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 report of the committee was generally held to be conclusive evidence of Ann’s veracity. For the next four years she continued to attract crowds of visitors from all parts of the country, who, in commiseration of her sufferings, or to reward her devoutness, which was attested by the Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, seldom left her without making a substantial offering. In 1812 she deposited 400l in the funds. But in the summer of that year Alexander Henderson (1780–1863) [q. v.], physician to the Westminster General Dispensary, wrote an able ‘Examination’ of the imposture, showing the inconsistencies and absurdities of the woman’s statements, and the curious parallel between the case and that of Anna M. Kinker, a girl of Osnaburg, who practised a similar imposture in Germany in 1800. It was in answer to this publication that, greatly to the fasting-lady’s disgust, a second watch was insisted upon by her supporters. At her own request, none but ministers of the church of England, medical men, and magistrates were eligible, and a committee was formed, under Sir Oswald Mosley, bart. It met on 20 April 1813, and a period of one month was fixed upon. At the end of seven days the public were informed that Ann Moore had taken no food whatever. On the ninth day the watchers were alarmed by her loss of weight and extreme prostration. Two physicians present were of opinion that she could not live two hours. Thereupon, at the earnest request of her daughter, Mary Moore, the watch reluctantly broke up, and a few hours afterwards the woman confessed to her imposture. It is supposed that during the previous watch nourishment was conveyed to her in liquid form by her daughter when she kissed her night and morning. An engraving by Lines represented Mrs. Moore in bed in her garret. Another portrait was drawn by Linsell, and engraved by Carden. Her face is not unpleasing, and her eyes are thoughtful and penetrating. She was evidently a woman of great resolution and cunning. Nothing is known of her subsequent career beyond the fact that she was in Macclesfield and Knutsford gaols for robbing her lodgings.

 MOORE, ARTHUR (1666?–1730), economist and politician, said to have been born in Monaghan, Ireland, about 1666, was either the son of the gaoler or of the publican at the prison gate. He was brought up, according to some authorities, as a groom, but Burnet says that he rose ‘from being a footman without any education.’ He studied trade questions, made money rapidly, and in 1695 was returned to parliament for the borough of Grimsby, Lincolnshire. At the election of February 1700–1 general bribery prevailed in that constituency, and although Moore petitioned against the members that were returned he did not claim the seat, and bribery was proved in his interest. With the exception of that short parliament he represented the borough from 1695 to 1715, and he was again elected on a by-vacancy in February 1720–1. In October 1722 he petitioned for the seat, but withdrew his claim next month. He had a house in Grimsby, and was high steward of the borough from 1714 to 1730 (, Great Grimsby, 1825, p. 121).

Moore's name appears in 1702 among the managers of the ‘united trade to the East Indies.’ He was a director of the South Sea Company, and was appointed comptroller of the army accounts in 1704. It was reported on 15 April 1701 that he was about to be added to the Prince of Denmark’s council on admiralty affairs. On 30 Sept. 1710, ‘to the great surprise of many wealthy citizens,’ he was made one of the lords commissioners of trade and plantations (, p. 476); he held this post during the remainder of the reign. During the last years of Queen Anne he showed great ability in parliament, and was deemed ‘capable of the highest parts of business.' In January 1712, on the Earl of Strafford objecting to Prior as third British plenipotentiary in charge of commercial affairs, the lord privy seal was appointed, who, ‘not being versed in those matters, was obliged to direct himself by the lights he received from Mr. Arthur Moore’ (ib. p. 556). His brother Thomas Moore was made paymaster of the land forces abroad in August 1713. Moore mediated between Harley and St. John in their quarrels, but at last threw in his lot with the latter, and would have filled the office of chancellor of exchequer in the administration which