COX. 37 fore, had no other method of dissolving that commission, but by pretending to an extraordinary degree of frugality in their management of the revenue. During the ensuing four years, Sir Richard had no public employment, except his duty as a judge; and he devoted his leisure hours to writing and publishing “An Essay for the Conversion of the Irish;” and, as we are in formed by some, “Thoughts on the Bill depending before the right hon. the House of Lords, for prohibiting the Exportation of the Woollen Manufactures of Ireland to foreign parts, humbly offered to their Lordships.” In 1701, being with the Lord Chief Justice Hely on the spring circuit, in Munster, the lord chief justice died; and the friends of Sir Richard Cox and liberality of senti ment, applied to the king to promote him to that situa tion, as a proof of his approbation of his conduct and principles. This was accordingly done, and on May 16th, he was sworn chief justice of the common pleas, and in a few days after, member of the privy council. In the fol lowing year he was invited by the Lord Nottingham, by the queen's command, to England, where he was consulted on the proper subjects for the consideration of the Parlia ment which was about to meet for Ireland. So well did his advice satisfy the queen, that in July 1703, Mr. Me thuen, the lord chancellor of Ireland, being appointed ambassador to Portugal, Sir Richard Cox was removed to that distinguished situation. To follow him through the duties of this arduous station, would engage us in a history of the affairs of Ireland, which is inconsistent with the nature of this undertaking. It will be sufficient to mention, that Ireland is indebted solely to him for the bill “for the recovery of small debts in a summary way;” and for the act which was passed in the English parliament, to allow the exportation of linen from Ireland direct to the plantations. In 1705, he was appointed with Lord Cutts, lord justice; and in October 1706, he was created a baronet. But on the death of the Lord Cutts, in Jan. 1707, he was involved in considerable
