"I am pleased, my dear boy, that you wish to be a sailor, for I am sure you will be a brave one. I hope that in some years after this you and I will thresh the Monsieurs, both by sea and land; but I hope that we won't make war with the Spaniards, for the Spanish ambassador is the best and kindest man I ever saw." In 1774 Dr. Moore wrote home to his wife:-- "I was happy to find that you do not disapprove of Jack's going into the army. I hope this may turn out well, because he chooses it, has a turn for it, and I believe is of a character to make a good figure as a soldier. He is attentive, active, and brave; he has great good sense, will have many accomplishments, and is the most beautiful and graceful boy imaginable. It is a very disputable case whether the Duke of Hamilton or Jack is the handsomest. Jack does not stoop as the Duke, but will have a good carriage, and though he is so very pretty, he has not the least tendency to be a coxcomb." And in another letter, two years later, occurs a characteristic description of the boy. "Jack was as fond as the Duke of returning to Geneva, and he is much too strong for me when the Duke is his second. We were received by our friends with infinite kindness, and have been wonderfully feasted. Jack quitted Geneva a boy, and has returned a man. Though he has been caressed by all the high and mighty of the Republic, and is always invited with the Duke and me, yet if, at the same time, he has an invitation from any of his old acquaintances of a much humbler class, he always prefers the latter. I pressed him one day to go with us, because the people had insisted particularly on his coming. It was to a fine villa, and a most brilliant party. I could not prevail; he silenced me with this sentence: 'They who have invited me are poor; they were kind to me when the others did not think me worth their notice.' Never was a creature less spoiled than your son by all the great people who have caressed him, nor by all the uncommon fine situations[2] he has been in. Though his manner is manly and noble, yet it is simple, and he assumes no airs. He is a charming youth. I wish you had him in your arms." At the age of fifteen he was made Ensign in the 51st Regiment, though he did not actually join till some months later. Among the many dangers in his career was one in those few months, when paying a visit to Mount Vesuvius. "Jack" ventured perilously near to the crater, and in hurrying away he fell and damaged his knee. A shower of lava and hot stones poured directly afterwards upon the spot he had just quitted. Had Jack Moore's retreat that day been less prompt, another most famous and masterly retreat, followed by a never-to-be-forgotten battle, would not have been inscribed upon the pages of English history.