottage Gardeners' Meeting, and the Cumberland 
 Agricultural Society. "After four nights of conse- 
 cutive speaking," he said, " I am entirely pumptout!" 
 But he was not yet done. The Bible Society's Meet- 
 ings came round, and he attended them at Wigton, 
 Allonby, and West Newton. 
 
 Nor did he forget his business in the midst of his 
 speechifying. From Whitehall he started for Glasgow 
 to look after the branch there. In 1863 he set out for 
 Aberdeen, where he " found all in an uproar ; an ap- 
 prentice, a porter and his wife, being in prison for 
 stealing goods, and another person for receiving them." 
 Having put matters straight, he returned to Edinburgh, 
 where he called upon his customers ; after which he 
 attended the meeting of the Social Science Association 
 and dined with Lord Brougham. During the time he
 
 CHAP, xvil.] LIVING AT WHITEHALL. 259 
 
 stayed in Edinburgh he resided with Mr. Cowan, now 
 member for the city. 
 
 Living at Whitehall was a sort of perpetual picnic. 
 Mr. Moore was the soul of every entertainment. He 
 had a happy knack of making all his guests heartily 
 welcome. At breakfast-time he would take no refusal 
 for the specially cured ham, or the little trout taken 
 from the River Ellen, " the best in the world," of which 
 he was justly proud. When Sir Thomas Chambers 
 visited him, George Moore said, when he was helping 
 the guests, " You do not press the article. There, I will 
 give anybody a penny who will eat this egg ! " By his 
 cheeriness he always made the breakfast one of the 
 pleasantest meals of the day. 
 
 Those who had the pleasure of visiting Whitehall 
 will recollect the enthusiasm with which excursions to 
 the surrounding scenery were planned, or the picnic 
 organised on some fell-side or mountain-top. One day 
 a pleasure party would be at Caldbeck, where they 
 climbed the rocks to gather parsley-ferns. Another 
 day they went to Bassenthwaite and rowed on the lake ; 
 or they ascended Skiddaw, from whence they had a 
 glorious panorama of the Cumberland lakes and the 
 Cumberland fells. 
 
 Then there was the drive back to Whitehall in the 
 twilight, when George would tell stories of the olden 
 times, when highwaymen were hanged for stealing a 
 leg of mutton, and of the days of his boyhood, his 
 hunts with John Peel's " scratch pack," his schooldays 
 with Blackbird Wilson, and of the Bogles at Bolton 
 Hall. He would rivet the attention of his listeners 
 too while he told his tales, and his cheeriness spread 
 quickly over all about him. 
 
 Nor was a walk with him over the farm without 
 interest. He had erected model byres for his short- 
 horns, under the direction of his friend Mr. Fos/-<ir of 
 
 S 2
 
 26o A GENEROUS AND CONSIDERATE HOST. [CHAP. xvn. 
 
 Killhow. He had brought water some distance from 
 the River Ellen, and had at great cost placed a turbine 
 wheel to work all the thrashing and other machinery 
 of the farm. His fields by extra cultivation yielded 
 heavy crops. His herd of shorthorns was improving 
 from year to year, and was becoming well known. He 
 delighted to show his improvements and his failures 
 to his visitors. Or he would take them into some 
 farmhouse to sup curds or have a dish of tea, and 
 would talk to the mistress in pure Cumberland dialect 
 of her lad's prospects, the lad probably owing his start 
 to Mr. Moore's finding a situation for him. 
 
 His considerate care for the wants of his guests, 
 his disposition to consult their wishes, and that perfect 
 freedom which is the great charm of an English house 
 of the higher sort, rendered a visit to Whitehall one of 
 the most delightful of pleasures. It is said that to know 
 a man as he is, you must travel with him or live with 
 him. Those who knew George Moore merely as a man 
 of business or as an attender of charitable committees, 
 did not really know him. It was only at Whitehall, 
 in the midst of his guests, or when " frisking over his 
 own soil," as he called it, that you could know the 
 thorough geniality, joyousness, and hospitality of the 
 man as he really was. None ever left Whitehall no 
 matter of what class or condition without carrying 
 away with them some very pleasant and abiding recol- 
 lections of the welcome which they had received from 
 both host and hostess. 
 
 Though he had many dignitaries of the Church to 
 visit him and receive his hospitalities, he did not for- 
 get the Dissenting ministers. Every year a party of 
 them dined with him at Whitehall. He was greatly 
 indebted to them for the missionary help which they 
 had given him. He was told that the Wesleyan 
 chapels were very much in debt. He offered to give
 
 CHAP, xvil.] THE PODK WELCOMED AT WHITEHALL. 261 
 
 twenty per cent., provided the people would bestir 
 themselves to pay off the remainder. In numerous 
 instances great efforts were made, and most of the 
 chapels that had been sadly burdened with debt 
 became free. 
 
 " Mr. Moore informed me," says a Wesleyan minister, 
 " that he made his gifts towards Wesleyan chapels con- 
 ditional, that he might stimulate others to deeds of 
 liberality. His generosity in this case encouraged our 
 people to renewed efforts, and many a sinking cause 
 was stimulated into new life. He often sent me parcels 
 of books for the use of our Sunday-schools, and many 
 a suitable volume for our local preachers. George 
 Moore's name will ever be a household word among 
 the Wesleyans of Cumberland." 
 
 George Moore was like the good old English gentle- 
 man, who, " though he feasted all the rich, he ne'er 
 forgot the poor." The very poor folk and old widowed 
 women were warmly welcomed at Whitehall. There 
 was an annual feast for these old pensioners. At tea 
 he always waited on them with his wife ; and gifts of 
 tea, clothes, and money, were distributed to each of 
 them. He received them separately in his smoking- 
 room, where their special circumstances or troubles were 
 listened to, and he frequently refers to it in his diary 
 " Had our old women's tea-feast the happiest day my 
 wife and I spend in Cumberland." It was always the 
 last entertainment before he returned to London for the 
 winter. 
 
 The servants of the household were not neglected 
 during Mr. Moore's stay at Whitehall. No one was 
 kinder to those of his household than he was. One 
 day he mounted each of his men-servants to go to the 
 hunt at Brayton, but "Geering (the coachman) came to 
 grief." Another day he sent every servant in the house 
 to Keswick to see the lakes and the mountains. The
 
 26* TREATS TO THE MISSIONARIES. [CHAP. xvn. 
 
 schoolmaster and his mother accompanied them. Dur- 
 in their absence, George Moore and the Rev. H. Harris 
 taught the children in the school, and Mrs. Moore and 
 the visitors cooked the dinner. " I taught the children 
 all day," he says, "and my wife and Louisa Groucock 
 cooked the dinner, and some one else made the beds, 
 and we all were tired to death at night. I shouldn't 
 care for it often ; but I do rejoice in giving pleasure to 
 others." 
 
 Among the various persons whom Mr. Moore invited 
 to Whitehall were the city missionaries of London and 
 the county missionaries of Cumberland. He paid their 
 expenses during their holidays. Rooms were appro- 
 priated for them at the home farm, and also by Mr. 
 William Lawson, at his farm at Blennerhasset. He 
 treated them as he did his wealthier friends. He cut 
 out many excursions for them. He sent them up the 
 fell-sides ; drove them to Bassenthwaite, and made it a 
 real holiday for them. 
 
 They were most thankful for the treat They felt 
 that " their lines had fallen in pleasant places." On one 
 occasion, when the city missionaries and their wives had 
 returned to their labours in London, they wrote a con- 
 joint letter of thanks to George Moore. They said, 
 " We beg most gratefully to acknowledge our thanks 
 for your great kindness in affording us the means of 
 three weeks' rest in Cumberland. Our observations of 
 nature of the rivers, lakes, hills, and valleys espe- 
 cially of Mount Skiddaw and the Bay of Allonby, have 
 greatly tended to enlarge our views of the wisdom and 
 power of God. Our visit to Cumberland has also given 
 us the opportunity of having much intercourse and 
 fellowship with each other, for which we feel truly 
 thankful." 
 
 Another of the Cumberland missionaries on his return 
 home wrote as follows : " Having fairly got to work
 
 CHAP, xvii.] HIS YOUNG MEN AT WHITEHALL. 263 
 
 again, refreshed and enlightened by our delightful con- 
 ference at Whitehall, I desire to express my gratitude 
 to you for affording us such a favourable opportunity 
 for meeting to confer with one another upon subjects so 
 important to us as teachers of so many others. It gives 
 us the opportunity of knowing our own littleness, which 
 often becomes an important element in our usefulness. 
 Altogether, too, it is always a profitable season for us, 
 though an expensive one for you. But never, I am 
 sure, will your princely kindness be bestowed upon men 
 more grateful in return than the poor Scripture-readers 
 of Cumberland. All of us have carried away a feeling 
 of gratitude to you and your worthy lady for your 
 kindness and countenance to our gathering ; also to 
 your household servants, who were all so courteous 
 and polite. I am sure, sir, you have all our prayers. 
 God bless you ! " 
 
 Mr. Moore also invited many of his young men from 
 Bow Churchyard to Whitehall to share in its enjoy- 
 ments. Most of the young Cumberland fellows, for 
 whom Mr. Moore had got situations in London, called 
 upon him in the course of their holidays. One of them, 
 for some time in his employment, says, " Since a boy I 
 have known him intimately. I can yet feel his grasp 
 of my arm, with 'Well done, Blinraset/ 1 when I took 
 a prize at his first competitive examination. To me 
 he was always the same kind, blunt George Moore of 
 Whitehall and even of Bow Churchyard. His first 
 greeting removed all embarrassment. His character at 
 Bow Churchyard was only partially known amongst the 
 employes, but to those who had the privilege of visiting 
 him at home in Cumberland he showed the most un- 
 bounded kindness. He has often told me that he 
 considered it a mark of disrespect if any of the young 
 men from London neglected to call upon him at White- 
 1 Blennerhasset, a village in Cumberland.
 
 264 THE PORTERS AT WHITEHALL. [CHAP. xvn. 
 
 hall and dine with him, no matter how many lords, 
 bishops, or commoners were there. All were alike 
 welcome, and once inside his house, he soon made you 
 feel it." 
 
 There was often a very mixed assembly at Whitehall, 
 of Bishops, Scripture-readers, warehousemen, farmers, 
 city missionaries, Sunday-school children, pensioners, 
 and Statesmen. One day, when the children were play- 
 ing about, Thomas Moore came up the fields, covered 
 with hay, and the hay-rake over his shoulder. George 
 Moore introduced him to the Bishop of Carlisle as his 
 brother Thomas, the distinguished Statesman ! And 
 statesman no doubt he was, though not of the Par- 
 liamentary order. 
 
 Amongst those who were invited to the Hall, were the 
 porters from Bow Churchyard. Some of the elder porters 
 came first, and 'amongst them John Hill, the oldest in 
 the establishment. During tbfcir visit, Mrs. Moore went 
 out one morning, and was crossing the park, when she 
 came upon a venerable person, standing on a rising 
 ground, staring about him with astonishment at the 
 gardens and buildings. " Are you looking for some- 
 body ? " asked Mrs. Moore. " No," said he, " I am just 
 looking round about, and thinking what a fine place it 
 is, and how we helped to make it ; I have really a great 
 pride in it ! " With tears in his eyes, old Hill told how 
 he had worked forty years for the firm ; how they had 
 .all worked hard together. " I was the only porter 
 then," he said. "All has changed now. We are the 
 biggest firm in the city. And yet," he continued, " those 
 days do not look so far off either." John went up to the 
 top of the Peel Tower, at Harbybrow. He looked along 
 the valley to Whitehall ; and round the surrounding hills. 
 It was a grand estate. " Yes," he said, " WE did it." 
 
 Mr. Moore sent his invitations far and wide. He 
 asked an old friend and fellow-helper, the branch
 
 CHAP, xvii.] THE ARCADIANS OF CUMBERLAND. 265 
 
 manager at Bristol, to come and visit him at Whitehall. 
 "No," said Mr. Brown, "trade wants close attention 
 at present, and I can't take a holiday this year." By 
 the next post a letter arrived from Mr. Moore, inviting 
 him and his wife to Whitehall, and inclosing fifty 
 pounds to pay their expenses, " in order," he said, 
 "that you may have no excuse for not coming." Mr. 
 Brown and his wife accordingly went, and, while there, 
 enjoyed the house and estate as f they had been their 
 own. When parting, Mr. Moore presented his friend 
 with a vase which he admired, as a remembrance of 
 the visit. 
 
 George Moore was much distressed about the little 
 good that he could do for his native country. " I went," 
 
 he says, " to the Rev. Mr. about his school. I am 
 
 determined to get one built in his heathen parish." 
 He was amazed to find a clergyman protesting that he 
 " had no time to look after his schools." Another day 
 he says, " I do not appear to be able to do any good in 
 Cumberland. Ignorance prevails ; and yet when such 
 clergymen as Lyde of Wigton and Schnibben at Brom- 
 field are doing their utmost, good results must follow. 
 Wigton has privileges that were unknown in my day. 
 The lads won't make use of the reading-rooms and 
 libraries as they should. If they only knew how they 
 will regret this afterwards, they would be wiser." 
 
 A great stir was roused in 1865, by a letter addressed 
 by Dr. Percival of Clifton College to George Moore, 
 on the morality, or rather the immorality, of Cumber- 
 land and Westmoreland. Dr. Percival was himself a 
 Westmoreland man, and, like George Moore, was an 
 ardent admirer of his native county. Yet here was a 
 blot upon the morality of both counties, revealed by the 
 Registrar-General's returns, which he thought ought to 
 be obliterated. Eleven out of every hundred children 
 born in Cumberland and Westmoreland were illegiti-
 
 266 ILLEGITIMACY IN CUMBERLAND. [CHAP. XVH. 
 
 mate. The Times published the letter and followed it 
 up with a leading article on the Modern Arcadians of 
 Cumberland. "How is the matter to be remedied?" 
 said the writer. " We know of no agency capable of 
 reaching it except publicity. Let it be clearly under- 
 stood and widely made known that the labours of 
 clergymen, schoolmasters, and scripture readers are 
 thwarted and defeated by conditions of life in these 
 counties which ought to be curable." 
 
 The following is from George Moore's diary : " Had 
 
 three hour's talk with Mr. H. as to illegitimacy. I 
 
 find that he does not like my doings. Still he was kind 
 and sensible. He said I had raised the anger of some 
 of the upper ten thousand. He believed that if I 
 persevered, I should lose my political influence. This I 
 am prepared to lose. Excelsior! must be my motto." 
 In the midst of these inquiries, Mr. Moore went to 
 Carlisle, to see the hiring fair. " I was shocked," he 
 says, "to see men and women bought like sheep in a 
 market, and engaged without knowledge, or references, 
 or character." 
 
 Numerous letters appeared in the local newspapers. 
 The subject was taken up at the conference of the 
 Evangelical Union at Keswick. George Moore was 
 blamed for publishing Dr. Percival's letter, and for 
 throwing dirt upon Cumberland and Westmoreland. 
 
 George Moore himself was doing the best that he 
 could to remedy the evil. The building of schools in 
 his native district, the improved education which he 
 had sedulously fostered, the extension of Sunday 
 schools, the appointment of missionaries who visited the 
 poorest of the people and ministered to their spiritual 
 welfare, the establishment of working men's reading 
 rooms where pure and wholesome literature was circu- 
 lated, were among the means which, if rightly carried 
 out and earnestly persevered in, were calculated to
 
 CHAP, xvii.] EFFORTS AT IMPROVEMENT. 267 
 
 foster morality and elevate the sons and daughters of 
 toil into a better and purer life. 
 
 The Dowager Countess Waldegrave, an old lady of 
 eighty, came to his help. She attended George Moore's 
 competitive examination at Wigton, and addressed the 
 pupils and their mothers on the subject of their social 
 duties, especially upon thrift, carefulness, and simplicity 
 in dress. She had watched through a long life, the 
 increasing tendency of English girls to wear fine and 
 often tawdry dresses. She told the girls that they 
 spent more than they could afford in unnecessary and 
 useless finery, and that they did not look well after all. 
 She had also a word for the mothers, who had so much 
 influence in forming the characters of their children, 
 especially of the girls. Nothing, she said, could be done 
 without the help of the mothers. It was quite true, 
 what Lord Shaftesbury had said : " Give me," said he, 
 " a generation of Christian mothers, and I will undertake 
 to change the whole face of society in twelve months." 
 
 Another important .subject occupied Mr. Moore's 
 attention while in Cumberland, the improvement of 
 cottage dwellings. He held that morality begins in the 
 home ; and that if you would have society pure, you 
 must improve the conditions in which people live. You 
 must provide abundant space for sleeping accommoda- 
 tion, plenty of pure air, and good drainage. Unless 
 these are provided, moral and spiritual influences can 
 have but little effect in raising people out of the mire 
 in which they have lived. In a letter to the Wigton 
 Advertiser, Mr. Moore said " The crowded condition 
 of a large number of the labourers' cottages, and the 
 pernicious influences they create, are a scandal to the 
 proprietors, and would sap the morality of any class of 
 people. It is a moral cancer, and education itself is of 
 little use while these evils exist." 
 
 In attempting to improve the labourers' cottages of
 
 268 NIMKOD AGAIN. [CHAP. xvn. 
 
 Cumberland, Mr. Moore was beginning at the beginning. 
 To encourage this object and to give the people a pride 
 in their homes, he started a competition of cottage 
 gardeners. Mr. Potter, his head gardener, was one of 
 the chief judges on these occasions. After receiving 
 their prizes, the cottagers were entertained in George 
 Moore's hospitable mansion. 
 
 George Moore continued as ardent a hunter as ever. 
 He had a strong fibre of joyousness in his nature, which 
 firmly touched the solid earth. His love of athletic 
 sports showed an amount of animalism in him which 
 was no bad foundation for a superstructure of practical 
 morality and virtue. Nor was it inconsistent with reli- 
 gion. His knowledge of men and human nature was 
 great. He could work with all and sympathise with all. 
 He was no narrow bigot. He had a heart as wide as 
 the world. 
 
 At the same time he sometimes became jealous of his 
 love of sport. Was the devil, in this way, trying to draw 
 him away from better things?. Not at all! It was 
 wholesome, it was healthy. He delighted in taking a 
 good gallop, because it was good for his constitution, 
 and worked off his nervous energy. 
 
 When he went down to Cumberland he knew the 
 ground thoroughly, and hunted with more delight than 
 anywhere else. One morning in October he met the 
 hounds at Westward Parks ; he had them all to himself, 
 except the huntsman. Three days after he met the 
 hounds at Brayton. They killed the fox, and George 
 Moore got the brush. But he did not forget his social 
 duties. The same evening he went to see his poor 
 pensioners at Boltongate, visited them, and gave them 
 relief. 
 
 On another day he met the Cumberland hounds at 
 Waverbridge. " Found a fox in my covers, and ran him 
 to earth at Brayton. Found again, and ran him back to
 
 CHAP, xvii.] A HUNTING ACCIDENT. 269 
 
 my covers to earth. Bolted him again, and killed him 
 in the open. I never rode better." A few days after 
 he went to a hunt breakfast at the Honourable P. Wynd- 
 ham's. The pack found and killed two foxes. " I 
 hunt," he says, " not only for pleasure, but for my 
 health. The exercise does me great good. I really do 
 not see any harm in a gallop with the hounds, if I did, 
 I would not go out again." 
 
 But again he hesitates about it, and asks, " Is it con- 
 sistent with my profession ? Taking the chair at a 
 young men's meeting, attending prayer and Bible read- 
 ings, and then hunting ?" Again he says, " Had a good 
 gallop with the hounds ; killed two foxes. Is this my 
 sin, my besetting sin ? If I thought it were, I should 
 never hunt again." 
 
 One day he goes out to meet the hounds. " My new 
 horse, Bold Boy, on seeing the hounds, rose up on his 
 hind feet. I threw myself off, thinking he might come 
 down upon me. However, I mounted again, and had 
 a capital gallop." Again, " I met the hounds at Crofton 
 Hall ; ran three foxes. I must have ridden nearly fifty 
 miles. I make my health my excuse. The fresh crisp 
 air does me good. I am always at home when on 
 horseback." 
 
 In March, 1867, he met with an accident which put 
 a stop to his hunting for a time. The meet was at Tor- 
 penhow. From thence they went to the top of Binsey, 
 a heathery fell to the south of Whitehall. There they 
 found a fox, and viewed him away. Always anxious 
 to keep up with the hounds, Mr. Moore rode fast down 
 the hill. But his bay mare got her foot into a rabbit 
 hole, and the rider got a regular cropper. He found 
 that his shoulder was stiff. Nevertheless he mounted 
 again, and gallop _J away. The hounds were in full cry. 
 He kept up pretty well, though his shoulder was severely 
 hurt.
 
 270 A HUNT NEAR WHITEHALL. [CHAP. xvn. 
 
 Next day he entertained a dozen friends, amongst 
 whom was the master of the hunt and Frank Buck-land. 
 Nothing was talked about but fox-hunting. " I think," 
 says Mr. Moore, " I must make yesterday my last 
 day's hunting." Shortly after he consulted a celebrated 
 surgeon at Carlisle about his shoulder. The joint was 
 pronounced to be "all right;" though the muscles 
 were found to be strained and hurt. Nothing could be 
 done for the pain but to grin and bear it. 
 
 Notwithstanding the intense pain in his shoulder, Mr. 
 Moore hunted once more. The year after his shoulder 
 had been injured, he invited the Cumberland Hunt to 
 meet at Whitehall. About sixty horsemen were present. 
 They breakfasted in the old Hall, and then proceeded 
 to mount. Mr. Moore was in low spirits, because of the 
 pain in his shoulder. At first he did not intend to join 
 his friends. But Geering, his coachman, urged him to 
 go, and Sir Wilfrid Lawson joined in his persuasions. 
 At length Mr. Moore's favourite horse, Zouave, was 
 brought out, and with his arm in a sling, and a cigar 
 in his mouth, he consented to mount. Mrs. Moore and 
 Lady Lawson ascended the tower, and saw the brilliant 
 red-coats ride away through the park. 
 
 The array of horsemen passed on to Watch-hill and 
 found a fox. He was viewed away, and went across 
 Whitehall Park, close under the wall of the west-front 
 garden, followed by the hounds and riders. It was a 
 sight not often to be seen. The day was splendid, 
 although it was in November. The sun was shining, 
 and the red-coats, jumping hedges and fences amidst 
 the green fields, brightened up the picture. The fox 
 went up the hill, out of sight of the gazers from the 
 tower, and was lost in Parkhouse cover. 
 
 Again the hunt proceeded to Watch-hill, and found 
 another fox. Away it went, almost in the same direc- 
 tion, passing through Whitehall Park, with the hounds
 
 CUAP. xvn.] GEORGE MOORE'S LAST HUNT. 271 
 
 and hunters at its heels. There was a slight check at 
 Park-wood. Then it took straight away for Binsey, 
 went up the side of the hill and passed on to Snittle- 
 garth, and was lost at Bewaldeth. 
 
 It grew dark. No more could be done that night. 
 No fox had been killed, though the hunters had got a 
 splendid run. Mr. Moore returned home with his arm 
 in his sling, though nothing the worse for his day's 
 exercise. "It was," he says, "a very enjoyable day. 
 I -do like a day's hunting, I always feel more light 
 s-nd buoyant after it." 
 
 This was his last hunt 1
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 CHRIST'S CHURCH, SOMERS TOWN. FISHMONGERS' 
 
 COMPANY. 
 
 ON his return to London from Cumberland, Mr. Moon 
 found plenty of work waiting for him. " I am now a 
 City man," he says on one occasion ; " I find three 
 drawers full of letters, reports, and applications for 
 money. I have the best of partners, who let me spend 
 three or four months in Cumberland at my will." 
 Indeed Mr. Moore had now been working hard for 
 the firm for nearly forty years, and was fairly entitled 
 to an occasional rest. 
 
 Nevertheless he stood to his work as usual. His 
 reappearance at Bow Churchyard was the signal for 
 bustle and hard work. It seemed to set the whole gear- 
 ing in quicker motion. The word " George Moore has 
 arrived ! " passed like magic from mouth to mouth. It 
 found every man at his post, from the smallest errand 
 boy to the oldest in the firm, at " attention ! " When 
 George Moore was in the house, he was a sort of pater- 
 nal despot. His influence was great over all who came 
 in contact with him. His will was never disputed ; and 
 he never abused his power. 
 
 One of the young men who served under him now in 
 Iowa, America says of George Moore, " He was the 
 most particular man in small things that I ever saw, and
 
 CHAP, xviii.] ACCURACY IN ACCOUNTS. 273 
 
 no doubt this was a great cause of his success. Few 
 men could find out a flaw in the accounts which he 
 audited, quicker than he did. He was very apt at 
 figures, and his decisions, like his movements, were quick 
 and correct. I may mention an instance. I was engaged 
 in making out the private accounts against the firm 
 George Moore's account amongst the rest. To show 
 how strict and business-like this merchant prince was, 
 and it marked his character all through, he found that I 
 had debited his account with 3d. for a ''bus to Euston/ 
 for which we had no voucher. 
 
 " We had to keep a voucher for every penny paid out ; 
 and though hundreds of such items occurred through- 
 out the year, we had no voucher for this. Mr. Moore 
 audited the accounts, and though he went over hundreds 
 of pounds, he stopped at the threepence for the 'bus to 
 Euston. ' Where's the voucher for this ? ' he asked. ' If 
 the account be threepence wrong, it might as well be 
 three hundred pounds wrong. Find the voucher !' We 
 hunted together two of us for three days, without 
 effect. We searched through every letter and voucher 
 for a year back. Every drawer was ransacked ; and still 
 no success. The search was at last given up as hopeless. 
 Mr. Moore was told that the voucher for threepence 
 could not be found. He was furious ; he refused to pass 
 the accounts ; and we couldn't balance. 
 
 " I then recollected a circumstance which had occurred 
 jome time before. Mr. Moore had sent to Bow Church- 
 yard for a fish, which he requested to be sent to Euston 
 station by a porter. Mr. Moore was in a hurry ; he was 
 going down to Whitehall. He hadn't time to give the 
 porter either a ticket or the money; but promised to 
 send it, or give it on his return. The man neglected to 
 ask him for it ; and the clerks, knowing the expenditure 
 to be right, had debited it to him without a voucher, 
 
 T
 
 2 74 VOYAGE TO ANTWERP. [CHAP. xvin. 
 
 thus infringing one of the strictest rules of the firm. 
 On the circumstance being mentioned to him, he at once 
 admitted its correctness ; but at the same time he gave 
 the clerks a sound lecture for their inaccuracy." 
 
 Among the new objects which he attended to at this 
 time, besides those already mentioned, was the Christian 
 Community, the Haverstock Hill Orphan Asylum, and 
 the Industrial Dwellings Company founded by Alderman 
 Waterlow. He took a particular interest in the latter 
 company, as its object was to erect cheap buildings for 
 the labouring classes. As has already been said, he 
 held that without the solid foundation of a healthy 
 home, all the efforts made to raise the lower classes 
 from their depraved condition, would for the most part 
 be comparatively fruitless. 
 
 During the absence of his wife at Ems for the benefit 
 of her health, Mr. Moore visited Charles Dickens at 
 Gadshill, and enjoyed himself there for several days. 
 "I was delighted," he says, "to find that Charles 
 Dickens was sound upon the Gospel. I found him a 
 true Christian without great profession. I have a great 
 liking for him." 
 
 Mr. Moore afterwards proceeded to join his wife at 
 Ems. He went by steamer to Antwerp. During the 
 voyage he encountered a distinguished-looking clergy- 
 man walking the deck. He soon made up to him, and 
 the two entered into conversation. They first spoke 
 about general topics, and then proceeded to talk about 
 the work of the Church. They found that they held 
 very different views as to Church policy, and yet they 
 were very much pleased with each other. " Who can 
 this be ? " thought George Moore. " I know most of 
 the Low Church divines. This must be one of a dif- 
 ferent order." At last he took the liberty of asking his 
 fellow-traveller's name, at the same time giving his own.
 
 CHAP, xvin.] ARCHDEACON DENISON. 275 
 
 The stranger proved to be Archdeacon Denison. The 
 latter has kindly furnished the following recollections 
 of the voyage : 
 
 " It was easy to see that we were of very different 
 I might say of opposite schools in the matter of the 
 religious life. Such differences there must always be, 
 and there is no larger field that I know of for the 
 exercise of 'charity. ' I had much talk with Mr. Moore, 
 and it left a lasting impression upon me, not more 
 lasting than comforting. I found a man ready and 
 glad to extend to me all the respect and kindliness 
 which I was ready and willing to extend to him, one 
 who had done great things for himself and for his ; and 
 who had not been content to rest there, but had done 
 great things to his fellow-men wheresoever he came into 
 contact with them. I looked upon him and listened to 
 him, with all our wide difference, with the respect, and I 
 will add with the love, that is always won by a character 
 and life like his. I parted with him with regret, and 
 the day has always lived among my happy memories." 
 
 " I never knew a man," said one who knew him well, 
 " whose religion was more thoroughly a part of himself." 
 He was not ashamed of the views which he held, but 
 was ready, on suitable occasions, to speak out his mind. 
 When dinirg with a friend, one of the guests ventured 
 to ask in general terms, " Surely there is no one here so 
 antiquated as to believe in the inspiration of Scripture ? " 
 " Yes, I do," said George Moore, from the other side of 
 the table, " and I should be very much ashamed of my- 
 self if I did not." Silence followed, and the subject was 
 changed. 
 
 The ladies went to the drawing-room, and the gentle- 
 men followed. " Can you tell me," asked the non-believer 
 in inspiration, of a lady, " who is the gentleman who so 
 promptly answered my inquiry in the dining-room ? " 
 " Oh, yes ! He is my husband." " I am sorry," said he, 
 
 T 2
 
 2/6 THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. [CHAP. xvm. 
 
 "you have told me that so soon, for I wished to say 
 that I have never been so struck with the religious 
 sincerity of any one. I shall never forget it." 
 
 One thing astonished George Moore, as it did many 
 others, to see clever men assuming the cast-off garb of 
 Tom Paine, and going about the country teaching 
 atheism under the name of "Science." "There are 
 many proud philosophers," said he, " strutting about 
 amongst us, telling us that it is of no use to pray to 
 God, as He cannot and will not alter the laws of nature. 
 In my belief, such philosophers are mere blasphemers." 
 And again : " My theology is utterly untouched by the 
 plague of rationalism. I have no wavering about the 
 inspiration of the Word no picking and choosing amid 
 alleged myths no paring down of the atonement." 
 
 Mr. Moore was a great lover of the Bible. He cir- 
 culated it far and wide. He sent thousands of copies 
 to Cumberland, to be distributed amongst the people. 
 He circulated it through the lower parts of London by 
 the hands of the City Missionaries. He made presents 
 of it to his young men and women, to his porters, and 
 to the poor people whom he entertained. He tried to 
 introduce it into the bedrooms of every first-class hotel 
 in Paris. He succeeded in ten cases ; but failed in 
 three. 
 
 When the Emperor of Russia was in London in 1867, 
 George Moore, with two members of the British and 
 Foreign Bible Society, waited upon him to present the 
 " Bible of every land," and to express their congratu- 
 lations upon his Majesty's providential preservation from 
 the wicked attempt made upon his life during his visit 
 to the Paris Exhibition. To this address, the Emperor 
 said : " I thank you from my heart for the sentiments 
 which you have now expressed to me. I have been 
 profoundly touched by them, and I beg that you will 
 make this known to all your countrymen. I sincerely
 
 CHAP. XVIIT.] MIDDLE-CLASS SCHOOLS. 277 
 
 thank you for waiting upon me with this address." 
 Laying his hand upon his heart, he again said, " I 
 have been deeply touched by the sentiments you have 
 expressed." 
 
 Religious principle had been a great power in George 
 Moore's own life. He wished it to be a great power in 
 the lives of others, and he did what he could to make 
 it so. Works distinctively Christian were very dear 
 to him. Beginning with children and youths, he was 
 immovably resolute as to the supreme importance of 
 their religious training. He insisted upon having Scrip- 
 ture reading in every school whose councils he directed. 
 He cared comparatively little for what is called denomi- 
 national teaching. He liked the Prayer-book, but he 
 loved the Bible. The daily Bible-lesson was a sine qua 
 non of his help. Thus, when the Middle-class schools 
 were established, Mr. Moore joined hand and heart with 
 other wealthy merchants of London in furthering the 
 success of the undertaking. 
 
 He was called upon at the end of 1865 and informed 
 of the intention to start a series of middle-class Schools 
 in and about London. The scheme was so entirely in 
 conformity with his views of bridging over the gap be- 
 tween the day-schools and the universities, that it at 
 once met with his support. He promised to give a 
 thousand pounds on one condition that the religious 
 education was to be conducted in the same manner as 
 in the City of London School. The same condition was 
 required by Alderman Hale, then Lord Mayor. 
 
 Dr. Abbott, Head Master of the City of London 
 School, informed him that prayers were read there every 
 morning and evening, that the Bible was read and the 
 knowledge of the boys tested by examination in every 
 class of the school. The sons of Jews and Roman 
 Catholics who objected to the religious instruction 
 given, were of course exempted. This was quite satis-
 
 278 CONTROVERSY WITH MR. TITE. [CHAP. xvnr. 
 
 factory to Mr. Moore, and he accordingly attended some 
 of the meetings of the Middle-class Education Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 One day he was absent : there had been many pro- 
 posals made for and against, when the honorary secre- 
 tary, a clergyman, gave his opinion of the discussions 
 that were going on about " sound religious instruction," 
 by uttering the expressive formula, " Hang theology, let 
 us begin ! " " These terrible words," says the Saturday 
 Review, " were duly read by Mr. Moore in the Standard 
 of next day and his resolution was at once taken. 
 Whether the hanging of theology is or is not sanctioned 
 by the Bishop of London, it is not, it seems, adopted in 
 the City of London School, and accordingly Mr. Moore 
 assumed that the stipulated condition had been dis- 
 regarded, and that he was therefore freed from his bar- 
 gain." 
 
 A controversy took place between Mr. Tite and Mr. 
 Moore. The former demanded the promised subscrip- 
 tron : the latter refused, because the condition on which 
 he had promised the subscription had not been com- 
 plied with. Besides, Mr. Moore ascertained that reli- 
 gious instruction was altogether disregarded. " I am 
 in a position to state," said one who knew, " that no 
 class in the Middle-class School begins or ends with 
 prayer, nor is the Bible used in any way. There is no 
 approximation existing, or likely to exist (so far as pre- 
 sent experiences go) towards religious instruction in that 
 school." 
 
 Mr. Moore stuck to his point. It was not a matter 
 of money with him, but a matter of principle. He 
 declined to pay a farthing until the promised condition 
 had been fulfilled. In the course of the correspondence 
 Mr. Moore said that " education, without direct religious 
 teaching, is a mere delusion. It is like launching a ship 
 on a dark night, in a storm, without helm or compass.
 
 CHAP, xvin.] BISHOP OF LONDON VISITS SCHOOLS. 279 
 
 It is professing to train immortal beings that they may 
 run the race of life and obtain a happy hereafter, and 
 yet not giving them any rule how to run so as to 
 obtain." 
 
 The strong, clear, direct common sense, which had 
 gained him his reputation as a man of business, guided 
 him throughout He saw that to talk about a good and 
 complete education, from which religion was purposely 
 excluded, was sheer nonsense; that teaching morals 
 without religious practice, was merely building upon a 
 foundation of sand. In his Diary, he says : " The 
 Bishop has given me liberty to publish his letters for 
 my vindication in the case of the middle-class schools. 
 Tite, M.P., has been bullying me for months for the 
 money I promised conditional on their being identical 
 with the City of London School. I hope I am not 
 mistaken in standing out. If I am wrong it is very 
 sad." 
 
 The correspondence was published. Mr. Moore was 
 inundated with letters approving of his conduct. The 
 newspapers were full of articles and correspondence on 
 the subject. It was at last found necessary to fall in 
 with his wish. The Bishop of London visited the 
 schools, and examined the arrangements. He informed 
 Mr. Moore " that the head master now gives religious 
 instruction to each boy whose parents do not claim that 
 he should be exempted. These religious instructions, 
 which occupy the first hour of every day, are com- 
 menced by prayer given by a clergyman of the Church 
 of England. This is the arrangement which, I am 
 assured, has been adopted in consequence of, or at least 
 following upon, the correspondence of last summer, and 
 I think they are wise and good." 
 
 This assurance was perfectly satisfactory to Mr. 
 Moore. He went himself to visit the schools. He 
 enters this memorandum on the subject: "May 5th,
 
 280 ERECTS A CHURCH IN NORTH LONDON. [CHAP. xvui. 
 
 1868. I have this morning heard the Rev. Mr. Jowett 
 give two lessons at the Middle-class Schools which lasted 
 an hour and a half. This was my second visit. I am 
 bound to say that I have no longer any hesitation in 
 paying the thousand pounds, which I have done to-day. 
 I thank God that I have fought this fight manfully, 
 and have succeeded in getting the Bible and prayers 
 into these schools. This has been accomplished by 
 perseverance. I felt it was my duty, or I could never 
 have fought the battle single-handed against the Council, 
 composed as it was of the first men in the city." 
 
 It may also be mentioned that Mr. Moore supple- 
 mented his gift to the Middle-class Schools by investing 
 five hundred pounds in the name of the Corporation 
 for the encouragement of the study of Holy Scripture. 
 There is a half-yearly examination on the subject, and 
 the income arising from tne amount is expended in 
 prizes for the boys who distinguish themselves. 
 
 While this controversy was going on, Mr. Moore 
 was occupied in erecting a church in the northern part 
 of London. He had, from the first, been on the com- 
 mittee of the Bishop of London's Fund. Something 
 had been accomplished, but a great deal more remained 
 to be done. George Moore modestly says in his 
 Diary : " I spent three hours to-day with the Bishop 
 of London's Fund ; but I don't think myself useful." 
 In June, 1866, he invited a distinguished party to his 
 house in Kensington Palace Gardens, to receive state- 
 ments of the work which had been done, and of the 
 further help that was required. The Bishop of London 
 and Lord Shaftesbury were the principal speakers. In 
 the course of the Bishop's speech, he said of one 
 district : l 
 
 1 The distnct was at Spitalfiel<?s, in the east of London. The facts 
 above stated are for the most part taken from the Report of the Rev. 
 R. H. Hammond, then in charge of the district referred to by the Bishop 
 of London.
 
 Cir. xvnr.] LONDON IN TTIE NINETEENTH CENTURY. 281 
 
 " Not one person in a hundred habitually attends a 
 place of worship. Of the 228 shops in the district, 212 
 are open on Sunday ; though about 70 are closed on 
 Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. Not half the Gentile 
 population can read ; half the women cannot ply a 
 needle. One mothers' meeting has seventy members, 
 half of whom, though living with men and having 
 families, are unmarried. Nine families out of ten have 
 but one small room in which to live, eat, and sleep. 
 Not one family in six possesses a blanket, or a change 
 of clothing. Not one in four has any bedding beyond 
 some sacking, which contains a little flock or chopped 
 straw. Not one in twenty has a clock; not one in 
 ten has a book. Many of the houses are in the most 
 wretched condition of filth and dirt. The walls, ceil- 
 ings, floors, and staircases are broken and rotten. 
 Drunkenness, brawling, blaspheming, and other sins, 
 are fearfully prevalent. Forty-three lodging-houses 
 accommodate two thousand lodgers, who pay from 
 threepence to sixpence a night. Some are occupied 
 by poor hard-working people, gaining an honest liveli- 
 hood, while others are called 'thieves' kitchens,' the 
 lodgers living by theft, burglary, and other criminal 
 practices." 
 
 What a picture of London in the nineteenth century ! 
 London, the richest city in the world London, 
 with its mercantile wealth London, with its gaiety, 
 its luxury, and its enormous expenditure ; and yet 
 London, with its seething mass of want, wickedness, 
 and crime lurking underneath a mere whited sepulchre, 
 beautiful outward, but within full of dead men's bones 
 and all uncleanness ! 
 
 George Moore knew well enough the condition of 
 London in its lowest aspects ; but this picture of it by 
 the Bishop moved his heart, and immediately suggested 
 the question What can I do to remedy this terrible
 
 282 SOMERS TOWN DISTRICT. [CHAP. xvni. 
 
 spiritual destitution ? An attempt had already been 
 made to erect a new church in Kensington, where 
 the people were rich enough to build any number of 
 churches. But could not something be done for an 
 utterly lost neighbourhood, such as this ? His resolve 
 was at once made. "Do you find the site and the 
 place," said George Moore to the Bishop, " and I will 
 find the money." 
 
 A place was pointed out It was at Somers Town, 
 a poor and long-neglected district. It lies north 
 of the New Road, between Euston and King's Cross 
 Stations. It contained some fifteen thousand people. 
 A walk through the main street in which the Sunday 
 market was held was enough to impress one with 
 the semi-barbarism which prevailed in the neighbour- 
 hood. Care and poverty were written on every face. 
 Rags and dirt abounded. The food offered for sale 
 was coarse, and the manner of buyers and sellers was 
 no better. 
 
 Into this modern heathendom, the Committee of the 
 Diocesan Home Mission had been urged to introduce 
 the Gospel. Two centres of missionary labour had 
 been established, and some successful work had been 
 done. But it was not enough. The cry still was, 
 " Come over and help us." Such was the state of 
 things when George Moore took the matter up. A 
 few days after the interview at Palace Gardens, he 
 went to Somers Town to examine the district. He 
 says in his Diary : " I walked over the worst district 
 in London. Fifteen thousand population. No one 
 pays more than 30 rent a year. I decided at once 
 that I would build a church here for the Diocesan 
 Home Mission." 
 
 No sooner said than done. Lo " Somers provided 
 a freehold site for the church in Chailton Street. An 
 architect (Mr. Newman) was employed, who prepared
 
 CHAP, xviii.] SOMERS TOWN CHURCH. 283 
 
 the design of the building. Contracts were entered 
 into, and the church was finished and ready for opening 
 by the end of 1868. Schools were afterwards added. 
 Accommodation was provided in the church for about 
 a thousand people and in the schools for over a thousand 
 children. The latter received day-school instruction on 
 week days, and Sunday-school instruction on Sundays. 
 Mr. Moore spent 15,000 on the buildings ; and he also 
 subscribed 250 a year to carry on the parish work 
 necessary in so poor and miserable a locality. The 
 Ecclesiastical Commissioners granted an endowment 
 of .300 per annum to the vicar of the new church. 
 The work was a great and a happy one, as the results 
 afterwards proved. 
 
 The style of the church is simple, but chaste. It is 
 in the early English decorated style. Mrs. Moore pre- 
 sented the finely-carved pulpit, which bears the follow- 
 ing inscription : " The gift of Agnes, the loving wife of 
 George Moore, who built this church for the glory of 
 God." The organ was presented by Mr. Copestake, 
 and the font by Mr. George Stockdale, both intimate 
 friends of Mr. Moore. The church was opened and con- 
 secrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury-elect, on 
 the 23rd December, 1868. It was his last official act 
 as Bishop of London. 
 
 After the morning service, the Archbishop and some 
 sixty or seventy ladies and gentlemen, lunched with 
 Mr. Moore at his house in Kensington Palace Gardens. 
 On that occasion Mr. Moore stated that the church 
 which had been consecrated that day owed its existence 
 to the fund which his Lordship had been instrumental 
 in forming. He had done what he could to supply the 
 spiritual wants of the neglected population of Somers 
 Town. There were hundreds of wealthy men in 
 London who could do the same for other districts. Let 
 them come forward, and take their fair share in the
 
 28 I BISHOP OF LONDON'S ADDRESS. [CHAP. xvm. 
 
 work. The Archbishop-Designate followed Mr. Moore. 
 He said : 
 
 "I do not know that there could be a more appropriate way of 
 ending my connection with the diocese than in consecrating this 
 church. We have been engaged now for a great many years in the 
 very important work of endeavouring to increase the means of 
 spiritual instruction in the destitute parts of London. We have 
 always tried to bring before the consciences of those whom God 
 has blessed with wealth, the duty of assisting their poorer brethren ; 
 and of the many notable instances which, in the course of the last 
 few years, we have had to record of persons who have come for- 
 ward to assist in this work in destitute places, there is none that is 
 more satisfactory to my own mind than the particular instance 
 which has brought us together here to-day. Here we see a man 
 whom God has blessed with wealth, and whom he has raised to a 
 great post through the influence of commerce, recognising the re- 
 sponsibilities that lie upon him and looking out, not for a place in 
 which he is personally interested, but for a place which has no 
 particular claim upon him except its poverty and destitution ; and 
 that is the very thing we have been endeavouring to force upon 
 men's consciences for a number of years past. I am not going to 
 praise my good friend Mr. Moore, for I know that to do so would 
 be distasteful both to him and to Mrs. Moore. I have known him 
 for many years. Our connection began in Cumberland, where we 
 joined together in good works, especially in regard to education, 
 which was perhaps the first thing that brought us together. Dur- 
 ing the time I have been in London Mr. Moore has been a great 
 supporter to me in works of this kind, and I trust that for many 
 years to come he will in this great city show forth the example of a 
 man who uses God's gifts for the good purposes for which God 
 has given them." 
 
 Mr. Moore followed. He said that "he did not wish 
 to claim any credit for building the church, and that if 
 anybody owed any gratitude to God, he was the man. 
 When he first came to London he never expected to. be 
 able to do so much ; and he thought he might honestly 
 say that what he had done he had done disinterestedly." 
 
 It may be mentioned that, in connection with the new 
 church, funds were appropriated for the support of 
 national schools, Sunday schools, church choir, maternity 
 society, general missions, district society for visiting the 
 poor, coal club, clothing club, parents' tea, school treats, 
 temperance society, and penny bank.
 
 CHAP, xviii.] LARGENESS Of HEART. 285 
 
 With regard to the latter institution, it may be men- 
 tioned that, in the poorer districts, there is no bettei 
 method of checking intemperance, the curse of modern 
 society, than by inducing young as well as old to save 
 their spare pennies in a penny bank; for whatever is 
 deposited there is so much money rescued from the 
 public-house. 
 
 A week after the consecration of the church at Somers 
 Town, the confirmation of the new Archbishop of Can- 
 terbury took place at St. Mary-le-bow, Cheapside, close 
 to the warehouse of Mr. Moore and his partners. After 
 the ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the 
 Bishops of Oxford, Gloucester, Ely, and the Bishop-elect 
 of London, with many of their chaplains, lunched with 
 Mr. Moore and his partners in Bow Churchyard. 
 
 Nor did Mr. Moore confine his help to the Church of 
 England. He was large-minded and heart-whole. " If 
 any of my fellow-Christians," he said, "live in Church of 
 England Square, Wesleyan Street, Independent Road, 
 Baptist Lane or Brethren Row, I am still to love them, 
 and to seek their welfare." 
 
 He took the chair at Mr. Spurgeon's Tabernacle, and 
 helped the Orphanage by a liberal subscription. "I 
 went to Mr. Spurgeon's in the evening," he said. " What 
 a wonderful sight ! He sent for me, and I introduced 
 my friends to him." 
 
 When the Rev. Morley Punshon was about to set out 
 for America, Mr. Moore was requested to take the chair, 
 and he had the pleasure of presenting him with a purse 
 of seven hundred guineas, which had been collected 
 amongst Mr. Punshon's friends. 
 
 One of his warmest friends was the Rev. Dr. Stough- 
 ton, who took part in his Bible-readings, and often lent 
 him his schoolrooms at Hornton Street for his Christ- 
 mas dinners. " Dr. Stoughton," he said in his diary, 
 " is a living Christian. He speaks well of all denomi-
 
 2S6 THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. [CHAP. XVIIL 
 
 nations. Thank God there will be no denominations in 
 heaven." 
 
 Mr. Moore frequently took the chair at Dr. Stough- 
 ton's chapel, at the meetings of the schools, and of the 
 Young Mens' Missionary Association. 
 
 On such occasions he had to make a speech. This 
 was a great burden to him, for speaking at public meet- 
 ings often prevented him from sleeping at night. Yet 
 he cheerfully undertook the work, thinking it to be his 
 duty. " I have often," he says, " made stern resolutions 
 not to overwork myself, and to take more relaxation, 
 but NO is not learnt in a day." 
 
 Among the institutions in which he took a great in- 
 terest was the Christian Community, founded by the 
 Rev. John Wesley in 1772. Its objects were to visit 
 and preach the Gospel in workhouses, lodging-houses, 
 asylums, public rooms, and in the open air. George 
 Moore was attracted by the work. Its object was to 
 find the lost and raise up the fallen. The members of 
 the Community visited the hospitals, the female refuges, 
 and even the lowest threepenny-a-night lodging-houses. 
 George Moore helped them liberally . with his purse 
 and with his voice. On one occasion, when the anni- 
 versary of the community was held in Shaftesbury Hall, 
 Aldersgate Street, Mr. Moore presided, and made one 
 of his best speeches. 
 
 " He was heartily glad that he had fallen in with such a 
 society. He liked their principle: it was aggressive. They 
 did not wait for the people to come to them : they went 
 to the people themselves. The good the Community had 
 done would never be known by the world. He advocated 
 their having a hall of their own. At present they had 
 not a place to put their heads into. He thought it was a 
 great shame to London that such a self-denying society as 
 this should be crippled in its onward progress and good 
 works for want of funds. Why, as to funds, they had not a
 
 CHAP, xvm.] APPOINTED JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. 287 
 
 fourpenny-piece to give to any poor creature who might 
 solicit their alms. He thought all could do something to 
 help so great a cause. Many people thought they could 
 do nothing in consequence of their position being humble, 
 and their means so small. He believed that all could 
 do something, no matter how little it was. He knew 
 many men in the City who seemed to him to do nothing 
 else but work, eat, drink, and sleep. They never thought 
 or cared for anything else ; they never cared for anybody 
 but themselves. On the other hand, some men wanted 
 to do too much. They promised to attend to ten or 
 twenty things, but neglected them -all. He believed, 
 however, that mere money, unless it was given for the 
 love of Jesus, would be as filthy rags in the sight of 
 God. He looked to the heart, not to the action. The 
 Bishop of London's Fund had become a very fashion- 
 able thing, and many persons gave money because it 
 was the fashion ; but there their work ended. . . . He 
 was desirous of seeing the gulf that stood between the 
 rich and the poor lessened, and he was of opinion that 
 mutual advantage and benefit would arise to all by their 
 more frequently mingling together." 
 
 In 1867 Mr. Moore was appointed justice of the peace 
 for the county of Middlesex. This was done at the in- 
 stance of Lord Salisbury. He took his seat on the bench, 
 and attended to the administration of justice. He also 
 frequently attended the committee to administer relief 
 to the poor at the Mansion House. This was during the 
 Winter of 1867, when great starvation existed in the east 
 end of London. "The Mansion House distress fund," he 
 says, " occupies a great deal of my time. And yet I 
 like this work. My correspondence constantly increases. 
 All sorts of applications for money and advice." 
 
 About this time Philip H dined at his house. 
 
 " He is a Roman Catholic," said he, " but he is safe for 
 heaven." And again he writes, " There is a strange ten-
 
 288 GEORGE MOORE AND THE IRISH CHURCH, [en. xvm. 
 
 dency in human nature to take trusts as possessions, and 
 gifts as rights. We see it in everything. We live on the 
 wealth of another : we rest on the work of another." 
 
 In July, 1868, he was again asked to .represent an im- 
 portant constituency in Parliament. He was requested 
 to contest Mid-Surrey along with Sir Julian Goldsmid. 
 "The only condition," said the letter of invitation ad- 
 dressed to him, " that would be required, would be to 
 support Mr. Gladstone's Irish Church policy." It was 
 stated that if he consented to stand, his return was 
 certain. He declined, not only because his numerous 
 engagements prevented him, but because he did not 
 support Mr. Gladstone's Irish Church policy. The 
 party might be trying their hand on the English 
 Church next. He wished the Church to be reformed, 
 not destroyed. He accordingly declined to propose 
 Mr. Crawford for the City, and Lord Enfield for Mid- 
 dlesex. He writes in his Diary : " I am called a turn- 
 coat. My Liberal friends assail me. These friends of 
 tolerance are rather intolerant. I must go their way, 
 and not mine. I will not vote for any man that wishes 
 to destroy the Irish Church. Thank God, I have a 
 conscience left. My Liberal friends don't see this." 
 
 In June, 1868, Mr. Moore became prime warden of 
 the Fishmongers' Company. He had been elected on 
 the court about twelve years before, and regularly at- 
 tended the meetings of the company. The Fishmongers 
 is one of the oldest guilds in the City of London. Origi- 
 nally its use was to protect the rights of the merchants' 
 ships and boats bringing fruit and fish from the southern 
 seas. It had special rights on the waters of the Thames, 
 and to this day appoints two persons, the company's 
 " meters," who prevent the landing and sale of unwhole- 
 some fish within the jurisdiction of London. The com- 
 pany had always been associated with the Whigs and 
 Liberals; consequently George Moore had become early
 
 CHAP, xvin.] THE FISHMONGERS' COMPANY. 289 
 
 identified with its interests. When he Was elected on 
 the court, he took frequent opportunities of pointing 
 out the good objects to which the funds of the company 
 might be devoted. He regarded it as a source 1 from 
 which money might be obtained for beneficent objects. 
 The court was always most generous in yielding to his 
 applications. 
 
 He did not do the work connected with the Fish- 
 mongers' Company in a perfunctory manner. He did 
 it thoroughly, as was his wont. The company had a 
 large number of pensioners. He did not trust to the 
 reports of visitors, but visited them himself. He spent 
 whole days in going about from house to house. One 
 day he visited about sixty poor people, pensioners of 
 the Fishmongers. Then, the company had large estates 
 in Ireland. He determined to look into their condition 
 himself. 
 
 During one of his summer visits to Whitehall, he 
 resolved to make his Irish journey. He went by Silloth 
 to Dublin, to visit his branch establishment there. 
 "Many old and living scenes," he says, "were repro- 
 duced in my mind. It was often my resort in olden 
 times." He next went to Killarney, and proceeded 
 northwards by way of Athlone and Enniskillen taking 
 the opportunity of calling upon his customers in all the 
 towns that he passed through. 
 
 1 Among the subscriptions which Mr. Moore obtained from the Fish- 
 mongers' Company were the following : 
 
 A hundred guineas for the British Home for Incurables. 
 
 A hundred guineas for Mr. Spurgeon's Orphanage. 
 
 ^"50 for the Neapolitan Refugees. 
 
 ;ioo and jio annually for the Royal Free Hospital. 
 
 too for the Great Northern Hospital. 
 
 ^500 for the Bishop of London's Fund. 
 
 Fifty guineas for Mrs. Meredith's Home for Female Convicts. 
 
 y> for Bread Street Ward Schools. 
 
 ^50 for the Little Boys' Home. 
 
 Fifty guineas for Cabman's Benevolent ; the same for Cabman's Mission. 
 
 Twenty-five guineas for Workshops for the blind. 
 
 And ;i,ooo for the Middle Class Schools.
 
 290 THE FISHMONGERS' ESTATES. [CHAP. xvm. 
 
 He then arrived at Londonderry. From this point 
 he visited the estates held by the Fishmongers. He 
 visited the farms and the farmers ; the two dispensaries 5 
 the Catholic church, and the two Presbyterian churches. 
 But most of all he visited the schools. He had one of 
 his competitive examinations at Ballykelly school. He 
 gave the children prizes, and entertained them at tea. 
 There were eight schools in all to visit, with the same 
 objects. He was not pleased with the manner in which 
 the schools were conducted. He had come fresh from 
 his own schools in Cumberland. "I am quite con- 
 vinced," he said, "that we are here upon a rotten 
 system. The examination by the Board is a farce, and 
 also by the Church of England inspectors. I had a long 
 consultation with the Northern Board at Ballykelly. 
 The Rev. Mr. Edwards thereon roughly agreed with me 
 about the system that it was inefficient." 
 
 Mr. Moore next visited the tenantry. At Walworth 
 he walked through five or six hundred acres of wood. 
 He then lunched with George Cuther, one of the best 
 and largest farmers. On Sunday he attended the 
 Ballykelly church, and heard an excellent sermon from 
 the Protestant preacher. After looking over the slot 
 embankment, erected to inclose a hundred acres of land, 
 and visiting all the remaining farmers on the estate, he 
 returned by way of the Giant's Causeway and Belfast, 
 and embarked for Morecambe Bay, which he reached 
 after an absence from England of about three weeks. 
 
 The usual splendid banquets of the Company were 
 given during his Prime Wardenship. There was the 
 Liberal Ministerial Banquet, at which the Prime 
 Minister (Mr. Gladstone), and nearly all the principal 
 ministers were present. On that occasion Mr. Gladstone 
 was presented with the freedom of the Company. Mr. 
 Moore distinguished himself by the vigour of his 
 speeches. In proposing the health of the Army, he
 
 CHAI-. xviii. J BANQUET TO BISHOPS AND CLERGY. 291 
 
 said : " There is an old maxim, but experience has not 
 proved its wisdom in practice ; it is, ' if you wish to 
 preserve peace, prepare for war.' I am or a dif. /ent 
 opinion ; if you wish to preserve peace, prepare for 
 peace. Nations that are constantly arming, adopt the 
 readiest means to promote war, and nations that have 
 made great preparations foi war are very apt to test the 
 efficiency of their army." Arid with a broad hint to 
 certain men very much given to foreign interference, he 
 said : " I hope the day has gone by when Ministers are 
 perpetually discussing the affairs of other nations un- 
 asked, instead of attending to their own." 
 
 In the course of his Prime Wardenship, he had one 
 particular banquet, at which the two Archbishops were 
 present, six Bishops, and many leading clergymen and 
 ministers, of whom the Rev. Mr. Binney was one. On 
 the 24th of June, 1869, he says: "I presided over the 
 Fishmongers' banquet for the last time. Thank God, 
 it is over !" 
 
 While he was Prime Warden, he was suffering from 
 the intense pain in his shoulder, caused by his accident 
 in the hunting-field in March, 1867. He had consulted 
 the most eminent surgeons. They could find no cure 
 for the pain in his shoulder. Some called it neuralgia, 
 others rheumatism. Some recommended a six months' 
 sea-voyage ; others strapped up his shoulder with plas- 
 ters, and told him to keep his arm in a sling. At length 
 the pain became unbearable. Sometimes the shoulder 
 grew very black. The dislocation forward, which it 
 seems to have been, interrupted the circulation of the 
 blood. On the yth December, 1868, he writes with 
 difficulty in his diary: "I was struck down with neural- 
 gia at the Middlesex Hospital, when on a committee for 
 selecting a clergyman. I had my shoulder cut open to 
 insert morphia : pain very bad ! " 
 
 He was taken home in a cab by the late Mr. De 
 
 U 2
 
 2T2 DISLOCATION OF HIS SHOULDER. [CHAP. xvm. 
 
 Morgan, surgeon. When he entered his house, he clung 
 by a pillar, as if he were drunk. He could scarcely get 
 up to his bedroom, and there he dozed and rambled ; 
 but the pain was somewhat relieved. He called in one 
 of the most eminent surgeons in London, but, as Mr. 
 Moore writes, " he did not understand my shoulder." 
 Another surgeon was called in, and still another ; but 
 the result was the same. It was with great difficulty 
 that he could attend the consecration of his church in 
 Somers Town, with his arm in a sling. " The shoulder," 
 he says, " is not so black as formerly, but the pain is 
 more acute." Then the first physician in London was 
 called in, but he could only say, " It is a most painful 
 affection of the shoulder joint." The patient already 
 knew that. But the physician as well as the surgeons 
 could do nothing for him. 
 
 He went about, though looking very ill, to the Field 
 Lane Refuge, to the Industrial Dwellings, to Christ's 
 Hospital, to the Court of the Fishmongers. He even 
 travelled down to York to stay for a few days with the 
 Archbishop. On his return to London, he attended a 
 meeting of Christ's Hospital " about a reform in the 
 mode of education in the school." A few days later he 
 says, " the neuralgia came on fearfully all day, and at 
 night I was in torture." Mrs. Moore " rushed off in the 
 
 brougham to fetch Dr. , that he might see my arm 
 
 at the blackest" Still nothing could be done. Then 
 
 Mr. came, and plastered and bandaged up my 
 
 arm." The patient could not write ; it was with difficulty 
 that he could sign a cheque. His wife then became his 
 amanuensis. At a banquet at the Fishmongers', he was 
 seized with one of his furious paroxysms of neuralgia. 
 A surgeon was sent for, who came and gave him 
 chloroform. 
 
 At length he could bear his pain no longer. He had 
 been advised to go to a well-known bone-setter. No 1
 
 CHAP, xviil.] GOES TO A EONK-SETTER. 293 
 
 he would not do that. He had put himself in the hands 
 of the first surgeons of the day. Why should he go to 
 an irregular practitioner? At length, however, he was 
 persuaded by his friends. As the surgeons had done 
 their best, why should he not try the bone-setter ? He 
 called upon Mr. Hutton at his house. He looked at the 
 shoulder, " Well, he would try and put k in." This was 
 new comfort. Mr. Hutton recommended his patient to 
 buy some neat's-foot oil, and rub it in as hot as he could 
 bear it. "Where can we buy the stuff?" asked Mrs. 
 Moore. " You can take a soda-water bottle and get it 
 at a tripe shop in Tottenham Court Road." " We have 
 not got a soda-water bottle with us." " You can get 
 one at the corner, at the public house ! You might get 
 it at a druggist's," he continued, "but he will charge you 
 three times as dear." 
 
 The neat's-foot oil was at last got ; the shoulder was 
 duly rubbed with it ; and the bone-setter arrived at 
 Kensington Palace Gardens to do his best or his worst. 
 He made Mr. Moore sign a paper before he proceeded 
 with his operation, in which the former agreed to be 
 satisfied whether failure or success was the result. 
 Hutton took the arm in his hand, gave it two or three 
 turns, and then gave it a tremendous twist in the socket. 
 The shoulder-joint was got in ! George Moore threw 
 his arm out with strength, straight before him, and said, 
 " I could fight," whereas a moment before he could not 
 raise it two inches. It had been out for nearly two 
 years. 
 
 Mr. Moore was taken to task by his professional 
 friends for going to a quack about his shoulder. " Well," 
 said he, " quack or no quack, he cured me, and that was 
 all I wanted. 'Whereas I was blind, now I see.'" 
 
 After presenting a bust of Lord Brougham and a 
 silver claret-jug to the Fishmongers', in memory of his 
 prime wardenship, he set out for Cumberland, and in-
 
 294 EX 1R ACTS KROM DIARY. [CHAP, xvm 
 
 vited Mr. Hutton to join him at Whitehall as a friend. 
 When "his benefactor," as he called him, arrived at 
 Whitehall, he gave him a hearty welcome, and sent him 
 away rejoicing. Mr. Moore was no more troubled with 
 his shoulder. 
 
 Hutton died very soon afterwards, and Mr. Moore 
 remarks in his diary that he was as much struck by his 
 unworldliness as by his skill, for he refused to take any 
 fee additional to the ^5 that was at first asked. It was 
 with great pressure that Mr. Moore prevailed upon him 
 to take ;5 more. 
 
 During his repeated accessions of pain, he entered, or 
 made Mrs. Moore enter, many memoranda in his diary, 
 of which we subjoin a few : 
 
 " We must wait till the day dawns and the shadows 
 flee away, to know how wise and suitable every dealing 
 of God is with us." 
 
 " I am ashamed to think that I sometimes doubt 
 whether God hears my prayers, they are so poor, so 
 weak, so spiritless. I thank God my faith is as simple 
 as a child's." 
 
 "I have sorrows to go through, but they will only 
 prove joy afterwards. Whom our Master loveth, He 
 chasteneth. ' No cross, no crown.' As I suffer, so I 
 shall enjoy." 
 
 " Prayer is the mightiest influence men can use. 
 Like the dew in summer, it makes no noise. It is 
 unseen, but produces immense results." 
 
 " Exercise is the secret of a healthy body, and active 
 working for God is the secret of a healthy soul. He 
 that watereth others shall be watered himself." 
 
 "This is the last July Sunday I may ever see. This 
 wasting frame may sink beneath the sod. This busy 
 hand may then be still. Every day I get warnings ; so 
 many of my old friends are passing away." 
 
 "'Just as I am, without one plea,' a poor unworthy
 
 CHAP, xviii.] EXTRACTS FROM DIARY. 295 
 
 sinner. Christ takes me as I am without money, or 
 price, or works. Oh, my works are nothing ! " 
 
 " It is a great trial to my faith to reconcile man's 
 liberty with God's sovereignty; and yet no one can 
 read the Bible without seeing both plainly." 
 
 " Christ does not uproot human feelings. He only 
 directs and elevates them. It is right for a man to be 
 ambitious of success, to be ambitious of usefulness in 
 His good service." 
 
 " What is the unpardonable sin ? Is it a clear 
 intellectual knowledge of the Gospel, with a deliberate 
 rejection of it, and a wilful choice of evil ? "
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 EDUCATION IN CUMBERLAND. CHRIST'S HOSPITAL. 
 
 THE revival of education in Cumberland had so far 
 succeeded. It had started from a small beginning. At 
 first it embraced only the neighbourhood of Mealsgate. 
 From thence it had extended to the neighbouring 
 parishes. When the Competitive Examinations were 
 begun, the whole of the adjoining schools were in- 
 fluenced. 
 
 But now that the thing had got fairly established, 
 George Moore desired that it should stand by itself. 
 He was anxious to get rid of the responsibility of getting 
 up and undertaking the competitive examinations. He 
 attended a meeting of the Diocesan Education Society 
 at Carlisle, where he carried all his resolutions, for the 
 purpose of organising a competitive examination in 
 every rural deanery in the diocese. 
 
 George Moore took a special interest in the last com- 
 petitive examination held at Wigton. Two hundred 
 and eighty prizes were given away to masters and 
 scholars, who came from all parts of the county to re- 
 ceive them. The Bishop of Carlisle (Waldegrave) exa- 
 mined the scholars in Scripture, and presented the prizes. 
 The meeting was held in a large marquee, capable of 
 accommodating a thousand people, yet many could not 
 find admission, and crowded round the entrance.
 
 CHAF. xix.] REV. DR. JEX-BLAKE AT WIGTOX. 297 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Jex-Blake, Master of Rugby, was pre- 
 sent, and made an excellent speech. He said, " He 
 was too happy at school as a boy, and his school recol- 
 lections were too fresh and pleasant, not to be thoroughly 
 at home with the boys ; and his own present work at 
 Rugby was too intensely interesting for him not to be 
 thoroughly in sympathy with the masters. He could 
 particularly sympathise with them when they had to 
 struggle against those who ought to be their best friends, 
 the parents of children, who grudged their children's 
 time, and who would not permit them to receive a good 
 sound education. He knew how hard the mere routine 
 of a teacher's work was, but he must believe in culture 
 for its own sake. He had recently seen a pleasantly- 
 written article in the Quarterly on Westmoreland,, in 
 which he came across a proverb, which he feared he 
 would spoil in quoting. It was lamentably one-sided, 
 and something like the following : ' Nobbut gie us a 
 guid skeulmaister, and a varra moderate parson will deu? 
 He believed in the good schoolmaster, but not in the 
 moderate parson. He had been told that the increase 
 and progress of education in this county had been very 
 great. He was certain that he who was now at the 
 head of the diocese was most zealously determined to 
 maintain and work up the education to the highest pos- 
 sible standard in God's sight. Still schoolmasters could 
 do a great deal. He instanced Scotland as a country 
 which had been greatly benefited by the common spread 
 of education. What was it that enabled so many Scotch- 
 men to attain far higher positions than those from wlrch 
 they originally came ? It was the kirk and schools of the 
 country, her sturdy faith in a sturdy Protestantism, and 
 a sturdy education." 
 
 One of the most interesting events of the meeting was 
 the presentation of a parting address of the schoolmasters 
 of the district to George Moore, which had been beauti-
 
 298 SCHOOLMASTERS' ADDRESS TO MOORE. [CHAP. xrx. 
 
 fully illuminated on vellum for the masters by a lady in 
 Wigton. It was as follows : 
 
 " DEAR SIR, We, the undersigned teachers, whose pupils 
 attend from time to time your competitive examinations, beg to 
 fulfil the desire, long cherished in our hearts, of testifying how 
 highly we appreciate the deep interest which you take in the cause 
 of education generally, and in our own schools in particular. The 
 present occasion being one of more than ordinary interest, has 
 been thought a fitting time for doing so ; but we assure you that 
 this address is not presented as a mere matter of form : it is a 
 spontaneous proof of our heartfelt gratitude for numerous benefits 
 received at your hands. 
 
 " We desire to express to you our sense of the obligations under 
 which we lie for your uniform kindness, hospitality, consideration, 
 and sympathy ; and to assure you that to your cordial aid in divers 
 ways much of the success that has attended our labours for the last 
 few years is exclusively due. We feel especially grateful for your 
 great boon to the cause of education the Wigton Prize Scheme 
 in which such deserved prominence is given to religious instruction, 
 assuring you that its good effects cannot be over-estimated. It has 
 created a spirit of generous rivalry among teachers, and infused a 
 more lively interest in their studies into the minds of the children 
 by supplying a stimulus in the shape of emulation, prizes, and 
 rewards, such as exist in the great public schools. 
 
 " Thus a great impulse has been given to the work of education ; 
 a higher standard has been reached, a higher tone induced, and 
 greater mental vigour developed ; schools have increased in num- 
 ber, and the evils of irregular attendance have been modified. 
 Nor are the good effects confined to our schools. The large num- 
 ber of valuable books which you distribute every year provide the 
 recipients with the means of carrying on their education after 
 leaving school, and also supply their parents with a great induce- 
 ment to employ their leisure hours in reading. 
 
 " As schoolmasters we are glad of the privilege of sending 
 candidates to your competitive examinations, and feel it an honour 
 to be thus connected with you in a common cause. The only re- 
 ciprocal service in our power we now offer the tribute of our 
 esteem and respect. Long may Mrs. Moore and you live to be the 
 objects of regard and channels of blessing to all around you, con- 
 tinuing to carry on the plans of benevolence supported by your 
 princely munificence. That God's richest blessing may rest upon 
 her and you. and also upon your labours of love, is our fervent 
 wish and prayer." 
 
 The address was signed by fourteen schoolmasters. 
 Mr. Moore replied to them as follows : 
 
 " I beg to thank you most cordially for your address, and for the 
 kind mention you make of my wife and myself in it. The desire
 
 CHAP, xix.] GEORGE MOORE'S REPLY. 299 
 
 to help forward in some measure, however small, the education of 
 the children of my native county has been very dear to me ; and 
 it is very gratifying to have your sympathy and your approbation 
 of my efforts. When I look round on you all, and see what an 
 intelligent and earnest body of men are here as schoolmasters, I 
 feel thankful indeed that it is so. 
 
 " Not many years since the idea was somewhat prevalent that 
 any man was good enough for a schoolmaster. I can recall many 
 instances of men who had broken down in other walks of life 
 (perhaps as colliers, having unfitted themselves for a coal-pit life 
 by breaking a leg) being made schoolmasters, assuming the re- 
 sponsibilities of educators of youth, and no one was surprised at 
 the assumption. This state of things, thank God, has now gone 
 to that prison house of the past from which there is no recall. 
 
 " For my part, I confess that I hold no man fit for the office who 
 has not something of the missionary in him. He must have a large 
 portion of the spirit of Him who 'went about doing good.' In 
 other words, he must give himself to his vocation as a man who 
 feels that it is one of those works which are to be undertaken with 
 a willing heart and fervent spirit, and for no selfish ends. 
 
 " The Bishop of London the other day, in a correspondence on 
 the Middle-class School, gave the following axioms, which he says 
 he inherited from Dr. Arnold, if he did not receive them before he 
 came under the influence of his great authority. First, That a 
 system of mere secular instruction is not education. Secondly, 
 That there can be no real education without religious teaching, 
 and that such religious teaching must be based on doctrine in the 
 highest and purest sense of that word. Thirdly, That when 
 circumstances make people rest satisfied with a system of mere 
 secular instruction in any educational institution, they consent to 
 act under a great disadvantage, to which they ought not to subject 
 those whom they would instruct without a proved necessity, and with- 
 out taking other means to fill up the deficiency. Fourthly, That 
 it is quite possible to give a sound Christian education and instruc- 
 tion, based on the great Gospel verities, which shall include the mass 
 of English children, even those who do not belong to the Church. 
 
 " I am sure you understand that I do not underrate storing your 
 pupils' minds with all knowledge this is your work ; but I feel 
 that education without religious teaching is a mere delusion, and 
 will have no abiding influence on your scholars. 
 
 " I thank you especially for what you say of the good brought 
 about by my prize scheme. When I look back at the twelve years 
 we have now worked together, and at the discouragements I first 
 met with, I must say I am grateful for what you say. Many then 
 said it would end in the masters being mere 'crammers of a few 
 boys to obtain the prizes,' without any solid and honest education. 
 We have lived down this unjust reflection, for I was sure you would 
 always do justice to the work to which you have been called. 
 
 " You know I have always spoken the truth to you, sometimes 
 very plainly. Now I wish that such a thing as a drunken school-
 
 300 GEORGE MOORE'S REPLY. [CHAP. xix, 
 
 master was a thing unknown ; thank God, there are but very few of 
 them left. Many of you labour in some remote village, where you 
 are almost the centre of intelligence to those you teach, perhaps to 
 their parents also. From you might flow the influence to raise ihe 
 tone of morality and sobriety around you. The mo~t frequent cry 
 we hear now in the newspapers is of the ignorance which prevails in 
 all our rural agricultural districts ; I hope that this cannot be said of 
 this part of Cumberland. You have no doubt many difficulties and 
 trials, and schoolmasters have always had my real sympathy. They 
 seem so often to have to fight their battle singlehanded, and sincere 
 and earnest as they may be, disappointments and failures and 
 sorrows must be a part of their work. 
 
 " But -we are apt to dwell too much on the burden of our lot. My 
 own tlieory of hfe is, that it would be worth nothing if it were not 
 for work, and duty, and responsibility; and surely yours is a noble 
 work. When you consider the numbers of the next generation 
 over whom you have such influence, is it not a noble life-work ? 
 You are nearly all young men now before me many scarcely in 
 your prime ; see to it that when you are old your recollections of 
 your school may not be mixed with bitter regrets for opportunities 
 wasted and the good seed unsown, as it might have been, on the 
 living souls daily around you. ' He that sleepeth in harvest is 
 a son that causeth shame.' Many of you know and love your 
 Heavenly Father, and desire to work to please Him. Be not then 
 sons that sleep over your work, but labour hard, that when, at the 
 great fore-gathering, you have to give up your account, you may 
 bear many sheaves with you rejoicing. 
 
 "And now let me, in conclusion, again thank you for your kind 
 address. The meetings which I have had with you in connection 
 with the prize-scheme have been a source of great interest and 
 pleasure to me from year to year ; and though disappointments 
 and anxieties have not been wanting, the results and improvements 
 have been a full reward. I feel that now the competitive scheme 
 has in a great measure done its work hereabouts. The new revised 
 code (paying for results) has partly superseded our work, and the 
 little encouragement given to me by My Lords of the Committee of 
 Council on Education, who say : ' H. M. inspector must employ 
 about it no tune except such as is left to his own disposal,' has 
 put a great barrier in the way of its continuance. But, however it 
 may end, be assured individually of my help and sympathy, as 
 much as is in my power, and of my cordial good wishes." 
 
 Mr. Moore was not so successful with his farming as 
 with his schools and missionary work. " I am beginning," 
 he said on one occasion, " to understand something about 
 farming. It gives me an object for exercise ; for I am 
 constantly going about to see how things are going on. 
 Hut as for returns, it proves a very poor affair." In 1867
 
 CHAP, xix.] GEORGE MOORE AS A MAGISTRATE. 301 
 
 he had a balance-sheet prepared. He found he had 
 lost 1 57 on his home farm, besides the interest upon 
 ^300 for draining. Certainly a very bad pecuniary 
 result of his farming industry. 
 
 While at Whitehall Mr. Moore attended the bench of 
 magistrates at Wigton, and, with Sir Wilfrid Lawson, 
 endeavoured to the best of his power to keep down the 
 licences for public-houses. At first they failed, but at 
 last they succeeded in rejecting most of the new licences. 
 There was much reason for checking drunkenness in the 
 neighbourhood. One day he enters in his diary, " At- 
 tended a funeral. The man drowned himseM". A sad 
 affair. He is the third given to drinking who has died 
 within three weeks." 
 
 Another day he says, " At Wigton on the bench. 
 Had nine cases of ' drunk and disorderly.' Very sad ! " 
 And again he says, " Went to see a school. The Rev. 
 
 Mr. was half drunk. He insulted me and hurt my 
 
 feelings very much." This was enough to make him 
 despair. One day he says, " I had a long discussion 
 
 with Mr. about the immorality of Cumberland. 
 
 I encouraged him to get the Ritualists to try their hand, 
 as the Evangelicals had failed." Yet he went; on ap- 
 pointing Scripture-readers and county-town Missionaries 
 as the best methods of reaching the population. 
 
 When he returned to London, he was much occupied 
 in endeavouring to get reforms introduced into the 
 schools of Christ's Hospital. Mr. Moore had become a 
 governor of the institution when a comparatively young 
 man. In September, 1854, he attended the annual 
 sermon delivered in Christ Church, Newgate Street, by 
 Dr. Jacob, the newly-elected head grammar master. 
 The sermon astonished Mr. Moore. He said, " It was 
 the most extraordinary exposure of bad management 
 and supposed grievances that I had ever heard of in any 
 public establishment."
 
 302 DR. JACOB'S SERMON. [CHAP. xix. 
 
 The text of the sermon was, " Through wisdom a 
 house is builded ; and by understanding it is esta- 
 blished." Dr. Jacob proceeded to give his idea of the 
 " understanding " by means of which this great charity 
 was managed ; and he did so with no flattering words 
 nor empty compliments. His whole object, he said, 
 was for the good of the hospital. The governors 
 themselves did not know the facts connected with the 
 education and discipline of the place, and it was there- 
 fore necessary for those, like himself, who did know, to 
 tell the whole truth. 
 
 The preacher held that the intellectual discipline of 
 Christ's Hospital was behind that of the public schools 
 of the age ; " that a large mass of the boys were found 
 unable to compete with the scholars of a well-conducted 
 national school ; that the various subjects which were 
 specially needed for a good modern education, and to 
 fit youths to play their part well in the stir and struggle 
 of commercial life, were not taught at Christ's Hospital ; 
 and that modern languages, various branches of 
 practical or applied science, physical and historical 
 geography, English composition, elementary art, were 
 all but absolutely interdicted." l The moral and 
 religious condition of the school was also eminently 
 defective. In other schools of a similar character, boys 
 generally resided under a master's roof, and were under 
 his humanising and Christian influence ; whereas at 
 Christ's Hospital the boys were entirely removed from 
 the master's sight and charge except during the actual 
 hours of the schoolroom. The masters were not required 
 to have either work, care, or interest in the moral 
 training of the children. 
 
 "It must be added," said Dr. Jacob, "that the 
 absence of day-rooms which might be used out of school 
 
 1 Sermon preached in Christ's Church, Newgate Street, on St. Matthew's 
 Day, September 2ist, 1854, by the Rev. G. A. Jacob, D.D., p. 15.
 
 CHAP, xix.] INDIGNATION OF THE GOVERNORS 303 
 
 hours for numberless wholesome purposes, the absence 
 of a library, which would encourage a taste for reading 
 and voluntary improvement, and keep many a boy from 
 idleness and vice, the absence of almost everything 
 which might develop and strengthen the better feelings 
 and tendencies of boyhood, help to encourage some of 
 the worst habits, and to throw boys upon the gratifica- 
 tion of their lower appetites as their only source of 
 pleasure ; than which nothing can be more prejudicial 
 to all moral good. . . . Earnestly do I hope and pray 
 that all who are engaged in the government of this great 
 and noble house may duly feel the sacred responsibility 
 of their position, and may rise with willing hearts and 
 hands to encounter all the difficulties which impede the 
 full development of its great resources, and keep it so 
 far behind the requirements of the age." 
 
 This was a bold and honest sermon. But it was a 
 dangerous course for Dr. Jacob to adopt at the com- 
 mencement of his mastership. The sermon acted like 
 a bombshell thrown in amongst the governors and 
 almoners. Some were angry, some were indignant, 
 some thought they had been insulted. "The first thing 
 I did," says George Moore, " on returning home, was 
 to write a strong and forcible letter to the treasurer. I 
 requested that the almoners should publish the sermon 
 on the following grounds : First, that if the sermon 
 was true, the almoners were not worthy of the con- 
 fidence of the governors ; and, second, that if the 
 sermon was not true, Dr. Jacob ought to be dismissed." 
 
 The treasurer was indignant at George Moore for 
 writing such a letter, and the almoners were still more 
 indignant at Dr. Jacob for preaching such a sermon. 
 The fat was in the fire all through his doing. The 
 almoners gave Dr. Jacob notice to quit. Many of the 
 governors thought this hard treatment. It seemed like 
 hushing up abuses. They claimed that a full investi-
 
 304 GEORGE MOORE ELECTED ALMONER. [CHAP. XIX. 
 
 gation should be made before dismissing the master. 
 Dr. Jacob published his sermon, so that it might be 
 carefully examined and considered. George Moore 
 worked hard amongst his friends to get them to be 
 present on the day of battle. Dr. Jacob also urged all 
 the governors, whether in town or not, to be present on 
 the occasion. 
 
 "We had a large meeting on the 2ist of November," 
 says Mr. Moore, " to determine whether Dr. Jacob 
 should be dismissed or not, and the almoners were 
 beaten -by a large majority. They would not, however, 
 resign. They organised their forces, and determined 
 upon a second trial of strength, not merely for the 
 dismissal of Dr. Jacob, but also upon the point of 
 whether the almoners were to be a self-elected body 
 for the future ; and upon that point they got a majority. 
 By this time, however, the hospital had got into dis- 
 order and confusion. No authority existed. Insubor- 
 dination prevailed everywhere. It was impossible to 
 introduce or carry any reforms in the hospital. The 
 almoners at last voluntarily consented to divide with 
 the governors the election of the succeeding almoners. 
 A reconciliation was thus effected. Russell Gurney, 
 Esq., Alderman Wire, and myself were elected, three 
 of their most determined opponents during the recent 
 discussions. I at first declined to accept the office, 
 being so much occupied with other engagements ; but 
 my friends anxiously urged me to accept it as a duty, 
 and I at last consented. I am bound to say that I 
 have found this a very pleasurable duty. The almoners 
 are composed of some of the first men in the city ; and 
 I have ever found them amenable to rea>n, and 
 anxious to carry out all legitimate reforms." 
 
 Mr. Moore at once proceeded to make himself 
 acquainted with the duties of his office. He inspected 
 Christ's Hospital, saw the reforms that were necessary,
 
 CHAP, xix.] DUKE Of CAMBRIDGE PRESlDENt. 305 
 
 and endeavoured to get them introduced. He visited 
 the schools connected with the hospital at Hertford. 
 " I made myself," he says, " thoroughly acquainted with 
 the girls' school ; and am determined to have it put 
 upon a better footing." The school certainly wanted 
 looking after. It had been allowed to go to sleep, like 
 many other things connected with the institution. 
 There were only about forty pupils there when Mr. 
 Moore first visited the school ; and the education given 
 was comparatively inefficient. But after an increased 
 interest had been taken in the school, the attendance 
 rose to about two hundred, and the education and 
 training given to the girls became greatly better. 
 
 At the death of Alderman Thompson, President of 
 Christ's Hospital, it became necessary to elect a new 
 President. It had been usual to elect the Lord Mayor 
 of London, on such a vacancy taking place. On this 
 occasion, however, the majority of the almoners pro- 
 posed to elect the Duke of Cambridge as president. 
 George Moore was opposed to this. He was of opinion 
 that the officials might get hold of the Duke, Ko-tou 
 to him, and thus obstruct all necessary reforms. He 
 therefore opposed his election. The Duke was never- 
 theless elected by a large majority ; and George Moore 
 was defeated. " I am bound to say," he afterwards 
 observes, "that I am not at all sorry for this. The 
 Duke is a shrewd, clever chairman ; he has great 
 authority ; he knows the value of time, and pre- 
 vents unnecessary discussions. At the same time, he 
 encourages improvements and alterations, showing the 
 strictest impartiality. He thinks for himself on all 
 subjects, whereas the presidents of most institutions 
 lean to the powers that be. Such officers are merely 
 nominal ; they are not real presidents. 
 
 " We have introduced many improvements. Great 
 care is exercised in the admittance of boys ; so that 
 
 X
 
 36 REMOVAL OF HOSPITAL. [CHAP. xix. 
 
 none but the children of needy parents are admitted. 
 We have just dealt most rigorously with Mr. - - for 
 offering a presentation for sale. We have deprived him 
 for ever of another presentation." l 
 
 Mr. Moore regularly attended the almoners' meetings. 
 A discussion arose as to whether the Hospital should 
 not be removed to the country. The Duke of Cambridge 
 took one side ; George Moore took the other. On the 8th 
 December, 1868, the latter says in his diary :-^-" Atten- 
 ded Christ's Hospital. The Duke in the chair ; he made 
 a long speech. I replied, and did pretty well. The 
 Duke very civil to me, as he always is. We got a 
 majority of one." 
 
 The majority of one by no means settled the 
 question. The fight, as George Moore always called it, 
 was renewed again and again. He was of opinion that 
 as the school consisted exclusively of boarders, thf 
 arguments for its removal to the country were over- 
 whelming. In 1870, the ancient foundation passed 
 under the scrutiny of the Endowed Schools' Commission. 
 Mr. Moore was one of those who proposed that a 
 scheme should at once be drawn up for their approval. 
 In the midst of various other work, the subject was 
 uppermost in his thoughts. He attended thirty-three 
 meetings of the committee of almoners, when eleven 
 members out of thirteen agreed to the draft scheme. It 
 was submitted to the governors on the 5th of April. 
 " I had a desperate fight to-day," he says, " at Christ's 
 Hospital. I never made a better speech. We adjourned 
 the debate about removing the Hospital out of town." 
 
 1 Mr. Moore himself made a presentation to one of his warehousemen in 
 Bow Churchyard. He presented himself before the court and was asked, 
 "Can you maintain and educate this hoy?" "Yes, I can," frankly 
 answered the warehouseman. "Then we cannot admit him." Thus 
 George Moore's own pre>entation was rejected by the rigidness of the rules 
 which he himself had laid down. Of course, these rules are very often 
 evaded.
 
 CHAP, xix.] THE PROPOSAL REJECTED. 
 
 ntime Ge rge M re made arrangements 
 struggle. He published a long fetter n 
 he Ttmes urgmg the governors to come up to vote on 
 he 2 7 th, when the adjourned debate was to be resumed 
 'again threw himself into "the fight" with all the 
 intensity of his nature. He made a stirring speech 
 giving eight good reasons in favour of the removal of the 
 ospital to the country. He wound up in the following 
 characteristic manner : _ 
 
 "I beseech you, governors, not to be led away by the 
 prestige of voting with His Royal Highness and the 
 Treasurer It will be infatuation on your part not to 
 support the eleven who have met thirty-three times 
 1 with much patience and care have produced this 
 excellent scheme." 
 
 The confirmation of the report was put to the meet- 
 mg, and it was rejected by a majority of fourteen votes. 
 Iffy-seven voted for the removal, and seventy-one 
 against it. I expected," says George Moore, "two to 
 one against us." There seems to have been some - 
 feeling of soreness amongst the almoners, as he adds two 
 days afterwards: "We had a meeting at Christ's 
 ospital. I made a good speech about peace All 
 were pleased-particularly the Duke of Cambridge I 
 threw oil on the troubled waters." On the night of the 
 great fight, Mr. Moore went to Ned Wright's thieves' 
 supper, and was much interested by his address 
 
 He had another interesting day at Christ's Hospital 
 arned my resolution," he says, "which was 
 seconded by Russell Gurney, that Christ's Hospital 
 should be sold when we could get a good price. On the 
 e day, the Duke of Cambridge lunched with Mr 
 Moore at Bow Churchyard. Sir Hope Grant, Colonel 
 lenderson, the Bishop of Carlisle, and others, were 
 present. < The Duke," he writes in his diary "has 
 
 X 3
 
 38 LONDON SCHOOL BOARD. [CHAP. xix. 
 
 shown me unvarying kindness, although I have always 
 been the ringleader of the fights at Christ's Hospital." 
 
 Mr. Moore continued to work for Christ's Hospital 
 during the rest of his life. About three years after the 
 above contest, he settled ;i,ooo in new 3 per cent, 
 annuities, as a conditional endowment for providing 
 prizes for the boys and girls who exhibited the greatest 
 proficiency in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. 
 The court, in acknowledging the gift, offered him- their 
 cordial thanks for the liberal gifts of money which he 
 had on previous occasions entrusted to the head master 
 for the same purpose. Two years later, he made a gift 
 to Christ's Hospital of a thousand pounds, to be invested 
 for the benefit of the Rev. W. Hetherington's excellent 
 charity to the Blind, which is connected with the institu- 
 tion. 
 
 In November, 1870, Mr. Moore was strongly urged 
 by many of his friends and amongst others, by the 
 Right Hon. W. H. Smith, now First Lord of the Admi- 
 ralty to offer himself as a candidate for the London 
 School Board ; but he decided to decline the position. 
 He was overwhelmed with work of all sorts, educational 
 and otherwise. " My motto," he said, " is, whatever is 
 worth doing at all, is worth doing well ; and the duties 
 at the board will absorb a great deal of my time. 
 Besides there are numerous candidates in the field, all 
 declaring for Bible teaching in the schools. I have 
 already done a good deal of educational work ; let 
 younger men take their share. " 
 
 The first Jubilee of the Commercial Travellers' 
 Schools was held in 1870. George Moore had now been 
 treasurer for twenty-five years. He had seen with 
 pride the growth of the institution. He had worked as 
 hard for it as if it had been his own business, bringing 
 in a large income. Indeed the labour which he had
 
 CHAP, xix.] JUBILEE OF TRAVELLERS' SCHOOLS. 309 
 
 voluntarily given, would, if exerted for himself, have 
 produced a fortune. 
 
 Mr. Moore distinguished the Jubilee year by estab- 
 lishing his scholarship and prizes of the united value 
 of eighty-five pounds a year. For establishing the 
 scholarship, his objects were as stated on the tablet 
 erected in the school : First, to stimulate and encourage 
 the children while they remain inmates of the institu- 
 tion, in an earnest and diligent pursuit of religious and 
 secular knowledge ; and, Secondly, to provide a means 
 whereby boys possessing great natural ability and 
 energy of character, may, on their leaving, proceed to 
 one of the public schools of a higher grade, and con- 
 tinue their studies for a further period of three years, 
 with the hope of their afterwards obtaining, through 
 means of other scholarships, the highest educational 
 advantages of the country. 
 
 He consented to take the chair at the Jubilee dinner 
 held in December. He was then reminded of the 
 deaths of many of his old friends. Old faces had gone, 
 and new faces had come. What could he say now ? 
 Only what he had said before. It was a quarter of a 
 century since he had taken the chair to organise the 
 schools. Now their benefits were extended far and 
 wide. They had saved many children from the work- 
 house ; and they had raised many boys to high positions 
 and influence. Twenty old pupils had become annual 
 subscribers and ten life-governors. "We are all 
 travellers," he said, " and every step we take conveys 
 us nearer and nearer to our journey's end." 
 Such was George Moore at the end of 1870.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 RELIEF OF PARIS. 
 
 AT the beginning of George Moore's diary of 1871, 
 the following words occur : " My heart is sick at the 
 carnage and death which this war is now causing 
 throughout France. We have not heard from the 
 managers of our Paris house for two months. We 
 do not know whether our people are dead or alive ! " 
 
 Paris was then besieged by the Germans. The net- 
 work of iron closed round the city on the igth of 
 September, 1870, and the citizens were left, in the 
 words of Bismarck, to "stew in their own gravy." 
 The city had been scantily provided with food, and 
 starvation soon began to be felt. Horse-flesh was 
 nearly eaten up. Cats and dogs were scarcely to be 
 had. Rats and mice were eagerly consumed. 
 
 A system of rations was provided by the govern- 
 ment. Long queues of starving women were to be 
 seen waiting at the butchers' doors, for their quarter of 
 a pound of meat. Though the frost was biting, the 
 women would wait for a dozen hours, half-clad and 
 unsheltered, on a cold winter's morning. Sometimes 
 they took up their station the night before, so as to 
 be ready for the first opening of the shop. 
 
 Fuel, like everything else, was scarce ; and people 
 lay in bed to keep themselves warm. Hence the rapid
 
 CHAP, xx.] FUND FOR RELIEF OF PARIS. 311 
 
 increase of deaths. The mortality amongst children 
 was fearful. At every step an undertaker was seen 
 carrying a little deal coffin. Adults were conveyed to 
 the cemetery in handcarts, for the horses had mostly 
 been eaten. Starvation had done its work, and Paris 
 at last surrendered. 
 
 In the meantime a large subscription had been got 
 up in London, under the presidency of Alderman 
 Dakin, Lord Mayor. The committee consisted of 
 men of all ranks and denominations. London wept 
 for Paris. A fund of about ; 120,000 was raised to 
 provide for the immediate wants of the people when 
 the gates were opened. George Moore was one of 
 the active members of the committee. " The French 
 distress," he says, " gives me a great deal of work." 
 " Thank God," he says on the 28th of January, " there 
 is an armistice in France. I fear I shall have to go 
 over to distribute the Mansion-House fund. If I go, 
 it is as an act of duty." On the 3ist he says: "The 
 Lord Mayor and many others made me promise to go 
 over to Paris. I started at a quarter to 8 A.M. amidst 
 a very severe frostj with snow upon the ground. May 
 God take care of my darling wife in my absence ! " 
 
 The party consisted of George Moore and his clerk, 
 
 Colonel Wortley, and a French lady, Madame M , 
 
 who had been separated from her husband during the 
 siege. The commissioners took with them seventy 
 tons of food and 5,000 in money. They travelled 
 by Newhaven and Dieppe. All the other routes to 
 Paris were closed until the terms of peace could be 
 arranged. 
 
 On arriving at Dieppe next morning they found no 
 porters ready to receive them. The inhabitants did not 
 know that the blockade of Paris had been raised. The 
 town was held by the Prussians, \\ho had possession 
 of the railway and public offices. The day passed
 
 JI2 ARRIVAL AT PARIS. [CHAP. XX. 
 
 without any carriages or waggons being provided. At 
 length the directors of the railway were found. They 
 promised that a train should start next evening at 
 eleven. Another day passed. They contrived to start 
 at night amidst a terrible scuffle. They were anxious 
 to be first in Paris with the food. As George Moore 
 afterwards said : " I think I should have died had I not 
 been first in Paris." 
 
 They had, however, many difficulties to encounter. 
 The rails had been torn asunder, the bridges had been 
 blown up, and the line was in most cases only tem- 
 porarily repaired. The waggons with the food from 
 London were the first to pass. The train arrived at 
 Amiens at 6 A.M. There had been terrible fighting at 
 this place. The station was much knocked about. It 
 was all dirt and confus : on. The buffet was closed, 
 and nothing was to be had to eat or drink. 
 
 A speculator in flour had, by some means or other, 
 got three or four of his waggons placed before the 
 London waggons. The train was stopped at every 
 station and referred to the German commandant. He 
 looked at the credentials and allowed the train to pass. 
 It reached Creil at two o'clock in the afternoon. After 
 stopping for two hours it "was allowed to pass over the 
 creaking temporary bridge, scarcely finished. Crawling 
 along the engine stopping, watering, and groaning 
 away the train at length reached Chantilly at five 
 in the evening. There it was shunted into a siding 
 and waited for three hours, until the Grand Duke of 
 Mecklenburg had passed in a special train. The party 
 then got through St. Denis, and finally arrived at the 
 Paris station at eleven at night. They were rejoiced to 
 find that theirs was the first train that had arrived in 
 Paris with food for the poor beleaguered Frenchmen ! 
 
 The station of the Northern Railway was deserted. 
 Not a porter was to be seen. The station was in total
 
 CHAP, xx.] THE HORSES MOSTLY EATEN. 313 
 
 darkness, although the moonlight made the huge bal- 
 loons standing in the square of the station look quite 
 ghost-like. The streets were empty. The city seemed 
 to be deserted. The party walked on for about three 
 miles to the Boulevard Malesherbes. The lady, who 
 had accompanied them from London to ascertain the 
 fate of her husband, found that he had left that morning 
 for London in search of her ! 
 
 The commissioners were up early next morning, and 
 presented their credentials to Jules Ferry at the Hotel 
 de Ville. They were accompanied by M. Andre, Mr. 
 Moore's banker, a deputy-mayor. After a long inter- 
 view it was decided that the food should be supplied to 
 twenty arrondissements in proportion to their population 
 Up. to this time, a little bit of black bread had been 
 distributed, and a piece of horseflesh about the size of 
 a walnut, so that the wants of the inhabitants in the 
 respective districts were well known. It was also de- 
 cided to open a depot in a central situation ; and, to 
 save expense, George Moore threw open the warehouse 
 of Copestake, Moore, and Co., in the Place des Petits 
 Peres. 
 
 And now came the difficulty of getting food to the 
 people. Getting the food from London to Paris was 
 nothing compared with this. Fifty thousand horses had 
 been eaten. Those which remained were dry, scraggy, 
 and uneatable. They were only used for dragging about 
 the cannon. George Moore felt vexed, angry, and in a 
 rage with the men in office. He says in his diary, " I 
 felt as if the lives of thousands depended upon our 
 efforts." He went from Jules Ferry to Jules Favre ; 
 then to Picard, " a jolly fellow," who seemed more at 
 ease than the others ; then to General Trochu, whom 
 he found greatly depressed. At last General Vinoy 
 allowed some of the artillery horses to be employed to 
 drag down the stores to the Warehouse.
 
 314 DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOOD. [CHAP. xx. 
 
 Two days after reaching Paris, the food was ready for 
 distribution. Crowds of people assembled in the Place 
 des Petits Peres. " Never," says George Moore, " did 
 I see such an assembly of hollow, lean, hungry faces 
 such a shrunken, famine-stricken, diseased-looking 
 crowd. They were very quiet. They seemed utterly 
 crushed and hopeless. It is now ten days since the 
 armistice began, and yet there is no food in Paris ex- 
 cept what we have brought. There is still the black 
 bread, made of hay and straw and twenty-five per cent, 
 of the coarsest flour. Well may the poor creatures 
 look pale ! 
 
 " We went about the markets. There was positively 
 nothing to see, except a few dead dogs and cats no 
 flour, no vegetables. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of 
 old people, little children and ladies, have died of 
 hunger. The sufferings of the little ones will never 
 be forgotten. For four months there was no milk 
 no fat except at fabulous prices no fuel, no light. 
 Indeed they have died in vast numbers. 
 
 "Paris has been surrendered because of the hunger 
 of the whole city. The words of Nahum seem to be 
 fulfilled, ' She is empty, and void, and waste ; and the 
 heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much 
 pain in the loins, and the faces of them all gather black- 
 ness." There is no fuel for fires in Paris, only here and 
 there a little damp wood can be found, and is burnt. 
 We have telegraphed urgently for fuel ; Wortley and I 
 suffer very much from the cold." 
 
 George Moore himself made a repast of horse-flesh at 
 the house of his banker. He had expressed great disgust 
 with the food at the time of his arrival ; but the banker 
 had nothing better to give him, and it was only after 
 he had dined, that M. Andre told him what he had 
 eaten ! 
 
 The distribution at the warehouse was now in full
 
 CHAP. XX.] DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOOD. 315 
 
 operation. It was constantly crowded. One evening, 
 after the daily distribution had been made, and the 
 warehouse was closed, George Moore went to look after 
 the arrangements for the following day. He found a 
 long queue waiting at the warehouse door. He went in 
 and asked, " If the poor people have not got their food. " 
 "Yes ! Those at the door are waiting for the distribu- 
 tion to-morrow morning ! " He at once had the doors 
 opened, and a distribution was made to all who were 
 present. They were mostly women some of them 
 ladies with veils boys for sick parents, and old, haggard 
 people, ghastly with hunger. George Moore never forgot 
 these dreadful scenes. 
 
 The food was distributed as follows : " Each person 
 gets a good ration, enough to last a family of five or six 
 for a week ; cheese, milk, bacon, coffee, Liebig's essence 
 of meat, biscuit, salt, rice, sugar, and Batty's preserved 
 meat." Arrangements were made to issue provisions at 
 the several depots all over Paris. The mayors were 
 elected during the siege, and were a rather low class of 
 men. " Some of them," says George Moore, " are a bad 
 lot. We are a good deal worried by them. We go 
 about from early morning till twelve at night ; but in 
 some cases I don't believe their reports. But now that 
 we see our way, we are keeping the distribution much 
 more in our own hands. We have sent to the Arch- 
 bishop of Paris, to the chief Rabbi, and to the French 
 pastors, a good deal of food, to be distributed privately 
 by the Sisters of Mercy and other ladies among the 
 better class. We find the small shopkeepers, clerks, 
 and such like, are those who have really suffered the 
 most les fauvres kontetix, who are ashamed to beg. 
 We have arranged a special place for them, at 2, Rue de 
 la Bienfaisance." 
 
 During his visit to Paris, Mr. Moore went about seeing 
 the ravages made by the siege. He went to Versailles
 
 3i6 DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOOD. [CHAP. xx. 
 
 to see Mr. Odo Russell, an old friend. He found great 
 crowds of people at the Bridge of Neuilly. He passed 
 through St. Cloud, which was almost entirely destroyed. 
 He breakfasted with Mr. Russell, in the very room where 
 Wellington and Bliicher so often dined. On the same 
 evening he was back at the warehouse. 
 
 The elections were then going on, and disturbed the 
 work of distribution. The means of locomotion were 
 very bad. Many of the locomotives of the Northern 
 Railroad had been destroyed. There was still a great 
 lack of horses and waggons. George Moore got a very 
 strong letter from Baron Rothschild to the manager of 
 the Chemin de Fer du Nord, of which he was chairman, 
 to facilitate, as much as he could, the conveyance of food 
 to Paris. 
 
 " We had a large meeting this evening (9th February) 
 at Eugene Plon's, the printer and publisher. Twenty 
 gentlemen were present. They all agreed to look after 
 the Mairies, in conjunction with M. Yriarte, and see to 
 the proper distribution of food. M. Plon's son speaks 
 English, and told me of all that was said." 
 
 Next day he met the Archbishop of Paris. " He is 
 most grateful. I find him a particularly gentlemanly 
 man. He is to be appointed chairman of the committee 
 we leave behind to carry on our work. Our warehouse 
 is crowded from morning till night. We are doing an 
 enormous amount of good. We have opened a private 
 store for the better class people. I get sometimes fifty 
 letters a day, and send them there to be executed." 
 
 On the nth February, he makes this entry: " Hard 
 at work getting food sent to the private gentlemen we 
 have appointed, who are all in earnest. We sent a ham 
 each to Creton, Dr. Herbert, Marshall, Dr. 1 and Odo 
 
 1 Dr. Russell, who was with the German army at Versailles, in returning 
 his thanks, said, " What a glorious pig that must have been! My only 
 difficulty and it is a great one relates to the cooking of his upper hind 
 leg; for there is not in my kitchen any vessel that will hold half of it
 
 CHAP, xx.] CROWDS AT THE WAREHOUSE. 3t? 
 
 Russell, Laurence Oliphant, Madame Mallet, Madame 
 Andre, and one to An Bon Marches son. We also sent 
 one each to M. Thiers, General Trochu, Jules Favre, 
 and Mr. Wallace. The crowds at our warehouse increase 
 every day. Our visit has been greatly appreciated by 
 all classes, who vie with each other in paying us respect. 
 I cannot speak too highly of our staff of young men at 
 the warehouse ! " 
 
 On the 1 2th : " The crowds at the warehouse in- 
 crease. This we keep exclusively for women. There 
 is a queue of ten or fifteen thousand waiting there to- 
 day ; they have waited all through last night. I felt 
 heart-sick when I saw them. It was one of the wildest 
 nights of sleet and fearful wind ; and, starved and ex- 
 hausted and drenched as they were, it was a sight to 
 make a strong man weep. We are straining ourselves 
 and all about us to the utmost. I believe we were 
 just in time; a few days more and the people would 
 have been too far gone ; many were hardly able to walk 
 away with their parcels. After waiting with wonderful 
 patience, when they got the food many of them fairly 
 broke down from over-joy. I have seen more tears shed 
 by men and women than I hope I shall ever see again." 
 
 One of the principal depots the Bon Marche was 
 selected near the Bourse. The crowd there was quite 
 as great as at Mr. Moore's warehouse. Some ten 
 thousand people bivouacked in the streets during the 
 night, waiting for the opening of the depot in the 
 morning. The queue extended, four or five deep, for 
 more than half-a-mile. The people, who were mostly 
 women, had come from all parts of Paris from Belville, 
 from Vaugirard, from the Faubourg St. Antoine. The 
 pavement was occupied on both sides with recumbent 
 
 Thanks for your putting the difficulty in my way. ... I hope to see you 
 on my return to London, in the good time coming, with peace and healing 
 on its wings."
 
 3 i8 VISITS OF RELIEF [CHAP. xx. 
 
 figures, lying in rows wrapped in blankets. The corre- 
 spondent of the Times visited this scene at midnight. 
 He asked one of the women when she expected to 
 arrive at the door of the warehouse where she would 
 receive her portion. " The day after to-morrow morn- 
 ing," she replied. "What! are you prepared to pass 
 two successive nights in the street ? " " Pourquoi pas f " 
 she said, "all the others do it." At the head of the 
 column, he found those who were to be first served in 
 the morning. " How long have you been here ? " he 
 asked of a lady-like young woman in black, evidently 
 of a superior class to those by whom she was sur- 
 rounded. " Since nine o'clock yesterday morning," she 
 replied. She had actually been thirty-nine hours in the 
 queue ! 
 
 " We continue," says George Moore in his diary, "to 
 look after people in a good position of life. They will 
 not send for food. We have to find them out. I took 
 food to a countess who lived six stories high, and to 
 Mrs. O'Connor, who lives eight stories high. Her 
 husband has good landed estates, but he cannot get a 
 penny of rent. It tries my wind to get up these stairs, 
 but, thank God, I am equal to my work. Colonel 
 Stuart Wortley is indefatigable in going about alone to 
 people's houses, and giving them food and money. He 
 has been written to by some of the highest class, 
 begging for food to be sent to some relative in great 
 need. We now feel that we have got master of our 
 work. God be praised ! I have little time to read the 
 Bible, but I read the gist Psalm every morning, which 
 is a great support to me." 
 
 The Honourable Alan Herbert was often with him. 
 He had remained in Paris during the siege, working 
 with devotion at his profession in the hospital ; he 
 knew the needs of the better classes, and how it was 
 possible to meet them. Dr. Herbert said of this time,
 
 CHAP, xx.] MISSING RELATIVES IN PARIS. 319 
 
 "What struck me most was Mr. Moore's informal and 
 generous way of doing things ; it was a surprise to the 
 French people, but specially delighted them." 
 
 Mr. Moore was inundated with letters from England, 
 from wives asking him to look after their husbands, 
 from fathers to look after their daughters, from exiled 
 French people of all classes inquiring about the safety 
 of their relations. Most of these letters were addressed 
 to Mrs. Moore in London, and forwarded by her to her 
 husband in Paris. One of these letters runs thus : " I 
 am very anxious about one of M. de Bergue's brothers. 
 He belonged to the National Guard. He has a wife 
 and two children one a very delicate creature, my 
 godchild. I shall be very grateful if Mr. Moore will 
 make inquiries after them, as they must have suffered 
 a great deal." Mr. Moore found them out, and helped 
 them. 
 
 Another lady writes from Carlisle inquiring after her 
 husband, also in the National Guard. She had been 
 residing in Normandy on account of her health when 
 the war broke out, and she was unable to return to 
 Paris. She was now in Cumberland with her friends. 
 " I have written to him," she said ; " I have sent money 
 to him, and I have despatched a box of provisions to 
 him, but I can hear nothing of him. I suffer the most 
 horrible fear and anxiety. I am very ill, and know not 
 what to do." After giving her husband's address, and 
 inclosing a note to him, she goes on : "I scruple, dear 
 sir, to ask so much of you ; but in my great misery I 
 must throw myself on your pity and kindness." 
 
 The person inquired after was found out and helped. 
 His letter to Mr. Moore was a sort of general hurrah for 
 England. " Vous etes, vraiment, la Grande Bretagne, 
 et du reste, j'ai parmi vous, gentleman d'Angleterre, 
 des amis de coeur. . . . Vous avez etc admirables 
 Anglais dans tous les temps. Mais, avant tout, comme
 
 320 DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOOD. [CHAP. xx. 
 
 race supe"rieur, noble et geneVeux race, permettez a un 
 Fran^ais qui vous respecte et qui vous aime, de vous 
 exprimer sa profonde reconnaissance pour vos bontes. 
 Hurrah for England!" 
 
 Another lady, who had been relieved, writes as 
 follows to her friend in Switzerland : " I went on 
 Monday, but there was no possibility of approaching 
 Mr. Moore's bureau ; so I came back and wrote a short 
 note, inclosing yours. An answer arrived, telling me to 
 be there at 7.30 next morning ; for I was really starved 
 to death. Oft" I went with a bag, not knowing what I 
 should get, accompanied by Desire (her husband) to 
 help me. When I got admittance I was greatly recom- 
 pensed for my trouble ; for not only did your good 
 benevolent friend provide me with good provisions, but 
 gave me 25 francs into the bargain. He really must 
 be, as you say, one of the best of men a real Christian, 
 able to feel the pains and sorrows of others. You must 
 know that all this was done in the twinkling of an eye, 
 for thousands of people were waiting to be supplied. 
 You cannot tell what misery we have endured night and 
 day. We have seen nothing but cannon balls and shells 
 flying through the air. We have been reduced to utter 
 destitution, being nearly always without fire, though the 
 winter has been so severe." Another lady, residing in 
 Paris, writes as follows : " I have lost my husband here, 
 and am without funds to return, which I am anxious to 
 do immediately. Will you kindly, on receipt of this, 
 send me some money to the inclosed address." 
 
 About sixty thousand pounds' worth of food had 
 been got into Paris, and it was distributed as fast as 
 possible in forty different depots. One of the effects 
 of tlie distribution was, that the health of the city 
 rapidly improved. Fever and small-pox were less fatal 
 in their attacks. Food was now coming into Paris, but 
 the prices were still high. On the I2th, Mr. Moore
 
 CHAP, xx.] A FIGHT FOR FOOD. 32I 
 
 gave instructions to issue double rations. The crowds 
 round the depots continued as great as ever ; but the 
 destitution and starvation were disappearing. More 
 food was exposed for sale in the markets, and the people 
 began to look more cheerful. 
 
 The crowds were still great at the Bon Marche* and 
 Grand Conde two of the largest shops in Paris. On 
 the i /th February some 8,000 people were seen crowd- 
 ing round the entrance of the latter place packed like 
 sardines in a box all struggling to reach the door. A 
 detachment of the National Guards was there ; but 
 they proved of little use. The scene was fearful, 
 women were screaming and fainting, and had to be 
 handed over the heads of the people without their 
 portion of food ! Thus all their labour had been in 
 vain. 
 
 " I had with me," says Mr. Moore, " Colonel Wortley, 
 Mr. Mallet, Oliphant of the Times, Mr. Landells Mar- 
 shall of the Telegraph, and the Honourable Alan Herbert. 
 We vainly tried to keep the people back. We loudly 
 supplicated them to stand still, as all should be served ; 
 but it was of no use. The surging mass grew still 
 denser. At last we were forced to pull the front ranks 
 through the door to save them from being crushed to 
 death. Five unconscious women were borne in upon 
 our arms. We brought them to life again with aromatic 
 vinegar and stimulants. It was a regular fight for food. 
 If they had not been in extreme want, such a fight 
 could never have taken place." 
 
 "On the 1 8th," Mr. Moore says, "the food is still 
 coming in. The convoys report themselves. We have 
 had Lieutenant Wood, son of Lord Halifax, Captain 
 Green, of the Hussars, Harry Bourke, brother of Lord 
 Mayo, and Mr. Louis Davidson, a cousin of the Roth- 
 schilds. They have all stuck to their waggons, and 
 brought them right through. I must confess that the
 
 322 DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSPORT. [CHAP. xx. 
 
 military officers, who had volunteered as convoys, were 
 very successful in getting their waggons on rapidly. 
 Two others (of the civilians) came to me and complained 
 that ' they could not get through.' One had left his 
 provisions in charge of some one at Amiens ; and 
 another, rather nearer Paris. I ordered them back with 
 a very few words, and told them not to come to me 
 again till they had got their waggons into Paris, and 
 could report so." l 
 
 On the I gth he writes : " Now that we have mastered 
 the details of our operations I feel greatly more at ease. 
 I can never sufficiently thank God for all His blessings 
 to me preserving my health, and giving me clear judg- 
 ment. I rise eaTly, go to bed late, and sleep soundly. 
 Madame Mallet's, in the Boulevard Malesherbes (where 
 
 1 Since trie publication of the first edition. Mr. Louis Davidson has sent 
 us the following account of his services in respect of the conveyance of food 
 to Paris : 
 
 "I left London at midnight on the Saturday, arrived at Folkestone 
 early on Sunday morning, was detained there until the afternoon, during 
 the loading of the ship with the provisions, and arrived at Boulogne after 
 a most stormy passage on Sunday night. On the following day, I had the 
 greatest trouble to procure the necessary labourers to fill the trucks with 
 the provisions, although they were lying alongside the vessel in the harbour, 
 and the men were told the food was most urgently needed in Paris. I, at 
 lenyth, with the help of the agents of the South Eastern and Northern of 
 France Railways, succeeded in hiring a number of men to do the work (by 
 giving extra pay) and left with my convoy on Monday ni^ht. I was in the 
 train until the Wednesday night, and, on arriving at the goods depot, 
 found that all waggons were to be detained there, and that the food was to 
 be sent into Paris as the railway authorities chose to direct. The officials 
 were so overcome by the extra work of the last few days, that I found all 
 the clerks asleep at their desks, an-1 it was with the greatest difficulty that 
 I could obtain a promise that my. convoy should be sent quickly into Park. 
 Finding that I could do no more, and being naturally anxious to report 
 myself to Mr. Moore, I availed myself of an engine which was going to 
 the Paris Station du Nord, where I arrived early on the Thursday morning, 
 having thus been three nights on the road from Boulogne, during the 
 greater part of which time 1 occupied a second class compartment, suosi.-t- 
 ing upon the provisions I had most fortunately brought with me from 
 England. Most of the foregoing facts, which are well-known to my 
 friends, must have escaped the recollection of the late Mr. Moore, who, 
 far from 'ordering me back,' perfectly appreciated the causes which had 
 delayed the arrival of my convoy, and expressed himself as being very 
 well pleased with my services, which, he observed, contra ted favourably 
 with those rendered by certain others of the convoy staff."
 
 CHAP, xx.] THE LAST DISTRIBUTION. 323 
 
 Mr. Moore lived during his stay, and of whose kindness 
 he often speaks) is crowded every morning from 8.30 to 
 10.30. I make a point of seeing every one. I answer 
 all letters. Sometimes I write fifty a day. I am deter- 
 mined, so far as I am concerned, that no one shall go 
 away unserved. The people have been hungered for 
 five months, and now our food is telling upon them. 
 Their gratitude is unbounded." 
 
 Food was now coming in from various quarters. The 
 English government sent a large quantity of biscuits 
 and preserved beef; the Society of Friends and other 
 private persons were also sending food to Paris and the 
 neighbourhood. Money was supplied to enable the 
 people to take their things out of pawn, to buy garden 
 seeds, and for other purposes. On Wednesday, the 
 22nd February, the police called at Mr. Moore's depot, 
 and ordered that the distribution of food should cease, 
 as the crowds that assembled round the door blocked 
 the thoroughfare. On this Mr. Moore says: "We put 
 on all steam, and determined to keep open all night as 
 well as during the following day. All the streets round 
 the warehouse were blocked with people. The food was 
 all ready for distribution. We calculated that we ran a 
 party through in half a minute ! The French people 
 were astonished at our energy. They cheered me. I 
 remained till one at night, and left them in full swing." 
 The warehouse was closed on the evening of the 23rd. 
 Up to eight o'clock they had distributed food to 96,500 
 persons. The remaining provisions were divided 
 amongst the committees of the Archbishop of Paris, the 
 Jewish Rabbi, and the Protestant pastors. 
 
 Mr. Moore and Colonel Wortley proceeded to visit 
 the villages in the neighbourhood of Paris. The pooi 
 people were tilling their private and market gardens, 
 but they said they had no seed. All their property had 
 been destroyed : all their money had been spent : and 
 
 Y 2
 
 324 THE GERMAN PLUNDER. [CHAP. xx. 
 
 they had barely enough to live upon. " Upon ascertain- 
 ing this," says Mr. Moore, "we decided at once to 
 order ;i,ooo worth of seed to be sent to them from 
 London. We have formed a bond of union with 
 ihe gentlemen composing the War Victims Fund, and 
 will cooperate with them as to the distribution of 
 the seed." 
 
 To give an idea of the robbery and pillage that had 
 been going on round Paris, Mr. Moore mentions the 
 following circumstances : The Germans had destroyed 
 the Graveyards, and torn up or tumbled down the 
 Tombstones. When they took possession of a town or 
 a village, they rooted up the ground, in order to find the 
 treasures which, they thought, the inhabitants had left 
 behind. Thus, the most wanton destruction was perpe- 
 trated. In one case a poor fellow who had returned to 
 his home, found that the deed box which he had buried, 
 had been dug up and rifled, and that all his deeds and 
 railway scrip had been taken away. The man declared 
 that he had been totally ruined. This was only one out 
 of a thousand similar cases. 
 
 Mr. Moore refers in his diary to Mr. W. B. Norcott, 
 who assisted him during this time. Mr. Norcott well 
 remembers the occasion. He says " It was my privi- 
 lege to be associated with Mr. Moore on a memorable 
 occasion the relief of Paris and I can never forget the 
 indefatigable way in which he set us an example. His 
 energy of purpose, early and late, was something won- 
 derful. He was ever at his post, directing what was to 
 be done, establishing depots of relief in different parts 
 of the city, organising an efficient staff to carry out his 
 plans, and personally superintending the distribution of 
 food at each store, so as to include the greatest number 
 of the starving poor. On one occasion we worked all 
 through the night, with Mr. Moore at our head. I fear 
 his self-sacrifice at that momentous time led to his
 
 CHAT-, xx.] ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS. 325 
 
 subsequent ill-health. But the memory of his acts will 
 not soon be forgotten by the poor of Paris." 
 
 The v/ork of the commission was now at an end. The 
 markets were becoming filled with food, and the price 
 was falling from day to day. It is true the people were 
 still without money, but the commissioners could not 
 supply that. They cleared the central depots of pro- 
 visions, and distributed them amongst the various arron- 
 dissements. They had done their best and were now 
 prepared to start homewards. Before they left Paris, 
 they received many thanks and congratulations. M. 
 Thiers entered his note of thanks in Mr. Moore's memo- 
 randum-book. The Archbishop of Paris was full of 
 gratitude. He said, in a letter to Cardinal Manning : 
 " I ask them (the commissioners) to be the interpreters 
 to the English people of our gratitude, and I should be 
 very thankful if you made known to our friends of the 
 Committee how much we appreciate the generosity of 
 which we have been the object in our irreparable disaster. 
 Physically I have not suffered much, but the moral 
 tortures caused by the state of my unfortunate country 
 nothing can express." 
 
 The Chiffoniers, or ragpickers of Paris, also sent in 
 their letter of thanks. 1 But perhaps the prettiest thing 
 was done by a French girl. One morning, when Mr. 
 Moore and Colonel Wortley were getting into their 
 carriage, to go the round of the depots, they found on 
 the seat a bunch of flowers, with a little note saying that 
 
 1 The letter was as follows : 
 
 " CHERS AMIS DE LONDRES, 
 
 " ^'a etc une grande consolation pour nous apres les rudes epreuves 
 que nous venons de traverser dans ce siege si douloureux, de voir nos freres 
 d'Augleterre nous donner une preuve si grande de leur charite fraternelle 
 envers la \ ation Franchise, et surtout envers nous Parisiens. 
 
 " C'est le cceur rempli de la plus prof.mde gratitude que nous vous 
 adressons nos remerciments bien sinceres pour votre magnifique don, et que 
 nous prions Dieu qu'il se souvienne qu'ayant eu faim, vous nous avez donne 
 a manger. Soyez done henis. Et soyez persuades que le souvenir de nos 
 freres de Londres ne s'effacera jamais de notre coeur."
 
 326 RETURN TO LONDON. [CHAP. XX. 
 
 it was the only way in which the young girl who left 
 them could show her gratitude to the English who had 
 saved her mother and herself from starvation. 
 
 The commissioners left Paris on the 28th of February, 
 and arrived in London on the following day. They 
 were received back with many congratulations. They 
 gave in their report to the Mansion House Committee, 
 and received a unanimous vote of thanks. George 
 Moore went back to his ordinary work of business and 
 charity. He felt very much worn out. He had been 
 sustained throughout by his pluck and energy. But the 
 reaction had now occurred. He writes in his diary : 
 " I cannot recover from my weariness. I dream all 
 night about Paris, and cannot get sound rest. During 
 the daytime I suffer much from aching bones. " 
 
 Mr. Moore, like many others, was presented with the 
 National Order of the Legion of Honour ; though he 
 valued far more the thanks of the Paris Chiffoniers. He 
 was accustomed to give entertainments in London to 
 the French exiles, both before and after the siege. In 
 January, 1871, Mr. Moore gave a liberal entertainment 
 to more than a hundred French refugees, in the rooms 
 of the London City Mission, Greek Street, Soho. After 
 the siege, the exiles presented an address to Mr. Moore 
 at Kensington Palace Gardens ; accompanied by a blue 
 portemonnaie made for Mrs. Moore by a German and 
 embroidered by a Parisienne. After the presentation, 
 about ninety of the refugees were entertained to supper. 
 
 But Paris had not yet got rid of her agony. The 
 Germans had scarcely left the city ere the Commune 
 broke out. Belleville was let loose. The scenes of the 
 old Revolution were repeated. The soldiers sided with 
 the people. Generals Thomas and Lecomte were seized 
 and shot. The prisons were crowded. Chaplains were 
 prohibited from offering their last services to the dying. 
 An exception was made on one occasion. The permit
 
 CFFAI-. xx.] OUTBREAK OF THE COMMUNE. 327 
 
 allowing a priest to be passed into a prison, concluded 
 thus " He says he is the servant of somebody called 
 God [le nomme Dieu]." The Archbishop of Paris, the 
 Cure of the Madelaine, and a crowd of other ecclesi- 
 astics, were lodged in the Conciergerie. The plate and 
 the valuables in the churches were siezed. Women were 
 turned into furies. They broke into the Tuileries, tore 
 down the hangings, attired themselves in wreaths of silk, 
 and proclaimed, amidst the wildest excitement, " Liberte", 
 Egalite, FraterniteY' 
 
 The Communist organ, the Montague wrote thus : 
 " Our dogs that used only to growl when a Bishop 
 passed, will bite him now, and not a voice will be 
 raised to curse the day which dawns for the sacrifice 
 of the Archbishop of Paris. . . . Darboy ! tremble in 
 your cell, for your day is past, your end is close at 
 hand." A few days after, on the 24th of May, the 
 Archbishop was assassinated, with six other hostages, 
 in the prison -yard of La Roquette. Before his death, 
 the Archbishop stept forward and said, " Do not pro- 
 fane the word Liberty ; it is to us alone it belongs, 
 for we shall die for liberty and faith." After these 
 words he was shot down. 
 
 Cardinal Manning, in writing to George Moore on 
 the subject of the Archbishop's death, said : " I feel 
 sure that you have shared with us our sorrow and our 
 joy about the dear Archbishop of Paris. It is indeed 
 a horrible crime ; but he died nobly like a true pastor, 
 in the midst of his flock. I thank you for all that you 
 have done for him." 
 
 After the French army had regained possession of 
 the city, it was necessary for Mr. Moore and Colonel 
 Wortley to go over to Paris again to finish their work. 
 On this occasion they were accompanied by Mrs. Moore 
 and Mrs. Wortley. They were amazed at the destruc- 
 tion of property. The ashes of the Tuileries and the
 
 323 SECOND SIEGE OF PARTS. [CHAP. xx. 
 
 Hotel de Ville were still hot. Some seventy thousand 
 men were employed by government to remove the ruins. 
 Although most of the public places had been burnt, 
 George Moore's warehouse was safe. When the crowd 
 of Communists came up to fire the building, they were 
 reminded that it was the warehouse of the "Anglais" 
 who had brought the gift of food to Paris ; and they 
 passed on. For the sake of the English, the church of 
 Notre Dame de Victoire was also spared. 
 
 Frightful scenes' were to be seen in the streets. 
 Women were prodded along at the point of the 
 bayonet to the prisons at Versailles young girls, old 
 hags, poor careworn-looking men, boys so young as 
 only to be fit for infant-schools all declares. Their 
 hands were tied behind them with ropes, and they 
 were driven along through the streets, which were 
 full of soldiers. The Tuileries gardens were full of 
 dragoons, with their horses picketed beside them. The 
 Champs Elysees was a camp. A mass of soldiers 
 crowded the steps of the Bourse. The churches were 
 still closed. No priests dared be seen in the streets. 
 Firing from the windows at the soldiers was still of 
 daily occurrence. Every night was occupied in re- 
 moving and burning the dead, who had been hastily 
 buried where they fell, in the squares and little patches 
 of gardens throughout the city. 
 
 " The second siege of Paris," said George Moore, on 
 writing home, " has been much more lamentable than 
 the first. The devastation of private house property is 
 double or treble more than I expected. The week's 
 fighting has destroyed hundreds of houses in the out- 
 skirts. It is really melancholy to see the ruin that has 
 been brought upon innocent people. 
 
 " Colonel Stuart Wortley and I are perplexed how 
 to dispense our ^25,000 from the Mansion House 
 Committee. We must dole it out in small amounts,
 
 CHAP, xx.] MRS. MOORE'S LETTER HOME. 329 
 
 as we have found out so many channels for it. The 
 charitable institutions which abound here are drained 
 dry, as the Government has not been able to give them 
 anything since the commencement of the first siege, 
 and private subscriptions have been almost nil. It is 
 sad to visit Orphan Asylums, Convalescent, Deaf and 
 Dumb Homes for old men and women, hospitals of 
 all kinds, and many other establishments, all pining 
 for funds. 
 
 " The cruelty and wickedness of the Commune 
 towards them has been villainous. They would have 
 destroyed most of them if they had been left two or 
 three days longer. They gave the inmates of an institu- 
 tion called the Good Shepherd for Fallen Women ten 
 minutes' notice to quit, and then set fire to the build- 
 ing, which contained 150 young women ; and there 
 are many other cases of equal cruelty." 
 
 Mrs. Moore wrote home to her friends as follows : 
 " Mrs. Wortley and I are in hourly dread of seeing 
 some horror that we shall never forget ; for everything 
 seems so unsafe and unsettled. We have some very 
 kind friends, more especially the Mallets and the 
 Andres ; and we wives must always feel grateful to M. 
 and Madame Henri Mallet for being so good to our 
 husbands on their first visit. M. Henon has placed 
 his carriage at our service, and it helps us very much. 
 We spent a day at Versailles at ' Les Ombrages.' This 
 is the country-seat of Madame Andr6 (mere}. It was 
 occupied by the Crown Prince of Prussia during the 
 siege. He was much more considerate than many of 
 his officers in the way in which he treated the contents 
 of the house, for nothing has been wilfully damaged. 
 He turned all the family portraits with their faces 
 to the wall, ' feeling bored,' he said, ' at having whole 
 generations of Andres looking reproachfully at him.' 
 
 " Yesterday Col. Wortley had to go to St. Denis on
 
 330 A FRIGHTFUL SIGHT. [CHAP. xx. 
 
 the business of the Fund and to make inquiries about 
 the needs of some institutions there. He got out to 
 walk by a short cut, and Mrs. Wortley and I who had 
 gone with him, were driving alone in the carriage. We 
 had to cross the lines, through both French and Prus- 
 sian outposts ; for the Germans are still investing St. 
 Denis and the suburbs, within two miles of Paris. 
 After leaving the French sentries, closely adjoining the 
 Prussian lines, we drove for about a mile through a road 
 perfectly deserted no grass anywhere all, as far as we 
 could see, was destruction and ruin. The place was full 
 of sand heaps and rubbish. It was so hopeless that I 
 said, ' Doesn't it seem as if all the rubbish in the world 
 was "shot here " ? as if it had been given up to " beating 
 carpets " from generation to generation ?' Immediately 
 afterwards the horses reared straight up and nearly upset 
 the carriage. There seemed to be no reason. Francois 
 tried all means strong language and stronger punish- 
 ment ; but the horses swerved round, and set off gallop- 
 ing towards Paris. He turned them at last, and brought 
 them to the same spot, when they reared and shied, as if 
 they saw something, and again turned round. I managed 
 to get out, but Mrs. Wortley showed great pluck. She 
 afterwards said that she was afraid the horses, carriage, 
 and driver would come to grief, and as it would be on 
 our behalf, she determined to face it out. As she did 
 not come out of the carriage while the fight was going 
 on, I got in again ! The coachman three or four times 
 turned back, and then drove fast towards the place. The 
 horses were tractable till we got back to the spot where 
 they had first turned ; and there they each time reared 
 and swerved. At last Franois had to lead them on, 
 covered with foam and trembling all over. In a few 
 moments we came upon the most awful smell of burnt 
 hair, and I don't know what something too sickening. 
 The horses' senses had been finer than ours ; and I don't
 
 CHAP, xx.] THE PARIS CHIFFONIER. 331 
 
 wonder at their refusal to go on. Who knows ? Per- 
 haps, like Balaam's ass, their eyes were opened, and a 
 multitude of ghosts withstood them ! 
 
 " You can judge of my horror afterwards, when Baron 
 A. Rothschild said, on hearing of the road that we had 
 been, ' You should never have been taken there ; that 
 is the place where every night they are obliged to bury 
 or burn the dead who fell during the fighting of the 
 Commune, and who were then so hastily buried ! ' 
 
 " The other night we dined at Phillipe's Restaurant, 
 near the Bourse, and on our way back to the Hotel 
 Chatham I noticed a chiffonier at work among the little 
 dust-heaps, which are swept out nightly into the streets. 
 I had never seen one busy before, and we stood a mo- 
 ment to watch the patience with which he probed among 
 the rubbish by the light of his little candle, as if for some 
 treasure. Having caught up a little scrap of paper, or 
 leather, or cotton stuff, he would, with a dexterous jerk 
 of his long hook, throw it into the sack on his back. 
 While standing by, Colonel Wortley asked the man if 
 he had received any of the English gift. He said, ' No ; 
 not any.' While we were talking to the rag-picker, a 
 few men, some with white aprons and paper caps, some 
 with blouses, gathered round, and they heard Colonel 
 Wortley express surprise that the man had never had 
 any of the 'don anglais,' as it was called. The by- 
 standers at once began abusing the man, accusing him 
 of not speaking the truth, and becoming much excited. 
 The chiffonier then said, ' Out, en fe"vrier ! fai re$u le 
 don anglais ! tout le monde en a ! ' He excused himself 
 by saying that he thought the gentleman was speaking 
 of a gift come now. I thought it very satisfactory, as 
 showing that the food had filtered down to every one. 
 Even the stray chiffonier whom we met was made to 
 acknowledge it"
 
 33 2 FINAL I ISTRIBUTION OF MONEY. [CHAP. xx. 
 
 The remaining money was at length distributed 
 amongst deserving societies and charities Catholics 
 and Protestants having their just share. The work 
 was now accomplished, and the Commissioners finally 
 returned home.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 HIGH SHERIFF OF CUMBERLAND. 
 
 THE strain and fatigue which Mr. Moore had gone 
 through during the relief of Paris told upon his health. 
 The unusual work tried him, both in mind and body. 
 He could not get rid of the horrors he had witnessed. 
 He would start up in the night calling out, "Do you 
 not see that woman dying? I must go to Versailles." 
 His face began to look worn. His hair became greyer. 
 He looked depressed. His usual cheerful and buoyant 
 energy disappeared, and he became listless, self-absorbed, 
 and melancholy. 
 
 This was to a certain extent caused by a feeling of 
 disappointment. He had formed so good an opinion of 
 the French character, from their patience, self-control, 
 and courage during the time of their privation, that the 
 outburst of lawlessness and frenzy which immediately 
 followed their relief from pressure, was to him a painful 
 surprise and a great disappointment. 
 
 There was however a busy year before him, and he 
 threw himself into his work as a relief from his troubles. 
 In the beginning of 1872 he was appointed High 
 Sheriff of Cumberland. His name had been suggested 
 by his influential friends the Howards. Twenty years 
 before, he had been elected Sheriff of London and 
 Middlesex. But now that he was nearing the end of his
 
 334 GEORGE MOORE HIGH SHERIFF. [CHAP. xxi. 
 
 labours, he felt proud to accept the office of High 
 Sheriff of Cumberland, his native county. 
 
 The Queen's precept appointing him to the office 
 required him "to take custody and charge of the said 
 county, and duly to perform the duties of sheriff during 
 Her Majesty's pleasure." It used to be one of the 
 duties of the high sheriff to levy men in arms for the 
 defence of the county against the inroads of the Scots. 
 George Moore would doubtless have been as willing as 
 his ancestors to mount to the war cry of " Snaffle, spur, 
 and spear," and defend their possessions at the sword's 
 point. But these days had long passed away. The 
 office of High Sheriff was no longer warlike. It had 
 become festive and social. Judging from the large 
 number of accounts left behind, accompanied by long 
 bills, it appears that Mr. Moore's reign as High Sheriff 
 consisted in a great measure of lunches, dinners, enter- 
 tainments, and banquets. 
 
 Mr. Moore was much gratified by the fact that the 
 judges, Sir John Mellor and Sir Robert Lush, were his 
 personal friends, and that they had for his sake specially 
 arranged their progress so as to be present at the 
 Northern Assize. It was a pleasant time to him 
 altogether. He took much personal interest in all the 
 details necessary to give dignity to the reception of the 
 judges. His coachman, who had been thirty-five years 
 in his service, took charge of everything relating to the 
 beauty of the carriage, harness, and such like ; but Mr. 
 Moore himself was resolute about cockades not being 
 worn, although they are usually thought indispensable 
 to a high sheriff's livery. He had seen nearly everybody 
 else, so soon as they got promoted to some little honour, 
 putting cockades on servants' hats, but he would have 
 none of them for his serving-men, though he had been 
 on the Lieutenancy of London for more than twenty- 
 five years.
 
 CHAP xxi.] GEERING, THE COACHMAN. 335 
 
 It may be mentioned here that though George 
 Moore was a particularly loyal man, he never went to 
 Court, although on one occasion he had been asked to 
 go to a levfa by one of the members of the Royal 
 Family. " No, no," said he ; " Court is not the place 
 for Warehousemen." 
 
 The assizes were held at Carlisle on the 2Oth of 
 February. The occasion was marked by the state and 
 dignity with which Mr. Moore performed the office of 
 high sheriff. There was the grand entry of the judges 
 into the city. The high sheriff met Mr. Justice Lush 
 on his arrival at the citadel station, and, preceded by 
 richly caparisoned heralds and trumpeters, conveyed 
 his lordship in a chariot drawn by four bright bay 
 horses. Geering, the high sheriff's coachman, was 
 master of the situation. He handled the ribbons in a 
 manner that elicited general admiration, and if neces- 
 sary, he could have turned the four-in-hand round a 
 half-crown piece. And then, what a grand thing he was 
 doing ! He was driving in state the Cumberland lad 
 who had gone to London without a friend, who had 
 worked hard and made his way in the world, and had 
 now come back to his native county to take his part 
 among the best, and enjoy his honour and dignity. It 
 was a combination of the story of Whittington and 
 Warren Hastings in one ! But, compared with the 
 latter, George Moore's hands were clean. 
 
 The judge was driven to his apartments in Lowther 
 Street. Mr. Justice Lush opened the commission in the 
 afternoon, and subsequently attended Divine service in 
 the cathedral. The sermon was preached by the high 
 sheriff's chaplain and brother-in-law, the Rev. T. H. 
 Chester, vicar of South Shields. On the following day, 
 Mr. Justice Meller, in addressing the grand jury, of 
 which Lord Muncaster was foreman, said that it afforded 
 him especial pleasure and satisfaction to revisit the
 
 336 THE PRINCE OF WAI.ES'S RECOVERY. [CHAP. xxl. 
 
 county of Cumberland when his excellent friend Mr. 
 George Moore was high sheriff. Mr. George Moore, he 
 continued, was a gentleman universally esteemed, whose 
 career and, he might add, the manner in which he had 
 performed the duties of high sheriff, were a credit to his 
 native county. The bus' ness then proceeded. The 
 assize was longer than usual. Mr. Moore had a recep- 
 tion, at which the gentry of the county attended. Then 
 there were entertainments at Whitehall. In fact nothing 
 could be more festive and delightful than the manner in 
 which the high sheriff performed the hospitable duties of 
 his office. 
 
 During his shrievalty, he summoned a county meeting 
 at Carlisle, for the purpose of presenting an address of 
 congratulation to the Queen on the recovery of the 
 Prince of Wales. The meeting was crowded ; every 
 person of influence in the county was present. Mr. 
 Moore was very nervous before making his speech ; but 
 he made a good one. He rejoiced in being able to 
 declare his earnest convictions. " I call the recovery of 
 the Prince," he said, "a miraculous recovery, because he 
 was on the very verge of the grave. I believe that the 
 Prince's recovery was in a great measure due to the 
 universal prayer of all classes of the people, of all 
 denominations, from one end of the country to the 
 other. It convinces me more than ever that God rules 
 everything. When all hopes appeared to be gone, when 
 we waited hourly, almost momentarily, for the sad news 
 of his death, the Lord was with him, the gleam of hope 
 was shed into his sick room, and he was saved. It may 
 be that his affliction was a blessing in disguise. May it 
 prove so. The Prince is anything but an idle man. I 
 speak from experience. He has taken the chair on 
 many occasions for institutions in which I am very much 
 interested, at great sacrifice to himself. It must have 
 bcca very irksome to him to have to discharge those
 
 CHAP, xxi.] THE PRINCE OF WALES'S RECOVERY. 337 
 
 duties once or twice a week, but he always came forward 
 to alleviate distress, and he displayed an amount of 
 charity which nobody ever knew anything about. Pro- 
 vidence overrules everything for good. The Prince's 
 illness has aroused a feeling of loyalty in this country 
 that must be very satisfactory to us all. It must be 
 most gratifying to the Prince to see that he possesses 
 the warm love and affection of the people of this coun- 
 try. Such a display as that which took place last week 
 in London has never occurred in any other country. 
 Thousands and tens of thousands of people assembled 
 along seven miles of streets : there were 2,000,000 of 
 people there to welcome him and his beloved mother. 
 What a contrast the scene of last week presented to the 
 great hardships which I witnessed in Paris twelve months 
 ago ! When I reflect upon the difference of the two scenes 
 it is a perfect marvel to me. I attribute it a great deal 
 to the fact that in our beloved country we read and love 
 the Bible, whereas in that country it is the want of that 
 most blessed of all books that keeps the people in their 
 present state ! " 
 
 One of the high sheriff's duties is to take the neces- 
 sary proceedings for returning members of Parliament. 
 On the death of the Earl of Lonsdale, the Hon. Henry 
 Lowther, who represented West Cumberland, succeeded 
 to the peerage, and a vacancy occurred in' the represen- 
 tation. A writ was issued to the sheriff ; the necessary 
 steps were taken, and Lord Muncaster was returned 
 without opposition. The election took place at Cocker- 
 mouth. It was the last election in England at which 
 the candidates presented themselves and addressed the 
 electors from the hustings, after the old usage. 
 
 The summer assizes took place in July. On that 
 occasion the high sheriff gave a dinner to above two 
 hundred persons, barristers, magistrates, and friends, 
 not forgetting his farmers and poor relations. Many of 
 
 z
 
 33 DEATHS OF OI D FRIENDS. [CHAP. xxr. 
 
 his Cumberland fr'ends in London came down, to be 
 present at the parting dinner of the high sheriff. 
 
 His life was at this time clouded by the death of some 
 of his dear friends. They were falling away from him 
 one by one, friends who had worked with him, sympa- 
 thised with him, and loved him ! "When my own work 
 is done," he says, " and my energy exhausted by reason 
 of age, I pray that I shall not be disposed to murmur at 
 the approach of death. To me ' to live is Christ, to die 
 is gain.' I think upon this subject every day of my life." 
 But even these partings from the friends who had gone 
 before him could not be endured without human sorrow. 
 
 One ill-fated morning the news arrived at Whitehall 
 of the death of his brother-in-law, James Wilkinson 
 Breeks, in India, at the untimely age of forty-two. He 
 was a man whom George Moore loved with all his heart. 
 He was one of those distinguished men who maintain 
 with dignity the rule of England in that far-off country. 
 He was kind, courteous, and just. He was beloved by 
 the natives as well as by his brother civilians. As Civil 
 Commissioner in the Neilgherry Hills he won the respect 
 of all with whom he was connected, by his high abilities 
 as well as by the manliness of his character. He be- 
 friended the poor and needy ; he devoted himself, like 
 a true Christian gentleman, to the care of the people 
 committed to his charge ; and his death was crowned 
 with the love and tears of many. 1 
 
 1 Mr. Moore was not singular in his regard for James Wilkinson Breeks. 
 In India, the affection with which his memory is cherished is something 
 extraordinary. To the natives in his own district he was, in their simple 
 words, ''a. father," the soul of all that was good and useful to those about 
 him an eminent example of a constantly good and Christian life a rare 
 example of those qualities which, if commonly practised, would make this 
 a better and happier world George Moore says of him in his diary : 
 " It is difficult to realise that Jim Breeks is dead. I never loved any man 
 more. He more than came up to anything that I had heard of him ; and 
 I heard of him from my wife from morning till night ! My faith is strong, 
 but it is impossible to understand why he of all men should be taken ! 
 Who will be called next?"
 
 . XXI.] CONVALESCENT HOME, SII.I.OTII. 339 
 
 Another friend, whose death Mr. Moore deplored, was 
 Mr. Hasell of Dalemain. PI is kindness and courteous- 
 ness were only equalled by his judgment and discretion. 
 He was an ideal representative of the old county family 
 of England. He left many a grateful remembrance in 
 the homes of Cumberland. 
 
 But these hours of sadness did not affect George 
 Moore's application to work. He could not be happy 
 unless his spare time was occupied in some work of 
 charity and benevolence. "The day is always thirteen 
 hours long," he used to say, " if we wish to make it so." 
 And again, " I owe nothing to genius, but if I give double 
 the time and labour, I can do as well as others." There 
 were a great many things that George Moore still wished 
 to do for Cumberland, and some of them had scarcely 
 as yet been begun. 
 
 Amongst those in which he took part that year was 
 the enlargement of the Convalescent Hospital at Silloth. 
 Some years before, he had sent an anonymous gift of 
 250 towards the hospital, but now he desired to take a 
 more prominent part in the proceedings. On the 8th 
 of August he took the chair at the general meeting of 
 the society. The Convalescent Hospital owed its exist- 
 ence and success to the exertions and fostering care of 
 the Rev. Chancellor Burton of Carlisle. The Hospital 
 stands on a grassy bank on the Solway, with pleasant 
 slopes running down to the water. It is the choicest 
 spot in all Silloth for situation. Besides having all the 
 day's sunshine, it is sheltered by a rising ground from 
 the boisterous south-west gales. The building is one- 
 storied, simple and unpretending in appearance, but 
 suggesting comfort and snugness. It was not thought 
 necessary to have men and women completely separated. 
 They have separate tables for food, but can meet in the 
 walks and on the grassy slopes, and chat together on the 
 seats on the grounds overlooking the Solway. Mr 
 
 Z 2
 
 340 BOARDING-OUT PAUPER CHILDREN. [CMAP. xix. 
 
 Moore was at this time proposing to establish a conva- 
 lescent home at Littlehampton, and he always quoted 
 Silloth Home as the model that he would like to follow. 
 
 But a still more important movement which he was 
 the chief means of instituting in Cumberland was that 
 for boarding out pauper children. We do not know 
 when Mr. Moore took up the subject of poor-law admi- 
 nistration ; but we find from his diary that on the 3rd 
 of May, 1870, he waited on Mr. Goschen, Chairman of 
 the Poor Law Board, to ask for powers to board orphan 
 children out of the union. Shortly after, we find him 
 inviting the Wigton poor law guardians to dine with 
 him at Whitehall, in order to discuss the boarding-out 
 system. In his diary of I4th August, 1870, he says " I 
 had a most satisfactory day yesterday. I was accom- 
 panied by four of the Cockermouth guardians to board 
 out pauper children. We placed twelve orphans with 
 most respectable people. " We infer from this that Mr. 
 Moore's application to Mr. Goschen had been successful. 
 
 Mr. Moore's idea was that children should, if possible, 
 be rescued from all pauperising influences. He held 
 that pauperism was degrading to men, and especially to 
 children. He desired to get children out of workhouses 
 and bring them up in healthy homes. There they would 
 be placed under family influences and trained like other 
 children. They were not to continue degraded because 
 of the faults of their parents. He held that it was 
 necessary to separate the children altogether from 
 pauperism and its degrading influences. To quote his 
 own words : " The leading principle of the boarding-out 
 system is to restore the child to family life, to create 
 around it natural relations and natural ties. Under 
 these conditions physical and moral health is improved, 
 the natural affections are brought into play, and the 
 child enjoys the liberty and variety of a home-life. 
 Thus sympathy is produced, the true basis for religious
 
 CKAP. xxi.] GEORGE MOORE'S PAFER. 341 
 
 principles in after life. Family life is the means which 
 God has instituted for the training of the little ones, and 
 in so far as we assimilate our method to His, so far will 
 be our success." 
 
 While Mr. Moore was high sheriff a conference on 
 poor-law administration was held at Gilsland, formerly 
 a great mosstrooping centre, and there the whole subject 
 was discussed. Poor-law administrators came from all 
 parts of the country, but especially from the four 
 northern counties of Northumberland, Durham, Cumber- 
 land, and Westmorland. It would occupy too much 
 space to reprint the paper which Mr. Moore read in full, 
 but a few extracts may be given to show his views on 
 the subject : 
 
 " For many years," he said, " my heart has yearned for work- 
 house orphan children. About three years ago I determined to 
 build an orphanage on my estate for the reception of all the 
 orphans in the unions in the county of Cumberland. Messrs. 
 Cory and Ferguson, architects, Carlisle, prepared plans for the 
 reception of fifty, and on such a scale that, if needed, they could 
 admit of its benefits being extended so as to accommodate one 
 hundred orphans. The ground was staked out, and I was just 
 about to advertise for tenders for the building of the home, when 
 I heard that the Carlisle Union had decided to adopt the boarding- 
 out system ; and, as I had calculated upon this union as the 
 medium for securing nearly half the supply to fill the home, I felt 
 at once that my occupation was gone. I then resolved to see if 
 this system could not be adopted generally throughout the county 
 unions, and I met with a most cordial response from the Cocker- 
 mouth Board of Guardians ; the only difficulty they saw being the 
 finding of suitable cottagers to take the orphans. I was persuaded 
 that the right people with whom the children could be placed were 
 to be found ; though I, to some extent, realised the difficulty of 
 fixing upon them, as they should be people whose motives had a 
 higher aim than the mere pay of about three or four shillings per 
 week. The discovery of suitable cottage homes to receive the 
 orphans, and of ladies to visit them regularly, is, however, not by 
 any means so difficult as may be supposed by some persons. This 
 I can now assert from personal experience, as amongst small shop-
 
 342 GEORGE MOORE'S PAPER. [CHAP. xxi. 
 
 keepers, labourers of long known exemplary character, and married 
 servants from respectable families, many such homes are to be 
 found. Adhering to the resolve I had made, I set on foot a 
 searching inquiry for some miles around my own neighbourhood, 
 and ascertained myself about those persons who from time to time 
 .had applied for orphans ; and then, on an appointed d?,y, at my 
 request, the chairman, vice-chairman, and a sub-committee of 
 guardians of the Cockermouth Union accompanied me to each 
 cottage to judge for ourselves ; and I think we placed about a 
 dozen that day. I have often thought since that it was the happiest 
 day's work I ever did ; for I was truly thankful to help in making 
 so good a start. . . . 
 
 .... The great thing to be wished for, is to deliver these little 
 ones~from a helpless pauper spirit. Every child that is brought up 
 in a workhouse seems to me in heart a pauper, and he leaves it 
 almost useless. Family life is God's own method of training the 
 young, and no other preparation can so well fit them for their lot 
 in life and for their dispersion amongst the ranks of honest industry. 
 May we not confidently hope that, if these children associate from 
 almost infancy with other children, share the same food, sit on the 
 same form at school, learn the same lessons, play the same games 
 and, above all things, are cared for by some good honest foster- 
 mother, they will be inspired by a wish to earn an honourable and 
 independent living, and lose for ever the stigma of the workhouse 
 child. As for the girls, little need be said. The workhouse, even 
 under the best auspices, must be a sad place for them ; for sup- 
 posing (which is almost impossible) that they could be kept entirely 
 from the worst specimens of their sex, yet they are but, as it were, 
 parts of a machine entirely wanting in any individual care or 
 tenderness ; so that their love has no outlet, their feelings are 
 blunted, they become without shame, and in most instances, as 
 ruined women, return to claim a place for themselves and their 
 miserable offspring in the union where they passed their early and 
 dreary years. It is gratifying to learn that, even thus early in the 
 experiment, instances are not wanting of the increased brightness 
 and happier look of the girls, and that already there is an affection 
 subsisting between them and their foster-mother, and one hopes 
 that these children have found a friend and counsellor, some one 
 to love and to think of, and to strive to please when separated by 
 and by to work their own way in life's battle. But besides the 
 physical and moral training of the children being better attained 
 by contact with the sympathies of men and women, I am sure that 
 they will be better fitted to become useful servants, or good wives
 
 CHAP, xxi.] MR. CROPPER ON BOARDING OUT. 343 
 
 and husbands, than if brought up in utter ignorance of small homes 
 and thrifty domestic ways. . . . Finally, not to prolong this paper, 
 and trespass further on your patience, I would remark that the aim 
 and end of this system is to absorb these children into the general 
 population, by having first fitted them for active life, by making 
 them sharers in a working man's home, and associating them with 
 his family, under the individual care of the foster-mother. I think 
 this will make them much purer and better, more likely to become 
 honoured members of society here and better prepared for the 
 world to come." 
 
 This paper created much interest. A discussion took 
 place upon boarding-out, in the course of which nearly 
 every speaker approved of the recommendations which 
 George Moore had made. Having once made an im- 
 pression, he was not the man to let the thing drop. He 
 proceeded at once to recommend the guardians of all 
 the parishes over which he had an influence and one 
 might add, that his influence extended all over Cum- 
 berland to carry out the practice of boarding-out the 
 orphan girls. 
 
 Mr. Cropper of Ellergreen, who read a paper on 
 " Vagrancy " at the conference, says that it was about 
 this time that he became acquainted with the remark- 
 able character of George Moore. He says he found to 
 his surprise that whilst other people had been merely 
 discussing the subject, George Moore had actually 
 succeeded in finding homes for all the orphan girls of 
 two neighbouring workhouses, and was prepared to tell 
 of the success of his operations. " When I heard," says 
 Mr. Cropper, " of his prompt carrying out of the work, 
 I knew at once the power that he possessed ; for it is no 
 easy matter to induce half-a-dozen boards of guardians 
 to carry out any particular course, or to find so many 
 cottagers willing to accept a fresh addition to their 
 family." l 
 
 1 Those who wish to inquire further into the subject of boarding-cut 
 paupers will find it admirably treated in Pauperism and the Boarding-out of
 
 344 INTERVIEW WITH THE EX-EMPRESS. [CHAP. xxi. 
 
 The subject of pauper boarding-out is by no means 
 calculated to increase the interest of a biography. But 
 we could not overlook the subject, as it so completely 
 illustrates the character of George Moore. He brought 
 a fresh, strong, earnest, common-sense mind to bear 
 upon the matter. " Here," he said, " is a good work to 
 be done ; let us set to at once, and do it" Up rose the 
 functionaries of red-tape, and said it could not be done 
 " It would excite opposition ; it was something entirely 
 new; and, above all, it would cause great expense!" 
 George Moore swept aside these arguments like cob- 
 webs. " It shall be done," he said ; and he forthwith 
 began the work. He led, and others followed. 
 
 Shortly after the above meeting at Gilsland, Mr. 
 Moore went into Scotland with Mrs. Moore and her 
 sister, Mrs. Chester, for a change of air. This short 
 tour was made memorable by an interview which he 
 had with the ex-Empress of the French at Dunkeld. 
 Mr. Moore was staying at the Birnam Hotel, and whilst 
 there a note came to him from Count Clary, expressing 
 a wish on the part of the Empress that he should come 
 to see her as soon as possible. The Empress was 
 travelling incognito, with the Prince Imperial and a 
 small suite. When Mr. Moore arrived at her hotel, 
 he found her ready to receive him in her apartment. 
 She was simply dressed in a waterproof and hat, and 
 prepared for her journey to Blair Athol. He was 
 much struck with her great grace of manner and her 
 beauty, though sorrow and anxiety had left their traces 
 on her countenance. 
 
 The Empress inquired eagerly about his recent visits 
 to Paris, as the representative of the Mansion House 
 Fund ; and she showed much feeling as he told her of 
 the scenes and sufferings which he had witnessed. Their 
 
 Pauper Children in Scotland, by John Skelton, Advocate, Secretary to the 
 Poor-Law Board in Scotland.
 
 CHAP, xxi.] JOURNEY IN THE HIGHLANDS. 345 
 
 conversation was in English, and therefore limited in 
 extent ; as she could not understand as much as she 
 could speak. At the last she said sadly, "Alas, they 
 care not for me now : they care not for me ! " The 
 interview was melancholy. " She shed tears of grati- 
 tude," says Mr. Moore, " for what England had done 
 for France after the siege." 
 
 The few days which he spent in the Highlands 
 refreshed and cheered him. He enjoyed everything. 
 He was a pleasant companion to travel with. He 
 never raised up difficulties. While he had been a 
 traveller, he had to put up with all sorts of accommo- 
 dation. He was the same still. He had not been 
 spoilt a bit. He made the best of everything, and 
 looked at so-called obstacles with joy and cheerfulness. 
 
 It had been the intention of the party to proceed 
 from Dunkeld to Braemar by coach ; but when the 
 morning came, alas ! the rain was coming down in 
 sheets, in floods ; the wind blew in gusts and hurri- 
 canes. It was impossible to go out in such a day. 
 The outside places of the coach had been taken and 
 paid for. Mr. Moore got up at five, and went to the 
 Post Office, from whence the coach was to start. He 
 told the coachman that it was impossible to take 
 the ladies through such weather ; but if any other 
 passengers were willing to take the places, they were 
 welcome to them. 
 
 Mr. Fisher, the son of the landlord, who was about 
 to drive the coach, gave back the money that had been 
 paid for the places. " You are a strange fellow," said 
 Mr. Moore ; " you are the first Scotchman I ever met 
 who refused money when he had a right to it." Fisher 
 laughed, and rejoined, " Well, it isn't a day that I 
 should like to drive you and your lady to Braemar." 
 " Why ? " " It's because you are George Moore. I 
 have heard of you all my life, and I wanted to see you.
 
 346 FISHER, THE COACHMAN [CHAP. xxi. 
 
 I'm very sorry that it's such coarse weather that I 
 can't drive you to Braemar!" "How did you know 
 anything about me ? " " You went into the Commercial 
 Room last night and were recognised by some of the 
 travellers. One of them let me know, and I saw you 
 two or three times yesterday." 
 
 Mr. Moore asked Fisher to come and see him in 
 London, either at Kensington Palace Gardens or at 
 Bow Churchyard. Some time after, -a tall, strong, fine- 
 looking fellow called at Bow Churchyard and asked 
 for Mr. Moore. He was shown to his room, and 
 was instantly recognised as the son of the Dunkeld 
 landlord. George Moore presented him with a pipe, 
 which Fisher still preserves amongst his treasures. 
 
 Mr. Moore could not spend more than a fortnight in 
 Scotland, having previously arranged to be present at a 
 conference of the County Town Missionaries at White- 
 hall, and to attend to other local business. The party 
 went by rail to Inverness, then by the Caledonian Canal 
 to Ballachulish, and from thence by Glencoe, Invernan, 
 and the Trossachs to Callander. Next morning they 
 went by Perth and Stirling to Carlisle, and reached 
 Whitehall in the course of the evening. 
 
 He had a heavy fortnight's work before him. Two 
 days after his return he attended the Diocesan Church 
 Extension Society, at Carlisle, where he moved the first 
 resolution. The next day he took the chair at the East 
 Cumberland Agricultural Society, where he had to 
 make the usual chairman's speeches. Then he attended 
 the Carlisle Diocesan Conference, where he spoke to 
 express his approval of a paper of the Rev. Dr. 
 Simpson's on the evils attendant on statute-hirings in 
 Cumberland and Westmoreland. He attended ten 
 public meetings during the fortnight. 
 
 "After all," he said, "I should not like to live in 
 Cumberland all the year round." And again, " I do
 
 CHAP, xxi.] LECTURES AT BOW CHURCHYARD. 347 
 
 but little good in Cumberland compared with London." 
 In London he met men with larger sympathies. He 
 had a much wider scope of action. All the orphanages 
 he helped were in the neighbourhood of London. He 
 had seven or eight hundred young persons in his 
 employment for whom he considered himself largely 
 responsible. Then the activity and stir of life of 
 London interested him. All the great men of England 
 visited London, and many of them came within reach of 
 his influence. 
 
 When the Bishop of Peterborough visited London, 
 Mr. Moore invited him to lecture to his young men at 
 Bow Churchyard, and a most eloquent lecture he 
 delivered. On another evening the Rev! Mr. Fleming 
 lectured on Livingstone ; the Rev. Dr. Moffat, Living- 
 stone's father-in-law, was present, and addressed the 
 meeting. Thus an immense interest was given to the 
 lectures, which were greatly enjoyed by the young men 
 of the association. 
 
 It was Mr. Moore's practice, on such occasions, to 
 have a large gathering of friends to dine at six o'clock, 
 before the lecture. He invited all the lads, in all ranks 
 and stations, for whom he had got situations, or to whom 
 he had given advice or assistance, to join these dinners 
 and lectures. Nothing pleased him more than to see 
 the dining-room so crowded that all the waiters were in 
 despair. Then his enjoyment was complete, and his 
 cheerful laughter and sunny temper spread light 
 amongst the guests, until they seemed to feel and enjoy 
 the occasion as much as he did. 
 
 The partners' lunch, or mid-day dinner, was one of 
 the institutions of the house. It was held in some far- 
 away place up stairs, and many rooms full of goods had 
 to be passed through before it could be reached. A 
 very motley congregation was sometimes to be found 
 there. A Cumberland schoolmaster, an aide-de-camp of
 
 348 LUNCH AT BOW CHURCHYARD. [CHAI-. xxi. 
 
 Garibaldi's, a London missionary, a noted Cumberland 
 athlete, an Australian merchant, the chaplain of the 
 house, a Dissenting minister, a Cumberland lad wanting 
 a situation, an eminent bishop, and sometimes a peer, 
 were found around the same board, mixed up with 
 country drapers and their wives. 
 
 One who knew George Moore well gives the following 
 recollection : 
 
 " The most noticeable instance of pleasant incongruity that ever 
 came under my attention happened in this way. I had been 
 closeted with Air. Moore for a short time in the glass sanctum 
 where the great merchant worked, when an employ^ announced 
 the arrival of a certain great lord of the Western country, in com- 
 pany with a well-known pillar of the Church. 'Ask them to wait 
 a bit,' said Mr. Moore, and we went on with our talk. When it 
 came to an end, the usual invitation to the partners' dinner 
 was given and accepted, and I duly found my way up stairs. 
 Before long the peer and the canon also put in an appearance, 
 sitting, if memory serves, in close proximity to a Nonconformist 
 divine and a commercial gentleman from the United States. On 
 the oppo?ite side of the table was the wife of a linendraper in a 
 small way of business down in the West country. When the earl 
 and his clerical confrere had withdrawn, this lady always a 
 favoured guest on account of her native humour remarked, 
 " Well, they won't believe me at home when I tell them that I 
 
 dined w/th great Lord F , and found him very pleasant 
 
 company." 1 
 
 Besides the various work connected with his business 
 at Bov; Churchyard, he was beset by numberless appli- 
 cants for situations or for money. The secretaries of 
 various institutions with which he was connected visited 
 him there. Sometimes long queues of people waited 
 to see him. Nearly all of them "wanted something." 
 Some tried to force their way to his private room. It 
 was situated at the end of a lane of inclosed clerks' 
 desks ; and before it could be reached there was a sharp 
 turn to tho left. At the end of the rows of desks his 
 faithful secretary, Mr. Hough, was seated ; and no one 
 escaped his observation without running the gauntlet of 
 1 Article in the Globe.
 
 CHAP, xxi.] VISITS DR. GUEST 349 
 
 his inquiries. Some were not allowed to proceed 
 further ; others were permitted a chance if they waited 
 for an audience ; all who had made an appointment were 
 allowed admission to the private room. 
 
 Mr. Moore was forced, as it were, into punctuality. 
 Every minute was precious to him, not only to him, 
 but to those who wished to see him. Nothing tried his 
 temper so much as sleepy-headed people, v:ho did not 
 know the value of moments ; who came languidly late, 
 some ten minutes behind time. One day he wrote in 
 his diai y : " I have not a moment to call my own. I 
 fear my temper is not so good as it was ; for I have 
 been twice irritated to-day. Lord, forgive me ! " 
 
 He was himself most punctual in his engagements. 
 He was never a moment too late. It was the same 
 whether it was an important engagement or a visit to a 
 friend, or an appointment to meet his wife at a picture- 
 gallery. He was most punctual also in his reply to 
 letters. He answered them by return. He often said 
 that if he could not answer his letters at once, he would 
 " be mired, or go mad." 
 
 When an opportunity offered, he would visit his 
 friends in the country. Sometimes he went to Cam- 
 bridge to see his friends at the University. In May, 
 1872, he went for a few days to stay with Dr. Guest, 
 Master of Caius College, the celebrated Anglo-Saxon 
 scholar. He had many pleasant remembrances of Cam- 
 bridge. He had visited his Cumberland friend, Mr. W. 
 M. Gunson, there in 1853. Mr. Moore was so much 
 pleased with the place, that from that time he was a 
 constant visitor. It was by his advice that his partner's 
 only son, Sampson Copestake, went to Cambridge, and 
 passed through the regular university course. 
 
 During his visits to Dr. Guest in 1872, he met with 
 many kindnesses. He and Mrs. Moore paid a visit to 
 Professor Sedgwick at his rooms. He was then very ill,
 
 350 URGED TO REPRESENT MIDDLESEX. [CHAP. xxi. 
 
 and seldom spoke or roused himself to see any visitors ; 
 but when George Moore and his wjfe called, he was de- 
 lighted to see them, and began to talk of past days, and 
 of his early life amongst the Fells of Yorkshire. His old 
 fire rekindled; his face glowed with enthusiasm ; and he 
 spoke with eagerness of the North and its associations. 
 It was almost the last spark in his life. A few weeks 
 after, he died. 
 
 George Moore had scarcely got rid of the office of 
 High Sheriff of Cumberland, when he was again asked 
 to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of 
 an important constituency in Parliament. He had already 
 refused Nottingham, Marylebone, the City of London, 
 the County of Surrey, the County of Cumberland ; and 
 now he was asked to represent the County of Middlesex. 
 His views on the latter proposal must be stated in his 
 own words. The memorandum is dated February, 
 1873 :- 
 
 " Having received a letter from Lord Enfield, Under 
 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stating that he 
 wished to see me, I was full of curiosity to know what 
 could be his errand. He came, and to my surprise he 
 said that he had consulted some of his colleagues and 
 many friends in the county, and they had unanimously 
 agreed that I should be asked to be his colleague in 
 standing for the County of Middlesex at the next 
 election. He stayed a long time, paid me many com- 
 pliments, reminded me that I had proposed him at the 
 last general election, and said many other kind things. 
 
 " How passing strange does all this seem to me ! 
 When I look back upon my past life, many curious 
 memories crowd upon me. Some forty-three years 
 since, when I came to London and was with Fishers, 
 I got my half-holiday to go and see the House of Com- 
 mons. I remember how I surreptitiously got into the 
 House, and actually sat down in the seat of Canning !
 
 CHAP, xxi.] REFUSES TO ENTER PARLIAMENT. 351 
 
 I little thought at that time that I should be offered a 
 seat for both the City of London and the County of 
 Middlesex. But now that I can get into the House 
 freely and openly, I do not care about it. On cool re- 
 flection, I have resolved to decline the proposition ! 
 
 "My d-iys on earth/' he added, "are fast drawing to 
 a close. Weeks and months pass away as if by magic. 
 My old friends are dying, I myself must be prepared 
 for following them ; it may be in a moment. I cannot 
 allow any worldly honour to be fixed upon me, to the 
 detriment of my eternal interests. 
 
 "Then, people estimate my abilities far too highly. 
 These are only very moderate ; and my imperfect edu- 
 cation would make me a coward in the House of Com- 
 mons. I shall be sixty-seven next month. I ought to 
 give up all worldly excitement, and prepare for another 
 and better state." 
 
 He therefore wisely declined the distinguished honour 
 offered to him of representing Middlesex in Parliament. 
 He knew very well that no similar offer would again be 
 made to him.
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 LATER WORKS OF BENEVOLENCE. 
 
 ONE of Mr. Moore's principal reasons for declining to 
 become a member of Parliament was because he felt 
 it to be his duty to continue his help to the benevo- 
 lent associations with which he had become identified. 
 There were many rich and ambitious persons anxious to 
 become members of Parliament ; but there were very few 
 who were willing to give their time and money to assist 
 the orphanages and charitable institutions from which 
 no honour was to be derived. George Moore therefore 
 continued to labour at his self-imposed duty to the end 
 of his life. 
 
 At the time when he was declining to become member 
 of Parliament, he was one of the committee engaged in 
 getting up subscriptions for the help of the passengers 
 and seamen who had been wrecked in the Northfleet, off 
 Dungeness. We find long memoranda in his hand- 
 writing relating to the numerous meetings held on the 
 subject. The claims of a number of persons had to be 
 considered. George Moore occasionally differed from 
 the committee. For instance, he objected to give to the 
 captain's wife one-seventh of the whole amount subscribed 
 while a "comparatively small sum was divided amongst 
 the other bereaved persons. Besides, the captain's 
 widow had 50 yearly from the Privy Purse, and
 
 CHAP, xxii.] WRECK OF THE " NORTHFLEET." 353 
 
 of her own. Mr. Moore divided the meeting on the 
 question, but he was beaten. 
 
 The case of Widow Stephens, described by a draper 
 of Fraserburgh to George Moore in a private letter, was 
 a painful one. In some respects it reminds one of the 
 story of Enoch Arden. She had been married to two 
 brothers. Both had served their apprenticeship at the 
 same time. Both had courted her at the same time, 
 and both married her the last after a widowhood of 
 about four years. Her life had been a chequered and 
 eventful one. When a girl she lost her father, a ship's 
 carpenter, by an accident in China. Then her mother 
 died. The first Stephens she married died at sea ; and 
 the second Stephens was drowned in the NortJifleet, a 
 month after her second marriage. Such are the troubles 
 which sailors' wives have to undergo. 
 
 From an early period Mr. Moore took a deep interest 
 in the London Cabmen's Mission. His commercial 
 activity had early brought him into contact with the 
 cabmen. They all knew the warehouse in Bow Church- 
 yard and his house in Kensington Palace Gardens. 
 These men were exposed at all hours to all weathers. 
 They had little time to spend with their families. They 
 were employed on Sundays 1 and Saturdays. They 
 often bore a bad reputation, though they were perhaps 
 more sinned against than sinning. 
 
 One day a cabman drove George Moore from his 
 house to Euston Square. He gave the driver a shilling 
 over the fare. The cabman returned the extra money. 
 Mr. Moore had already discovered a Scotchman who 
 had returned him his fare, though he had a right to it. 
 But to have an excess fare returned by a London 
 cabman, who had no right to it, was something still more 
 
 1 As early as 1861 Mr. Moore offered a prize of 20 for the best essay on 
 the evils connected with Sunday cab-driving. It was won by a hansom- 
 cabman, named John Cockrarn. 
 
 A A
 
 354 THE CABMEN'S SUPPER. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 extraordinary. " How is this ? " he asked. " Well, you 
 have paid me more than the fare, and you are George 
 Moore !" said the cabman. Mr. Moore was in a hurry 
 to get off by the train, and said nothing at the time, but 
 merely asked for the cabman's number. He afterwards 
 found that the cabman's name was Cockram, and that 
 he had won the prize essay for 20 which had been 
 awarded to him some years before. 
 
 On his return to London Mr. Moore sent for Mr. 
 Cockram, and ascertained that the money he had 
 obtained for the prize had proved the nest-egg of good 
 fortune. First he had bought a horse and a cab. He 
 -had increased these from time to time, until he had 
 become the possessor of about a hundred horses and of 
 numerous cabs. He never used these on Sundays. 
 Mr. Moore asked him, "What can I do to help the 
 cabmen ? " " Well, sir, you must do as that gentleman, 
 Sir Hope Grant, has done, and ask some of them to 
 supper!" "Very well," said George Moore, "they can 
 come to the schoolroom near here, and they shall have 
 the best possible supper." " No, sir," said Cockram ; 
 " that would not be the same thing. If you want to do 
 any good to them, .^you must ask them to j^our own 
 house. You must show them that every man's hand is 
 not against them." " Very well," said Mr. Moore; "it 
 shall be done as you say." 
 
 An invitation was issued to two hundred London 
 cabmen to take supper at Kensington Palace Gardens, 
 preference being given to those in the neighbourhood, 
 to teetotallers, and to the younger men most under the 
 influence of temptation. Not only the invited made 
 their appearance, but a large number of the uninvited, 
 who swelled the number to about double the expected 
 guests. 
 
 When the cabmen sat down, their suspicions were 
 somewhat aroused by the appearance of a tall, military-
 
 CHAP, xxii.] COLONEL HENDERSON. 355 
 
 looking officer behind them serving out the beef and 
 plum-pudding. "D'ye see the guv'nor?" asked one 
 cabby of another, pointing back with his thumb to 
 the gentleman behind them. In fact it was Colonel 
 Henderson, the Commissioner of Police ! No matter ; 
 the supper went on blithely. Mr. Moore was in his 
 element, hurrying from place to place to see that his 
 guests had plenty. The speeches which followed were 
 short and to the point. Lots of anecdotes were told, at 
 which the cabmen laughed heartily. Mr. Moore gave 
 them good advice, and warned them against the evils of 
 drunkenness, 1 which they took in very good part. 
 
 1 Among Sir Wilfrid Lawson's humorous rhymes, which he sent to Mr. 
 Moore, is the following : 
 
 "Mr. Moore, at his banquet to the cabmen, gave them special warning 
 against the evils of drunkenness." Record. 
 
 "Now all you young fellows take warning I pray, 
 And attend to the word which I'm going to say : 
 I advise one and all that you never get ' tight," 
 We merchants and clergymen don't think it right. 
 
 " It's a very bad thing : it deprives you of wealth, 
 It injures your morals, and ruins your health ; 
 It's bad for yourselves, for your children and wives 
 In fact, you know well, it's the curse of your lives. 
 
 " Then drink only sparsely of spirits and beer : 
 The advice which I give you is truly sincere. 
 In each street, as you know, there's a palace for gin, 
 With an owner, all burning to have you come in. 
 
 " There are publics and beer-shops set down everywhere, 
 In yard and in alley, in street and in square ; 
 The magistrates licen e these places each year, 
 And the country gets rich with its tax upon beer. 
 
 " And the brewers how pious they are to be sure ! 
 They get plenty of money to give to the poor ; 
 And the clergy have shares in the joint-stock concerns, 
 From which every year they get famous returns. 
 
 " And no one objects, when things go on so well, 
 Except that poor idiot, Sir W. L. 
 You see we're obliged thus to tempt you all round, 
 For money must somehow or other be found. 
 
 A A 2
 
 35& CABMEN'S MISSION. [CHAP, xxn 
 
 Colonel Henderson satisfied them by his manner and 
 his speech that he was by no means their enemy, but 
 had a strong desire to improve their condition. At the 
 end of the proceedings, after the Doxology had been 
 sung, Mr. Moore stood at the door, tipped the cabbies 
 each with a new shilling ; gave them a copy of Bunyan, 
 and a British Workman Almanac ; and' bade them all 
 " Good night, God bless you ! " 
 
 About two years after the above entertainment, a 
 Mission Hall for the cabmen was established near Kings 
 Cross Station ; Mr. Samuel Morley, M.P., laying the 
 foundation-stone. The minister and superintendent of 
 the mission has given the following account of Mr. 
 Moore's first visit to the hall : " One Sabbath evening, 
 as we were holding an open-air service, we observed two 
 gentlemen very near to the preaching-stand ; and when 
 we gave out a hymn, they joined in singing it heartily. 
 At the close of the meeting we gave a cordial invitation 
 to those present to come with us into the London 
 Cabmen's Mission Hall. In proceeding thither, the two 
 gentlemen told the missionary who they were. The 
 one was George Moore, and tne other was his friend Mr. 
 Stockdale. They both sat and listened to the Gospel, 
 as we gave it in our plain, outspoken manner ; and at 
 the prayer meeting which followed the service, Mr. 
 
 " And that rich men should pay Oh ! that never would do 
 When the tax is so easy collected from you. 
 How well we are governed, my lads, only think ! 
 There's twenty-five millions of taxes on drink ! 
 
 " And this drink keeps our prisons and workhouses going, 
 And asylums for lunatics filled to o'erflowing ; 
 'Tis a glorious thing, is this wonderful drink, 
 At least so we merchants and clergymen think. 
 
 " So, I'll only conclude the same way I began, 
 With a warning most special to every young man. 
 There's only one evil you're called on to funk, 
 You may drink night and day only never gel drunk I "
 
 CHAP, xxii.] DR. LIVINGSTONE'S FUNERAL. 357 
 
 Mocre gave us a warm address, and wished us God- 
 speed ! " He afterwards sent the mission two donations 
 of 50 each ; and a third of .100 just before his death. 
 He provided a cabmen's rest, on the Kensington Road, 
 close to the end of the Broad Walk in Kensington 
 Gardens. It was supplied with every requisite for 
 human comfort. The cabmen took their meals and 
 coffee there. It was a snug place, and proved a cozy 
 shelter from the winter's rain and snow. 
 
 We turn to another subject. At the beginning of 
 1874, it became known that the remains of the great 
 African traveller, Dr. Livingstone, were on their way 
 from Zanzibar to England. His numerous friends in 
 London were anxious that his body should be interred 
 in -Westminster Abbey. This would involve some 
 expense, but no one was willing to find the money. Mr. 
 Russell Gurney brought the subject under the notice of 
 the House of Commons. He said, " It had transpired 
 that there were no funds available wherewith to give 
 effect to the general wish of the country. The family 
 of Dr. Livingstone were without the necessary means ; 
 and on an application being made to the Geographical 
 Society, it had been ascertained that they had no funds 
 which they felt at liberty to employ for the purpose. . . 
 The expense of interment would be very small, but 
 there were none to whom they could look for the funds 
 except to the Government ; and he was quite sure that 
 in incurring the small outlay which would be required 
 the Government would be doing an act that would be 
 welcomed by the whole community." 
 
 The proceedings connected with this affair were 
 conducted in a rather shabby way. Why go to the 
 Government at all, when the expenses of the interment 
 were to be so "very small"? When George Moore 
 heard of the difficulty, he said : " Let me bury the noble 
 dead I What ! bury him like a pauper out of the public
 
 358 DEAN OF WESTMINSTER'S LETTER. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 taxes ? No ! Let me defray the expenses of interring 
 the indomitable, valiant, self-denying hero ! " 
 
 But this was not to be permitted. The Government 
 at last said its say. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
 in replying to Sir Wilfrid Lawson, said that the Treasury 
 had at first promised .250 for the funeral of Dr. Living- 
 stone, that sum having been estimated to cover all 
 expenses. It was afterwards found that a larger amount 
 was required. " A wealthy merchant in the City had 
 offered to pay the expenses ; but the Treasury felt that 
 to accept this offer would not be in accordance with the 
 wishes of the country." 
 
 At last the remains of the hero were interred in 
 Westminster Abbey, side by side with the great men of 
 the country. Men of title, men of science and letters, 
 took part in the ceremony. The Queen sent " a tribute 
 of respect and admiration " in the shape of a beautiful 
 wreath of the choicest flowers to deck the bier of the 
 noble dead. 
 
 It was still left for George Moore to affix the tablet of 
 black marble which lies over the grave of the illustrious 
 traveller. The admirable tributary inscription was com- 
 posed by the large-hearted Dean of Westminster. The 
 Dean, in a recent letter to Mrs. Moore, says : " I well 
 remember the circumstance of Livingstone's funeral. 
 When there appeared to be a difficulty in carrying out 
 the object which the nation had so much at heart, it was 
 understood that one private person had undertaken to 
 defray all the expenses; and though this proposal at 
 once stimulated the Government to step in, and with a 
 becoming sense of the occasion to supersede such an 
 intervention, yet there was not a less grateful feeling, 
 and I may add that there was no surprise, when it was 
 felt that George Moore was the unknown benefactor. 
 He afterwards laid down at his own cost the splendid 
 slab and the long inscription which remains the sole
 
 CHAP, xxii.] CHURCH AT SOMERS TOWN. 35; 
 
 memorial in the Abbey of the Great Traveller, the 
 memorial, I may also say, of one of the most generous 
 and genuine examples of public spirit and munificence 
 that our generation has seen." 
 
 We now return to Mr. Moore's church at Somers 
 Town. The Rev. Mr. Worsfold was the first clergyman 
 appointed to the charge. He had found it up-hill work. 
 It told upon his health, and he was forced to go abroad 
 to recruit his strength. Mr. Moore went to the church 
 one Sunday, and found the gallery shut up. The body 
 of the church was half empty. This was a great blow 
 to him. " My church at Somers Town," he said, " has 
 not yet been a success. The clergyman meets with 
 many discouragements ; we cannot get the people to 
 come to the services." Nevertheless, the schools were 
 successful. They were filled with large numbers of 
 children, and were doing good. 
 
 Mr. Worsfold returned to England, and accepted a 
 country living more easy to manage. The responsi- 
 bility was then thrown upon Mr. Moore of finding a 
 successor. From the nature of the parish, it was diffi- 
 cult to find the right man. He went from one church 
 to another to hear the best preachers. He went to 
 Stepney, Deptford, Mile End, Kennington, Kensington, 
 Old St. Pancras, and Hornsey. At last, when he had 
 almost given up hope, he found the man he wanted in 
 the fashionable church of St. George's, Hanover Square. 
 He consulted Canon Fleming of St. Michael's, and with 
 his strong recommendation, he suggested to the trustees 
 to offer the living of Christ's Church, Somers Town, to 
 the Rev. Philip S. O'Brien an excellent preacher, and 
 an able, hard-working clergyman. Mr. O'Brien accepted 
 the offer ; and from that time has gone on labouring, in 
 the face of many difficulties, at what is real missionary 
 work in London. 
 
 In the month of February, George Moore was visited
 
 360 GEORGE MOORE'S MAXIMS. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 by the Rev. Canon and Mrs. Ryle ; he writes in his 
 diary : " Our dear friends the Ryles arrived ; very glad 
 we were to receive them. Thank God he has recovered 
 from his severe illness. He is one of the salt of the 
 earth. May he long be spared to work for Christ ! " 
 
 Mr. Moore continued to attend the meetings of 
 Christ's Hospital. On the resignation of Mr. Foster 
 White, from over-work, he was asked to become 
 treasurer. But his hands were already full, and he 
 could not accept the office. He however induced his 
 friend Mr. Allcroft to accept the office, which he con- 
 tinues to retain. Mr. Moore was however elected one of 
 the five almoners to meet the Endowed Schools Com- 
 missioners with respect to the future government of the 
 institution. He accordingly went on frequent depu- 
 tations to negotiate with the commissioners. 
 
 Though getting older, he felt himself as full of work 
 as ever. " I must work as well as pray," he said ; 
 "there is no happiness in an idle life." And again, 
 " Enable me to persevere to the end of my days." 
 " Faithfulness in little things is a true test of character. 
 A little thing well done proves what a man's habitual 
 state is." " Let life go as it may, there will always be 
 a strength underlying it, if we have come to Christ." 
 Here is his commercial view of a Christian " It pays 
 to be a thorough Christian. It pays to repent and be 
 converted. It pays to serve Christ. It does not pay in 
 money, but it does in true happiness." 
 
 One day, after visiting the sick poor, many of them ill 
 of typhus and scarlet fever, he writes in his diary : 
 " How many mercies have I to be thankful for, com- 
 pared with the eighty families I have visited to-day 
 with the city missionary ! " The visit was made in the 
 middle of January, during a severe frost. He went 
 about from door to door, distributing help and money. 
 Again he adds : " Outward gifts are subjects of thanks-
 
 CHAP, xxn.] VISIT TO VICHY. 361 
 
 giving, but not of rejoicing. There is a better joy, the 
 heart moulded unto the will of God. This was our 
 Lord's joy oneness of will with God. ' My meat is to 
 do the will of Him that sent me.'" 
 
 These are merely a few of the extracts taken from 
 his diary, which is rich in similar thoughts. The sense 
 of d nty always overcomes any personal efTorts. This 
 was characteristic of him through life. He used to 
 say that "It wasn't that he was brave at all; but he 
 hadn \. time to think of anything but what had to be 
 done f and what must be done, through whatever 
 obstacles." 
 
 At length he was compelled to call a halt. Nerves 
 of iron could not go on lasting for ever. He was 
 beginning to feel the effects of the wear and tear of 
 life. He consulted Mr. Erichsen, who ordered him at 
 once to Vichy, in the centre of France. It was with 
 great difficulty that he could tear himself away from 
 his London work ; but still he must go. He went, 
 accompanied by Mrs. Moore and her sister, and his 
 old friend Stock-dale. He derived great benefit from 
 the waters and the baths. He drove about the country, 
 and sat in the open air. He was always a lover of sun- 
 shine; he never found it too hot, when other people 
 were exhausted. His mind lay fallow, while he enjoyed 
 enforced idleness. He made the acquaintance, while at 
 Vichy, of the Rev. W. Gordon, the chaplain of the 
 English Church, and of Mr. Porter, a Devonshire squire, 
 and with them he took part in some Bible Readings. 
 After a stay of three weeks he returned to London, 
 greatly benefited in health. 
 
 While at Paris he called upon the friends whom he 
 had made in 1871, during the Relief of Paris, the 
 Andres, the Mallets, the Rothschilds. They always 
 welcomed him on his arrival. A carriage, with English 
 horses, was placed at his disposal by a French gentleman;
 
 362 AT WHITEHALL. r ci:.\f. -rxn. 
 
 and more than once, when he took his seat, a rose, a 
 bunch of mignonette, or a forget-me-not was thrown in 
 by some poor-looking ouvrier. One day a lovely bou- 
 quet was laid in the carriage for Mrs. Moore, with these 
 words attached to it : " Reconnaissance a Madame 
 Moore et a Monsieur Moore, d'un inconnu, qui n'a pas 
 oublie a Paris le devouement avec lequel il a prit part a 
 nos infortunes." 1 
 
 Mr. Moore's first visit to Vichy was in May, 1873. 
 He went through his ordinary hard work during the 
 year ; but with the accession of spring he began to feel 
 seedy, tired, and exhausted. He consulted his physi- 
 cians, and they again ordered him to Vichy. The baths 
 and waters again did him good, and he returned to 
 London once more full of health. 
 
 Towards the end of summer he went down to White-? 
 hall. That was always a great event to himself, to 
 his friends, and to the people of the neighbourhood. 
 The young people looked forward to his examinations 
 and his tea feasts. The many charities in which he 
 took an interest required his attention and also his 
 support. He took his seat on the bench at Wigton, 
 and tried to keep down drunkenness by refusing all 
 new licences. He had his pensioners to look after, at 
 Bolton Low Houses, Mealsgate, and elsewhere. He 
 went on to Carlisle to visit the hospital, of which he 
 was a large benefactor. He went to Silloth to visit 
 the Convalescent Home, the enlargement of which was 
 then under consideration. 2 
 
 1 The following paragraph appeared in a London newspaper in 1873 : 
 "A few days ago a lady who was accompanying a Frenchman in a walk 
 
 through Kensington Palace Gardens observed that her companion took off 
 his hat on passing Mr. George Moore's house. She asked him the reason, 
 and he replied that he should always do so whenever he parsed that house. 
 We need hardly supply the key." 
 
 2 In 1874 Mrs. Moore gave .1,650 to the Carlisle Infirmary, Silloth. 
 A fund was established, called after her name, under the direction of the 
 Charity ; and patients \\ ere to be sent from the Cumberland Infirmary to 
 the Convalescent home.
 
 CHAP, xxn.] THE SHORTHORNS. 363 
 
 Then there was his farm to look over. At first he 
 had taken a great pleasure in farming, when " frisking 
 over his own soil ! " But his tune had changed. He 
 had had many losses and worries. He had discovered, 
 as regarded the farm itself, that like most gentlemen's 
 farms, it never paid. Mr. Moore then took to short- 
 horns. He bought some splendid animals, and the 
 results seemed satisfactory. But we see throughout his 
 diary that they also caused him a good deal of dis- 
 comfort. On one occasion a cow died which cost him 
 .700. Other cows dropped their calves. When the 
 beasts were so valuable, this was a great loss. 
 
 At last Mr. Moore determined to sell his shorthorns. 
 On the 29th June, 1875, he writes: "I lost three 
 shorthorns worth a thousand pounds. I am heartily 
 sick of shorthorns. They have been a great anxiety 
 to me ; I am in dread of their getting the foot-and-mouth 
 disease." At last the shorthorns were advertised to be 
 sold on the Qth September, 1875. The sale was a 
 great affair. All the great shorthorn men in England 
 were present. The Earl of Bective, Lord Skelmers- 
 dale, Sir Curtis Lampson, Sir R. Musgrave, and Mr. 
 Graham, with shorthorn buyers from America, Canada, 
 Nova Scotia, and New South Wales. A lunch was 
 given before the sale, to whet the appetite for short- 
 horns. Sir Wilfrid Lawson presided, Mr. Moore's 
 nearest neighbour, and one of his most intimate friends. 
 Moreover he is a man who knows the good points of 
 a beast as well as of a teetotaller. 
 
 Sir Wilfrid, after drinking the health of " The 
 Queen," proposed that of the worthy host. " Let 
 me call him," he said, "King George. All that I 
 will say of him is, that we know him as a good friend, 
 kind neighbour, and a generous, I will say, a munificent 
 benefactor to any good work which is carried on in 
 his neighbourhood. But when Mr. Moore is in the
 
 364 SALE OF THE SHORTHORNS. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 country he must have some amusements, as well as 
 attending to good works. In an evil hour a friend 
 came to him and said, 'Mr. Moore, take to farming!" 
 Mr. Moore took his advice, and rapidly began to dissi- 
 pate his well-earned fortune. The farming didn't pay, 
 and his friend came to him again, and said, ' Mr. 
 Moore, take to shorthorns ! ' Mr. Moore took his 
 advice, and I know from my intimate acquaintance 
 with him, that the shorthorns have been a source of 
 the deepest anxiety to him from that moment to this. 
 I hope that all of you, good bidders, whom I see from 
 every part of the kingdom, will assist in taking that 
 weight from his mind and transferring that weight to 
 his pocket ! " 
 
 Mr. Moore, in returning thanks, said that at first he 
 had been rather intoxicated with his success in selling 
 his shorthorns. He thought that money was to be made 
 faster in shorthorns than in Bow Churchyard. But he 
 frankly confessed that he had not been so successful in 
 the shorthorn world as in the commercial world. If he 
 could have remained in Cumberland all the year round, 
 it might have been different ; but as he was bound to 
 be in London more than half the year, things got wrong 
 when he was absent He was constantly getting letters 
 saying that there was a dead calf or some other mishap ; 
 and one thing and another kept him in a state of per- 
 petual conflict. " But," he concluded, " as you are now 
 anxious to get to the ring, I hope you will be as blithe 
 there as you are here." 
 
 The sale then began. It proved very successful. 
 Some of the shorthorns sold at a loss ; others at a profit 
 A cow bought for 900 guineas three years before, now 
 brought only 59 guineas ; whereas another, bought from 
 the Duke of Devonshire in the preceding year, was 
 sold to Sir Curtis Lampson for 2000 guineas, and her 
 calf, two and a half months old, was sold to the Duke
 
 CHAP, xxii.] ASSISTS MISS RYE. 365 
 
 of Devonshire for IOOO guineas. The list of cows, 
 heifers, and bulls, with their respective pedigrees, was of 
 considerable length, and need not be given here. Suffice 
 it to say that the sale was remarkably successful, and in 
 one day transferred the weight of anxiety from George 
 Moore's mind to his pocket. On the succeeding Sunday 
 he put a hundred guineas into the plate at Allhallows 
 church, as a thank-offering; and he gave fifty guineas 
 to his servants at the farm for their services. 
 
 Mr. Moore had much benevolent work to do in Cum- 
 berland at this time. He was diligently assisting Miss 
 Rye in -her efforts to induce poor girls to emigrate to 
 Canada : paying half their expenses. Miss Rye had 
 established a home at Niagara, called " Our Western 
 Home." The girls were carried from England across 
 the ocean to this home. From thence about eight 
 hundred had, in 1873, been drafted out amongst farmers 
 and others who were willing to afford them a permanent 
 home, and bring them up as useful and industrious 
 members of society. Mr. Moore succeeded in sending 
 out many of these destitute girls, and it was a great 
 comfort to him to find that they were all doing well. 
 
 Mr. Moore continued to assist the Boards of Guardians 
 in their efforts to board out pauper children. Another 
 meeting of the Poor Law Conference of the northern 
 counties was held at Carlisle in August, 1875, when Mr. 
 Moore read a second paper on the subject. It is full of 
 interest, and full of facts. But we can only give a few 
 extracts : 
 
 " My practical experience as to the working of the 
 system since reading my paper at Gilsland, in 1872, has 
 convinced me that the right people with whom to place 
 the children can be found. In fact, there are more 
 suitable cottagers to receive them than there are orphan 
 girls to place out. My experience has convinced me that 
 we can find a high standard of cottagers willing to have
 
 366 HUMANITY OF BOARDING-OUT. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 the children, God-fearing people, who have a higher 
 motive than mere profit. I feel strongly that no child 
 ought to be placed in any home where we do not know 
 the people to be not only respectable, sober, and moral, 
 but who distinctly make a profession of religion. 
 
 " My wife and myself have made it a duty to visit 
 unexpectedly those children placed out in the Wigton 
 union ; and we are fully capable of bearing testimony 
 to the healthful and happy appearance they possess, 
 and the tidy and comfortable homes in which they are 
 placed. It has interested us to observe the strong feel- 
 ing of attachment that has already grown up between 
 them and their foster-parents. I could mention many 
 more places where children are boarded out, and I have 
 not heard of one where it has been a failure. 
 
 " I am alive to the necessity which exists for super- 
 vision of the homes of these children. Independently 
 of the regular official visits of the relieving officer, it 
 seems to me that the Guardians in each district ought to 
 consider it a part of their business to look in occasion- 
 ally and see them unexpectedly ; and I am sure the 
 ladies in the district would cheerfully undertake this, if 
 so requested, for they are ever ready in works of love. 
 Who can overrate the good influence which their kind- 
 heartedness and delicacy of feeling would exercise over 
 the future lives of these poor orphans ? Fatherless, 
 motherless, and alone ! As one of the greatest writers 
 of this age says : ' There is no hopelessness so sad as 
 that of early youth when the soul is made up of wants, 
 and has no superadded life in the life of others.' We 
 shall always have the poor with us, and the direction 
 which our efforts should be aimed at, is to supply, 
 as best we can, the home influences which pauper 
 children have lost. This is the object of the system 
 to give the children of the parish the inestimable 
 advantage of home-life and home-affections which it
 
 CHAP, xxii.] RESULTS OF BOARDING-OUT. 367 
 
 is simply impossible to secure to them by any other 
 means. 
 
 " As I said in my former paper, our object is to absorb 
 these poor children into the general population, having 
 first fitted them for their life, by their having themselves 
 been the sharers of a working man's home, having 
 associated with his family in its joys and sorrows, having 
 had the individual responsibility of being a member of 
 it. Proficiency in reading, writing, and arithmetic is 
 essential, but far less essential than a practical know- 
 ledge of the every day work of common life, enabling 
 them to take care of themselves, how to be helpful to 
 others, how to perform their part in the world upon 
 which they are to enter. The great school of in- 
 struction for this kind of knowledge is of divine insti- 
 tution the Family ! So entirely do we take this for 
 granted as a matter of course, that we are often apt to 
 forget the wonderful educating influence of domestic life. 
 In the home circle, the child learns on a small scale what 
 he has to practice at large, in after years ; he is brought 
 into relation with persons of different ages and sexes ; 
 his wits are sharpened and his judgment is matured by 
 a great variety of personal experiences ; in fact, he 
 learns common sense." 
 
 In conclusion he said : " I can but say, for myself, 
 that each year only deepens my conviction of the neces- 
 sity for the adoption of the system ; and I feel sure that 
 all thoughtful men, who know something of the needs 
 around them, if they rightly understand the boarding- 
 out system, would be the first to bid it God-speed." 
 
 Mr. Moore's collected papers contain many letters 
 relating to the question of boarding-out. Many of them 
 are from persons stating that they are willing to take a 
 pauper child ; showing that he took a personal interest 
 in finding them out in his own district. One is from a. 
 guardian near Newcastle, stating that he has got the
 
 368 THE CUMBERLAND MISSIONARIES. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 B ard of Guardians to adopt the system of boarding- 
 out. H~ says, " Rural Boards require a good deal of 
 hammc:ing before they will take up any new plan. 
 But vvh;n once welded into shape, and the material is 
 good, they retain the good impression." The guardian, 
 as might be supposed from his words, was an ironman. 
 
 George Moore himself says, in one of his memoranda : 
 "After urging the Wigton Guardians for four or five 
 years, amidst a good deal of opposition, I have at last 
 got them to agree to board out pauper children. I have 
 now got my way with all the Unions in Cumberland. 
 I have never been more in earnest in any work that I 
 have ever undertaken." 
 
 It will thus be observed that Mr. Moore was as busily 
 employed in Cumberland as in London at Whitehall 
 as at Bow Churchyard. He had no sooner got down to 
 his country-home, and settled his books and papers, 
 than he began to arrange the work that had to be done. 
 He first visited the schools, and then he arranged for a 
 meeting of the Scripture readers. He had the greatest 
 sympathy with schoolmasters and missionaries. He 
 thought that they had a great deal to try them, and 
 that they were very little appreciated. Hence his visits 
 to Cumberland were eagerly looked forward to ; as the 
 schoolmasters knew that they would be treated with 
 respect, encouragement, and with the honour that was 
 really due to them. 
 
 It will be remembered with what difficulty Mr. Moore 
 had established his first missionary in Cumberland in 
 1850 how the missionary was rebuffed, opposed, and 
 hindered, not only by the common people, but by most 
 of the persons of influence, how George Moore himself 
 had been twitted as a " Methodist " and sometimes 
 abused as a "fanatic." All that feeling had now passed 
 away. The missionaries were at work all over the 
 country. When George Moore went down to Whitehall
 
 CHAP, xxii.] MEETINGS AT WHITEHALL. 369 
 
 in 1875, he had a conference of twenty-eight missionaries 
 to meet him. 
 
 The conference lasted for three days, during which 
 George Moore lodged and entertained the missionaries. 
 He combined their coming with the five or six annual 
 Bible meetings, at which they were present, and took 
 part in the proceedings. One of the days was appro- 
 priated to the "Whitehall feast," when the school- 
 children, "Moore's lot" as they were called, and all the 
 neighbours, from far and near, sometimes numbering 
 more than a thousand, came to tea. To the young 
 people, this was regarded as the grandest feast in 
 Cumberland. 
 
 It was one of the first things done after George 
 Moore's arrival at Whitehall ; and sometimes before 
 the household had become fairly settled down. But 
 George Moore never thought anything impossible. He 
 inspired those about him to work with a will ; and the 
 servants tried to outvie one another in carrying out his 
 wishes. The time chosen for these entertainments was 
 when the moon was at its full, and when the gardens 
 were at their best. He wished the missionaries and 
 the cottagers to see Whitehall in its glory. He never 
 would hear of any suggestion of waiting until the fruit- 
 gathering was over, or till the beauty of the lawn, the 
 gardens, or the grounds, had passed. 
 
 So when the roses where in their fullest bloom, when 
 masses of Gloire de Dijon were clustering on the walls 
 of the house, when the lilies were shining fair and white 
 against the yew hedge of the bowling-green, then was 
 the time for the meetings to be held. For some days 
 before George Moore went round the country inviting 
 guests. He called at every farmhouse and cottage for 
 miles and miles about. So special was he in his invi- 
 tations, that on one occasion, when the assembly had 
 met, he observed that the grandmother of one family 
 
 B B
 
 370 CONFERENCE OF MISSIONARIES. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 was not present. He at once remembered that he had 
 not called upon her. Suspecting the cause of her non- 
 appearance, he immediately sent off her grandchildren 
 to bring her. When she made her appearance, he did 
 not forget to apologise to her, and to laugh at her for 
 being " so touchy." His thoughtfulness, his attention, to 
 the oldest and poorest, won their hearts. His extra- 
 ordinary memory helped him to remember the veriest 
 trifles in their lives. He asked them about their boys, 
 about their grandchildren, and how they were getting on 
 in the battle of life. He could also tell them of many 
 of their children, for whom he had got situations in 
 London and elsewhere. 
 
 George Moore was always in his element at these 
 Whitehall gatherings. The old hall was filled with long 
 tables made for the purpose, at which seventy-five per- 
 sons could be seated at a time; and the tea and cakes 
 went on from three till seven. He seemed to be every- 
 where now pressing the old women to a third cup of 
 tea the centre of all eyes and sympathies. Then he 
 would be outside amongst the children at " scromallys," 
 scattering about sugar-plums and hunting-nuts, the girls 
 and boys running after him, and scrambling about him 
 to gather up the sugary shower. Then he would be 
 seen far off amongst the pastures, initiating the races. 
 He always started the boys himself. " Off with your 
 clogs, lads," he said ; " when I was like you, I raced in 
 my stocking feet." In the evenings, fire balloons, of 
 curious shapes, were floated away from the top of the 
 tower. After the boys and girls had left, a hot supper 
 was provided for sixty or seventy friends. And thus 
 the great day passed away. 
 
 Next day was entirely given up to the conference of 
 the village missionaries. Mr. Bowker always conducted 
 these meetings. He prepared and arranged suitable 
 subjects for consideration, a copy of which was sent to
 
 CHAP, xxii.] GEORGE MOORE'S WHITEHALL LIFE. 371 
 
 each missionary about a fortnight before the meeting. 
 At ten o'clock the men assembled in the Old Hall. 
 Clergymen and laymen took part in the proceedings. 
 The Rev. J. C. Ryle, Mr. Justice Lush, Mr. Wilson, the 
 Rev. F. Morse (vicar of Nottingham), Dr. Stoughton, 
 Dr. Moffat (father-in-law of Dr. Livingstone), and Mr. 
 Smithies, were present in July, 1875. The handling of 
 the meeting was ably done, and though questions of 
 doctrine were not excluded, the subjects kept upper- 
 most were of daily life and practice. So minute and 
 searching were the questions put by the chairman, that 
 more than one of the missionaries afterwards remarked, 
 " How strict Mr. Moore was in his inquiries : he observes 
 things that we never expected would be noticed." In 
 short, the meetings were full of wise counsel, as well as 
 of sympathy and encouragement. 
 
 His ordinary daily life in Cumberland was almost as 
 busy as it was in London. He was always at work. The 
 only rest he took was in changing from one work to 
 another. He sometimes said he wished he could be 
 idle, but he found that to be impossible. He never had 
 any spare time. The first thing he did in the morning 
 was to open his batch of letters. They would amount 
 to forty or fifty. They were about every conceivable 
 thing, about Bow Churchyard, about missionaries, 
 about salaries, about shorthorns, about schools, about 
 Bible societies, about horses, about situations for people's 
 sons ; but principally about money. The whole world 
 wanted money. Shoeblacks, convicts, schoolmasters, 
 clergymen, emigrants, travellers, working lads, servants^ 
 vagrants, missionaries, scripture readers, all wanted 
 money! The Reports he received were innumerable. 
 The societies which sent them, like Oliver Twist, in- 
 variably " wanted more ! " When it was known that 
 he had built a church at Somers Town, all the church 
 
 B B 2
 
 372 LIFE AT WHITEHALL. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 builders in England were at him. They all wanted 
 money. 1 
 
 When he received his morning's post, Mr. Moore shut 
 himself up in his library immediately after breakfast, 
 and proceeded to open his budget. He went through 
 them all, and decided upon the answer, making a note 
 upon each. Then he proceeded to answer them one 
 by one. When he had written a letter he threw it on 
 the ground, and there it lay until gathered up for the 
 post. The consequence was that before two the floor 
 was mired with letters, and any approach to his table 
 without treading upon them was rendered impossible. 
 When his private secretary, Mr. Hough, was with him 
 the correspondence was much more easy. 
 
 Sometimes during his later years he grew tired and 
 weary. It required much tact on the part of Mrs. 
 Moore to induce him to give less time to his corre- 
 spondence. Sometimes she endeavoured to get him to 
 lie in bed for two or three hours longer ; and when he 
 did so he would get up and come down " like a giant 
 refreshed," and went to work again with his corre- 
 spondence. 
 
 Then he was very much interrupted by callers ; the 
 farmers wanted to see him about draining and manure ; 
 schoolmasters wished to talk over the improvement of 
 their schools ; missionaries desired to tell him of the 
 progress of their work ; clergymen called about their 
 
 1 Among the curious letters which he received was one from a distin- 
 guished person in Ireland no less than a descendant of the ancient Irish 
 kings. The gentleman, having a certained that the church at Somers 
 Town had cost over ,16,000, and that the clergyman's name was O'Brien, 
 proceeded to assert his claims. He divided the cost of the church by 
 eight, and found that tne result was ^2,000. He wrote to George Moore 
 and said that he had eight sons, that if he sent them ,2,000 each he would 
 bring them up as eight living temples to the Lord, and to reverence the 
 name of their benefactor ; but (he concluded with this threat) "if you do 
 not, then I will bring them all up as Roman Catholics ; for the education 
 at Maynooth is very much cheaper than at any Protestant institution." 
 Of course this letter remained unanswered.
 
 CHAP, xxii.] HOSPITABLE GATHERINGS. 373 
 
 schemes of usefulness ; young men wanted advice or 
 a helping-hand ; parents came with their lads to beg 
 him to get " spots " for them ; so that his mornings 
 were a good deal broken in upon. It is a wonder how 
 he kept his patience; yet he was never disconcerted 
 nor impatient. Perhaps he rather spoiled his Cumber- 
 land neighbours. They took so much for granted. 
 They seemed as if they had a right to his services. 
 But he knew best. He was sowing seeds of kindness 
 which have since borne fruit far and wide. 
 
 There was a sort of routine of enjoyment at White- 
 hall that was regularly gone through. After all the 
 school gatherings and public meetings were finished, 
 the shooting began. Friends came from London and 
 elsewhere in September to shoot over the estates, 
 though Mr. Moore did not shoot himself. In the after- 
 noon he usually rode or walked out ; but even these 
 rides and walks were very frequently made subservient to 
 some purpose of benevolence and kindness. He would 
 call upon the cottagers when they were ill, or upon some 
 old woman to ask about her health or her comfort. 
 
 It is difficult to give an impression of the cheerfulness 
 and brightness of his home life. In the afternoon he 
 was always ready for anything. The clear, loud tones 
 of his voice seemed to bring good humour and freshness. 
 As a friend said of him, " He seems to bring a flood of 
 life into the room." The dinner hour was very enjoyable. 
 George Moore was a host in himself. He made every 
 one comfortable. None were forgotten. He brought 
 forward the shy by addressing some question to them 
 on a subject with which they were acquainted ; and he 
 thus not only got information, but pleased the guest, 
 who had an opportunity of doing his best. He himself 
 amused and interested his friends by telling them stories 
 of his early career his troubles, his difficulties, his ob- 
 stacles, and how he surmounted them all. When
 
 374 INTERVIEWS WITH ARCHBISHOPS. [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 questions of religion, morals, and politics were raised, 
 he took a keen interest in the discussion. His own re- 
 marks were racy and to the point. Before the conver- 
 sation closed he would do ample justice to his opponents. 
 If anything was said of those who were not present, he 
 would speak of them in kindness and moderation. The 
 Archbishop of York has told us that he never heard 
 George Moore speak a harsh word of anybody ; and he 
 would always put in a kind word for the absent. 
 
 The hospitable gatherings at Whitehall were not 
 limited to men of any particular station in life. Men 
 of high rank, dignitaries of the Church, old friends and 
 new, hard workers in the fields of benevolent labour, 
 were alike made welcome. 
 
 It was one of George Moore's peculiarities, that when- 
 ever he had an Archbishop staying with him, he invited 
 the clergy and curates, far and near, to visit him. On 
 these occasions, the lawn was covered with black-coats. 
 The clergymen were introduced to the Archbishop one 
 by one. None were forgotten. If any curate was shy, 
 and slunk away into a corner, George would find him 
 out. He would take him by the arm, and bring him 
 forward, saying, " I want to introduce my friend the 
 Rev. Mr. So and so;" sometimes adding, "Who knows 
 but that he may be an Archbishop some day ? " 
 
 Mr. Moore had given up hunting for some years, but 
 his love of horses, and of good riding, was as strong as 
 ever. He had himself been one of the boldest and 
 straightest riders ; and he continued to take pleasure in 
 hearing of the Meet. The young Howards of Grevstoke 
 or Sam Foster of Killhow kept him well-informed, when 
 he was in London, of all the runs of the Cumberland 
 fox-hounds. In Nov. 1875, Mr. Moore writes in hi*- 
 diary, " The Prime Warden of the Fishmongers' Com- 
 pany has given me carte blanche to invite all Masters of 
 the Hounds to a banquet at the Fishmongers' Hall or
 
 CHAP. XXII.] FISHMONGERS' HUNT DINNER. 375 
 
 the Qth of December next" The Foxhunters came up 
 to London accordingly, and duly enjoyed their Banquet. 1 
 Three days after, seventeen of the M.F.H. dined with 
 George Moore at Bow Churchyard. 
 
 1 Sir Wilfrid Lawson has thus commemorated the event : 
 THE FISHMONGERS' HUNT DINNER, DECEMBER, 1875. 
 
 The Banquet is spread in the Fishmongers' Hall, 
 
 And the guests are all gathered around ; 
 The Masters of Hounds, both the great and the small, 
 
 Amid the gay throng may be found. 
 
 There's the Major just fresh from a run at Blindcrake, 
 
 In the midst of the fast falling snow, 
 Where our fox took a line when at last forced to break 
 
 Half a mile just as straight as a crow. 
 
 There's the Squire of Dalemain from the Ullswater Hunt, 
 Where the hounds are as swift as young eagles ; 
 
 There's Parker who gallantly rides in the front, 
 There's Harry who runs with the beagles. 
 
 There's the jovial George Moore at the head of the Board, 
 
 At one time no rider was bolder ; 
 But in taking a steep six-barred gate he was "floored," 
 
 And now he's laid up with a shoulder. 
 
 But he still loves the chase in his warm-hearted way, 
 
 Though on horseback unable to follow ; 
 And his pulses beat quick on a fine hunting day 
 
 When he hears the bold Major's view halloa ! 
 
 There's Sam who rides Sultan so steady and strong, 
 
 Never known to shy, stumble, or pull ; 
 Ere Sam buys another 'twill be pretty long ; 
 
 For his money's all spent on a Bull. 
 
 There's Lamplugh who steers such a swift dashing steed 
 
 (For daring what youngster can match him ?) 
 That you'll hardly believe when 1 tell you indeed 
 
 I myself, on some days, can scarce catch him ; 
 
 Which is strange, as you know my swift pace in the chace 
 
 Regardless of mud, stones, and rocks ; 
 And how always I'm first to arrive in the place, 
 
 Where I'm certain of heading the fox. 
 
 But though I can beat both fox, huntsman and hound, 
 
 And leave them behind me like winking ; 
 At the Fishmongers' Board I d >n't dare to be found ; 
 
 For I know they can beat me at drinking ! 
 
 Well, well, just keep steady whatever you do, 
 
 Shrink the sherry and stick to the soup ; 
 And then each will be able to ride and run through 
 
 In good time for the Major's who-hoop 1
 
 37 6 ANECDOTE OF "jACK." [CHAP. xxn. 
 
 Such is a brief sketch of George Moore's life at 
 Whitehall. But before we conclude, we must describe 
 an incident connected with the life of his favourite dog 
 Jack. This was a thoroughbred bull-dog, much under- 
 hung ; and, though rather ferocious-looking, as gentle 
 as a kitten to those whom he knew. Jack's devotion to 
 his master was quite touching. Mrs. Moore once saw 
 him get up a wall quite eighteen feet high, by scratch- 
 ing up with his paws and hanging on to the projecting 
 pieces of stone with his teeth, in order to get to his 
 master, who was overlooking some building on the 
 other side. But though kind to those about him, he 
 was suspicious of strangers, and savage to other dogs 
 that came about the place ; and many were the serious 
 adventures that took place in consequence. Jack never 
 began the fight, but if another dog growled at him, or 
 insulted him, he gave no quarter. Mr. Moore had 
 been two or three times bitten in trying to separate the 
 dogs, but as he really loved Jack, he gave him, as was 
 his wont, " one more chance. " 
 
 At length the last chance came. One day, some 
 ladies called at Whitehall bringing a little mongrel 
 terrier with them. The dog went into the yard, and 
 occupied itself with barking and snarling at Jack, 
 beyond the length of his chain. Jack was of course 
 very much provoked, but he was tied and could do 
 nothing at that time. He could only show his feelings 
 by suppressed growls. In the afternoon, Jack was 
 loosed to go out with his master. He first went to the 
 study door to make his greetings. Then he went to the 
 bowling-green to find out the strange aggressor. He 
 found him, and at once pinned the mongrel by the 
 throat. No one could separate Jack from the dog. 
 At last his master was sent for, and, with great effort, 
 he separated them by force. He had to strike the dogs 
 to make them loosen their hold, and Jack was terribly
 
 CHAP, xxn.] "FAITHFUL JACK." 377 
 
 hurt. Yet he crawled to lick his master's feet. George 
 Moore went into the house quite unmanned. He shed 
 bitter tears over his faithful dog, and could not sleep 
 that night. 
 
 But the order was given that he must be shot. It 
 was carried out next day. He was buried, and a stone 
 was put over his grave, with the inscription, " Faithful 
 Jack!"
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 GOOD WORKS DONE IN SECRET, 
 
 GEORGE MOORE had a great idea of duty. " If I have 
 one thing," he says in his diary, " it is an imperative 
 sense of duty." He was always possessed with the 
 full sense of " doing his duty." He wished to do it ; 
 and he prayed to God to help him to do it. But what 
 duty ? People have so many notions about duty. 
 They vary according to their virtue, morality, and 
 religion. 
 
 There is a worldly-wise duty the duty of being 
 respectable ; to work diligently all the week and go 
 to church on Sundays ; or to enjoy the self-satisfaction 
 of a comfortable home and mix in what is called " the 
 best society." Such is the morality on which many 
 respectable people fatten and flourish. 
 
 This was not, however, George Moore's idea of duty. 
 First, he knew his duty to God ; but, outside of that, 
 or rather part of that, he knew his duty to man. His 
 prosperity in life was not due to himself. He could not 
 enjoy all his possessions himself. There were numerous 
 others to participate them with him. There were the 
 hordes of neglected poor the orphans, the sick, the 
 destitute. Could he not help them ; could he not do 
 something to lighten their load ; could he not introduce 
 them to the light of civilisation; if not to the better
 
 CHAP, xxiil.] SYMPATHY FOR SERVANTS. 379 
 
 light of Christianity itself? Surely this was a larger 
 creed and a loftier code of duty than that of modern 
 worldly-wise respectability ! 
 
 In the first place, let us see what he did with those 
 immediately about him. No man could be a more 
 loving and affectionate husband ; though this is by no 
 means an uncommon thing. We have, however, omitted 
 numberless entries in his diary, showing that his 
 happiest days were those which he spent in the company 
 of his wife. Many men may also treat their servants as 
 well as he did ; though that is perhaps still less common. 
 He treated them as members of the same family. The 
 bond which united them was not money-wages, but 
 sympathy. " Sympathy," he once said, " is a word that 
 should be written in letters of gold. It is the best word 
 in the English language. It must be good for those 
 who are about us to see that others sympathize with 
 them." 
 
 Servants are too often treated as necessary evils. 
 They have to bear all sorts of caprices and querulous- 
 nesses. If a kindness is vouchsafed, it is done as if 
 from a superior to an inferior being; and servility is 
 expected in return. It is forgotten that servants have 
 such possessions as feelings, affections, sympathies. 
 And yet they have within their power the thousand 
 little atoms of which the sum of domestic happiness is 
 composed. They are about us in health and sickness ; 
 in festivity and sorrow ; ministering to our wants, our 
 comforts, and our luxuries. 
 
 George Moore always remembered how much the 
 well-being of his family depended upon those who lived 
 under his roof. " Of this I am well assured," he says in 
 his diary, " that a good master and mistress will seldom 
 be afflicted by bad servants. The ruled are generally 
 what the ruler makes them. Woe unto thee, oh my 
 house, when thy master and mistress forget their duty,
 
 380 SYMPATHY FOR YOUNG MEN. [CHAP. xxm. 
 
 and when those who rule in thee care not for those who 
 serve ! " 
 
 The husband, however, cannot rule a house by him- 
 self. He must be effectually and cordially supported 
 by his wife. And this was the case in George Moore's 
 house. Both' treated their servants affectionately, and 
 were served honestly and faithfully. Mrs. Moore, how- 
 ever, gives the chief honour to her husband. "The 
 whole household," she says, " felt his influence. Faith- 
 ful service was always liberally acknowledged. All 
 seemed to vie with one another to please him ; though 
 he always would be obeyed implicitly. Two out of 
 three of the principal household servants, whose names 
 he so liberally mentioned in his will, had been with him 
 for upwards of twenty-five years." 
 
 Nor was he less kind and sympathetic with the young 
 men and women who lived at the warehouse in Bow 
 Churchyard. He treated them as if they belonged to 
 the same family with himself. He often went down to 
 meet them at family worship in the mornings. He 
 provided religious instruction for them. He founded 
 libraries and news-room for them. He got some of the 
 most distinguished and influential men of the day to 
 lecture to them. All these arrangements were made by 
 himself, though with the consent of his partners. The 
 following memorandum is found amongst his papers, 
 pinned to a printed notice of the lectures, classes, 
 mutual improvement meetings, and Bible classes carried 
 on at Bow Churchyard, in 1874: 
 
 " I have always felt a great interest in the souls of the 
 people I employ. I have tried for many years to for- 
 ward the objects contained in the inclosed programme. 
 I have never been satisfied that I did my duty, though 
 I must honestly say that I have tried to do it. I cannot 
 get so many to prayers in the morning, or to the Bible 
 classes, as I could wish. We have no drunkenness in
 
 CHAP, xxin.] FAMILY UNION IN THK WAREHOUSE. 381 
 
 the house, and I believe a better conducted number of 
 young people does not exist in the City. 
 
 " I see every one we engage, and I specially ask them 
 to come to prayers, and to go regularly to church or 
 chapel. I give them a good book, with the rules of the 
 house, and a guinea card for admission to the Young 
 Men's Christian Association in Aldersgate Street. 
 
 " I find that many of our married men with large 
 families and comparatively small salaries had borrowed 
 money of the firm, which was a clog about their necks. 
 I have paid them all off out of my own pocket, with a 
 remonstrance not to get into debt again." 
 
 The classes, lectures, and societies, established at 
 Bow Churchyard proved of great use to the young men. 
 They furnished them with sound instruction, and gave 
 them a high object in life. They tended to make them 
 members of one family. They united them in morning 
 and evening prayer. Young men risen from the ranks con- 
 ducted the Bible classes and devotional meetings. This 
 led some of them to turn their thoughts to the ministry. 
 Six of them became clergymen of the Church of Eng- 
 land ; four became Dissenting ministers ; and two went 
 abroad as Missionaries to the heathen. 
 
 We find George Moore helping them to higher posi- 
 tions. Some he assisted to go to St. Bees, and others 
 to Cambridge. It is Southey, we believe, who says that 
 we know a man's character better by the letters which 
 his friends address to him than by those which he him- 
 self pens. If this be so, George Moore must have been 
 the benefactor of thousands. It would be impossible to 
 give a tithe of the private letters which he received from 
 young men whom he helped with his bounty, especially 
 those whom he helped while in poverty, or when at 
 college. It would be unwise to publish these letters, 
 because they are from men who are now holding high 
 positions in society.
 
 382 PRIVATE HELP TO STUDENTS. [CHAP. xxni. 
 
 We may, however, give one or two extracts. One 
 clergyman says, " I owe a great deal to you, and am 
 proud to acknowledge that my present position is entirely 
 owing to what you have done for me in the past." 
 Another, whom Mr. Moore had liberally helped while at 
 St. Bees, and who had become a curate at Preston, says, 
 " Thanks to you that I am now in the ministry. I trust 
 that my conduct will be such that you shall have no 
 reason to regret having extended your kindness and 
 interested yourself in my behalf." 
 
 Another student, who had obtained Mr. Moore's help 
 through the instrumentality of the Bishop of Carlisle, 
 writes as follows : " I beg to acknowledge with deep 
 gratitude your very kind liberality to me, by which I am 
 spared the necessity of continuing in my secular em- 
 ployment, while preparing for ordination at Christmas 
 
 next Being an entire stranger to you, I am the 
 
 more touched by this act of disinterested kindness." 
 One more extract. A student at Queen's College, Ox- 
 ford, thus writes : " Allow me to return you my warmest 
 thanks for the cheque which you so kindly sent me this 
 morning. I am also exceedingly obliged to you for 
 having secured the Exhibition for me. For such ex- 
 treme kindness I shall always cherish a most grateful 
 recollection. With all this valuable help I feel stimu- 
 lated to pursue my studies with increased vigour." 
 This gentleman is now a much-esteemed rector of a 
 parish. 
 
 It may be added, that Mr. R. H. Allpress, who first 
 obtained George Moore's scholarship at the Commercial 
 Travellers' School, was afterwards further educated at the 
 City of London School, where he gained the Saddlers' 
 Guild scholarship for mathematics. " Without your 
 munificent gift," said Mr. Allpress to Mr. Moore, " I 
 should never have gained the scholarship, and con- 
 sequently I should nave had no chance of enjoying the
 
 CHAP, xxiii,] INFLUENCE OF GOOD DEEDS. 383 
 
 advantage of a university education, to which I am now 
 looking forward." 
 
 George Moore was by no means indiscriminate in his 
 help. The Rev. W. M. Gunson, M.A. Cambridge, in- 
 forms us that he was liberal in helping young men to 
 pass through the regular university course. " At the 
 time of his death, I know that he was helping two 
 present students of this university ; and though I was 
 not his almoner, he never sent the money without ascer- 
 taining through me that they were conducting them- 
 selves well, and living economically, which was a sine 
 qud non of his helping them. The very last letter I 
 received from him concerned these two youths, about a 
 week before the accident which removed him. This 
 was one form of his beneficence which, I believe, is very 
 little known." 
 
 Besides the influence which Mr. Moore exercised 
 upon those who were students at the universities for 
 the ministry, it was equally great upon those who 
 entered from his house upon the practical business of 
 life. After being trained in the firm they went out into 
 the world to set up for themselves. They carried with 
 them the power for good which they had received while 
 under the instruction provided for them by their old 
 master. They carried with them the example he had 
 set before them. They became centres of influence, 
 from which good seeds and kindly acts extended far 
 and wide. One of them, writing from Edinburgh, 
 says : " In my very small circle and with my limited 
 means, I try to emulate your example. I had rather 
 be a second George Moore than a Royal Duke ! " 
 
 He was never weary of helping young men. He 
 often thought of the hard times he encountered when 
 he first came to London ; and he determined, so far as 
 he could, to make things somewhat better for those who 
 followed him. Crowds of young men visited him, for
 
 384 HELPING YOUNG MEN. [CHAP. xxin. 
 
 situations, for advice, for help of various kinds. " It is 
 remarkable," he says, in one of his memoranda, " the 
 number of Cumberland young men who call upon me 
 every day. I certainly engage a great many, and those 
 I cannot engage I try to get situations for. To-day one 
 called who had served his apprenticeship at Wigton. 
 He said that he had been in London a month, and 
 must return next week, as his money was nearly done. 
 Then he burst into tears. I sent him up to get his 
 dinner. When he came down I gave him a letter to 
 a house that might possibly engage him. I cheered 
 him up by promising him a dinner every day until I 
 succeeded. Another, from Penrith, has just come in, 
 under similar circumstances ! " Then he proceeds to 
 set forth his own difficulties when he first came to 
 London his rebuffs, his trials, and his troubles, until 
 he was engaged at Grafton House. 
 
 He obtained situations for hundreds of young men 
 about London. He wrote to the heads of firms, or he 
 himself went about asking situations for them. Some- 
 times he obtained situations with drapers, or grocers, or 
 general warehousemen. When he failed he would 
 apply at the Railway Clearing-house ; and there he 
 frequently succeeded. Nine young men are there at 
 present who obtained their situations through him. 
 One of them writing to Mrs. Moore, says, " Most of us, 
 especially myself, owe our position, and can almost 
 date the beginning of our real lives from the time when 
 his influence and kindness placed us in the situations we 
 
 now hold We feel assured that no greater 
 
 monument can exist to perpetuate his memory, and 
 keep his name in lively remembrance among us, than 
 Christ's Church, Somers Town, upon which we can daily 
 look as we sit at our desks." 
 
 Nor did he lose-sight of the men whom he had be- 
 friended. He invited them to his house in Kensington
 
 CHAP, xxiii.] POWER OF SYMPATHY. 385 
 
 Palace Gardens, and sometimes to Bow Churchyard, 
 when he had much pleasant talk with them and gave 
 them much good advice. All this tended to uphold 
 them in life. They always felt that they had a friend in 
 him willing to help them if needful. These evenings at 
 Bow Churchyard must have been very agreeable. Mr. 
 Moore generally had some distinguished speakers to 
 address the young men. He himself often spoke. A 
 favourite subject of his was Sympathy. On one occa- 
 sion he said, " He wished particularly to impress upon 
 them the value of time, in order to make the best pos- 
 sible use of it. He had no doubt that all of them might 
 employ, their leisure time more profitably than they did 
 at present, and he admitted that this applied to himself 
 as well as to others. He repudiated the notion that the 
 employer, as such, was less beholden to the employed 
 than they were to him. They were all made of one flesh 
 and blood, and there ought to be a proper sympathy 
 between employers and employed. If he could not feel 
 that there was sympathy, he would not care to carry on 
 business at all. There might be some in the City of 
 London who did not feel that sympathy for those in 
 their employ, but for all such a day of reckoning would 
 be sure to come, when they would be sorry that they 
 had not done their duty in the position in life in which 
 it had pleased God to place them." 
 
 Although Mr. Moore was strict in business, he was 
 always merciful. He required punctuality, accuracy, 
 and diligence. These he thought he had a right to ask 
 for. Of course there were failures, as there must be 
 while men are human. But when failures occurred he 
 was always ready to forgive. He was merciful and kind 
 to the erring, the foolish, and even the dishonest. In 
 two cases of large defalcations on the part of local 
 managers, he interfered to prevent prosecution, appear- 
 ing to think only of the wives and children whom the 
 
 C C
 
 386 "ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY." [CHAP, xxin 
 
 defaulters had left destitute. The debtors of the firm 
 often received from him that merciful consideration 
 which enabled them to look up again in hope, and to 
 start afresh in the hard race of life. 
 
 The recollection of his own early struggles made him 
 very compassionate towards others. The confidence of 
 himself and his partners was often abused ; but in deal- 
 ing with such cases he did not forget the painful and 
 heartrending scenes of misery and ruin which he had 
 seen while visiting the prisons of London. One more 
 opportunity ! was the decision he generally arrived at. 
 Give him another chance ! And in this way he saved 
 many an erring soul from ruin. 
 
 " I feel very grateful indeed," said one person, u for 
 the opportunity you Lave so kindly afforded me, of doing 
 what I can to regain your confidence and esteem, which 
 my recent conduct must have forfeited. I have, sir, 
 well considered the step I now take and though it be 
 at your request that I take it, permit me to say that I 
 had before resolved upon my present course. Unhappy 
 experience has proved to me the truth of the preacher's 
 words ' Wine is a mocker ; strong drink is a delusion 
 and a snare.' Under its influence I committed acts for 
 which I now feel inexpressibly ashamed acts which, 
 but for your considerate kindness in permitting me to 
 remain in your employment, might have ruined my 
 prospects for life, and left a stain upon my character, 
 which I might never have washed away. Your be- 
 haviour to me has left a deep impression on my mind, 
 which I hope I may never outlive. These, sir, are the 
 considerations which induce me to declare, that from 
 this time, it is my firm intention to abstain from all 
 intoxicating drink whatever, and may God approve 
 and support me in my resolution." 
 
 The facts of the Case were, that this young man had 
 come from a far-off county ; that, probably unaccus-
 
 CHAP, xxiii.] WILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE. 387 
 
 tomed to indulgence, he had taken too much drink ; 
 and that, in this state, he went into the st-eets got into 
 a row, and struck a policeman. He was seized and 
 taken to prison. Next day he was brought before the 
 magistrate, and sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment. 
 The notoriety given to the circumstance by the public 
 papers, led the firm very justly to take a serious view of 
 the matter. They were at first disposed to dismiss the 
 young man from their employment. But after a few 
 days, George Moore interceded. " Give him one more 
 opportunity !" It was granted, and hence the preceding 
 letter. The young man became a thorough abstainer, 
 and fully justified the confidence reposed in him by his 
 employers. 
 
 One of the greatest proofs of consideration he could 
 give to his young men, was to invite them to his house 
 at Whitehall. Sometimes he had from thirty to forty 
 young men visiting him during the holiday season. If 
 they were taken ill, he sometimes sent them down to 
 Cumberland, to their own homes, for a change of air. 
 One such visit we may mention, in the words of the 
 writer, who is now far away, in Dubuque County, Iowa. 
 After stating that no biography, however well written, 
 can describe the living George Moore, he goes on to 
 say : " It might almost be said that he lived two lives 
 the business life and the private life. Mr. Moore at 
 Bow Churchyard and George Moore at Whitehall were 
 two separate characters. Few of the many who received 
 his ever-hearty welcome, and the firm, manly grip of his 
 hand at Whitehall, knew anything about the king he 
 was at his place of business how all wills bowed to his, 
 what a change his presence wrought, from the basement 
 to the garret overlooking Bow-bells. Speaking-tubes 
 conveyed the magic word " George Moore" throughout 
 the house. Like magic, too, the house was put in order. 
 There was a shaking amongst the dry bones. The 
 
 C C 2
 
 3^8 GEORGE MOORE AT HIS WAREHOUSE. [CHAP. xxin. 
 
 loose joints rattled into their place. The sleepers 
 awoke. Smart young men looked even smarter; and 
 all the machinery worked noiselessly and well. 
 
 " When George Moore came round, he could scan a 
 department at a glance. No flaw could possibly escape 
 his never-resting eye. He was quick and decisive in 
 action as in word. Who ever saw him sit still or stand 
 still for a moment ? His chair had a pivot, so that body 
 and mind could swing round to the subject at once. 
 He spoke quickly and wrote quickly. He might be 
 said to be impulsive in his utterances, yet he seldom 
 failed to hit the mark. Nothing like an impossibility 
 ever dawned upon him. I remember how furious he 
 used to be at any one who said he ' couldn't do it ! ' 
 ' Couldn't,' he said, ' What d'ye mean, man ? I don't 
 know what ye mean. There's no such word. It isn't in 
 the dictionary. Go, and do it at once!' He could 
 brook no defeat. 
 
 " An incident will illustrate this decisive trait in his 
 character. I had been sometime suffering from an 
 ailment, and finally had to undergo a painful operation. 
 Unthinkingly, I omitted to tell Mr. Moore. I left the 
 firm, and took lodgings near the surgeon's house. 
 About a week or so after the operation, and while I 
 was just able to walk, a rap, almost like a policeman's, 
 rang through the house. The door was banged open, 
 and a quick firm step mounted the stairs, almost fright- 
 ening my good old nurse out of her senses. In stepped 
 George Moore ! ' What's happened ? What are you 
 doing here? Why didn't you tell me?' 'Thank 
 you, sir, the doctors have ordered me not to move 
 for at least a fortnight, not to eat any meat, and to 
 lie perfectly still.' I told him this. Do you think it 
 baulked him ? Not a bit. His mind was made up. 
 ' Doctors' orders ? Fiddle-de-dee. Doctors know 
 nothing. Get back to Auld Cummerland, my lad, and
 
 CHAP, xxiii.] A LIVING TRAIT. 389 
 
 come to me at Whitehall ! ' That night, I dined off 
 beefsteak, and next night I was speeding on my way 
 home at George Moore's expense, in a carriage labelled 
 ' Engaged/ with soft cushions and every comfort that 
 could enable me to rest during my three hundred miles 
 journey. 
 
 " That, sir, was the living George Moore, with a will 
 of his own and a heart of gold ; and faint will all 
 efforts be to re-copy him. His hospitality at home was 
 unbounded. That motto at Whitehall was no sham. 
 Every one looked WELCOME into your face servants, 
 as well as master and mistress. 
 
 " Whilst at home for my holidays, I often went to see 
 him. One morning, he had been very busy, and I 
 was helping him. As we walked from the dining- 
 room across the hall, there was an inquiry at the 
 outside door. Mr. Moore went forward. ' Well, my 
 friend (his usual greeting to rich or poor) what is 
 it ? ' The man was long in coming to the point ; 
 and I knew by George Moore s nervous twitching of 
 his fingers and quick glancing of his eyes, that he did 
 not know much of anything the man said. Suddenly 
 snatching the man's arm, he pulled him inside. 
 ' Newbold ! Newbold ! ' he shouted. His trusty butler 
 was at once at his side. ' Give this man something 
 to eat and drink ! ' Thus saying he passed the man 
 on to Newbold. With a quaint, dry smile, Newbold 
 took a firm grip of his arm, and, notwithstanding 
 several attempts at remonstrance, marched him off to 
 the pantry. The whole scene was so ludicrous, and 
 yet so full of meaning, that I shall never forget it. 
 The man was not a beggar. Who he was, George 
 Moore couldn't quite make out. But he was a man 
 evidently in want. Newbold took up the cue of his 
 master, and supplied his wants. And the man went 
 away from Whitehall with the impression that he
 
 39 SCENE AT WHITEHALL. [CHAP. xxni. 
 
 had at all events seen George Moore, and enjoyed hia 
 hospitality. 
 
 " Years ago, on the first day of grouse-shooting, I 
 dined amongst a rather motley crew of Bishops, M.P.'s, 
 great city financiers, and poor clerks like myself; 
 for George Moore was no respecter of persons. He 
 had procured, at no small trouble, a single brace of 
 grouse. He said, ' Here's some grouse, and I want 
 everybody to have a taste of it.' There were at least 
 thirty of us. Mrs. Moore's gravity couldn't stand 
 that. But he was equal to the occasion. To use a 
 Yankee phrase, he never backed out. We all either 
 tasted grouse or stuffing. 
 
 " Mrs. Moore poked a good deal of fun at him for 
 speaking so loudly in church, when showing a friend 
 to a seat ; remarking that Mr. Moore couldn't whisper 
 if he tried. ' No, my dear/ said he, ' I cannot whisper. 
 I never could whisper. I hate whispering. It isn't 
 honest.' Unlike most men, when speaking in public, 
 he had the happy knack of giving over when he had 
 done. He spoke concisely and to the point ; and his 
 speech very often ended with ' Well, my friends, I 
 believe that's all ; ' or ' I think I'm done.'" 
 
 Mr. Moore did a great deal in the course of his life to 
 help poor clergymen. Applications came to him from 
 all parts of the country, from Ireland as well as 
 England. He was a sort of universal referee when a 
 clergyman was in want He had correspondents all 
 over the country. Sometimes he received his recom- 
 mendations from a neighbouring clergyman. Then he 
 proceeded to make inquiry ; and if found necessary, he 
 sent his help liberally. One clergyman in Derbyshire, 
 who had just secureed a curacy at ;ioo a year, had 
 nothing left after meeting the expenses of his ordination. 
 He wrote to George Moore, saying that he had nothing 
 to subsist upon until his first quarter's salary was due,
 
 CHAP, xxiu.] HELPING POOR CLERGYMEN. 39! 
 
 On receiving Mr. Moore's help by return of post, he 
 said, " I lack words adequately to express my thank- 
 fulness for your great kindness." Another clergyman in 
 Wiltshire, who had been injured by a railway accident, 
 and was struggling with many difficulties, in maintaining 
 himself, his wife, and seven children, had his case 
 brought under the notice of Mr. Moore, who sent him 
 some help through a friend. The clergyman's answer 
 was " I am indeed thankful to the anonymous donor 
 of .10 for my private use, and 10 for the education of 
 my children Amidst the many cares, perplexities, and 
 pressing needs of our children and home, these opportune 
 gifts are to us a gleam of sunshine at this season, and 
 they fill us with gratitude to a gracious God who in His 
 providence disposes the hearts of his people to such 
 deeds of mercy." 
 
 Letters such as these might be multiplied to any 
 extent, but there is one letter which must be given, as 
 it contains a story in itself: "Your very great and 
 opportune kindness has been of much service to me. 
 My daughter has thereby been sent to Casterton Clergy 
 Daughters' School. Without it she could not have been 
 sent. My whole income has been derived for several 
 years from my stipend as curate, and it has never been 
 more than 125 a year; and were it not for the kindness 
 of the people in' making me a presentation, I could not 
 have met the demands which a family of seven children 
 entail. The eldest is fourteen years old, and she is the 
 one you have kindly assisted in educating. Yours is 
 the only kindness I have sought. I did so for two 
 reasons. First, because of your very great bountiful- 
 ness and benevolence towards every good work ; and 
 secondly, because of my very pressing need. Through 
 
 the kindness of Mr. H , your aid was readily granted, 
 
 and the debt of gratitude which is due can never be 
 fully repaid.
 
 3 92 STORY OF A CLERGYMAN. [CHAK xxm 
 
 "As you desire it, and as your great kindness 
 demands it, I will briefly state the reason for my 
 present circumstances. Sixteen years ago, I com- 
 menced life on my own account, by purchasing a good 
 business in a thriving place. I was most successful, and 
 everything prospered with me. But it pleased God in 
 His mercy, to bring me to a knowledge of myself as a 
 lost sinner ; and afterwards by His good Spirit to find 
 pardon and peace in a crucified Saviour. This led me 
 to devote myself to His work as a Sunday-school 
 teacher, and to do everything I could do to serve Him. 
 I was deeply impressed with the great need there 
 was in our Church of truly evangelical ministers ; and 
 as my heart burned with gratitude and love to God 
 for His great mercies to myself, I determined to 
 enter the ministry, and devote myself wholly to His 
 service. 
 
 " The step caused me a great sacrifice. My business 
 was worth more at that time than any living I could 
 ever hope to have in the Church. The struggle was 
 great, and at last I sold everything, and went to college. 
 There I was very successful, and came out first in my 
 term. Good Bishop Waldegrave encouraged me to 
 come into his diocese, and by him I was ordained to 
 
 the curacy of . Had his life been spared, I should 
 
 not now have needed help. God has owned and 
 blessed my labours ; and though I have had at times 
 much anxiety respecting the education of my family, I 
 have not regretted the step I have taken. 
 
 " The money I had saved in business I expected 
 would have enabled me, together with my stipend, to 
 meet the wants of my family. But part of it has been 
 lost, and the rest I have been compelled to use. My 
 father-in-law was so indignant at my conduct that I 
 have not even had a letter from him since I gave up 
 business. My own father is not able to do much.
 
 CHAP, xxin.] GEORGE MOORE'S ALMONERS. 393 
 
 The ages of my children will render them dependent 
 upon me for some time. You will think my family 
 large and my income inadequately small to meet their 
 every want. But I have much to be grateful for, as 
 they are healthy and intelligent. For all your kindness 
 accept my best and warmest thanks." 
 
 At Christmas time, George Moore remembered the 
 poor clergymen of Cumberland and Westmoreland. 
 Many of them were very poor. They had to dress like 
 gentlemen, for they were gentlemen. They were also 
 scholars. Many of them had large families, and most 
 of them had small stipends. Their average pay did 
 not amount to the wages of iron-puddlers, engine- 
 drivers, or mechanics. George Moore had a list made 
 out every year, a few days before Christmas. His 
 first almoner was the Hon. S. Waldegrave, while 
 Bishop of Carlisle, who sent cheques of 5 or 10, 
 according to the needs of the recipients, through Messrs. 
 Williams, Deacon, and Co. His next almoner was 
 Archdeacon Cooper, of Kendal. And lastly he sent 
 the cheques through Mr. Matthieson, of Fuller, Banbury, 
 and Co., Lombard Street. They were sent as from a 
 " Lover of Evangelical Truth." George Moore's name 
 was never mentioned. How much these Christmas gifts 
 rejoiced the hearts of the poor clergymen and their 
 families, may be understood from the following extracts 
 from their letters of acknowledgment : 
 
 One said " Please return my very sincere thanks to 
 the giver. It will enable me to do much which I 
 otherwise could not do. At present there is a large 
 influx of labourers into my parish. They are employed 
 on the Settle and Carlisle Railway. I am endeavouring 
 to do all that I can for these people. But schools for 
 the children, cases of distress, supplies of books, &c., 
 require much more than I am able to do out of my 
 small living, which is not more than 40 per annum
 
 394 CHRISTMAS HELPS. [CHAP, xxin 
 
 net. Such presents therefore help me much in carrying 
 on this work, and especially at this season of the 
 year. " 
 
 Another says " I never stood in more need of help 
 than now, owing to the loss I have suffered this year 
 through a solicitor in Carlisle. I am now in my 8ist 
 year, and am obliged to have two curates in my large 
 parish, seven miles by four. We have four full services 
 every Lord's Day in three places of worship ; so that 
 such kind gifts are very acceptable. May God bless 
 the kind donor." 
 
 Some thanked their unknown benefactor for helping 
 them to pay their Christmas bills and their doctor's 
 fees. " This is indeed a most opportune gift, as it finds 
 me in very straitened circumstances, mainly owing to my 
 poor wife's protracted illness." One says, it " helps to 
 remove anxious care at this season of Christmas for 
 those who are already under sorrow." A joyful father 
 says, " I accept it as a token that our little one, born on 
 New Year's Day, will be provided for by our Heavenly 
 Father." Another vicar says, "If I am not permitted 
 to know who my kind benefactor is, please return my 
 sincere thanks. Philippians iv. 1 1 14." 
 
 One says, " The contribution was a mercy laid at my 
 door. I have need to be thankful for it. I pray, too, 
 that the giver may have the blessing of ' the liberal 
 soul." Another "It has come to me at a time of 
 much anxiety, as I have a large family, and my aged 
 and infirm mother is entirely dependent on me. My 
 wife also has been sick and under medical treatment 
 during the whole of the past year." 
 
 One self-denying man said, " Although I have need, 
 yet there are poorer clergymen in the neighbourhood 
 than I am : give it to them ! " Another said, " I am 
 not above receiving this kindness, but there are many 
 curates with large families much poorer than myself.
 
 CHAP xxiii.] CITY AND COUNTY MISSIONARIES. 395 
 
 Therefore I will readily, with the consent of the kind 
 donor, hand over the gift elsewhere." 
 
 These Christmas gifts were repeated during so many 
 years that those who had been accustomed to receive 
 them looked out for their arrival by the Christmas post. 
 One who was overlooked says " I was taught a bad 
 habit in expecting to receive something every Christmas 
 Day, when I had no right whatever to receive it. It was 
 therefore with blank looks that my poor wife met me on 
 my return from the morning service on Christmas Day 
 with the words, ' No blue letter with a big red seal for 
 you to-day ! ' and we sat down to our Christmas dinner 
 with less gladsome hearts than usual." We believe that 
 it was afterwards made " all right " with this deserving 
 clergyman. 
 
 Nor did Mr. Moore forget the City Missionaries, with 
 whom he had been so intimately associated for so many 
 years. He sent each of them a bright new sovereign on 
 Christmas Day, and they were four hundred and eighty 
 in all. He sent two-and-a-half sovereigns each to 
 twenty-five missionaries in Cumberland. He accom- 
 panied his gifts with a good book. He was perpetually 
 giving books. He sometimes had as many books as 
 would stock a bookseller's shop. He gave away about 
 2,500 of the Rev. J. C. Ryle's Expositions of tlie Gospels. 
 He sent books to all the city and county town mission- 
 aries. He sent them to missionary stations abroad, 
 and amongst others to Sierra Leone. 1 He circulated 
 extensively M'Cheyne's Memoir and Remains, Dr. Bonar's 
 Way of Peace, and Winslow's Ministry of Home. 
 
 1 We find among the Whitehall papers a letter dated " Freetown, Sierra 
 Leone, October I3th, 1875." The writer, W. J. Leigh, says, "I beg to 
 return you my warmest thanks for the books you have been pleased to 
 pre-eut to myself and all the local preachers of the Freetown circuit, 
 through Mr. Waimsley. The books were distributed by him on the nth 
 instant at 7 P.M., when a special preachers' meeting was convened. The 
 chapel where we met was crowded to excess. Before the distribution of
 
 396 CHRISTMASES IN LONDON. [CHAP. xxin. 
 
 Amongst Mr. Moore's papers we find a letter from 
 Mr. J. Robinson, one of the secretaries of the City 
 Mission Society, thanking him for his gift of a thousand 
 pounds for the Disabled Missionary Fund. "May I 
 express," says Mr. Robinson, " my personal gratitude for 
 this donation. It cheers my esteemed brethren in their 
 labours to have some assurance that in old age and 
 infirmity they will not be left destitute." 
 
 Mr. Moore, in conjunction with Mr. Stockdale, made 
 a similar arrangement for the benefit of the missionaries 
 in their native county. The following is from George 
 Moore's diary, 26th February, 1875: "Gave John 
 Martin instructions to press on a deed for the disabled 
 Cumberland missionaries. Stockdale and I have settled 
 three thousand on them." 
 
 George Moore's Christmases in London were full of 
 work. "When thou makest a feast, call together the 
 poor." He gave teas and suppers to all sorts of people. 
 Sometimes to the poor children in Whitechapel ; some- 
 times to the stone-breakers at Kensington workhouse ; 
 sometimes to poor exiles from France and Germany. 
 One Christmas he says : " The frost has lasted for three 
 weeks. The distress is very great amongst the poor at 
 Kensington. Newbold (the butler) is hard at work 
 distributing coals, bread, meat, and money." But his 
 greatest pleasure was in spending Christmas at Field 
 Lane Ragged School. For some years past, on Christ- 
 mas Eve the Ragged School boys with their band came 
 to serenade him at his house in Kensington Palace 
 Gardens. But the great event was the dinner of next 
 day. On those occasions he took part in distributing a 
 dinner of roast beef and plum-pudding. George Moore 
 
 the books, Mr. Walmsley gave an address relative to the dirties of the 
 local preachers, and also expressed your kind feeling to us. Such a 
 meeting we shall not soon forget. I am sure the books will be read by the 
 whole of our preachers, and be the means of doing much good. I am very 
 thankful for the great kindness you have shown to our race."
 
 CHAP, xxiri.] LAST CHRISTMAS IN CUMBERLAND. 397 
 
 was amongst the carvers, and Mrs. Moore, with many 
 other ladies, helped to wait on the guests. 
 
 Nor were those nearer home neglected. At the house 
 in Bow Churchyard, he gave a fine Cumberland ham to 
 every married man in the establishment. They were 
 upwards of two hundred in number. He also gave a 
 book, of a religious tendency, to the seven or eight 
 hundred employes of the firm. During the last year of 
 his life he sent out seventeen thousand British Work- 
 man's Almanacs to all parts of the kingdom. 
 
 The first Christmas and the last which Mr. Moore 
 spent in Cumberland since his boyhood was in Decem- 
 ber, 1875. He had been busily engaged in London, and 
 went down to his country home for rest. He reached 
 Whitehall exhausted and worn out, but "grateful to God 
 for all His mercies." Two days after he says, " The re- 
 action has come. I am done up, and laid in bed, sadly 
 out of sorts. I am glad I have got back to my dearest 
 wife ; she watches over me like an angel." 
 
 The fresh country air revived him. He was soon able 
 to go out, and attend the Way Warden Meeting at 
 Wigton. The farmers came to pay their rent at White- 
 hall and have their rent-dinner with him. After a visit 
 to Sir Wilfrid Lawson and his lady at Brayton Hall, he 
 returned to spend a quiet Christmas Eve with his dear 
 wife. He was very anxious that Christmas Day should 
 e kept like " a real old one." All his nearest relations, 
 mostly in humble life, were invited to be present. 
 
 After the Christmas dinner was over, the party sat 
 round the hall fire, talking over the old Christmases. 
 They looked back to the buoyant times of their youth, 
 and reflected upon the past. After all, they said, there 
 are no Christmases like the old ones. George Moore 
 sprang up in his quick way, and stood in front of the 
 fire. " Yes," he said, " we all cling to the old customs. 
 There are no mince-pies like those I had when I was a
 
 398 THE CHRISTMAS TREE. [CHAP. xxm. 
 
 boy ! There are no old folks' nights, nor young folks' 
 nights. Yes, we are getting too old for that. But the 
 ch Idrcn can now get a good education. Their souls are 
 cared for. That is the best of all things." 
 
 On the last night of the year Mrs. Moore had a 
 Christmas-tree ; it was the first ever seen at Allhallows. 
 There were a hundred and seventy-five visitors that 
 night, consisting of the guests in the house, the neigh- 
 bours, the labourers, their children, and the servants. 
 After every one had got their Christmas gift, there were 
 games and dances for them in the hall. George Moore 
 seemed greatly to enjoy it. The amusements were 
 finished up with the favourite country dance, Sir Roger 
 de Coverley, in which every one took part. 
 
 George Moore winds up his diary for the year 1875 
 with the words : " Where shall I be this day next year ? 
 I hope I shall be better prepared to die." 
 
 Alas ! he was dead before next Christmas arrived.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE END OF GEORGE MOORE'S LIFE. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE had now reached his seventieth year. 
 He had seen much of the world's chances and changes. 
 He had suffered his share of the world's troubles and 
 sorrows. He had seen his friends depart one by one. 
 He felt that the time was fast coming when he too must 
 die. The thought seemed to be always in his mind. 
 " Let me be ready, ready ! " he often said. 
 
 One of his friends in Scotland, whom he had never 
 seen since he was a boy at Flint, Ray, and Company's, 
 but with whom he had kept up a correspondence, says 
 in a recent letter : " Strange to say, in the last note I 
 had from him, he said he was preparing for the great 
 change that awaits us all. I do not infer from this that 
 he had any premonitory notices of death, but having 
 just attained to the period of life allotted to poor 
 humanity, he must certainly have felt that his time was 
 coming next, or next." 
 
 His friend Richard Porter, with whom he had climbed 
 the hill of perseverance, had already died. Robert 
 Hanbury, who had been associated with him in many 
 works of benevolence, had died suddenly. "I loved
 
 400 MR. HOWARD SIR H. GRANT. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 him," says George Moore, " for his simple faith." His 
 intimate friend, Mr. Howard of Greystoke, had also 
 departed. In one of Mr. Moore's memoranda he says : 
 " The death of my most valued friend, Mr. Howard of 
 Greystoke Castle, lias cast a great gloom over my 
 spirits. I spent part of seventeen summer holidays 
 there. He took me up, and introduced me thirty-five 
 years ago, when I was not among the gentry of Cum- 
 berland. He always behaved to me like a true friend. 
 He was a man of rare common sense and discrimi- 
 nation, and I benefited much by his advice and counsel. 
 He took upon himself the entire superintendence of the 
 rebuilding of Whitehall." George Moore's attachment 
 to Mr. Howard in some respects altered his life. It 
 brought him into contact with men of a different kind 
 and of a higher culture than those whom he had been 
 accustomed to meet. This broadened his views and 
 enlarged his life. 
 
 Another friend and hero departed. General Sir 
 Hope Grant was a man after George Moore's own 
 heart. There was the same earnestness and strength 
 of purpose alike in both ; and this drew them together 
 in mutual friendship. Sir Hope and Lady Grant had 
 paid a visit to Whitehall in the autumn of 1*874. He 
 had brought with him his violoncello, and drawn forth 
 the echoes of the old Hall with his sweetest music. 
 In October, Sir Hope had been able to walk without 
 fatigue over the Caldbeck Fells, and through heavy 
 turnip-fields, for five or six hours a day ; but before the 
 early springtime came the great warrior had laid him 
 down to die. George Moore says in his diary : " We 
 have lost one of our most valued friends, Sir Hope 
 Grant. I never had a more manly, sincere Christian 
 in our Cumberland home. He was the sort of man I 
 liked. God knows who is to be next. I am losing
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] DEATH OF rfR. COPESTAKE. 401 
 
 all my friends. May I be as well prepared for death 
 as our dear friend Sir Hope Grant was." l 
 
 But death was coming still nearer him. In 1874 his 
 partner, Mr. Copestake, was taken away, and in 1875 
 Mr. Osborne. "I shall never forget," says Mrs. Moore, 
 "the shock he received when the sad news of Mr. 
 Copestake's sudden death was brought to him by 
 William Osborne on horseback." They had been 
 faithful partners for about forty-four years. There 
 never had been a wrong word between them during 
 all that time. George Moore had never known a man 
 like his partner for amiability, modesty, patience, kind- 
 ness, and common sense, 
 
 Mr. Moore repeatedly alludes to his partner in Viis 
 diary. He said, on the day of his death, " Indeed, I 
 am stunned. I feel it most deeply. I feel as if I had 
 lost my right arm ; and a severe wrench it has been. 
 I never knew a man like him ; and yet he always kept 
 in the shade." On the day of the funeral he says, " I 
 have this day followed to the grave one of the best 
 
 1 Some beautiful lines appeared in Punch at the date of Sir Hope Grant's 
 death. We quote a few stanzas : 
 
 " So frequent falls the heavy hand of Death, 
 
 Time fails for wreathing each fresh funeral crown ; 
 Men, whose own hair is gray, read with drawn breath 
 Of loved and honoured suddenly struck down. 
 
 " O well for England that when living names 
 
 Pass to the death-roll in her Book of Gold, 
 'Tis rare that search finds stain to soil their fames, 
 Proudly in that proud fellowship enrolled. 
 
 
 *' One whose pure life had no need to divide 
 
 The Christian and the Captain well-content 
 Tc pray with his own soldiers side by side j 
 Vet boy for harmless sport and merriment. 
 
 " Who lived full in the rude camp's watchful eye 
 
 Unblamed, beloved, respected ; who lay down 
 To well-earned rest, as one for whom to die 
 Is humbly to exchange ife's crosj for crown." 
 
 D D
 
 402 GEORGE STOCKDALE. [CHAP, xxtv 
 
 and most aimable of men. I was his partner since 1 
 was twenty-four years of age." 
 
 One of the present partners informs us that on the 
 death of Mr. Copestake the whole interest of Bow 
 Churchyard fell to George Moore. He had the power 
 of appropriating the profits of the business, subject 
 of course to the adjustment of the various capital 
 charges. 
 
 The increased value of the freeholds also fell to him. 
 He alludes to this in his diary. " We finally finished 
 our partnership to-day, I hope to the satisfaction of all. 
 I have volunteered to give up all Mr. Copestake's shares 
 to my partners. I have also given the new firm about 
 ^45,000, the increased value of the freeholds which fell 
 to me at Mr. Copestake's death." George Moore was 
 evidently engaged in making up his own accounts. 
 
 His most intimate friend next died George Stock- 
 dale, of the Stock Exchange. Mr. Stockdale was a 
 Cumberland man. He had been a commercial traveller 
 in the early part of his life ; hence his connection with 
 the Commercial Travellers' Schools. Mrs. Moore says, 
 " Mr. Stockdale was, in some ways, my husband's most 
 intimate friend. Their friendship dates very far back, 
 when George was the boy traveller for Fisher's. They 
 first met at a town in Lincolnshire, when Stockdale saw 
 the ' Napoleon of Watling Street," as they used to call 
 the young traveller. George Moore was in a back 
 room, surrounded by young men from the drapers' 
 shops, helping him to pack up his goods. Stockdale 
 was struck with his energy and cheerfulness, and from 
 that moment he never lost s : ght of him. They would 
 appoint a place to meet some six months or even twelve 
 months hence ; and they never once missed their meet- 
 ing. Then George became a partner with Groucock 
 and Copestake, and Stockdale entered the Stock 
 Exchange.
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] GEORGE STOCKDALE. 403 
 
 " Mr. Stockdale always reminded me of Boswell with 
 Johnson ; for he worshipped my husband, and could 
 never see anything but perfection in all that he said 
 and did, except in the matter of politics. Stockdale 
 was a Conservative, while George was a Liberal ; and 
 yet, amidst their stirring discussions of the times, the 
 difference never severed their friendship. In everything 
 else he followed my husband as closely as possible. 
 He was never happy when long separated fronT him. 
 He was with us for weeks together in Cumberland, and 
 he called upon us two or three nights every week when 
 in London. He was with us every Saturday night. 
 There was a special chair in the library allotted for 
 him. He went to every public meeting where George 
 intended to be present. He seemed to follow him like 
 a shadow. I have heard people who knew of their 
 friendship say 'There's Stockdale: George Moore 
 cannot be far off.' 
 
 " George Stockdale was one of the first who joined 
 the little band who met at Kensington Palace Gardens 
 on Monday evenings for the Bible readings; and he 
 attributed his interest in higher things to George's 
 influence. So far as his means allowed, he helped 
 in all the things that George took an interest in. He 
 did very much for the Commercial Travellers' Schools, 
 of which he was the chairman. He used often to 
 say to me, ' Do get your husband to tell me what 
 he wants to get done, and I will try to get it 
 done.' 
 
 " The illness of such a friend could not fail to be an 
 anxiety. In the spring of 1875 his health began to 
 fail. My husband had joined the committee who re- 
 ceived Moody and Sankey on their religious mission. 
 He took the greatest interest in their work, and from 
 the first believed in its sincerity and success. His 
 friend insisted on going to one of their first meetings 
 
 D D 2
 
 404 DEATH OF MR. STOCKIULE. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 it Exeter Hall. Tha crowd and heat were terrible, 
 and Mr. Stockdale increased the severe cold from 
 which he was suffering at the time. He came to us, 
 however, on the following Saturday as usual ; when we 
 were shocked at his appearance. We persuaded him 
 to go home and send for the doctor. He did so, but 
 his life could not be saved. He sent for us only three 
 days after, to take leave of us both. His last words 
 were, ' I want to thank you for having made my life 
 so happy.' " 
 
 A day or two after his death George Moore thus 
 described him " There are many who knew some- 
 thing of his character. He always took the best view 
 of every one's conduct, and tried to attribute the purest 
 motives to the actions of others. Through all the years 
 of the very closest intimacy, I have never heard him say 
 an unkind word of any one, or do anything which one 
 would have had him do otherwise. His hand and heart 
 were always open and ready. He was a bright example 
 for the rising generation ; for he won a really good posi- 
 tion entirely by his own good conduct, and the habits 
 of self-denial and self-restraint which were early learnt 
 in his Cumberland home, and which he afterwards care- 
 fully practised." 
 
 These deaths of his old friends could not but affect 
 George Moore. They did not alarm him, for he was 
 ready to die. He begins his diary of 1876 with the 
 following entry : " It may be that I have entered on 
 the last year of my mortal career. If so, what have I 
 to rescue me when stripped of all that I can now call 
 my own ? I do believe that Jesus will go with me 
 through the dark valley, and that I shall have abundant 
 entrance into the presence of God." 
 
 On the following day he adds : " I have felt this New 
 Year's entrance with more reverence and awe than I 
 ever did before." The opening of the New Year had
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] THE LAST NEW YEAR. 405 
 
 always affected him, but this year more than any other. 
 He had never written any entry like this before, though 
 there are abundant records in his diary of self-exami- 
 nation, and one might almost say of exaggerated self- 
 condemnation. He spoke of not serving God more, 
 and not giving up his will to serve Him more entirely. 
 But from this time the shadow of his speedy death 
 begins to fall upon much that he said and did. 
 
 " The New Year," he said, " must always seem solemn. 
 It comes with the unknown, untried future. It brings 
 back the memory of vows broken, of promises to one's 
 self unfulfilled. How fast time flies ! Months pass away 
 as days did formerly. I may be taken away at any 
 moment !" He usually began the New Year as he had 
 ended the old, by some munificent bounty. " I have 
 started this year," he says, in 1874, "by giving a thou- 
 sand pounds each, to Christ's Hospital for prizes, to 
 the Bible Society, to the Missionary Society, and to 
 the Carlisle Infirmary." 
 
 At the end of January, 1876, he returned to London. 
 He occupied himself as before. He divided his time 
 between business and beneficence. Four days after his 
 return he informed the Committee of the Royal Free 
 Hospital that he had bought a Convalescent Hospital 
 at Littlehampton, partly for the use of their patients. 
 
 A little later he says, " I am much troubled about 
 the Convalescent Hospital that I bought at Little- 
 hampton. They will not confirm the purchase because 
 they object to the building being used for such a 
 purpose." 
 
 Nevertheless the house was purchased, a suitable 
 matron was chosen, and the hospital was almost ready 
 to be started, when the Duke of Norfolk refused to 
 transfer the lease to the trustees of the Convalescent 
 Hospital. Being bent on his purpose, Mr. Moore never- 
 theless set apart in his accounts a sum of 15,000 to
 
 406 RECOGNITION OF OLD SERVICES. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 establish a convalescent hospital somewhere, if not at 
 Littlehampton. It remained there at the time of his 
 death ; but the law of mortmain prevented the money 
 being applied to the purpose for which it was intended, 
 and it went to the estate. The house at Little- 
 hampton was sold by George Moore's trustees, 'so 
 chat his desires in this direction were eventually 
 defeated. 
 
 There was another matter that George Moore desired 
 to accomplish before winding up his accounts with the 
 world. It was to reward those who had been so long 
 in his service at Bow Churchyard, and who had so 
 zealously helped to make his fortune. " I am pro- 
 ceeding," he says in his diary, " to make large presents 
 to each of our employe's that has lived above five years 
 in our service. I have long wished to do this, and 
 Mr. Copestake (the son of his old partner) willingly 
 joins me in giving away between thirty-five and forty 
 thousand pounds out of our private money, to our old 
 servants. They have done much, by their industry 
 and probity, to enable us to do so. It is one of the 
 best acts of our lives." 
 
 All who had been with the old firm for five years 
 received a donation of 50, and an additional ^"50 for 
 every other five years' service. In more than one 
 instance the gift reached ;i,ooo. No distinction 
 was made as regards position in the firm, That had 
 already been acknowledged in the usual way by suc- 
 cessive rises of salary. The reward was for fidelity 
 of service. Even the porters, with one or two excep- 
 tions, received the same measure of acknowledgment 
 as the heads of the different departments. Nearly 
 ^"40,000 were thus disbursed. This was the last act 
 George Moore did for those employed in the firm at 
 Bow Churchyard which he had loved so well. 
 
 In April, 1876, another old friend of Mr. Moore's
 
 CHAV. xxiv.] THE MONEY ORDER SYSTEM. 407 
 
 died Mr. Nicholson Hodgson, M. P. for East Cum- 
 berland. As before, great pressure* was brought upon 
 George Moore to come forward and represent the 
 county. But no ! He had firmly made up his mind not 
 to enter Parliament. He suggested however that the 
 younger son of Mr. Howard of Greystoke should : be 
 requested to stand. Mr. Stafford Howard consented. 
 George I Moore proposed his nomination : he diligently 
 canvassed for him ; and his satisfaction was great 
 when his friend was returned by a considerable majority. 
 
 He returned to London, and dined at the Royal 
 Academy Banquet on the 2Qth of April. He had often 
 done so before, and he appreciated the honour very 
 much. He presented to the Academy Cope's picture 
 of " The Council," which had been painted for him. 
 This picture had much interested him, and he was 
 delighted when it was transferred from his friend 
 Mr. Cope's studio to form part of the permanent col- 
 lection of the Royal Academy. It represents the 
 " Hanging Committee " in conclave, accepting and 
 rejecting the pictures sent in for exhibition. The 
 portraits of the leading R. A.'s are excellent. Mr. 
 Richmond, R.A., observed of the gift, " It is pleasant 
 all round ! " 
 
 In May 1876 the Government appointed a commis- 
 sion to inquire into the money-order system of the Post- 
 office, and Mr. Moore was requested to become a member. 
 Although his hands were full of work, he consented 
 When the commission met he was immediately appointed 
 chairman. He writes in his diary, " Whatever I under- 
 take I like to do well. But what I do now costs me all 
 that I have. I cannot take things easy. This Post- 
 office business has cost me much labour and thought. 
 The object is to reduce the expense and make the work 
 equally effective." 
 
 Mr. Moore proved, as usual, an excellent chairman.
 
 408 ORDERED TO VICHY. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 He was short, sharp, and decisive. He kept the wit- 
 nesses to the point. Whenever they rambled away into 
 unnecessary talk, he at once brought them back to the 
 question. Much time was thus saved. Mr. Moore at- 
 tended every meeting. The first was on the 4th of 
 May, and by the i/th the committee were ready for 
 arranging the report. 
 
 In the meantime he was occupied with many other 
 things. He was still anxious about the success of his 
 church at Somers Town. 
 
 On the 22nd of May he enters in 'iis diary: "Found 
 eight hundred children in the schools at ' No Man's 
 Land,' Somers Town. The church is better attended. 
 I cannot but feel that I did a good work in building the 
 church and schools. It has been a great anxiety to me, 
 but I am getting my reward." And on the 23rd : 
 " Every day I live, I feel more and more my responsi- 
 bilities. God has given me means, and I want to give 
 them back to Him. I am pledged for 6,000 to assist 
 Evangelical curates, and ;i 2,000 to improve education 
 in Cumberland." 
 
 On the 25th of May, he says : " I have not a minute 
 to call my own." On the following day he enters these 
 words : " I attended a meeting at Portman Chapel at 
 9.30; the Fine Arts Gallery at 10.15; the Industrial 
 Dwellings at II ; the Post-office Commission at 2; 
 the Little Boys' Home at 4 ; and the City Mission at 
 5. Thankful to be home to my dear wife at last. 
 We had to go out to dinner after all." Mrs. Moore says 
 that this was to Mr. S. Morley's. " It was the last time 
 we were out in London." 
 
 The strain of work began to tell upon his health. 
 He consulted Mr. Erichsen and Sir William Gull, who 
 ordered him at once to Vichy. This cast him down a 
 great deal. " But," he says, " I am most grateful to 
 God for all His mercies. When I look within I am
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] CLERICAL AID SOCIETY. 409 
 
 humbled." And again, "All is for the best : but it is 
 a gloomy prospect for me and my dear wife to be exiled 
 at Vichy for three or four weeks. But I cannot refuse 
 taking my doctors' joint opinion. We had our last 
 Bible-reading. A gieat company was present." 
 
 Before he left for Vichy he took an acitve part in 
 organising the Clerical Education Society. He had 
 often heard clergymen of different views deploring 
 the increasing difficulty of finding curates of religious 
 views. The Keble College at Oxford had opened 
 the way for earnest High Churchmen to study and 
 have a University training at less expense th?.n 
 usual ; and Mr. Moore desired that there should- be a 
 similar opportunity for young men of Evangelical 
 views. The opinion of Canon Hoare greatly com- 
 mended itself to him : " That they must be men taught 
 of God, and of good common sense and vigorous under- 
 standings. " 
 
 There were then two societies little known, and 
 languishing for want of funds. Mr. Moore determined to 
 persuade them to amalgamate. He visited the trustees 
 of both societies, and at length they agreed to take his 
 advice. He assembled them at his house to dinner ; 
 and it was resolved that the united society should be 
 called " The London Clerical Education Aid Society." 
 He gave ^"6,000 towards the enterprise; but he did not 
 live to work out the experiment. A few days before his 
 death he was occupied in sending out letters to young 
 men whom he thought likely to be serviceable in the 
 Church. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Moore set out for Vichy in the com- 
 pany of the late William Longman and his family. 
 They reached Vichy on the 6th of June. George Moore 
 formerly disliked the monotony of life at that place. 
 But on this occasion he was more content. He used to 
 sit for hours having what the doctors called "bains
 
 410 GEORGE MOORE'S LAST VISITS. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 de soldi." He admired the blueness of the sky and 
 the slanting of the sunbeams through a golden mist 
 between the branches of the trees near the Allier. 
 What he could not bear was the croaking of the frogs, 
 which on dry hot nights was simply dea fening. The 
 Longmans lived in the same hotel. Mr. Longman had 
 often hunted with George, and they had many talks of 
 old times. Mr. Moore was sometimes very much 
 depressed, but the powerfulness of the waters in some 
 measure accounted for this. 
 
 At Vichy he began an innermost sort of diary, prin- 
 cipally on religious subjects. On the iQth of June he 
 wrote as follows : " I must not forget that I am three- 
 score years and ten. My time here below must be 
 short : still I feel an unwillingness to die. I suppose I 
 shall be plucked away against my will at the last. I 
 believe I shall be with Christ, which is far better." And 
 again: "This unwillingness to die is spiritual rebellion. 
 I ought to be free from this. Can I not trust God for 
 the future ? I ought to be free, I can be free, I will be 
 free. I have no doubt of my Heavenly Father's love. 
 Christ says, ' Him that cometh unto me, I will in no 
 wise cast out.' " On June 24th, he says, " I have 
 thought a good deal about death lately. I have tried 
 to realise in my soul that there is nothing to fear, if one 
 is certain to be with Christ. Wherever or whenever I 
 may die, may I know that Death is a vanquished foe, 
 and that I may not fear." 
 
 Mr. Moore reached London again on the 2/th of 
 June. The report of the money-order commission was 
 agreed to on the 29th, and sent in a few days later. At 
 this time everything seems to have been done by him 
 once more. He had had his last Bible-reading. He had 
 paid his last visit to Vichy. Before he left London he 
 paid another last visit. " I took a long drive," he says, 
 to Finchley, where my first wife lived. I saw the house
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] MEETINGS IN CUMBERLAND 411 
 
 which I once loved for its inmates. Then I visited the 
 churchyard, where my father and mother-in-law lie 
 buried. It brought back many strange feelings to my 
 mind." 
 
 He went down to Whitehall, and arranged for a con- 
 ference of thirty Scripture-readers at his house, and for 
 the five Bible-meetings that were to be held in the 
 neighbourhood during the following week. The usual 
 entertainments were given. When the Missionaries 
 left, he says, " I gave them all a new hat, a bundle of 
 tracts, a copy of Baxter's Saint's Rest and Cecil's 
 Remains, and bade them all Good-bye. Some of us 
 will never meet again." It proved indeed a long Good- 
 bye ! 
 
 He had a great deal of work to do. He was still full 
 of vitality. " I have no sooner," he says, " got out of 
 one class of work than I have to prepare for another." 
 On the 27th of July he got together at Wigton a con- 
 ference of deputations from all the Young Men's 
 Christian Associations in the North of England. Mr. 
 Moore took the chair, and occupied it from ten in the 
 morning until ten at night. The meeting was occupied 
 with discussions as to the extended usefulness of the 
 associations. Mr. Moore was much pleased with the 
 result. 
 
 Visitors came and went. Whitehall was full, fuller, 
 and fullest. Sporting friends came in August to shoot 
 the grouse on the Cumberland fells ; and in September 
 to shoot partridges in the Whitehall covers. In the 
 midst of his company, George Moore attended his 
 various meetings. On licensing day, he sat on the 
 bench at Wigton. He attended the Board of Guardians 
 and continued to take an active interest in the board- 
 ing-out system. He went to Carlisle to take the chair 
 at a public meeting in support of the workshops for 
 the blind.
 
 412 MR. SPURGEON AT WHITEHALL. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 Among the various visitors to Whitehall in August 
 were Mr. Moore's young partner Mr. Copestake, who, 
 with Mr. Tarn, had many a long -walk in pursuit of 
 grouse on Caldbeck fells. For the first time since 
 he had had possession of Whitehall his brother-in- 
 law, Charles Ray, had been prevented from paying 
 him a visit. To the last he had retained the warmest 
 affection for each member of that family, and he 
 alludes to the disappointment it was to him, that not 
 one of the Rays or Sievekings had been at Whitehall 
 that year. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Thompson came to him from his Leeds 
 branch, "a most faithful servant," he says, "who has 
 been with the firm for twenty-five years ; " Mr. Routledge 
 the publisher, one of Mr. Moore's staunchest friends ; 
 the Rev. Henry Chester, his brother-in-law, and family, 
 from South Shields ; the Rev. Canon Ryle ; and Mr. 
 Spurgeon, the famous baptist preacher, from London. 
 It was a singular mixture. Many of the visitors at 
 Whitehall were High Church, Low Church, Broad 
 Church, and sometimes No Church. "Ryle and 
 Spurgeon," says George Moore in his Diary, " got on 
 capitally. Indeed Spurgeon gets on well with every- 
 body. Henry Chester is quite in love with him ; they 
 have found out many things on which they agree. 
 There is nothing like getting men of different opinions 
 thrown together. Spurgeon is a remarkable man. 
 He has such a memory, such good humour, and such 
 spirits ', and he is a giant for work." 
 
 Mrs. Moore says " Mr. Spurgeon interested George 
 greatly. His wit and humour delighted him. One day, 
 seeing what influence he had on the farmers and people 
 about, Mr. Spurgeon said to me, ' You are a queen, for 
 your husband is king of Cumberland.' 'Oh! no,' said 
 I, ' he is not that ! ' ' No,' was his quick reply, ' he is 
 Mo(o)RE!'"
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] GEORGE MOORE'S LAST SPEECH. 413 
 
 On the 2nd of September three of the young men 
 from Bow Churchyard arrived, and spent the day at 
 Whitehall. " I took them," says Mr. Moore, " a long 
 drive by the fells and the mountains. We have had 
 fifty Cumberland men from Bow Churchyard this year, 
 and these were the last." Again, the last. 
 
 Towards the end of the month (2oth September) he 
 took the chair at the meeting of the Agricultural Show 
 at Wigton. He occupied the place against his will ; 
 but being there, he had to make his speech. It was a 
 sort of lamentation over the decay of the class to which 
 he originally belonged the statesmen and yeomen of 
 Cumberland. He said, " he had a very warm side to 
 his native county, and it grieved him not to see farmers 
 in greater force there. If for nothing else, they might 
 have come to support a poor feckless chairman like him- 
 self. He had been proud of the ' grey coats ' of Cum- 
 berland ; but where were they all gone ? In his parish 
 there were only two or three of the old yeomen left. 
 Railways, telegraphs, and other affairs were driving 
 things to such a pitch that we were all going wild, and 
 if people did not keep pace with the times they must 
 go. He supposed <Jiat the grey coats had not been 
 keeping pace with the times, and that they had been 
 obliged to sell their property. It gave him much con- 
 cern to see that farmers now are not In so good a posi- 
 tion as they once were. He hoped he had done his 
 duty as a chairman." It was the last occasion on which 
 he was to occupy the chair. 
 
 He went to London for a few days his last visit. 
 He was advancing salaries during the day, and inviting 
 old friends to dine with him at night. He went to 
 Christ's Church, Somers Town, to see how it was 
 getting on. He invited the secretaries of the benevolent 
 institutions in which he was interested, and the nume- 
 rous young men for whom he had obtained situations,
 
 4M GEORGE MOORE'S LAST PROJECT. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 to dine with him at Bow Churchyard. There were over 
 fifty in number on that occasion. 
 
 He visited the Christian Community Hall, which he 
 had helped to build. He saw many of the City Mis- 
 sionaries, and encouraged them in their work. He was 
 still paying the marriage fees of poor persons who were 
 living together without the necessary ceremony. The 
 City Missionaries found them out for him. The number 
 had of late years considerably decreased. During the 
 last year, only eighty-four couples had been married. 
 He wrote across the paper containing the names of the 
 married couples, with the receipt for his cheque, the 
 words, " I have paid for more marriages than any man 
 in England, and it is well-spent money." 
 
 Mr. Moore left London on the 3Oth of September, 
 and went home by Warcop, Kirkby Stephen, Holker, 
 and Barrow. He visited Whitehaven and Cockermouth, 
 and reached home on the /th of October, " right glad to 
 get back again ; Home, sweet Home!" 
 
 One of the last subjects that occupied Mr. Moore's 
 mind was his desire to organize some method by means 
 of which poor boys of Cumberland and Westmoreland 
 might enjoy the benefits of a higher class education. 
 The system of national sc'.iools, while it improves the 
 primary education of the whole mass by bringing all up 
 to a sort of level, actually represses the real genius of a 
 very clever boy. Under the old system, a learned 
 schoolmaster took pleasure in pushing a boy upwards. 
 To him the clever boy was a source of special delight 
 and interest. He taught him Greek, Latin, and Mathe- 
 matics at bye hours, which often elevated him to a high 
 rank at the grammar school or the university. 
 
 But now the certificated master has no time for special 
 nstruction. Hs is paid by results, and these depend 
 upon the standard education of the mass of his scholars. 
 George Moore saw this ; for he was constantly thinking
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] VISIT TO MUNCASTER CASTLE. 415 
 
 about education. He had, three or four years pre- 
 viously, wished to do something by himself. He had 
 asked many persons of high educational authority for 
 their suggestions. They all gave him good advice, and 
 took much trouble about his suggestions for a scheme. 
 
 It was, however, to Dr. Percival, head-master of 
 Clifton College, that Mr. Moore owed the working out 
 of a practicable plan. Dr. Percival's early life, his dis- 
 tinguished honours, and the high position he occupied 
 in the educational world, enabled him to ascertain the 
 weak places and the difficulties of the proposed scheme, 
 and how the money endowed might prove of the best 
 possible use. At length, after much time and pains 
 had been given, and many consultations and meetings 
 had been held, after Dr. Temple, Bishop of Exeter, 
 had been consulted and given his advice freely and 
 fully, the plan was at length determined on. It was 
 drawn up in a rough draft by the Education Depart- 
 ment and printed. All that was wanted was the final 
 settlement and George Moore's signature. Twelve 
 thousand pounds was the amount of money which he 
 had set apart for the purpose. And thus the matter 
 rested. 
 
 In the beginning of November, Mr. and Mrs. Moore 
 paid a visit to Muncaster Castle. When the invitation 
 was received, he said : " Yes, let us go : it will be our 
 last visit." The " nearness of eternity " was constantly 
 referred to in his diary. It was forming the under- 
 current of his thoughts. He was parting at this 
 time from his old friend and ne : ghbour, Mr. Foster, of 
 Kilhow, and he felt it much. Mr. Foster had, on 
 account of ill-health, been ordered to a warmer climate. 
 On the 2nd of November George Moore writes : 
 " I have seen Foster, the companion of my youth, for 
 the last time. I shall never see him again in this 
 world."
 
 416 MELANCHOLY FOREBODINGS. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 On returning from Muncaster Castle, he arranged 
 to pay a visit to Mr. Thompson, of Whitehaven. He 
 writes of him as "one of the men for whom all my life 
 I have had the greatest respect. I have often tried to 
 get him to come to see us at Whitehall, but have not 
 succeeded ; so I was determined to go and see him." 
 This was his last visit, and he now returned to Whitehall 
 for the last time. 
 
 On arriving at Whitehall he found, as usual, a num- 
 ber of letters requiring an answer. On the nth of 
 November he writes in his diary : " A long day of 
 letter-writing. Heaps of letters awaiting me as usual 
 a good many begging letters. At first these letters 
 rile me, but after a little thought, I feel it is God's 
 money I have to give away." 
 
 One evening Mrs. Moore was playing the Schlum- 
 merlied of Schumann. It was -one of George Moore's 
 favourites. He was sitting opposite the piano. Mrs. 
 Moore looked up, and saw an expression of intense 
 melancholy on his face. He was wrapped in thought, 
 and seemed to be looking far away. She stopped 
 playing, and spoke to him : " Come and sit in your 
 own chair. Is anything the matter?" He answered: 
 " I never felt so melancholy in my life." He afterwards 
 said, " An indescribable feeling came over me. I never 
 telt anything like it before. Perhaps it was your play- 
 ing. You must never play that song again." Was it 
 the shadow of the parting that had fallen on his heart, 
 unconsciously to them both ? 
 
 Mrs. Moore says that about this time he often spoke 
 of'this and that having been finished, done with, and 
 "ended." There seemed to be a tenderness and a 
 meaning about all that he did. One of his last letters 
 was to his sister-in-law, Mrs. S., who had lost her only 
 daughter under peculiarly sad circumstances. His last 
 words in the note are : " It is just when all seems dark
 
 CHAP, xxcv.] THE LAST SUNDAY. 417 
 
 and broken down that God's help is needed, and if you 
 
 pray for it you will be comforted We do not 
 
 meet as often as we used to do, dear A , but you 
 
 know my love is as strong as ever, and as one grows 
 older, one perhaps thinks most about early happy 
 days." 
 
 He sometimes spoke suddenly and unexpectedly to 
 people, asking them abruptly, " Are you ready to die ? " 
 At other times he would say, " There is really nothing 
 worth living for, but working to do good. He never 
 talked much about religion, nor of doctrines nor deno- 
 minations. In one of the entries in his diary he says, 
 " I always thank God that I am no sectarian. I belong 
 to all the Christian people in all the world. I" heartily 
 wish that they all belonged to one denomination the 
 universal Church of Christ." 
 
 "By their works ye shall know them." He never 
 forgot that. He thought that a man's life should tell 
 what he was. And yet, if any one had faith, he had. 
 He lived, as seeing One that is invisible. He writes 
 " I seem to have got rid of all the doubts which once 
 troubled me. I see, though it be in a glass darkly." 
 He had faith too, as a moral quality ; and this enabled 
 him to see all that was noble in others. He always 
 believed in the motives of others being good. He 
 never had anything but a kind word to say for the 
 absent. Of him, as of few, could it be said, " He 
 thinketh no evil." 
 
 On his last Sunday at Whitehall, he attended All- 
 hallows Church in the morning, when the Rev. H. 
 Harris preached. As he went down the garden, he 
 called the faithful Potter to him, and said, " Be sure 
 to look after the poor people when I am gone." Next 
 day a meeting was to be held at Carlisle about the 
 Nurses' Home. Mrs. Moore, being a member of the 
 committee, intended to be present. But Mr. Moore 
 
 E E
 
 4 i8 NURSES' HOME AT CARLISLE. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 at first declined to go, having an engagement at Aspa- 
 tria. Mrs. Goodwin, however, had again urged him to 
 be present. She sent him the first annual report. He 
 then saw that the object of the meeting was to consider 
 the question of having one or more nurses in connection 
 with the institution, set apart for helping the poor who 
 were without help. This settled him to alter his plans 
 for the day. 
 
 Early on Monday morning he said to his wife, " I 
 have been thinking about that Nurses' Home, and I 
 think I ought to go. I felt no interest about it so long 
 as I thought it was only to have nurses for the rich, but 
 now it is different." Mrs. Moore tried to dissuade him, 
 saying that "he was not expected to be there." But 
 he went down stairs, and sent away the groom to put off 
 the other engagement. At breakfast he said, "I must 
 go ; it will be the last time I shall be in Carlisle." 
 " Don't talk nonsense ! " said Mrs. Moore ; " what do you 
 mean ? " "I mean that I shall never be on a platform 
 there again." 
 
 The post came in. There was a letter from G. F. 
 Watts, R.A., to whom he had been sitting for his 
 portrait in London. He intended it to be his wife's 
 birthday present. He had sent the cheque for the 
 portrait before it was finished. Mr. Watts expressed 
 his surprise at being paid for the work before he had 
 had his final sittings. George Moore gave the note to 
 his wife. " There," said he, " you've got your birthday 
 present before the day ! " He proceeded to say, " I 
 want you to write to Percival, and ask him if he can 
 arrange for a meeting next week. I must have one 
 more reading of that scheme (the scheme for the higher 
 education of poor boys in Cumberland) ; then it will be 
 possible, and we can get it fairly launched." Yes, this 
 desire of his, which he had so often thought about, and 
 which had become stronger and stronger in his mind,
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] NOTES FOR HIS LAST SPEECH. 419 
 
 was to become possible, but not as he thought. It 
 was the offering which a multitude of mourners were to 
 lay upon his grave. 
 
 There was also a short letter which he had himself to 
 write. It was addressed to Mr. Hough, his private 
 secretary at Bow Churchyard. It was written on the 
 back of a doctor's certificate, certifying that a young 
 man was suffering from acute rheumatism, and " unable 
 to obtain the requisite amount of nourishment required." 
 Mr. Moore's note was very short : " Please call upon 
 Fursman, and give him a sovereign or two for me. Also 
 a bottle or two of wine from B. C. Y., if it will do him 
 good." 
 
 The aid, which was sent, proved most seasonable. 
 It helped to save the young man's life. 
 
 Mr. Maore remained in his library to prepare some 
 .brief notes of the speech which he intended to deliver 
 at the meeting of the Nurses' Institution at Carlisle 
 These are the notes : 
 
 Metropolitan National Nursing Association. 
 
 Dr. Siev eking is tJie Chairman of the Medical Sub-Committee. 
 Has the support and sympathy of the Medical profession. Mr. 
 Rathbone a great helper. 
 
 The Association does not work in connection with any particular 
 CJnirch or denomination. 
 
 We hive engaged Miss Lees, a friend of Miss Nightingale, who 
 was at Metz with ths Germans. 
 
 We are going to have three Homes Bloomsbury for centre. 
 
 The Report. To have a, trained nurse to attend exclusively to 
 the Poor at their own homes, FREE. 
 
 Make moderate charges for the middle classes, artisans getting 
 good wages, and small shopkeepers. Rich to pay 2 a week. 
 
 To receive patients into the Homes who wish to remain in Carlisle 
 under medical attendance. 
 
 It is well to be afflicted if we can believe it. 
 
 It is our duty to work as if all depended upon us, and to think 
 that all depends upon God. 
 
 I was sick and ye visited me, and inasmuch as ye did it unto 
 one of the least of these my brethren, so you did it unto me. 
 MATTHEW xxv. 
 
 There is a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we 
 will, 
 
 E E 2
 
 420 THE FATAL ACCIDENT. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 The carriage was now at the door. Before entering 
 it, Mr. Moore called to his wife descending the stairs, 
 " What is that passage in St. Matthew ? " " Do you 
 mean, ' I was sick and ye visited me ' ? " " No ! " he 
 said, "I remember: 'Well done thou good and faithful 
 servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' " These 
 were the last words that passed between husband and 
 wife in that happy home. 
 
 They drove off to the station, and reached Carlisle 
 about mid-day. George Moore had $o in his pocket, 
 probably to give as his contribution to the fund. The 
 meeting was to be held at two. About half-past one 
 Mrs. Moore and her sister went shopping, while Mr. 
 Moore with Mr. Steele, of the Carlisle Journal, pro- 
 ceeded down English Street. While standing opposite 
 the Grey Goat Inn, two runaway horses, which had 
 escaped from a livery stable in Lonsdale Street, came 
 galloping along at a furious pace. Mr. Steele had left 
 the causeway, and was upon the pavement when the 
 first of the two horses passed between Mr. Moore and 
 himself. The second, a few yards behind, was close 
 upon Mr. Moore. He made a step towards the channel 
 to get out of the way ; but it was too late. He was 
 struck by the hinder part of the horse, and knocked 
 down. He fell on his right side and struck the ground 
 heavily with his head and shoulder. 
 
 He was taken up insensible, and carried into the Grey 
 Goat Inn. It will be remembered that fifty-two years 
 before, George Moore had slept in the same house. He 
 was then a mere lad, on his way to London. He had 
 slept at the Grey Goat during the night, and started by 
 coach on the following morning. Many years had 
 passed. He had worked his way onward and upward. 
 He had returned to his native county, a prosperous, 
 large-hearted, benevolent man. He had now come to 
 Carlisle for the last time, and was taken into the very
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] MRS. MOORE'S ACCOUNT. 421 
 
 same place where he had slept before, and where he 
 was now to die. 
 
 It was ascertained that fourof his ribs were broken 
 one of them in such a manner as to have necessarily 
 injured the lungs. There was also a comminuted 
 fracture of the right collar-bone. He was severely 
 bruised about the head, and his system had necessarily 
 sustained a severe nervous shock. He experienced great 
 difficulty of breathing, and complained of severe pain 
 in the back. 
 
 In the meantime Mrs. Moore and her sister had 
 gone to the Town Hall, where they expected to find 
 him, and to attend the meeting of the Nurses' Institu- 
 tion. " I was struck," says Mrs. Moore, " with the 
 strange way in which people looked at us, and the kind 
 of awe there seemed to be on the crowd outside. Dr. 
 Barnes came up to me, looking very pale, and said, 
 ' Mrs. Moore, I want to speak to you.' I said, ' Is 
 anything wrong ? ' ' Mr. Moore has had a little 
 accident, and is asking for you.' I said, '.Oh, those 
 horses ! ' ' Yes,' he answered. He took us to the Grey 
 Goat Inn. It seemed that when George left us he went 
 to a music shop, and asked for a song for me. He 
 could not remember the name, but he whistled and 
 hummed the air till they recognised it. The song was, 
 ' The Harp is now Silent,' by Kiicken. Messrs. Scott, 
 of Carlisle, afterwards sent it to me, as showing me the 
 last thing George had done.' 
 
 " When I reached the inn there was great confusion. 
 They took me from room to room, and at first they 
 would not let me see him. There were present the 
 doctors, Mr. Page, Mr. Leckie, and Dr. Barnes, and 
 many other gentlemen, showing great concern and 
 alarm. Presently, Mr. Page came and said, ' Can you 
 be very quiet, and not excite him ? ' I don't know 
 what I said. I was not likely to excite him. I was
 
 422 MRS. MOORE'S ACCOUNT. [CHA?. xxiv. 
 
 turned to stone. Then I heard him calling very loudly, 
 ' Wife, wife, where's my wife ? ' When I was admitted 
 to the room, he kept on- saying, 'My wife would take 
 ma from these men if she would come.' He did not 
 recognise me at first. He knew my voice, and kept 
 saying, ' I hear her voice, why does she not come ? ' 
 Thank God ! a conscious look came into his eyes at last, 
 and then he knew that I was with him. 
 
 " I believe that from the first, the doctors knew there 
 was no hope. They did not say so to me. They only 
 said his ribs were broken. Nothing could have been 
 more devoted than the attention of Mr. Page and t>r- 
 Barnes ; but, as we knew him best, I proposed that Sir 
 William Gull should be sent for. I proposed it to him- 
 self also. He said, ' Not unless the doctors think it 
 very serious.' Sir William Gull was sent for, and so 
 was Mr. Copestake. Both arrived at four o'clock next 
 morning. By that time he had become colder. His 
 breathing was very laboured. I began to have no hope. 
 He could not speak much. It was cruel to ask him a 
 question. The doctors gave him ether constantly, and 
 Brand's essence of beef and brandy, but he could scarcely 
 swallow. They said, ' You had better ask him if he has 
 anything to say to you.' I did so, and he said ' Yes, a 
 great deal, but I must wait till I can breathe.' 
 
 " He had so often talked of death while in health, 
 and of wishing to be told he was dying, and that he 
 hoped I would say three texts to him ; l so I felt that I 
 must tell him. At first I said, ' George, darling ; we 
 have often talked about Heaven. Perhaps Jesus is 
 going to take you home. You are willing to go with 
 Him, are you not? He will take care of you.' He 
 looked wistfully in my face, and said, 'Yes! I fear no 
 evil. . . He will never leave me nor forsake me.' 
 Several times after, he said a word or two, expressive of 
 1 The texts were St. John iii. 16 ; Psalm 23 ; and St. John v. 24.
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] DEATH OF GEORGE MOORE. 423 
 
 the same trust. He was soon past much speech. But 
 he knew perfectly that he was dying, and his faith 
 failed not. 
 
 " Rest in the Lord ! although the sands 
 
 Of life are running low ; 
 Though clinging hearts and clasping hands 
 
 May not detain thee now ; 
 His hand is on thee Death's alarms 
 
 Can never work thee ill ; 
 Rest in His everlasting arms ; 
 
 Rest and he still." 
 
 " Sir William Gull was very kind. He sat with him 
 and me alone, from nine till nearly twelve o'clock. I 
 think he was quite conscious. He knew his sister, and 
 his old servants when they arrived, though he could not 
 speak much. By and by the terribly laboured breathing 
 grew quieter. He was fast nearing the end of earthly 
 life. 
 
 "Meantime, when it became known throughout 
 Carlisle that the accident was of an alarming nature, 
 the sympathy became very manifest. Crowds blocked 
 the square in front of the Grey Goat all night Police- 
 men were placed by the Mayor to keep them quiet, and 
 to prevent them coming under the window of the bed- 
 room where he lay. The people seemed stunned that 
 the one Cumberland man universally beloved, perhaps 
 more than any other, should be dying in that room, of 
 an accident received in the streets of Carlisle. 
 
 " The Grey Goat Inn was to have the sanctity, as it 
 were, of comprising two of the greatest events of his 
 life. He had slept there in 1825 ; and now, in 1876, he 
 was brought to die there. Neither of his homes was to 
 
 D 
 
 have the memory of his death. From the little dark 
 room, looking into the court of the small commercial 
 inn, George Moore's spirit passed away into the hands 
 of God who gave it. He died at twenty minutes to 
 two o'clock in the afternoon of the twenty-first of 
 November, just twenty-four hours after the accident."
 
 424 THE FUNERAL. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 The feeling in the City of London, during his death- 
 stroke, was intense. Telegrams conveyed hurriedly the 
 news of his condition. When the last telegram arrived 
 " George Moore is dead," strong men broke down and 
 wept. Bow bells were tolled on that November after- 
 noon from three till four, and spread the mournful news 
 far and wide. 
 
 An inquest was held on the body in the course of the 
 afternoon, when a verdict of " Accidental Death " was 
 returned. The fees of the jury were presented to the 
 Nurses' Training Institution. Mrs. Moore, accompanied 
 by her sister, Mrs. Chester, and the Rev. Henry Chester, 
 returned to Whitehall in the evening. The body shortly 
 followed, accompanied by Mr. Copestake and Mr. New- 
 bold. It was laid in the large oak-room, forming the 
 central floor of the old Border Tower, in which George 
 Moore had taken so much pride. 
 
 The funeral took place on the following Saturday. 
 Friends, known and unknown, attended unbidden from 
 all parts of the country. It was the last honour they 
 could pay him. The coffin was borne from the oak- 
 room to the courtyard. It was taken on twelve men's 
 shoulders and carried up the gravel walk leading to the 
 church of Allhallows. The crowd was something quite 
 unequalled. Rich and poor, old and young, thronged 
 the walks. The churchyard was quite full, so that 
 numbers could not enter the church at all. The wind 
 and rain were terrible, as if the very elements were 
 troubled. 
 
 The pall-bearers were the Archbishop of York, Sir 
 Wilfrid Lawson, Colonel Henderson, C.B., Mr. F. J. 
 Reed, Mr. S. Copestake, and Mr. S. P. Foster. On 
 reaching the churchyard, the body was received by the 
 Bishop of Carlisle, the Rev. Canon Reeve, and the Rev 
 H. H. Harris. The burial service within the church 
 was read by Canon Reeve, George Moore's old friend
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] FUNERAL SERMONS. 425 
 
 and pastor. That at the vault-side was conducted by 
 the Bishop of Carlisle, who also pronounced the 
 blessing. The assembled multitude then sang, " Safe 
 in the Arms of Jesus." The coffin was completely 
 hidden with wreaths of rare and beautiful flowers, 
 sent as loving memories. The body was afterwards 
 placed in the mortuary chapel, within the church of 
 Allhallows. 
 
 After the funeral, men whispered to each other about 
 the great loss they had sustained. Each felt as if he 
 had lost an individual friend, a man who could help 
 him in time of need as nobody else could. Yet they 
 were all different, in character, in education, in social 
 position. The Archbishop, the Bishop, the High 
 Sheriff, the Lord Lieutenant, the Squires, the clergy, 
 the farmers, the labourers, mourned alike over their 
 common friend. Each recognised something in him 
 different from others. His benevolence was naturally 
 the first point in his character that touched the crowd of 
 mourners. " How much has he done for Cumberland !" 
 said one. " No," said another, " it is not merely for 
 Cumberland : he was a national man and a national 
 worker." Another spoke of his originality, which broke 
 out in so many ways of generosity and liberality. Then 
 he was as humble as the humblest. And with this 
 manner of talk, the vast crowd of mourners separated, 
 and went to their respective homes. 
 
 Funeral sermons were preached on the following 
 Sunday; at Carlisle, at Wigton, at Allhallows, at 
 Bromfield, at Christ's Church, Somers Town, and 
 elsewhere. A few days after Mr. Moore's death, the 
 Bishop of Carlisle preached a sermon in connection 
 with the Mission Services in the Cathedral. He 
 could scarcely speak for tears. He said, " We have 
 lost one whom, according to human estimate, we 
 could least afford to lose : an earnest-hearted servant
 
 42^ FRENCH PRESS AND GEORGE MOORE. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 of the Lord Jesus, who devoted his clear head, his 
 mighty energies, and the princely wealth which, by 
 his own power and industry and God's blessing on 
 them he had earned, to the furtherance of godliness 
 and to the welfare of his brethren : a man standing 
 almost by himself at least I never saw any one like 
 him ; a man whom all will miss, from the very highest 
 to the very lowest : a man whose place it seems 
 almost impossible to fill: a man, I may add, con- 
 cerning whom it is the less necessary I should say 
 much, because all here knew him well. Yes, George 
 Moore has been taken from us ! He rests from his 
 labours, and his works do follow him; and he leaves 
 to us all the noblest and best of legacies the memory 
 of a holy life and the precious possession of a good 
 example." 
 
 The French Journals referred to the death of Mr. 
 Moore in terms of deep gratitude for the services 
 which he had given five years before, when Paris 
 was stripped of food. The Journal des Dttats said 
 " C'est avec un regret profond que nous enregistrons 
 la mort d'un homme dont les Parisiens reconnaissants 
 n'avaient point perdu le souvenir. Pendant plusieurs 
 semaines apres la levee du siege de Paris, M. G. 
 Moore ne cessa de presider, dans ses bureaux de 
 la rue de Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, aux distributions 
 de vivres faites a des milliers de pauvres gens affames. 
 Beaucoup d'entre eux ont dft la vie, tant a ses 
 genereuses donations qu'a sen zela devoue et a 1'habile 
 administration dont il fit preuve dans ces circonstances 
 penibles. Ce serait done de la part des Parisiens faire 
 acte d'ingratitude s'ils ne payaient pas un tribut de 
 regret a cet homme de bien." 
 
 Letters of condolence poured in upon Mrs. Moore. 
 They came from all parts of the kingdom ; as well as 
 from France and America. The institutions which he
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] BIBLE SOCIETY AND GEORGE MOORE. 427 
 
 had helped during his life, thirty-eight in number, sent 
 copies of the resolutions passed by their respective 
 boards and committees. The united secretaries of the 
 Commerc'al Travellers' Schools, the Home for Little 
 Boys, the Warehousemen's and Clerks' Schools, the 
 London City Mission, the British Home for Incurables, 
 the Field Lane Ragged School, the Cabmen's Mission > 
 the Reformatory and Refuge Union, the Deaf and 
 Dumb Asylum, the Female Mission to the Fallen, the 
 Pure Literature Society, and the Orphan Working 
 School, sent in their words of condolence. 
 
 The British and Foreign Bible Society warmly 
 acknowledged his merits. He had been an unfailing 
 supporter of that great institution. The letter of the 
 secretary said : " Earnest in purpose, frank and free in 
 the expression of opinion, firm and unshaken in the 
 maintenance of what he deemed essential principle, 
 prompt and vigorous in action, and deeply moved by 
 the conviction of his personal responsibility in the 
 appropriation of the resources God had entrusted to his 
 stewardship, he was foremost in every enterprise calcu- 
 lated to ameliorate the physical and spiritual wretched- 
 ness of his fellow-creatures ; never failing, however, to 
 place the British and Foreign Bible Society in the 
 front rank of those institutions to which he accorded 
 the largest measure of his sympathy and help. His 
 place in the wide field of enlightened philanthropy and 
 Christian effort will not be easily filled ; and in many 
 circles it will be felt that a power and an influence has 
 been withdrawn from the Church which to human view 
 could ill be spared in such a period as that through 
 which the world is now passing." 
 
 Public meetings were held in London and Carlisle for 
 the purpose of erecting a suitable memorial to the 
 memory of George Moore. At the meeting held in 
 London, his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
 428 PUTU 1C MEETING IN LONDON. [CHAP. XXTV. 
 
 occupied the chair. Bishop Claughton, Lord Hampton, 
 the Hon Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., Sir Sydney Waterlow, 
 M.P., Mr. S. Mo/ley, M.P., Sir A. Lusk, M.P., the 
 Rev. Dr. Stoughton, Colonel Stuart Wortley, Colonel 
 Henderson, Mr. Alderman McArthur, and many others 
 were present. The room was so crowded that the 
 meeting had to be removed to a larger hall. The Arch- 
 bishop feelingly referred to his intimate knowledge of 
 the life and character of Mr. Moore, and gave utterance 
 to the general feeling that it is well to commemorate 
 such excellences as those of which he was so illustrious 
 an exemplar. 
 
 Mr. Morley, in moving the second resolution inviting 
 subscriptions, observed that he looked with great doubt 
 on memorials. The greatest monument that could be 
 erected to George Moore was, that he maintained to the 
 last the simplicity of his character, and that any memo- 
 rial should be simple and genuine like himself. All 
 knew Mr. Moore to be a sincere, ardent, and liberal 
 supporter of the Church of England ; but his generosity 
 was not confined to that. All that he required was that 
 his money, as he often playfully said, should have " a 
 good return." 
 
 The public meeting at Carlisle was presided over by 
 Lord Muncaster, M.P., the Lord-Lieutenant of Cum- 
 berland. 
 
 At this meeting the question of the memorial was 
 discussed. Was it to be a statue, a monument, a tower, 
 a building, an institution ? No, it was to be none of 
 these. It will be remembered that George Moore had 
 completed a scheme for the purpose of helping the 
 poorer boys of Cumberland to a higher education. The 
 scheme had been arranged with the help of Dr. Percival, 
 and only wanted Mr. Moore's signature at the time of 
 his death. Twelve thousand pounds had been set aside 
 for the purpose of carrying it out It was one of the
 
 ciixr xxiv.] PUBLIC MEETING AT CART.ISLE. 429 
 
 last desires of his life to bridge over the gap between 
 the elementary schools and the higher class schools. 
 Death only prevented his carrying out his project. 
 And now was the opportunity for h:s friends to take up 
 his unfinished work, and carry it out to completion. 
 
 The Bishop of Carlisle clearly pointed out the neces- 
 r/ty for such a memorial. It should be something which 
 tended to help his poor brethren onward in the world 
 which George Moore had just left ; something that would 
 be entirely in accordance with George Moore's own 
 feelings of what should be done for the poor boys and 
 girls of Cumberland. " When we consider," he said, 
 "what Mr. Moore's intention was the last monument 
 which he himself, as it were, intended to erect as a 
 memorial to himself, and which he was only prevented 
 by death from erecting and when, as I shall show you, 
 the memorial has the express approbation of Mrs. Moore, 
 I think that really we need not argue the matter 
 any further." 
 
 And this was the form that the memorial assumed. 
 The subscriptions amounted to about ^"8,300. It was 
 to be appropriated as follows : Sixteen scholarships of 
 $ each, tenable for two years ; eight exhibitions, four 
 for $o, and four for 40 each, tenable for four years, 
 subject to various conditions. Such was the scheme 
 which Mr. Moore intended to be carried out, and such 
 was the scheme which the memorialists carried out, in 
 conformity with his intentions. It was the proper 
 crowning of the life and labours of a good man. 
 
 There were other memorials. A marble tablet, con- 
 taining his medallion likeness, was erected in Carlisle 
 Cathedral, " to perpetuate his name and example, and 
 as a tribute of love." The epitaph was composed by 
 the Bishop of Carlisle. The people of Silloth, in recol- 
 lection of his good works in the neighbourhood, placed 
 bells in the church, every ring of which reminded them
 
 430 THE "GEORGE MOORE" LIFEBOAT. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 of George Moore. The chimes were to peal. a hymn 
 which was one of his greatest favourites. At Wigton a 
 beautiful window was placed in the church in grateful 
 remembrance. He is there represented as the good 
 Samaritan ministering to the man who was wounded and 
 distressed. 
 
 The employes of the firm at Bow Churchyard also 
 presented their memorial. They subscribed upwards of 
 five hundred pounds. They first thought of erecting a 
 marble tablet in St. Paul's Cathedral, but they finally 
 determined that their memorial should be something 
 that George Moore himself would have admired. They 
 presented a lifeboat to the National Lifeboat Institution. 
 It was placed where it was likely to be of the greatest 
 use at Porthdinllaen, near Pwllheli, on the wild and 
 rocky coast of Carnarvonshire, North Wales. It is 
 named the " George Moore Memorial Lifeboat." 
 
 By a strange coincidence the first crew saved by 
 the " George Moore " lifeboat was that of the schooner 
 Velocity, bound from Silloth in Cumberland! It was 
 on Sunday evening, the 24th of March, 1878, in a 
 heavy gale and blinding snowstorm, that the crew of 
 the gallant little boat succeeded in saving all the lives 
 in the schooner, which was in great distress off 
 Porthdinllaen Bay. 
 
 The supporters of the Commercial Travellers' School 
 could not forget his services. About six weeks before 
 Mr. Moore's death, Mr. Hughes, his partner, had con- 
 sented to take the chair at the following anniversary 
 dinner of the institution. As it was found necessary to 
 enlarge the school -buildings, by adding above fifty beds, 
 and also an infirmary, laundry, and swimming-bath, 
 Mr. Hughes proceeded, with great vigour, to collect 
 subscriptions. As the institution had already proved 
 itself to be one of the most successfully managed 
 schools in the country, he was received by his friends
 
 CHAP, xxiv.] DR. BU1LER OF HARROW. 431 
 
 in the most generous manner. The result was, that 
 he was able to announce at the dinner the largest 
 subscription (1 7,000) that had ever been made for 
 an institution of the kind. The committee then de- 
 cided to call the new erections the " George Moore 
 Memorial Buildings." 
 
 The infirmary stands near the road from Pinner to 
 Stanmore. In its central gable stands a bust of Mr. 
 Moore, executed in Delia Robbia ware. It is of an oval 
 form, with blue background, and a surrounding of fruit 
 and flowers in colours. Beneath is a bas-relief, re- 
 presenting Mr. Moore seated, distributing prizes to the 
 children. 
 
 Dr. Montague Butler, Master of Harrow, was present 
 at the annual dinner. He was an old and faithful 
 friend of the schools. He had conducted many exami- 
 nations there. He said that " from his heart, as one 
 who resided near the schools, he could testify to the 
 great ends which they were calculated to promote. The 
 institution seemed now possessed of all the elements 
 of strength and prosperity. He would not dwell on 
 that topic, as he wished to say a few words of admira- 
 tion for the character of their late treasurer. George 
 Moore was not merely an active and enterprising 
 worker, but he was a rare man in other respects. He 
 had never met one so true in life's simplicity, or who 
 so well carried out the Christian principle of doing 
 good to his fellow-creatures. Often when in his pre- 
 sence, the eulogium of Burke on Howard had occurred 
 to him ; for he inherited the spirit of philanthropy in 
 almost an equal degree. Mr. Moore was one of those 
 self-made men of whom the English nation might well 
 be proud. He always acted with great self-denial and 
 with a gentleness and amiability towards those with 
 whom he came in contact which was particularly note- 
 worthy. Sometimes it happened that philanthropic
 
 432 THE HUMBLER MEMORIALISTS. [CHAP. xxiv. 
 
 men, busy with great schemes, were irritable in little 
 things. But George Moore was always found self- 
 sacrificing and amiable to the humble, as well as to the 
 great ; and his ability always to sympathise with others 
 made him more than ordinarily noble. He would thank 
 God for having known a man of his simplicity of 
 character, and yet of such a largeness of heart. As 
 the head-master of Harrow, he could not forget that 
 that institution owed its foundation to a humble yeo- 
 man, and it had now celebrated the 3OOth anniversary 
 of its birth. It would, no doubt, be the destiny of 
 their institution to survive through the ages, and count- 
 less thousands would look back with gratitude and 
 admiration to George Moore as its founder." 
 
 There were many other more humble memorialists, 
 men and women, who could give their tears but not 
 their money. Allhallows Church is not far from the 
 high road. It was easy to reach George Moore's tomb. 
 Many came from long distances to look at it, and to 
 think of the man that lay below. His good acts, great 
 and small, had left living influences in their hearts. 
 They could not see him any more, but they could lingei 
 where his body lay. 
 
 " Only the actions of the just 
 
 Siucll sweet and blossom iu the dust."
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE'S CHARACTER. 
 
 GEORGE MOORE'S character is best known by his life 
 and works. Everything that he did was part of himself. 
 
 His life was a succession of growths. At first he was 
 in no respect different from the other country boys at 
 Mealsgate and Bolton. The education he received at 
 the village school was of the slenderest kind. The first 
 thing he did, when he had the power, was to introduce 
 what has been called the " educational revival " of Cum- 
 berland. 
 
 His apprenticeship .at Wigton was a period of trouble 
 and sorrow, and yet it was full of trust and respon- 
 sibility. His knowledge of men increased, and with it 
 his knowledge of character. Afterwards, in passing 
 through Wigton, he would say, " This town reminds me 
 of the many careless, thoughtless days I spent here, all 
 for the world, for I never thought of God." 
 
 Wigton was too small for him. He went to London 
 to seek his fortune. He slept on that memorable night 
 at the Grey Coat Inn, where he afterwards died.. He 
 started next morning by coach. He was two days and 
 nights on the road. He little thought that in about 
 thirty-four years he should return to Carlisle in less than 
 eight hours, to buy the lands on which he had played 
 when a boy. 
 
 F F
 
 434 GEORGE MOORE'S CHARACTER. [CHAP. xxv. 
 
 A young man accompanied him on the coach. It was 
 one of the features of his character never to forget 
 those who had been his friends in youth, however poor 
 they might be. This young man got a situation in 
 London like himself. But he went down in the world, 
 and George, who had risen, helped him to raise himself 
 up again. We have a letter before us written about five 
 months before George Moore's death, in which this 
 companion of his youth says, " I am quite at a loss to 
 express my thanks to you for your kindness to me, not 
 only on the present but on previous occasions. You 
 have now placed me in a position that I trust, if I am 
 spared for a few years, to be able to keep for the 
 remainder of my life. " 
 
 We have already related the account of George 
 Moore's difficulties in obtaining a situation in London ; 
 his engagement at Flint, Ray, and Company, and the 
 resolution he early formed of marrying his master's 
 daughter. Perhaps this early resolution contributed to 
 save and raise him. He worked on with diligence, 
 application, and sobriety, in the meantime improving his 
 education by attending a night-school. He went from 
 one situation to another, always commending himself by 
 his vigour and energy, until at length he became a 
 partner, and actually married his master's daughter. 
 
 From this point all was clear before him. He built 
 up a business, which constantly widened and extended. 
 But a serious misfortune befell him. His partner became 
 seriously ill and died. Wealth, omnipotent in life, is 
 useless in death. So the dying man felt, and Mr. 
 Moore felt it too. Time had now new interests and 
 duties, and life new purposes and hopes. Shortly after 
 his wife died, after a long and lingering illness. He 
 had loved her, and grievously mourned her death. 
 
 These two events, coming so close together, opened 
 an entirely new phase in Mr. Moore's character. After
 
 CUAP. xxv.] GEORGE MOORE'S RESPONSIBILITY. 435 
 
 earnestly seeking, he at length found comfort. He had 
 thought little of religion before, but now it became the 
 mainspring of his life. He found that Christianity 
 required of him love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentle- 
 ness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and, above 
 all, charity. " Though I bestow all my goods to feed 
 the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and 
 have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." " Pure 
 religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, 
 To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and 
 to keep himself unspotted from the world." This formed 
 the key to George Moore's future life. 
 
 Sir Arthur Helps wisely says " After a certain age, 
 when the character is formed, there are only two things 
 which can greatly affect it, sorrow and responsibility. 
 If one could weigh the motive power that affects the 
 mind, it would be found that one ounce of responsibility 
 laid upon a man, has more effect in determining his 
 conduct, and even his character, than tons of good 
 advice, lay or clerical, or hundredweights even of good 
 example." George Moore had had sorrow enough, and 
 he now discovered his responsibility. 
 
 He looked to those of his own household. He 
 regarded the young people who served him as belonging 
 to his family. They had left their homes. Their 
 characters were in course of formation. He considered 
 it his duty to do for them that which their fathers 
 and mothers would have done. Hence the beginning of 
 the family prayers at Bow Churchyard, and the meetings, 
 lectures, and personal attention which he constantly 
 gave, to ensure the proper up-bringing of his young men 
 and women. 
 
 He next instituted a Benevolent Institution for the 
 Porters in his employment. In his memoranda we find 
 a reference to this work. " All true Christians," he 
 says, "whatever their denominational distinctions may 
 
 F F 2
 
 436 HIS HELP TO THE HELPLESS. [CHAP. xxv. 
 
 be, are bound to one another by ties of the most sacred 
 and enduring nature, and are conscious of a natural 
 interest in each other's welfare, which gladdens this 
 earthly life and renders the prospect of a life to come 
 more pleasing and blessed." 
 
 Then he went outside of his own household. He took 
 an active part in establishing schools for the orphans of 
 commercial travellers. He had been one of them 
 himself, and well knew their trials and temptations. 
 Lord Lytton said of him at one of the anniversary 
 dinners, that George Moore threw himself, heart and 
 soul, into services of that nature, with as much ardour as 
 if he were building up a fortune for his own children ! 
 
 He next went on to reformatories for released 
 prisoners and to refuges for fallen women. He became 
 connected with twelve different orphanages, of which he 
 was a liberal helper. He helped the ragged children of 
 the streets, the diseased, the blind, and the forgotten. 
 But above all, he helped on the work of Education. 
 " We must begin at the beginning," he said ; " every 
 boy and girl born into the world is entitled to a fair 
 start in life." Hence his great efforts to help on 
 Education in London, and more especially in Cumber- 
 land. This was long before the Education Act was passed. 
 
 His goodness became extensively known. One of the 
 first questions asked about any proposed charitable 
 scheme was this : " Has George Moore been spoken to 
 about it ? " His name was almost a passport to success. 
 If the scheme was such as to approve itself to his judg- 
 ment, he went into it with his wonted vigour and 
 determination. Whatever he believed in, he was full of. 
 and must pour out to all he met. His friends knew that, 
 meeting him, they would have a clear-cut impression of 
 what was on his mind at once before them. He 
 went direct to every matter he had in hand, business, 
 philanthropy, or education.
 
 CH-vr. xxv.] HIS SIMPLICITY AND DIRECTNESS. 437 
 
 The first elements in his character were simplicity and 
 directness. As in hunting, he " rode straight," so he 
 was in life. He was prompt, energetic, earnest, concise, 
 doing at once what he had to do. He never cavilled 
 about trifles. There was no shuffling about him no 
 humbug. The only thing he could not tolerate was the 
 drone. He held strong opinions on most things, and he 
 adhered to them firmly. He never did anything by 
 halves. He went into it body and soul, with the whole 
 of his nature. He went straight to the point. When he 
 had settled a thing, he left it as something done. When 
 two sides of a question were presented to him, he was 
 quick to decide ; and he was usually right in his 
 decision. 
 
 The successful merchant is not merely the man who is 
 most fertile in commercial combinations, but the man 
 who acts upon his judgment with the greatest prompti- 
 tude. Mr. Crampton, George Moore's partner, says, " I 
 never knew him make a mistake in judgment." 
 
 He was abrupt, spoke loudly, and sometimes so 
 rapidly that people who did not know him asked if he 
 was a foreigner. His physique was, to a certain extent, 
 the counterpart of his character. His keen brown eyes 
 had a dauntless look ; they were eager and penetrating. 
 A Cumberland old woman, in her curious dialect, said 
 that " His eye would fetch a duck off a pond." A 
 tender look would sometimes come into his eyes in 
 moments of feeling, which showed how sensitive his 
 heart was. His mouth was firm and powerful. The 
 form of his head, with its abundant hair, was refined, 
 though indicating much strength of will. 
 
 Towards the end of his life, the lines of his face 
 became very much softened down and refined, as may 
 be seen from the portrait prefixed to this volume. One, 
 who knew him early in life, said that he should not have 
 known him from his last photograph.
 
 438 HIS PHYSIQUE. [CHAP. xxv. 
 
 He was of sturdy Cumberland build, which had been 
 tried in his youth in many a famous "worsle." His 
 short, sudden manner, and his decided tone of voice 
 which never lost its grand Cumberland accent, gave one 
 the impression of a man of uncommon energy. His 
 whole aspect was expressive of the frankness and 
 strength of his character. It was impossible to be in 
 his company without the sense of being in the presence 
 of a remarkable man. 
 
 He was a man of power, and yet he used it bravely 
 and wisely. He was daring, yet prudent. His manner 
 was cheerful and frank, yet often very impressive. 
 Many who thought they knew him the best, yet knew 
 him the least. He exhibited great self-control, not only 
 over his habits, but over his feelings. 
 
 He never tried to attempt what other men could do as 
 well as himself ; but when a charity was in difficulties, 
 and seemed to be falling to the ground, he then stept in, 
 and raised it up again by his vigour and determination. 
 In this way he bore up the Field Lane Ragged Schools 
 and the National Orphan Home. " Never attempt what 
 is impossible to carry out," he said ; " but if you have 
 decided that it is possible, then never give up then death 
 or victory ! " 
 
 His individuality was quite unique. His manner, 
 speech, abrupt gestures, characterised only himself. 
 He sometimes asked strings of questions with a naive 
 simplicity. The sharp-pointed utterances indicated an 
 impatience to get at the object he had in view. His 
 power lay in direction and organisation. Then he had 
 a wonderful faculty in getting others to work for him 
 and with him. " He seemed to me," says one who 
 knew him, "to dwell but little on details, perhaps 
 losing flius some of the enjoyment of his work as well 
 as of its benefit to himself. He seemed to have always
 
 CHAP, xxv.] HIS INDIVIDUALITY. 439 
 
 something fresh before him, and to be ready very 
 quickly to turn the page." 
 
 The Hon. Charles Howard, M.P. for East Cumber- 
 land, says of him : " It always seemed to me that 
 Mr. Moore was the most thorough man I knew in all 
 that he undertook ; and whatever was the abject, 
 whether it was business, fox-hunting, canvassing at 
 elections, acts of charity, or services of devotion, his 
 heart was always in his work. He was never satisfied 
 until he had accomplished all that he had proposed to 
 do. I have no doubt that this quality of earnest per- 
 severance and shrewdness of character accounted for 
 George Moore's success in life ; but they would not 
 have gained for him the love and affection that all 
 felt for him, were it not for his warm heart and his 
 genial nature." 
 
 Some people misconceived him. They called him a 
 Fanatic ; others called him a Methodist. They said 
 he was running after other people's business, and not 
 minding his own. But he never neglected his business. 
 If he did not do it with his own hands, he had the gift 
 of insight into character, which enabled him to select 
 the men best fitted to do his work. 
 
 He was sometimes rebuffed when going about to 
 collect money for the charities he was interested in 
 though his persistence usually carried all before him. 
 Sometimes the money-getting merchant would look up 
 from his desk and growl, " What do you want ? " 
 "Well, my friend, I want 10 for the Field Lane 
 Ragged Schools." "Ragged Humbugs! Let people 
 work for themselves, and there would be no need for 
 ragged schools. I began without a penny " " Stop ! 
 let me go ; I have called upon the wrong man." And 
 away he went to some more charitable soul. 
 
 These rebuffs did not baffle him ; his enthusiasm was 
 too great for that. Difficulties did not daunt him. His
 
 440 NOT BAFFLED BY REBUFFS. [CHAP. xxv. 
 
 life had been a long conquest of difficulties. He was 
 one who never shrank from duty when it was difficult, 
 nor refused it because it was trivial. This was one 
 secret of his progress. " Do your best," he would say, 
 "do your best always; do your best in everything." 
 This was the lesson of his life. Besides, he was never 
 ashamed of being in earnest. Nor was his enthusiasm 
 confined to any pet project. It was large, and embraced 
 a thousand objects, yet they never clouded his common 
 sense. 
 
 The power of his name became more valuable than 
 the power of his money. The prudent were at once 
 convinced of the worth of that which he had taken in 
 hand. His name brought to his assistance the time, 
 labour, sympathy, and money of a crowd of friends and 
 helpers. Mr. Morley said of him : " In a city where 
 wealth was accumulating so fast, it is refreshing to see 
 a man who, not by giving only, but by hearty personal 
 service, recognised the responsibility which was thrown 
 upon him." The Bishop of Carlisle said, " His loss to 
 this diocese alone is simply unspeakable ; but it may be 
 hoped and believed that his memory will long be found 
 a tower of strength to the many good works which for 
 so many years had his countenance and support." And 
 Captain Bayly, of Trinity House, with whom he had 
 been associated in many good works, said of him : 
 " There are thousands who feel that life is sadder and 
 the world poorer, because he is no longer in :t. " 
 
 It was a marvel how he found time to attend to such 
 a multitude of interests. An extraordinary capacity 
 for business, as well as an exact attention to punctuality, 
 with an aptitude for grasping the leading principle, and 
 a wonderful memory, enabled him to do an amount of 
 work with cheerfulness and composure, which would 
 have overwhelmed many a more gifted but less per- 
 severing man. " I think his memory," says Mrs. Moore,
 
 CHAP, xxv.] PROMPTITUDE AND ENTHUSIASM. 441 
 
 "was quite unusual. He never seemed to forget the 
 smallest thing that he said he would do. Yet he kept 
 no regular memoranda. Very few things were written 
 in his pocket-book. But instead of this, he would write 
 a word on the back of an envelope, anyhow, sometimes 
 upside down, curiously, irregularly ; and the envelope 
 would be used for days, until it was a complete network 
 of black strokes and hieroglyphics. I really never knew 
 him forget anything, or any engagement." 
 
 Having so many people under him, he had often 
 occasion to find fault. Unpunctuality, loss of time, 
 negligence, laziness, galled him exceedingly. Hence 
 his reproof was firm and strong. But when any one 
 got into trouble he was always ready with an excuse. 
 " Give him another chance, he will do better next time." 
 " Nay, nay," he would say, " never turn your back upon 
 a friend, however far he may fall down, for then you 
 lose all chance of doing him good : stick to him, and 
 then perhaps you may be able to make him better at 
 some time." When dealing with others he would say, 
 "Never seek to mak nought into summat." He was 
 absolutely fair. His fault-finding never left a sting. 
 He was not carried away by feelings or prejudices, by 
 likes or by dislikes. 
 
 He was a man of great promptitude and coolness in 
 emergencies One night he heard a hansflm cab driving 
 up to his door in Kensington Palace Gardens. He 
 had been dreaming that Bow Churchyard was on fire, 
 as it really was. Before the hansom stopped he had 
 got on his boots, and in two minutes he was in the 
 cab. Before starting, he asked the butler for a cigar, 
 and drove off as cool as if he had been going to break- 
 fast, though such tremendous risks were at stake, as the 
 premises could not at that time be adequately insured. 
 
 He was also a man of enthusiasm. " I recall," says 
 one who knew him, "his excitement of interest in the
 
 44* HIS LOVE OF GOD'S WORD. [CHAP, xxv, 
 
 relief of Paris after th? siege. ' I think I should have 
 died,' he said, ' if I had not been the first man into 
 Paris.' The whole story of his visit at that time filled 
 up one of the most interesting evenings I have spent 
 with him ; and it added, I think, though he was so 
 much the worse for it, a permanent enjoyment to his 
 life. When in Paris, he said the gist psalm contained 
 his ' marching orders.' " 
 
 It requires a good deal of moral courage, in these 
 days of doubt and unrest, to avow boldly what one 
 thinks, more especially as regards religious matters. 
 The divorce of mind and speech, between thinking and 
 saying, is very prevalent in modern society. It is con- 
 sidered the " hall-mark " of modern civilisation. Yet 
 George Moore was never at fault in this respect. 
 When such subjects were introduced, he spoke out 
 clearly and distinctly. He unhesitatingly avowed his 
 religious faith, whether in society, business, or amuse- 
 ment. To some it might seem inconsistent. But be 
 that as it may, it was in him to tell out, in due season, 
 his sense of dependence on God's Word ; and whether 
 agreeing with him or not, men liked, as they always 
 do, to meet one so true to his convictions, and so 
 unfettered in his avowals. 
 
 "The foremost feature in George Moore's character, 1 * 
 says one of his intimate friends, " was the admirable 
 simplicity of his faith in God's Word. There was no 
 ostentation or prejudice about him. He was a bright 
 example of a brave, uncompromising religious man. 
 He had a firm grip of the Truth as it is in Jesus ; and 
 he commended by his catholic consistency the cause of 
 the Gospel, which he so dearly loved, to all those with 
 whom he came in contact. The guiding principle of his 
 life obviously was to occupy the talents committed to 
 him, as one who would hereafter have to give an account 
 of his stewardship,"
 
 CHAP, xxv.] PROPER USE OF MONEY. 443 
 
 " There was much," says another, " in George Moore's 
 progress through life, to foster arrogance or even vain- 
 gloriousness. I like, therefore, to recall his remarks to 
 me one morning in London, on some meetings where 
 Christian Perfection was the topic. He said he could not 
 get hold of it at all, as the speakers did ; but he added, 
 that he was going to take lodgings in their neighbour- 
 hood for a week, and humbly trusted that he might 
 learn something of what they knew." 
 
 Mr. Moore valued money at its proper price. "The 
 parsons," he once said to a meeting of children at 
 Wigton, " will tell you a good deal about money. They 
 will tell you that it is the root of all evil. But my 
 opinion is that it is a good thing to make plenty of 
 money, provided you make a proper use of it." This is 
 what he himself did. During some years, he gave away 
 more than he made. In other years he gave away 
 more than he had spent upon himself. During the last 
 three years of his life he gave away an average of six- 
 teen thousand pounds a year ; and, at his death, he left 
 a large sum to various orphanages and hospitals. 
 
 He entered in his diary that he did not wish to die a 
 rich man. "The money," he said, "belongs to God; 
 let me give it back to Him." He made a fortune, he 
 gave away a fortune, and he left a fortune. As he used 
 to say, " Whatever I give in good works, it all comes 
 back again." "There are many in these days," says 
 Mr. Rathbone, M.P. for Liverpool, "who have achieved 
 making a great fortune, but few know how greatly to 
 spend one. Mr. Moore ever spent liberally, and, what is 
 far more valuable, he gave with sympathy and conscien- 
 tiousness, not to do harm, but assured that he should 
 do real good, while gratifying his own warm feelings 
 and ardent generosity." 
 
 " There was one thing," says the Rev. Mr. Schnibben, 
 vicar of Wigton, "with which I was especially struck in
 
 444 UNSPOILED BY PROSPERITY. [CHAP. xxv. 
 
 his character, and that was his utter forgetfulness of 
 self in the arrangements which he was continually mak- 
 ing for the good of others. It always seemed to be a 
 great source of happiness to himself when he had an 
 opportunity of making others happy. He never grudged 
 any trouble or inconvenience in seeking to advance the 
 welfare of others. Rich and poor were alike welcome 
 at Whitehall. The house seemed to be open to all 
 comers, and all went away happy and contented. He 
 was very large-hearted in his sympathies ; and his 
 thoughtful character and business habits manifested 
 themselves in the bestowal of his princely charities." 
 
 George Moore was utterly unspoiled by prosperity. 
 He refused many honours which others would have 
 clutched at. He was elected Sheriff of London, and 
 paid the fine rather than accept the office. He twice 
 refused to be alderman for his ward. He six times 
 refused to be member of Parliament. All these might 
 have led to titles. Once he says in his Diary, " I am 
 sadly cast down by hearing that an injudicious friend 
 has applied to get me made a Baronet. I have stopt 
 the application." 
 
 One of the Royal Princes specially invited him to 
 attend a levee, but he did not go. He would never con- 
 sider himself anything but a statesman's son. " You 
 may think yourself," he said to a friend, " belonging to 
 the Upper Ten ; but I do not." Perhaps he was, like 
 Diogenes, too proud of his humility. At all events he 
 was quite content to be known as GEORGE MOORE. 
 " The people in Cumberland," he said one day to a 
 friend with evident pleasure, " always call me George 
 Moore." " Yes," said the other, " except that they 
 often leave out the Moore." 
 
 Nothing pleased him better than to go into a widow's 
 cottage, sit down in her chair, "sup curds," or partake 
 of her haver-bread and milk. When alone at Whitehall,
 
 CHAP, xxv.] HIS LOVE OF NATURE. 445 
 
 he cared for nothing so much as cock-broth, potato- 
 pot, herb-pudding, or some other old-fashioned Cumber- 
 land fare things which bon vivants would have turned 
 up their noses at. Of course, when visitors or strangers 
 were present, the best of everything that could be pro- 
 cured was bestowed upon them lavishly. He altogether 
 disliked display, either in his house, his dress, or the 
 dress of his servants. The latter never wore cockades, 
 even while he was High Sheriff of Cumberland. That 
 office was one, indeed, that he could not refuse ; perhaps 
 because it gave him more influence among the people, 
 and enabled him better to carry out his views with 
 respect to the boarding-out of pauper children. 
 
 He was a lover of nature, but he specially loved the 
 hills, and fells, and dales of his dear Cumberland. 
 While sitting in his London office, he would often dream 
 w of them, and wish he was back to them again, and to 
 the haunts of his early boyhood. When he summoned 
 his friends about him at Whitehall, he would take them 
 up to the top of his old Border tower to survey the 
 wide-spreading prospect. He took them to Harbybrow 
 to visit the old Warriors' tower. Or he would drive 
 them to Caldbeck Fells, or over the Derwent to Bassen- 
 thwaite lake, where he would -tell them the local tradi- 
 tions of the places, learnt in his boyhood, and remem- 
 bered ever afterwards. Nothing was without interest 
 for him among the scenes of his youth. 
 
 He liked having young people about him. He 
 said they had always a softening influence upon him. 
 The little children used to cluster round him at the 
 Whitehall feasts. He knew them one by one. He 
 not only knew them, but he helped to educate them. 
 He did all that he could to give them a fair start of 
 the world. 
 
 He was fond of flowers, especially wild flowers. He 
 introduced cottage gardens in his neighbourhood, and
 
 446 UNOSTENTATIOUS KINDNESS. [CHAP. xxv. 
 
 tried to induce the cottagers to grow the old-fashioned 
 flowers. The sweetwilliam, southernwood, mint, and 
 lavender, were his favourites. His prizes for flowers 
 were among the great events of the summer days at 
 Whitehall. He did a great deal in the way of quiet 
 unostentatious kindnesses. Wordsworth says that these 
 are the best portions of a good man's life 
 
 " His little nameless, unremembered acts 
 Of kindness and of love." 
 
 The Archbishop of York said of him : " George 
 Moore was benevolence at every pore." He also added, 
 " He never said an ill word of anybody. When any- 
 thing severe was said of his opponents, he was always 
 ready to find an excuse for them." Another friend, the 
 Rev. Mr. Puxley, of Kimbolton Vicarage, says, " What 
 struck me, not once or twice, but invariably, in my 
 intercourse with him, was his settled purpose never to 
 speak ill of any one. I knew instance upon instance 
 where his kindness had been met with ingratitude, and 
 where he had been unjustly maligned ; and when others 
 were sneering at and abusing those who had done him 
 injustice, he refused to join in the conversation or en- 
 courage those who were .blaming his opponents, even 
 though he had just cause for indignation. This struck 
 me over and over again. I used to ponder over it, and 
 wished that I could imitate him " 
 
 George Moore used sometimes to speak about his 
 position in the Church. At a meeting of the Clerical 
 Education Conference at Carlisle in August, 1874, the 
 Bishop said that " if a man was a Churchman, he did 
 not understand how he could help being a High Church- 
 man. If a man called himself a Churchman, and then 
 qualified it by saying he was Low, it was to take away 
 the benefit/' George Moore immediately got up and 
 said that he himself was a Low Churchman, 'some
 
 CHAP, xxv.] SYMPATHY TTTE "GRANDEST WORD." 447 
 
 people called him a horrid Low Churchman, and a 
 very weak brother in the Church. But his faith was 
 much wider than his creed. In fact he sympathised 
 with, all who loved Christ, and preached Christ. 
 
 On one occasion, when a lady of distinguished family 
 had left the English Church and gone over to the 
 Roman Catholics, some of her friends complained, in 
 Mr. Moore's hearing, of the great pain she had caused 
 them by the course she had taken. " Yes," said he ; 
 " but you speak as if all the pain belonged to you. Do 
 you ever think of the agony which it must have caused 
 her to leave the Church in which she was born ? I 
 have often thought what pain that poor woman must 
 have suffered before she could have brought herself to 
 take the step. Don't you ever think of that ? " There 
 was certainly great insight into character and great 
 human sympathy in these words of George Moore's. 
 
 " Sympathy," he used to say, " is the grandest word in 
 the world." It overcomes evil, and strengthens good. It 
 disarms resistance, melts the hardest heart, and draws 
 out the better part of human nature. Sympathy is the 
 old truth on which Christianity is based : " Love one 
 another." It contains within it a gospel sufficient to 
 renovate the world. Judge Talfourd lamented the want 
 of sympathy with his dying breath. " If I were to be 
 asked," said he, "what is the great want of English 
 society, so as to mingle class with class, I would say, 
 in one word, the want is the want of sympathy." Hence 
 sympathy was George Moore's grandest word. He 
 showed it in everything, in his kindness to his servants, 
 to his young men, to orphans, to the poor and the 
 destitute. Frankel has said with truth, that the truest 
 sympathy with suffering is often found in the man who 
 does not himself suffer. 
 
 He was always ready to help a poor friend. A little 
 help given when a man is on his beam-ends, and thinks
 
 44 HIS INFLUENCE ON CHARACTER. [CHAP. XXV. 
 
 the world is utterly neglecting him, is the best help of 
 all. It lifts him up again, and gives him a renewed 
 belief in the worth of human nature. It often sets him 
 on the right track again. But George Moore was not 
 satisfied with that. He invited the friend he had helped 
 to h:s house, gave him the best advice, and watched 
 over his well-being nd well-doing. Thus while he 
 helped others, he was adding to his own happiness. 
 For kindness may be regarded as a moral savings' 
 bank, in which a man may store up happiness for 
 others as well as for himself. In the words written 
 in his pocket-book : 
 
 " What I spent I had, 
 What I saved I lost, 
 What I gave I have." 
 
 He felt that what he gave he had, for it was turned into 
 the treasure of affection which was given back to him 
 from many hearts. 
 
 Remark, also, how this conduct on his part affected the 
 characters of others. " The influence of his character," 
 says one whoknew him well, "has had a lasting effect upon 
 mine. But this is a mere drop in the ocean compared with 
 the blessing his life has been to his day and generation. 
 I have called my eldest child after him. I have hung his 
 portrait over my study mantelpiece, and also over my 
 dining-room. How much more shall we all value his 
 memory !" Another says, " On the occasions when I was 
 brought face to face with him, his common sense, his 
 ability, his unpretendingness, and his practical godliness, 
 made a great impression upon me; so that I thought 
 that I had never met with such a Man as that before. " 
 
 Another friend of Mr. Moore's, Mr. Bowker, said, 
 " His honesty of purpose and singular transparency of 
 mind were striking features in a character combined of 
 no ordinary materials. And this was the charm of his
 
 CHAP, xxv.] HIS INFLUENCE OF CHARACTER. 449 
 
 life causing him to be respected and beloved by all 
 manner of people, from the highest ranks to the most 
 humble. Men and women of intellect and culture, of 
 rank and station, as well as those of less-known walks of 
 life, all thought and spoke well of him, all respected him. 
 How many will miss his liberal help, his generous assist- 
 ance, in all the forms of helplessness and misery ! We 
 may bless God that his life was so effective, and so 
 permanently useful." 
 
 The United Teachers' Association of Wigton laid 
 their memorial upon his tomb. They said, " A gap 
 .has been made in the ranks of Christian heroism ; and 
 who shall fill it up ? What a proud claim to admiration 
 to know, that he turned aside from the splendid attrac- 
 tions of civic and parliamentary honours which were 
 pressed upon him, and chose rather to devote himself to 
 works of charity and benevolence in a less brilliant 
 sphere ! And how clearly do we trace in every action of 
 his life the grand outlines of his estimable character 
 his singleness of mind, his largeness of heart, and his 
 all-embracing charity. In his deeds of kindness he 
 knew no creed nor caste. Above all, however, we as 
 teachers proudly call to mind his fervent zeal, unflagging 
 energy, and untiring labours in the cause of education. 
 He deemed no trouble too great, and no expense too 
 much, to spend in the high endeavour that sound learning 
 and true religion might abound and flourish. And now 
 that his career of usefulness is ended, and his kindly 
 voice is hushed for ever, we, who are working in the 
 cause he loved so well, desire to be permitted to record 
 our humble tribute of respect and veneration to the 
 memory of departed worth the noble philanthropist, 
 George Moore ! " 
 
 Though still strong and healthy in his seventieth year, 
 he seemed to have many forewarnings of death. He 
 saw the end drawing nearer and nearer. The fore- 
 
 G G
 
 450 WORKS UNACCOMPLISHED. [CHAP. xxv. 
 
 shadowings which Mrs. Moore relates, are very remark- 
 able. " I shall never stand on that platform again," he 
 said, when starting on that fateful journey to Carlisle. 
 He advanced step by step to the verge of the unknown 
 land with awe and wonder, but with supremest hope. 
 And then the fatal blow came. But he was not unpre- 
 pared. He was thoughtful and calm in the full face of 
 death. He had committed the safe-keeping of his life 
 to his Redeemer ; and he knew that God would take 
 him to Himself. 
 
 George Moore died before his intended works of 
 benevolence were completed. He had many things in 
 his mind that he meant to accomplish. One of these 
 was to benefit the clever boys in the Northern elemen- 
 tary schools, and help them on to higher class schools in 
 England ; and the other was to erect a Convalescent 
 Hospital at Littlehampton. The first of these has been 
 accomplished by the memorial subscription of his friends- 
 Is there no rich London merchant to take up the other 
 and carry it out to completion ? 
 
 Indeed, George Moore, like everybody else, could 
 only make beginnings. Where he left off, others begin. 
 We can finish nothing in this life ; but we may make 
 a beginning, and bequeath a noble example. Thus 
 Character is the true antiseptic of society. The good 
 deed leaves an indelible stamp. It lives on and on ; 
 and while the frame moulders and disappears, the 
 great worker lives for ever in the memory of his race. 
 " Death," says the Philosopher, " is a co-mingling of 
 Eternity with Time. In the death of a good man, 
 Eternity is seen looking through Time." 
 
 Theodore Monod said that he would like the epitaph 
 on his tombstone to be " Here endeth tJie First Lesson ! " 
 Brief but happy ! But the epitaph on George Moore's 
 tombstone could not be dismiseed so briefly. It was 
 erected in Carlisle Cathedral by the Moore Education
 
 CHAP, xxv.] GEORGE MOORE'S EPITAPH. 451 
 
 Trust, established by public subscription, " to perpetuate 
 his name and example, as a tribute of Love." George 
 Moore is thus described : 
 
 "A MAN OF RARE STRENGTH AND SIMPLICITY OF CHARACTER. 
 OF ACTIVE BENEVOLENCE AND WIDE INFLUENCE. 
 
 A YEOMAN'S SON, 
 
 HE WAS NOT BORN TO WEALTH, 
 
 BUT BY ABILITY AND INDUSTRY HE GAINED IT, 
 
 AND HE EVER USED IT 
 
 AS A STEWARD OF GOD AND A DISCIPLE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 
 FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF ALL GOOD WORKS."
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 " IT is not easy," says the Rev. Daniel Moore, " to single 
 out, from the group of George Moore's many-sided excellences, 
 that which especially made him a power among men. But a 
 power he unquestionably was, and all felt it. A great work taken 
 in hand, with George Moore at the head of it, was an assured 
 and achieved success. In the presence of his sharp and incisive 
 words of confidence, men of fearful and misgiving hearts could 
 speak only with ' bated breath ; ' and, as fast as they cropped 
 up, the difficulties were laid low by the strong arm of his 
 energetic will. Who shall say to what extent at the root of this 
 success, of firm self-reliance on his part, and of strong con- 
 fidence on the part of those who were to work with him was 
 the knowledge that, whatever our dear friend undertook, he 
 undertook for the Divine glory ; and, what was more, that he 
 always took the All-wise into counsels, by secret prayer, before 
 he ventured on a single step. 
 
 " Of course, there were present the human elements of 
 success also. A wide and varied experience of men and things, 
 a keen and discriminative insight into human character, a 
 watchful and cautious heed-taking to the prevailing tendencies 
 of the age, like the men of Issachar ' who had understanding 
 of the times ' and withal a fertility of resource and expedient 
 equal to any new emergency : these are qualities often honoured 
 of God to the success of an undertaking, even though there 
 should be wanting, in its authors, those higher religious con- 
 siderations which, in all important projects, ever actuated our 
 dear friend.
 
 APPENDIX. 453 
 
 " With regard to the forftis of good works to which Mr. Moore 
 gave a uniform preference, if I were to describe them by one ex- 
 pression, I should say that they were those which put within 
 the reach of fortune's less favoured children the means of self - 
 elevation. He had no faith in the inevitable permanence, in 
 any of God's creatures, of a low and dust-trodden condition. 
 The reptile state was not a normal state of Humanity, and if 
 man, woman, or child had the misfortune to be born in such a 
 condition, he would have them lift themselves out of it as soon 
 as they could. Hence the heartiness with which he threw 
 himself into the Ragged School movement, Mothers' meetings, 
 Lectures for Working Men, meetings of Cabmen at his own 
 house, with any other exceptional scheme that might be 
 suggested for benefiting those whom our older and more 
 established agencies for ameliorating the condition of the 
 humbler classes, had either overlooked or at least failed to 
 reach. With the late Charles Kingsley, he felt that there was 
 no human ' mud ' which was not worth caring for, or which 
 would not abundantly repay the pains and cost of husbandry 
 for noble uses. Enough for all of us, who hold his memory in 
 honour, to know, that to few more than to our lamented 
 friend, could those words of the patriarch be applied ' When 
 the ear heard me, then it blessed me : and when the eye saw 
 me, it gave witness to me : because I delivered the poor that 
 cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him : 
 the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, 
 and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ABBATT, Richard, 143 
 
 Abbott, Dr. 277 
 
 Academy, Royal, 407 
 
 Accident in hunting, 269; cured, 293 
 
 Accuracy, 61, 122, 273 
 
 Action against a rival, 83 
 
 Adams-Acton, Sculptor, 233 
 
 Adrian's Wall, 141, note 
 
 Albert, Prince, and Commercial Travellers' 
 
 Schools, 116, 120 
 Alderman, Moore elected, 135 
 Allcrofi, Mr.. Christ's Hospital, 360 
 Allhallows' Schojl, 140, 148 ; Chuich, 147 
 Allpress, R. N. 382 
 America, trip to, 96 102 
 Annandale, 3 
 
 Andre, M. 313, 314, 317, 361 
 Archaeological S ciety, 226 
 Armstrongs, Border, 5, 6 
 Arthur's Italy, 241 
 Atheism and Science, 276 
 
 BALI.VKELLY Schools, a,|o 
 
 Baltimore, U.S. 99 
 
 Barnes, Dr. Carlisle, 421 
 
 Barrin' t'maister oot, 23 
 
 Banquets, Fishmongers' Company, ago, 
 
 Bassenthwaite Water, a 
 
 Bay ley, Mrs. 202 ; Captain, 440 
 
 Beacons in Cumberland, 4 
 
 Bees, St. 171 ; students helped at, 381, 
 
 382 
 
 Begging Expeditions. 116, 194, 506 
 Benevolent Institutions, Cumberland Be. 
 
 nevjient, 109 ; Porters' Benevolent, 167, 
 
 Bevan, R. C. L. 218 
 
 Bewcastle Churchyard, 10 
 
 Bible Society, British and Foreign, 226, 
 
 4^5. 427 
 Bible, love of the, 276 ; meetings at 
 
 home, 216. 403 
 Birth, the new, 174 
 Bishop of T.nrr'on's Fund, 280 
 Blackbird Wilson n 
 
 Blake, Rev. Jex, 297 
 
 Blane, Mr., New York, 97 
 
 Blennerhasset School, 31 
 
 Boarding out pauper children, 340 ; papers 
 
 thereon, 341 3*3- 3^5 
 Boggle at Bolton Hall, 38 
 Bold riding, 94 
 Bolton Hall haunted, 39 
 Bolton Schools, 21, 135. 137 
 Bonar, Dr. Way of Peace, 395 
 Border Towers, 4. 221 
 Border service of Statesmen, 8, 9 
 Book-keering, uses of. f,6. 122 
 Books circulated by G. Moore, 241, 395 
 Book-hawking in Cuinbeiland, 225 
 Boston, America, 101 
 Bothel, Moores of, 15 
 Bothel School, 141, 146 
 Baurke, H. at Paris, 321 
 Bowker, Mr. 163, 172, 216, 370, 448 
 Bow Churchyard, 76 ; Chnstmases at, 83 ; 
 
 enlarged, 91 ; family worship at, 176, 
 
 213; classes and lectures at, 241, 381; 
 
 partners' mid-day d.nners at, 3 17, 348 ; 
 
 applications at, 348 ; rewards to servants 
 
 at, 406 
 
 British Home for Incurables, 193 
 British Orphan Asylum. 198 
 Brixton Hill Reformatory, 161 
 Breaks, Miss Agnes, Warcop, 233 
 Breeks, James Wilkinson, news of tLo 
 
 death of, 338 
 Brock, Dr. 2:3, 216, 250 
 Brodie, Sir B. 183 
 Bromfield School, 141 
 Brougham, Lord, 188, 227, 256 
 Brown, Felix, and G. Moore, 79, 265 
 Brown, Rev. Stowell, 213 
 Brown, Samuel, 143 
 Burton, Rev. Chancellor, 339 
 Butler, Dr., Harrow, 236, 431 
 Bworder Coupers, n 
 
 CABMEN'S Mission, 353: supper, 354; 
 
 shelter, 357 
 
 Cambridge, Duke of, 241. 305307 
 Cambridge, students helped at, 382 
 Cambridge, G. Moore's visits to, 349 
 Canada, G. Moore in, 99
 
 INDEX. 
 
 455 
 
 Canning's speech on Corn Bill, 66 
 
 Canterbury Villas, Maida Hill, 91 
 
 Canvassing West Cumberland, 159 
 
 Canterbury, Archbishop of, 285, 428 
 
 Carlisle, Karl of, 131, 197 
 
 Carlisle, ace. dent at, 420 ; memorial meet- 
 ing at, 428 ; marble tablet at cathedral, 
 429. 4S 1 
 
 Carlisle, Bishops of, Percy, 429 ; Villiers, 
 146, 181, 186, 230; Waldegrav, 2561 
 296 ; Dr. Goodwin, 429 ; Reminiscences, 
 425 
 
 Carlisle, Dr. Close, Dean of, 226 
 
 Carlisle Infirmary, 362 note, 405 
 
 Cartick, Cumberland artist, 184, note 
 
 Cartmel, Morecambe Bay, 85 
 
 Cattle-dealer, adventure with, 39 41, 59 
 
 Cattle-stealing, 6, 10, 59 
 
 Chaises in Cumberland, 18 
 
 Chaplains at Bow Churchyard, 177, 213, 
 381 
 
 Character, insight into, 43, 154 ; summary 
 of, 433 451 ; Georsre Moore's, 453, 454 
 
 Charltons of Whitehall, 222 
 
 Chelsea, wrestling at, 46 
 
 Chester, Rev. H. 335, 412, 424 
 
 Chiffoniers of Paris, 325, 331 
 
 Christmases, George Moore's in London, 
 83 ; presents, 393, 396 ; in Cumberland, 
 39.7 . 
 
 Christian Community, 274, 286 
 
 Christ's Church, Somers Town, 282, 359, 
 372, note, 413 
 
 Christ's Hospital, 301 ; Dr. Jacob's ser- 
 mon, 302 ; George Moore almoner, 304 ; 
 opposes Duke of Cambridge, 305 ; the 
 fight, 306 ; endowments to the hospital, 
 308, 405 
 
 Church of Ireland, position of, 288 
 
 City-bred boys, 63 
 
 City disease, 92 
 
 City Missionaries, 163, 217, 262, 276. 393, 
 396 
 
 City of London, G. Moore asked to repre- 
 sent, 241 
 
 City of London School, 277 
 
 Clerical Education A.d Society, 409 
 
 Clergymen in Cumberland, 179 182, 230 
 
 Clergymen, letters from, 382, 390 
 
 Close, Dr. Dean of Carlisle, 226 
 
 Cockbridge Inn, 126 
 
 Cockermuuth, 159, 340 
 
 Cohen, Rev. Mr. 161 
 
 Commons, House of, G. 1 Moore's visit to, 
 66 ; refusals to enter, 156, 190, 241, 288, 
 
 35 1 
 
 Colporteurs in Cumberland, 224 
 
 Commercial Travellers, 61, 76, 91, 112 
 
 Commercial Travellers' Schools, 109 ; 
 founding of, 112 ; raising funds for, 114, 
 116, 118; Prince Albert opens the 
 schools, 120; visitors to, 200. 235; 
 Moore's scholarship, 236, 308 ; jubilee 
 of, 308 ; memorial at, 430, 431 
 
 Commune at Paris, 326 329 
 
 Competitive examinations in Cumberland, 
 140, 148, 149, 224, 296 
 
 Convalescent Hospital:'., at Sillcth, 339, 
 362 ; at Lit^lehampton, 405, 450 
 
 Conycr, Col. Master of Foxhounds, 94 
 
 Cope, Mr. R.A., his picture of "The 
 Council," 407 
 
 Copestake, Mr. 76, 83, 84, 87, 196, 240, 
 260 ; his death, 401 
 
 Copestake, Mr. S. 236, note, 383, 349, 412, 
 443 
 
 Corkram, Mr. cabman, 353, note ; 354 
 
 Correctness in accounts, 61, 273 
 
 Cottage dwellings, improvement of, 267,274 
 
 Cottage gardens, 267 
 
 Country boys' Lfe, 43 ; country-bred boys,6a 
 
 County Towns Mission in Cumberland, 180, 
 226, 262, 395, 396 
 
 Crampton, Mr. recollections of Moore, 65, 
 79, 437 
 
 Criftel, 3 
 
 Cropper, Mr. J. of Ellergreen, his opinion 
 of Mr Moore, 343 
 
 Cross, Fiery, 8, note 
 
 Cuffley, R. J. , and Commercial Travellers' 
 Schools, 113 
 
 Cumberland, High Sheriff of, 333 
 
 Cumberland, Benevolent Society, 109 
 
 Cumberland, beacons, 4 ; clannishness, 
 54, 65 ; G. Moore's early visits to, 126, 
 130 ; representation of, 156, 159 ; mis- 
 sionaries established in, 180; Arcadians 
 of, 265 
 
 Cunliffe, James, banker, 161 
 
 DAKIN, Alderman, 210, 311 
 Dales, foxhunting in the. 28 
 Dales, chapels and churches in the, 228 
 Dalusavi, landscape painter, 234 
 Dame's schools, 136, 137, note 
 Daniels, the, of Mealsgate, 30 
 Darboy, Archbishop of Paris, 316, 327 
 Davidson, Mr. Louis, his account or his 
 
 services in the conveyance of food to 
 
 Paris, 322, note 
 Debateable land, 6 
 
 Death, foreshadowings of, 410, 416; of 
 
 old friends, 400 ; of George Moore, 423 
 
 Denison, Archdeacon, his recollections of 
 
 a conversation with George Moore, 275 
 Destitution, spiritual, of London, 280, 281 
 Deville on phrenological development, 93 
 Devonshire, Duke of, 364, 365 
 Diary, G. Moore's, 218 220, 241, 294 ; at 
 
 Vichy, 409 
 Dickens, Charles, and G. Moore, 117, 197, 
 
 200, 274, 
 
 Diocesan Education Society, 158 
 Diocesan Home Missi >n, 216, 282 
 Dissenting ministers at Whitehall, 260 
 Distribution of fool in Paris, 310 et seg. 
 Dixon, P. J. Workingtou, 181 
 Douglas, Rev. M. 209 
 Dublin, Moore's arrival in, 73, 289 
 Duty, G. Moore's ideas of, 378 
 
 EAGLE Insurance Co. 201 
 
 Education in Cumberland, 21, 134, 296, 
 
 414, 418 
 
 Education, religious, 277 435 et seq. 
 Elliots, border, 5 
 Ellen, river, 2 
 Empress of the French, 256; Mr. Moore's 
 
 interview with the, 344 
 Endowed Schools' Commission, 306, 360
 
 456 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 English, the, and fox-hunting, 103 
 Epitaph, George Moore's, 432, 451 
 Erich^en, Mr. 361, 408 
 Examinations. See Competitive 
 Essex M.irshes, population in the, 206 
 Evil speaking, 466 
 
 FAMILY Worship at Bow Churchyard, 176, 
 
 193, 213 
 
 Farming, G. Moore and, 300 
 Farningham, Little Boys' Home at, 244 
 Farrar, Dr. 236 
 Ferguson, Mr., M.P. 112 
 Fetes of Perambulating Library, 144 
 Fiery Cross, 8 
 
 Field Lane. See Ragged Schools 
 Fisher, Strotid, and Robinson, 61 
 Fisher, Woodhall, 181 ; Dunkeld, 345 
 Fishmongers' Company, Prime Warden of, 
 
 288 ; hunt dinner, 374 
 Fitzhardinge's fox-hounds, 105 
 Fleming, Rev. Mr., lectures at Bow 
 
 Churchyard. 347 
 Flint, Ray, and Co. 51 
 Food relief of Paris, 310 
 Foster, J. P. 105, 143, 237, 259, 415 
 F >x-h rands, Cumberland, 26, 130, 227, 268 
 Freebooters in Cumberland, 5-10 
 Free-trader, G. Moore a, 156 
 French, Empress of the, 256, 344 
 Funeral of Mrs. Moore (li. Ray), 185 
 Funeral of George Moore, 424 ; funeral 
 
 sermons, 425 
 
 GAMBLING at Wigton, 35 
 
 Garibaldi in London, 243 
 
 Geering, coachman, 261, 270, 335 
 
 George Moore Lifeb at, 430 
 
 Germans besieging Paris, 310 ; their plun- 
 der, 324 
 
 Gilsland, meeting at, 341 
 
 Girls, elevation of English, 267 
 
 Gladstone, Rt. Hon. W. E. 290 
 
 Globe, extract from article in the, giving 
 account of Partners' mid-day dinners at 
 Bow Churchyard, 347, 348 
 
 Gordon, Rev. W. 188, 361 
 
 Goschen, Mr. M.P. 242, 340 
 
 Graemes, Debateable Land, 5 
 
 Graham, Sir J. 8, 14, 128 
 
 Grant, Sir Hope, 307, 354 ; death of, 401 
 
 Graves, John Woodstock, his account of 
 the composition of the ballad of "D'ye 
 ken John Peel," 26, note 
 
 Great Western Steamship, 96, 97 
 
 Green, Capt. , at Paris, 321 
 
 Grey Coats of Cumberland, n, 413 
 
 Grey Goat Inn, Carlisle, 42, 420, 423, 433 
 
 Grey, Workington, 181 
 
 Groucock, G. Moore's competition with, 
 71-75 ; death of, 172 ; bequest of, 181 
 
 Groucock, Copestake, and Moore, 75 
 
 Guest, Dr. , Master of Caius College, Cam- 
 bridge, visited by Mr. Moore, 349 
 
 Guichiardini, Count, 188 
 
 Gull, Sir W. 408, 422 
 
 Gunson, Rev. W. M., account of Bolton 
 School, 22; Plumbland School, 139; 
 Allhallows School, 140 ; on students at 
 Cambridge, 383 
 
 Gurney, Russell, M. P., Recorder of Lon. 
 
 don, 304, 307, 357 
 Guthrie, Dr., on amusements, 103 
 
 HAIR-TRUNK and its adventures, 19, 33, 
 
 42, 52 
 
 Hale, Alderman (Lord Mayor), 257 
 Half Moon Inn, Wigton, 34 
 Hammond, Rev. R. H. 280, note 
 Hanbury, Robert, M.P. 164, 218; and 
 
 Lit;Ie Boys' Home, 244 
 Hanging at Carlisle, 35 
 " Hang Theology," 278 
 Harbybrow Peel Tower, 4, 25, 72, 221, 223 
 Harvest customs, Cumberland, 29 
 Hasell, J. Dalemain, 339 
 Heathendom of London, 246, 281 
 Henderson, Col. 227, 307, 356 
 Herbert, Dr. Allan, at Pans, 316, 318, 321 
 Heritage, John, Missionary, 180 
 Hetherington's Charity for the Blind, 308 
 High Sheriff of Cumbrrland, 333 
 Highwood Nook, Moores of, 15 
 Hill, John, at Whitehall, 264 
 Hitchcock, St. Paul's Churchyard, 173 
 Hodgson, Canon, 256 
 Hodgson, Nicolson, M.P. 407 
 Home Missions, 180, 182, 213 ; diocesan, 
 
 216 ; county, 225, 405 
 Homes for working people, 2^7, 274 
 Hospitals, Royal, fur Incurables, 166, 
 
 191 ; Royal Free, 193, 194, 405 ; British, 
 
 for Incurables, 193 ; Convalescent, for 
 
 Silloth, 339, 362 ; Convalescent, foi 
 
 Littlehampton, 339, 405 
 Hot-trod, pursuit in, 7 
 Howard, the Hon. Charles, M. P. for East 
 
 Cumberland, his opinion of Mr. Moore, 
 
 439 
 
 Howard, Mr., Greystoke Castle, 105, 181, 
 227 ; death of, 400 
 
 Howard, Stafford, M.P. 407 
 
 Howard, Monseigneur, 189 
 
 Hughes, Mr. James, 237, 430 
 
 Hunting, John Peel, 28 ; Dalesmen's, 28; 
 Sir W. Lawrence recommends, 92 ; G. 
 Moore's firsthunt, 94; cont'tiues. 102-107; 
 pleasures of . 103-106; hunts in Cumber- 
 land, 130. 227 ; fears the pleasures of, 
 269 ; the Last Hunt, 271 
 
 Hutton, bone-setter, 293 
 
 IMMORALITY in Cumberland. 265 
 
 Incurables, Royal Hospital for, 166, 191 
 
 Incurables, British Home for, 193 
 
 Individual responsibility, 122, 123, 438 
 
 Infirmary at Carlisle, gift to, 405 
 
 Influence of character, 438 
 
 Inspection of Cumberland schools, 135, 136 
 
 Inspiration, a non-believer in, 276 
 
 Insurance, Benefits of Life, 108 
 
 Ireby, 143, 144 
 
 Ireland, G. Moore in, 71, 73, 84 
 
 Ireland, Church of, 288 
 
 Irish kings, descendant of, 372, nott 
 
 Itinerating libraries, 142 
 
 Italy, tours in, 188, 233 
 
 JACK, George Moore's dog, 376 
 Jackson, Rev. J. O. 172
 
 INDEX. 
 
 457 
 
 Jacob, Dr. . sermon on Christ's Hospital, 
 
 301 
 
 Jeddart justice. 6 
 Jelhcoe, Mr., Eagle office, 201 
 Jenkinson, C. T. 163 
 Jex-Blake at Wigton, 297 
 Jones, Jenkin, 201 
 Jowett, Rev Mr. 280 
 Jump, the great, in Gloucestershire, 105 
 
 KENSINGTON Palace Gardens, 160, 182, 
 
 280, 283 ; cabmen's dinner at, 354 
 Kilhow, 144 
 
 Kirkland, Moores of, 15 
 Knowles, architect, 185 
 Kurn supper, 30 
 
 LABOURERS' cottages, improval of, 267, 274 
 
 Lampson, Sir Curtis, 364 
 
 Lawrence, Sir W. 92, 104 
 
 Lawson, Sir Wilfrid, 128 ; Moore hunts 
 
 with, 131, 227 ; on mild despotism, 257 ; 
 
 rhymes of, 355, 375 ; speech on short- 
 horns, 363 
 Leaf, Mr., and Warehousemen's and Clerks' 
 
 Schools, 200 
 Lectures at Bow Churchyard, 213, 241, 
 
 38i 
 
 Levees, George Moore and, 444 
 Liberals and il-Liberals, 288 
 Library, perambulating, 142 
 Library at Bow Churchyard, 241 ; in Bow 
 
 Lane for porters, 242 
 Life-boat, the George Moore, 430 
 Life Insurance, 108 
 Little Boys' Home, 244 
 Littlehamptcn, Mr. Moore establishes a 
 
 convalescent hospital at, 405, 450 
 Liverpool and Manchester round, 68, 78 
 Livingstone, Dr. his burial, 357 
 London, G. Moore's arrival in, 46 
 London, Bishop of, 207, 278, 280 
 London at midnight, 246 
 London Clerical Education Aid Society, 
 
 409 
 
 London School Board, 308 
 London, temporal and spiritual destitution 
 
 of, 281 
 
 London, G. Moore asked to represent, 203 
 Londonderry, Fishmongers' estates at, 290 
 Londoners over the Border, 206 
 Longman, William, 236, 409, 410 
 Lonsdale, Earl of, 8, 105, 106 
 Lush, Sir R. at Carlisle, 334, 371 
 Lord Mayor visits Cumberland, 127 
 
 M'CHEVNK'S Memoir and Remains, 
 
 241. 244, 395 . 
 
 Mallet, M. Paris, 317, 321, 322, 329, 361 
 Manning, Cardinal, 325, 327 
 Mansion House Fund, 311, 328 
 Marriage, G. Moore's, go; second, 233 
 Marriage fees paid by G. Moore, 163, 414 
 Marshall Mr. L. at Pans, 321 
 Marshall, W., M.P. 127, 157 
 Marsh, Miss, 213 
 Martin, Rev. Mr. 216 
 Martin. John, 306 
 Marylebone, representation of, aoa 
 Masterman, J., M.P. 1x3 
 
 Mealsgate, Cumberland, i, 16, 133, 180 
 Mellor, Sir John, at Carlisle, 334 
 Memorials. fountain at Wigton, 185 ; at 
 
 London, 427; at Carlisle, 428; at Wigton, 
 
 430; George Moore lifeboat, 430; at 
 
 Pinner, 431 
 Memory, 440 
 Merchants' and Travellers' Association, 
 
 109 
 Merchant, qualities of successful, 153, 437, 
 
 44' 
 
 Messenger, Wigton, 32 
 Methodist chapels cleared of debt, 261 
 Middle-class school, London, 277 
 Middiesex, G. Moore asked to represent, 
 
 35 
 
 Mission, cabmen's, 353, 354, 357 
 
 Missionaries, City, 163, 182, 213 
 
 Missionaries in Cumberland, 180, 225, 262, 
 369 
 
 Missionary Society, 405 
 
 Moffat, Rev. Dr. 347, 371 
 
 Moggridge (Old Humphrey). 173 
 
 Moncrieff, Rev. G. T. 149, 256 
 
 Money-order Office, Mr. Moore and, 407 
 
 Money, proper uses of, 443 
 
 Montreal, 100 
 
 Moody and Sankey, 403 
 
 Moore, burial-place of the Moores, 2 ; of 
 Overgate, i, 15; of Mealsgate, 15; of 
 Bothel, 18 ; John (George's father), 15, 
 19, 20, 32, 33 ; Thomas (George's 
 brother), 32, 127, 263 ; \\Mliam, 64 
 
 Moore, George, birth of, i, 17 ; christen- 
 ing, 18 ; death of his mother, 19 ; his 
 father, ib.\ school-days, 21; wrestling, 
 23 ; the school-boy game of Scots atid 
 English, 24; bird -nesting, ib. ; marbles, 
 25; walk to Carlisle, ib,; hunts with 
 John Peel, 26: harvest-holidays, 29; 
 determines to leave home, 31 ; appren- 
 ticeship at Wigton, 32 ; cr sslng the 
 Solway Sands, 40, 41 ; determines to go 
 to London, 42 ; journey to London, 45; 
 arrives in London, 46 ; wrestles at 
 CheUea, 46-49 ; obtains a situation at 
 Flint, Ray, and Co., 51 ; resolves to 
 marry his master's daughter, 55 ; a sad 
 mistake in arithmetic, 56 ; engaged by 
 Fisher and Co., 58 ; commercial travel- 
 ler, 61 ; partner and traveller, 75 ; his 
 marnage, 90 ; hunting, 94, 102107 ; tr.p 
 to America, 96-102 ; Cumberland Bene- 
 volent Society, 109 ; Commerc.al Tra- 
 vellers' Schools, 112 ; his advice to boys 
 leaving school, 121 ; visits to Cumber- 
 land, 124, 134; encourages education in 
 Cumberland, 135 ; perambulating lib- 
 rary, 142; Politics, 153; pricked 
 Sheriff of London, 154 ; Brixton Refor- 
 matory, 161 ; marriage fees paid, 163 ; 
 Reformatory and Refuge Unit n, 164; 
 R.oyal Hospital for Incurables, 166; 
 Porters' Benevolent Institution, 167 ; re- 
 ligious life, 170; establishes family 
 prayer at Bow Churchyard, 176 ; mis- 
 sionaries established in Cumberland, 179; 
 Mrs. Moore's illness and death, 183; 
 buys Whitehall estate, 184 ; tour in 
 Italy, 188 ; invited to stand for Not-
 
 458 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 tingham, igo; British Home for In- 
 curable?:, 191 ; Royal Free Hospital, 
 io,s ; Warehousemen's and Clerks' 
 Schools, 199; invited to stand for City 
 of London, 203 ; obtains situations for 
 young men, 203 ; Londoners over the 
 Border, 206; National Orphan Home, 
 214; theatre-preaching, 217: Whitehall, 
 Cumberland, 221 ; establishes book- 
 hawking in Cumberland, 224 ; mide jus- 
 tice of the peace. Cumberland, 226; 
 sends help to ths clergy, 229 ; his lone- 
 liness, 231 ; marries Miss Agnes Breeks, 
 233 ; founds a scholarship, 236 : illness. 
 239; his favourite books, 241; invited 
 to represent the City, ib. ; supports the 
 Little Boys' Home, 244 : treasurer of 
 Field Lane Ragged Schools, 248: life in 
 Cumberland, 253; immorality in Cum- 
 berland, 265 ; accident in hunting, 269 ; 
 his last hunt, 271 ; his accuracy in ac- 
 counts, 273 : voyage to Antwerp, 274 ; 
 distributes the Bible, 276 ; middle-class 
 schools, 277 ; erects Christ's Church, 
 Somers Town, 282; supports dissenting 
 movements, 285; the Christian commu- 
 nity, 286 : appo.nted J.P. for Middlesex, 
 287 ; requested to represent Mid-Surrey, 
 288 ; Prime Warden of Fishmongers' 
 Company. 288 ; rights of fishmongers, 
 288; the banquets, 290, 291; George 
 Moore's shoulder put in, 293 ; address 
 to schoolmasters, 298 ; his farming, 300 ; 
 Christ's Hospital, 301 ; refuses to be- 
 come a member of the London School 
 Board, 308 ; endows Commercial Tra- 
 vellers' Schools with scholarship, 309; 
 relief of Paris, 310; presented with the 
 Legion of Honour, 326; High Sheriff of 
 Cumberland, 333 ; Convalescent Hospi- 
 tal, Silloth, 339; boarding-out pauper 
 children, 340; papers thereon, 341, 365 ; 
 declines to represent Middlesex, 350 ; 
 wreck of the NorthJJeet, 353 ; supper to 
 cabmen, 354; Dr. Livingstone, 357: 
 S mers Town Church, 359 ; visits the 
 sick poor, 360 ; visits to Vichy, 361 ; sells 
 his sh rthorns.363; assists Miss Rye, 365; 
 boarding-out pauper children, 365; life 
 at Whitehall, 369; ideas of duty, 378; 
 sympathy, 379, 385 ; mercifulness, ib. \ 
 invitations to Wh tehall, 388 ; helps poor 
 clergy, 390; his almoners, 393; helps 
 missionaries, 395 ; Christmases, 396 ; 
 deaths of old friends, 399; Convalescent 
 Hospital, 405 ; rewards his old servants, 
 406 ; appointed to examine money-order 
 system, 407; )u*t visit to Vichy, 409; 
 help to Clerical Education Aid Society, 
 409 ; organises a method for ra sing poor 
 tK.ys to the highest educational advan- 
 tages, 414 ; v.sit to Muncas er Cattle, 
 415 ; foreshad >wings of death, 416 : the 
 Nurse's Home last visit t.j Carlisle, 
 420; the fatal accident, 420: George 
 Moore's death, 423 ; the funeral, 424 ; 
 funeral sermons, 425 ; memorials, 427 ; 
 his character, 413 451 
 Moore, Mrs. (Kl.za Ray) 55, 64, 77, 99, 
 183 ; her' death and mern jrial, 184, 185 
 
 Moore, Mrs. (Agnes Breeks), 233, 839, 
 245, 270, 274; Christ's Church, Simers 
 Tiwn, 283; at Paris, 327; on George 
 Moore's death, 421 
 
 Moore, Rev. Daniel, 173 ; his reminis- 
 cences of George Moore, 452 
 
 Moore, Joseph, 163 
 
 Morecambe Bay, crossing, 85 
 
 Morley, Samuel, M.P. 191, 200, 218, 356, 
 408. 428, 440 
 
 Morse, Rev. F. , Nottingham, 241, 371 
 
 Mosstroopers, Cumberland, 48 
 
 Muller Orphan Asylum, 244 
 
 Muncaster, Lord. 335, 337; castle of; 415 : 
 presides at public meeting for memorial 
 to Mr. Moore, 428 
 
 NAPOLEON of Watling Street, 69 
 National Mercantile Assurance Co., 108, 
 
 201 
 
 National Orphan Home, 214 
 
 Naworth Castle, 132 
 
 Newbold, butler, 389, 396, 424 
 
 New Years, opening of, 404 
 
 New York, 9699 
 
 Niagara. 100 
 
 Nice, 188 
 
 Norcott, Mr., his testimony to Mr. Moore's 
 work at Paris, 324 
 
 Norfolk, the Duke of, 405 
 
 Northjleet, wreck of, 352 
 
 Northe~n Assize, Carlisle, 334 
 
 Nottingham, branch at, 102 ; representa- 
 tion of, 156, 190 
 
 Nurses' meeting at Carlisle, 418 
 
 O'BRIEN, Rev. Mr. 359 
 
 Oliphant, Mr., at Pans, 317, 321 
 
 Open-air preaching, 217 
 
 Orphans Commercial Travellers* Schools 
 
 (see Commercial); British Asylum, 198; 
 
 Warehousemen's and Clerks' Scii ,- Is, 
 
 199; National Orphan H me, 214; 
 
 Little Boys' Home, 244; Haversack 
 
 Hill Orphan Asylum, 274 
 Organ presented ts Wigt >n Church, 186 
 Osborne, Mr. (partner), 401 
 Outcasts of Lond ,n, 246 
 Overgates, Moores of , i, 3, 15 
 
 PAGE, Mr. Carlisle. 421 
 
 Panic of 1831. 78 
 
 Paris, the Kible in, 276; relief of, 310 
 326; Archbishop of, 316, 325. 327: 
 second siege of, 328 
 
 Parliament, G. Moore invited to enter, 
 155, 156, 190. 202. 241, 288, 350 
 
 Partners' mid-dav dinner, the. an institu- 
 tion at Bcw Churchyard, 347 ; miscel- 
 laneous company which sometimes 
 attended the, 347, 348 
 
 Pattinson, Mary, 20 
 
 Pauper children, boarding-out of , 341 343 
 
 Pedler Thommy's school, 30 
 
 Peel, John, a famous Cumberland hunts- 
 man, account if, 26 28. note 
 
 Peel towers, Cumberland, 5, 27 
 
 Perambulating library, 142 
 
 Peek, James, 166, 192 
 
 Percival, Dr. 257 ; on immorality in Cum-
 
 INDEX. 
 
 459 
 
 bcrUnd, 265 ; on education of poor boys, 
 
 4 T S- 428 
 
 Percy, Bishop, Carlisle, 429 
 Peterborough, Bishop of, 347 
 Philadelphia, U.S. 98 
 Phrenology, 93 
 Physique of G. Moore, 437 
 Picnics at Whitehall, 259 
 Plumbland school, 139 
 Politics of G. Moore, 156, 202, 288, 350 
 Porter, Richard, 399 
 Porters' Benevolent Institution, 167, 199, 
 
 Porters' visit to Whitehall, 264 
 
 Portraits of G. Moore, 184, 236, 418, 429 
 
 Potter, George, 268, 417 
 
 Prisons of London, Moore visits, 161 
 
 Promptitude, 62, 372, 442 
 
 Prussians in Paris, 310 
 
 Public houses kept down, 301 
 
 Punch, extract from a poem which ap- 
 peared in, on the death of Sir Hope 
 Grant, 401, note 
 
 Punshon, Dr., and G. Moore, 285 
 
 Pure Literature Society, 225 
 
 Puxley, Rev. Mr., on G. Moore, 446 
 
 Puzzle Hall, 229 
 
 UEBEC, IOO 
 uickness, 62, 63, 237 
 
 RAGGED Schools, Field Lane, 248, 396 
 
 Railway Clearing-house, 384 
 
 Rathbone, Mr., M.P. for Liverpool, his 
 
 opinion of George Moore, 443 
 Ratten Heath, meeting at, q 
 Ray, Mr. (Flint, Ray and Co.), 51, 57, 65, 
 
 90 
 
 Ray, Eliza. See Mrs. Moore 
 Ray, the Rev. Mr., 172 
 Raynham, Lord, 191 
 Redgattntlet, 221 
 Reed, Dr. Andrew, 166, 192, note 
 Reeve, Rev. Mr. 220, 233, 424 
 Reformatory, Brixton Hill, 161 
 Reformatory and Refuge Union, 164 
 Relief of Paris, 310 
 Religious life, G. Moore's, 170 ; opinions, 
 
 434, 442, 446 
 Religious education, 277 
 Reminiscences of G. Moore, 453, 454 
 Responsibility, sense of, 434 
 Rewards to old servants, 406 
 Rheins, Gloucestershire, 105 
 Rice, Dr. 196 
 
 Richardson, Rev. T., 177, 184, note, 213 
 Rifle volunteers, Whitehall, 226 
 Ritualists, 275, 361 
 Robinson, Mr., City missionary, 396 
 Rodgers, Rev. Mr. 213, 240 
 Rome, 189, 233 
 Roman Catholics. G. Moore on, 287, 328, 
 
 447 
 
 Romance of Cheapside, 258 
 Routledge, Mr., at Whitehall, 412 
 Royal Free Hospital, 193, 194. 405 
 Royal Hospital for Incurables, 166, 191 
 Rothschild, Baron, Paris, 316, 331, 361 
 Russia, Emperor of, 276 
 Russell, Lord John, 158, 202 
 
 Russell, Lord Wriothesly, 217 
 
 Russell, Dr., at Versailles, 317 
 
 Russell, Odd, at Versailles, 316 
 
 Rye, Miss, G. Moore assists, 365 
 
 Ryle, Rev. Mr. 181, 241, 360, 371, 395, 413 
 
 SAFETY-VALVES, 108 
 Salkelds and Whitehall, 221 
 Salvin, architect, 223 
 Sanderson, John, 144, note 
 Scenery, Cumberland, 2 
 Schnibben, Rev. Mr., on G. Moore, 443 
 Schools in Cumberland, 21, 134, 135, 138, 
 et seq.. Sunday-schools established. 151, 
 180 ; erected at Somers Town, 283 ; 
 Fishmonger's, Ireland, 290; City of 
 London, 277 
 
 Schoolmasters, G. Moore and, 297, 449 
 Scholarship to Commercial Travellers* 
 
 Schools, 236, 309 
 Scots and English, game of, 24 
 Scottish raids .into Cumberland, 3 5 
 ?cott, Thomas, Penrith, 181 
 Scripture-readers, established in Cumber- 
 land, 181 ; meetings of, 411 
 Sedgwick, Professor, 349 
 Self-education of G. Moore, 55, 63 
 Self-elevation, Rev. Daniel Moore on, 
 _ 453. 454 
 Servants, sympathy with, 379 ; rewards to 
 
 old, 406 
 
 Shaftesbury, Lord, 161, 218, 267, 280 
 Shap Wells, Westmoreland, 126, 171, 183 
 Sheep-stealing in Cumberland, 10 
 Sheriff, pricked Sheriff of London, 154, 
 
 High Sheriff of Cumberland, 333 
 Shorthorns, G. Moore's, 258, 363; sale of, 
 
 364 
 
 Shoulder, dislocation of, 269, 291, 293 
 Siena, 188 
 
 Sieveking, Dr. 412, 419 
 Silloth Convalescent Hospital, 339, 362; 
 
 bells at Silloth, 429 
 Simpson, Dr., Edinburgh, 396 
 Simpson, Rev. Mr., 186 
 Simpson, Dr., Kirby Stephen, 256 
 Situations for young men, 203, 384 
 Skelton, John, his pamphlet on Pauperism 
 
 and the Boarding-out oj Pauper children 
 
 in Scotland, 343, note 
 Skiddaw, 3, 259, 262 
 Sleep and sleeplessness, 73, 80 
 Sleuth-hounds in Cumberland, 8 
 Smith, Mrs., Wigton, 38 
 Smithies, Mr. 372 
 Somers Town, destitution of, 282 ; Christ's 
 
 Church erected in, 283, 359 
 Solitary system, the, 98 
 Solway, the, 4, 7 ; crossing the sands of, 40 
 Southampton's, Lord, hounds, 136 
 Spitalfields, the moral and social condition 
 
 of, a sad picture of Lond n in the nine- 
 teenth century, 280, 281 
 Spurgeon, Rev. Mr. 285, 412 
 Stage-coach travelling, 44 
 Statesmen, Cumberland, t ; Border servica 
 
 of, 8 ; characteristics, 10-14 
 Stephens, widow, Fraserburg, 353 
 Sailing's advice to his grandson, 43 
 Stipends of Cumberland clergy, 248
 
 460 INDEX. 
 
 Stockdale, George, 120, 235, 356, 361, 396 : Walter, Mr., M. P. 190 ; on Little Boy 
 
 his death, 402 Home, 244 
 
 Stoughton, Dr. 285, 371, 428 Wareh usemen's and Clerks' Schools, 200, 
 
 Suffering, description of, 170 236, note 
 
 Surrey, G. Moore declines to represent, Waich towers, Cumberland, 4, 5 
 
 288 Watendleth, Cumberland, 228 
 
 Sydney, Alderman, 127, 188 Waterlow, Alderman, 428 
 
 Sympathy, G. Moore on, 169, 379, 383, Watts, G. F., portrait of Moore, 418 
 
 385, 447 Wesleyan chapels, relieved of debt, 261 
 
 Wesleyan Christian Community, 286 
 
 TEACHERS' Association, Wigton, 297,449' Westminster, Dean of , on Livingstone, 358 
 
 Thesiger. counsel for the firm, 88 White, Foster, 360 
 
 Th.ers, M. yj, 325 White, Richard, 199 
 
 Thieves' Road in Cumberland, 5 Whitehall, Peel tower at, 5, 25, 72 ; G. 
 
 Thompson, Mr., Whitehaven, 416 Moore purchases the estate, 184, 223; 
 
 Thompson, Mr., Leeds, 412 described, 321, 222; rebuilding of, 224; 
 
 Thornbury Castle, 105 life at, 253, 369 
 
 Times, extract from leading article in, Wigton, Cumberland, 33, 71, 128 ; mission- 
 descriptive of Londoners over the border, aries at, 180 ; Mechanics Institute at, 
 208, note 125, 266; memorial fountain at, 185; 
 
 Tite, Mr., controversy with, 278 recollections of, 411 ; memorial window 
 
 Todd, Mr., Wigton, 40 at, 430 
 
 Torpenhow, parish of, i 4 ; Moores of, Wilson, Blackbird, teacher, 21, 30 
 
 I 16 Wilson, Mr., Broughton Grange, 181 
 
 Traveller, commercial, 61, 75, 91 Wilson, Mr., Whitehaven, 371 
 
 Travelling by stage-coach, 44 Winslow's Ministry of Home, 395 
 
 Trochu, General, 313, 317 Wire, Alderman, 304 
 
 Wood, Lieut., at Paris, 321 
 
 ULDALB school, 141 Woolner, sculptor, 185 
 
 Woisfold, Rev. M. 359 
 
 VICHY, G. Moore's visits to, 361, 409 Wortley, Col. Stuart, relief of Paris, 329 
 
 Victoria Docks, neighbourhood of, 206 Wrestlers, noted, 23 
 
 Villiers, Bishop of Carlisle, 146, 181, 186, Wrestling, schoolboy, 23 ; at Chelsea, 46 ; 
 
 226, 230, 231 at St. John's Wood, 66 
 
 WALES, Prince of, his recovery, 330 YORK, Archbishop of, at Wigton, 256, 374, 
 
 Waldegrave, Dowager Countess of, 267 446 
 
 Walker, Rev. R. , story of, 228 Young men at Bow Churchyard, 176, at J 
 
 Wallace, Sir R., Paris, 317 841 ; at Whitehall, 263, 382 
 
 THE END.
 
 000 953 557 6 
 
 DA 
 
 565 
 
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