A BRIEF ACCOUNT,

&c.

IN THE NAME OF THE HOLY, BLESSED, AND GLORIOUS TRINITY, GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, AND GOD THE HOLY GHOST, THREE

PERSONS, ONE JEHOVAH, I thus attempt to give to the Church of God, and especially that part of His Church to which I have been united for more than fifty years, an abridged account of the gracious dealings of this everblessed God towards my fallen and sinful spirit. But how shall I accomplish this?

O how shall I the goodness tell,

Father, which thou to me hast showed ?

That I, a child of wrath and hell,

I should be called a child of God!
Should know, should feel my sins forgiven,
Bless'd with this antepast of heaven!

How shall I give Him the glory due to his longsuffering love and goodness, and at the same time take shame to myself? O Lord, help me, that I may leave a testimony behind me of that "height and depth, that length and breadth of love which passeth knowledge," which may encourage the chief of sinners, and show that thy

unworthy servant was really privileged to "know thee, whom to know is life eternal," before he ventured upon, or even thought of, dispensing that "word of life" to others which has, by wondrous mercy, been the sacred employment of a long life, a life lengthened out contrary to all expectation, by the same mercy that delivered "his soul from death," and "his feet from falling!"

I was born in the suburbs of the city of Dublin. My parents lived in Drumcondra, about a mile frem the city. My father, Richard Moore, son of Henry Moore, lived on a farm which had been in the family for nearly a century, and to which he succeeded on the death of my grandfather, being his only surviving son. He maintained his family, partly by the produce of his meadows which were very rich, and partly by the cattle which he bought when young, and fed on a certain part of them; thus uniting the occupations of farmer and grazier. He also derived an increase to his income by the ground-rent of several houses which were built on that part of his premises which skirted the great north road. He was much respected not only in his neighbourhood, but throughout the county; partly, as I was informed, by his family being considered as a branch of the Drogheda family, (but I never heard it mentioned by my father,) and chiefly, I

believe, by some valuable qualities which he was believed to possess, especially great probity, and considerable personal courage, which he had manifested on several occasions, when the neighbourhood was in danger from robbers.

He died in the month of June, 1763, before I was twelve years old; yet I remember him perfectly, and can even now call to mind his conversations, which were often very interesting. As I was also his only surviving son, his care seemed much engaged about me. He had received some learning in his youth, and retained a considerable sense of it in his advanced age; he therefore seemed to set his heart upon giving me all the advantages in this respect which were in his power. In pursuance of this design, after I had been some time at a commercial school, he put me, at nine years old, under the care of the Reverend Mr. Williamson, Minister of St. Paul's, Oxmantown, and Chaplain to the. Royal Barrack, and who was celebrated for his classical attainments and general learning..

I made some progress in Latin, so that I received the premium in the second form, at the Christmas examinations, a few days before I was eleven years old. I then began with the Greek language, and my youthful prospects seemed very fair; but they were suddenly clouded in the course of the following year, by the death of my father

of a rheumatic fever, in the forty-seventh year of his age. My mother was thus left a widow with five children, of whom I was the second, and the only son. She outlived my father twenty-eight years; and had, before her death, the honour of entertaining Mr. Wesley at her house, in his last visit to Ireland. She was a woman of good understanding, remarkable simplicity of spirit, and strong affection; she also possessed much of the fear of God, and was strongly attached to the established Church, as was my father also, and their ancestors. She had, at my father's death, no prospect of supporting her family, but by letting the land, which enabled her to live comfortably. She was, however, afraid to continue my expensive education; and, listening to the advice of her friends, she put me again to a commercial school, all thoughts of a learned profession being laid aside.

As my father died just before the midsummer vacation, I accordingly was not sent when the school re-assembled. Mr. Williamson was, I believe, much concerned at this. Having conceived an affection for my father, he wished to have me still under his care. One day, when I returned from school, I found the Reverend Mr. Daniel, Mr. Williamson's usher, sitting with my mother. I was much affected at seeing him. He spoke kindly to me, and soon took his leave. My mother