S2 COX. manifestly to civilize the brutal manners of English rob bers, Courtenay replied, “Yes—I agree with you. Gay was the Orpheus of our highwaymen.” SIR RICHARD COX, BART. Lord chancellor of Ireland, and an historian of that country, was son to Richard Cox, Esq. captain of a troop of horse, and was born at Bandon, in the county of Cork, on the 25th of March, 1650. He had the misfortune to lose his father before he was three years of age, and was then taken care of by his mother's father, Walter Bird, Esq. of Cloghnakilty; but his grandfather also dying when he was in his ninth year, he was then taken under the pro tection of his uncle, John Bird, Esq. who placed him at an ordinary grammar school, at Cloghnakilty, where he soon discovered a strong inclination to learning. In 1668, just as he had entered h i s eighteenth year, h e commenced practising a s a n attorney i n several minor courts where his uncle was seneschal, and continued s o t o d o for about three years, when finding his pecuniary re sources i n a n improving state, h e entered himself a t Gray's Inn, i n 1671, with a n intention o f being called t o the bar. Here h e was greatly distinguished for his assiduity and application t o the “weighty study o f the law;” and i n consequence o f his great improvement therein, h e was made one o f the surveyors a t Sir Robert Shaftoe's read ing. He then returned t o Ireland, where h e soon after married a lady, who had a right t o a considerable fortune; but being disappointed i n obtaining i t , h e took a farm near Cloghnakilty, i n which h e immured himself for a space o f nearly seven years. Being, however, roused from the lethargy into which h e had fallen, b y a great increase o f family, h e plainly perceived the absolute necessity o f exertion; and was, b y the interest o f Sir Robert Southwell, once more recalled into active life, from gloom and inac tivity. He was elected recorder o f Kinsale i n 1680, and removed t o Cork, where h e settled and practised his pro I
