view of capturing Fort Montgomery. General Clinton, of the British army, with the forces under his command, had previously visited the residence of the Moores, committing such acts as are common with a foraging party when inva. ding the domains of an enemy. The soldiers, however, were content with committing depredations out of doors. They robbed the garden, took possession of the poultry, and killed a cow which was feeding in the orchard; but offered no personal violence to the members of the family, nor even attempted to invade the sanctuary of the domicil. But when the seamen landed from the frigate, they immediately entered the house, and, with ruthless violence, tore up the carpets, stripped the beds, stole the tea-spoons from the table where the family were seated at their evening meal, and without restraint carried on the work of indiscriminate pillage. One of the band of depredators, more savage than the rest, with fiendish cruelty and dastardly cowardice, presented a fixed bayonet at Mrs. Moore's breast, threatening the life of an unprotected mother surrounded by an interesting group of weeping and helpless children! The consternation of the family may easily be imagined. They fled to Mr. Charles Moore's for protection, where they remained till they could return with safety to their own abode. Even if we admit it to be necessary in the prosecution of war sometimes to invade the domicil and plunder the property of private and peaceful individuals, yet surely, the bright escutcheon of the soldier should never be tarnished with acts of cruelty and oppression to helpless women and children. In this case, the outrage was perpetrated not upon an enemy, but a friend: (for the Moores were favourable to the royal cause,) it was the brutal act of an infuriated, unrestrained body of men, who deemed it their business and privilege to commit all sorts of violence

upon those whom they supposed hostile to the crown in whose service they were enlisted. General Clinton made an ample apology for the assault, severely reproved it, and caused the valuable plunder to be promptly restored to the injured family.

At the time of the above outrage upon his paternal home, the subject of this memoir was in the city of New York; and as yet, perhaps, undetermined as to his future avocation in life. Under the temporary influence of a wild and romantic desire to visit other countries and see the world, (so common in youths at that age,) he made trial of a sea-faring life; which, however, he very soon relinquished, and devoted himself to the study of medicine.

His medical education was prosecuted under the direction of Dr. Richard Bayley, one of the most distinguished physicians of his day. The advantages he enjoyed under the tuition of this gentleman were probably equal to any which could be commanded at that early period,-so long before medical schools or colleges were instituted, with their associated professorships, for the education of young aspirants in the Esculapian art. Dr. Bayley had the reputation of being the most eminent surgeon in New York, and young Moore is said to have been quite a proficient in this branch of his profession. After the completion of his studies, he commenced his career as a practitioner of medicine in the city. But finding, probably, as most young beginners do, that it was difficult to maintain a rivalry with older physicians of established reputation, and more difficult to obtain a support amidst the wide competition for practice in a large city, he soon removed to the eastern part of Long Island, to seek his fortune there. But, after a brief residence at his new location, without a result answerable to his expectations, he returned to the city, and

resumed his practice there, favoured with brighter prospects, and with encouraging success. At the At the age of twentytwo he was married to Miss Christian Jones, of New York,* who continued to be a faithful and affectionate wife to him for twelve years. She was his chief domestic comfortsoothing him amidst the toils, and rejoicing with him in the pleasures and rewards of his earlier ministry on Staten Island. She departed this life in April, 1796.

It is not unfrequently the case that the fair promise of early piety is not realized and confirmed by the development of character in maturer years. The buds and blossoms of grace put forth in childhood are often nipped and withered before manhood comes. Many a pastor has been forced to mourn over some who in the morning of life entered upon the Christian race, and "ran well for a season," but were afterwards "hindered,” and perhaps utterly turned out of their course by the adverse influence of a corrupt and tempting world. Many a parental heart has been stung to agony, and made to weep in bitterness, by the worldliness if not open viciousness, of some wayward child, upon whose opening virtues it had gazed with pleasure, and over whose future prospects fancy had spread its fair

* Dr. Moore first saw this lady in Trinity Church, and being smitten with her beauty, followed her after the congregation was dismissed, determined to form an acquaintance with her. Falling in with an old friend, he urged him to introduce him to the lady. This, however, was declined, on the ground that the gentleman himself had not the pleasure of her acquaintance. Still bent upon the accomplishment of his purpose, when the lady entered her father's residence, young Moore, turning to his friend, said "Do you know who lives in that house?" The reply was, "Mr. Jones, an acquaintance of mine." "Then I insist upon it that you shall go in and give me an introduction to the family, or I shall be under the disagreeable necessity of introducing myself." He was accordingly introduced. Personal acquaintance deepened his first impressions and Miss J. soon yielded her heart and hand to so ardent and persevering a suitor.

est visions. In some melancholy instances there is an utter blighting of all the good seed of life so as to forbid the hope that it will ever bring forth fruit unto salvation. In other instances the seed is only "choked" for a season by the "tares" of worldly wealth, honours, or pleasures; but when these are plucked up, it will spring forth vigorously, and yield fruit in perfection, "first the blade, then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear."

The case of young Moore resembled the latter rather than the former of these instances. A large city, at any time, presents numerous and powerful temptations to evil, which are with difficulty resisted, even by the firmest virtue, when found in association with the ardent imaginations and strong passions of youth. But the state of society and the scenes and associations connected with the residence of a military force in a large city-which, in time of war, is not only a focus of excitement, but of dissipation and ungodliness also-are favourable to any thing rather than the cultivation of piety in the youthful mind. It need not surprise us, therefore, that in the midst of such counteracting influences, he of whom we write, found his spiritual sensibilities blunted,-lost, in a great degree, his devotional feelings, and permitted himself to be drawn into the vortex of gay and fashionable life.

While a student and practitioner of medicine, there is reason to fear, he neglected his baptismal obligations by conforming to the pomps and vanities of the world; though we believe he was not chargeable with open viciousness of life, and that the religious impressions he received in childhood were never entirely effaced.*

* Since the above was written a fact has been communicated by an aged friend of the Bishop, who knew him well in early life, and confirmed by a letter from Rev. David Moore, D. D., (the Bishop's eldest son,) who had

"He who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, when we were dead in sins," often preserves us when we deserve to perish. When we become unmindful of his covenant, grieve his Spirit, and alienate ourselves from his ways, he might justly leave us to follow our own courses, and to perish in our own devices. But such is not the manner of God with men. He hath no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but is constantly inviting him to turn and live. Even when Israel had "caused him to serve with their sins, and wearied him with their iniquities," he exclaimed, "I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and will not remember thy sins." He waits for the return of his prodigal child; yearns over

heard his father speak of the event with humiliation and sorrow, that compels me to qualify the statement in the text. However he might have been preserved from other vices, the subject of this memoir had fallen into the low and inexcusable habit of profane swearing, of which he was cured by the remonstrances and prayers of his pious wife. Not long after his marriage he returned home, about tea-time, in a state of excitement on account of some outrage he had received. The servant, who was about setting the table, in bringing in the waiter, either from carelessness or by accident, let it fall, and the contents were dashed to pieces. He gave expression to his feelings in such language as shocked the pious sensibilities of Mrs. Moore to such a degree that she immediately left the room and retired to her chamber. When the tempest of his wrath had in some measure subsided, he followed her, and was distressed to find her dissolved in tears. On his inquiring why she was thus disquieted and wept her reply was, that the language which she had heard from his lips was such as to disturb her peace, and excite her warmest sympathies for his soul. As God had declared, in the plainest terms, that He would not hold him guiltless who taketh his name in vain-she trembled for the consequences, and at the time he entered her chamber, was engaged in supplicating that grace which would convince him of his error, and lead him, as a penitent sinner, to choose that God and Saviour who was the solace of her heart, and her por. tion forever. Dr. Moore was exceedingly affected by this earnest expostulation from the lips of her whom he loved so sincerely; he promised an immediate abandonment of the odious habit: and there is reason to believe that this prepared the way for that gracious change of heart and life which he soon afterwards experienced.