And later, from the Catholic side of the question, he practised his own doctrine conscientiously, when it came to falling in love, for Bessy Moore was a Protestant. In spite of the phrase "it does not necessarily follow that Mr. Brown is a Papist," there is no reason to suppose that Moore ever meditated a change of religion. Later in life, his sister Katherine did so, and he advised her to follow his example and remain quietly a Catholic. But he said openly to her, and records it in his diary: "My having married a Protestant wife gave me an opportunity of choosing a religion at least for my children, and if my marriage had no other advantage, I should think _this_ quite sufficient to be grateful for." But while in these respects he showed himself a Catholic of the least rigid order, he was, naturally, all the keener in his hostility to Protestant bigotry. And, having discarded the sonorous denunciation of Corruption and Intolerance in heavy Popian couplets, he now, as Mr. Thomas Brown the younger, attacked Addington, Eldon, Castlereagh and the rest, in a spirited light gallop of verse. The occasion of the opening epistle was afforded by a present of ponies which Lady Barbara Ashley had given to the Princess Charlotte of Wales. Lady Barbara being a Catholic, keen noses smelt Popery in the gift; and the letter attributed to "the Pr----ss Ch----e of W---s," recounts a supposed Cabinet Council, at which the crisis is discussed. A few lines may serve as an example of this clever _jeu d'esprit_. "'If the Pr-nc-ss _will_ keep them,' says Lord C-stl-r--gh, 'To make them quite harmless, the only true way Is (as certain Chief Justices do with their wives) To flog them within half an inch of their lives; If they've any bad Irish Mood lurking about, This (he knew by experience) would soon draw it out.' Or--if this be thought cruel--his Lordship proposes 'The new _Veto_ snaffle to hind down their noses-- A pretty contrivance, made out of old chains, Which appears to indulge, while it doubly restrains; Which, however high-mettled, their gamesomeness checks,' Adds his Lordship, humanely, 'or else breaks their necks!'" The bulk of the satire was, however, social rather than political, and largely aimed at the Prince Regent--from whom Moore and all his friends were now completely estranged. In the second Letter, some capital lines describe-- "That awful hour or two Of grave tonsorial preparation, Which, to a fond, admiring nation, Sends forth, announced by trump and drum, The best-wigg'd P----e in Christendom!" Even better work was to be found in the reprints than in the Letters. The "Anacreontic to a Plumassier" is a very delicate piece of verse, fluffy and feathery. Almost as good was the version, or perversion, of Horace II. 11, "freely translated by the Pr--ce R-g--t":--