Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/453

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

- NORRIS. 449 death, at his lodgings at Knightsbridge, June 18, 1805. From his biographer's account, it appears he had perfectly reconciled his mind to the stroke of death. When he had made his will, and given plain and accurate directions respecting his funeral, he said, “I have been preparing for my journey to another region, and now do not care how soon I take my departure.” On the day of his death, he frequently repeated the lines of Pope, “Taught, half by reason, half by mere decay, To welcome death, and calmly pass away.” Besides the works already mentioned and alluded to, Mr. Murphy was author of a translation of Sallust, which has appeared as a posthumous work. CORNELIUS NARY, An Irish Roman Catholic divine of great learning. His principal works are controversial. He was born in the county of Kildare, in 1660, and died in Dublin, March 3rd, 1738. SIR JOHN NORRIS, Was the descendant of a very respectable Irish family, and, after a regular routine of service, was appointed captain of the Pelican fireship in July 1690, on account of his gallant behaviour, as a lieutenant, at the battle off Beachy Head. In January 1695, he greatly distinguished himself under captain Killegrew, in the action with the Content and Trident, French men of war. After the ac cession of Queen Anne, we find him captain of the Orford, of seventy guns, one of the ships employed in the Cadiz expedition. About this time the natural warmth of Cap tain Norris's temper betrayed him into a very serious quarrel with Captain Ley, in which he was so imprudent as to draw his sword. To heighten the outrage, this dispute took place on the quarter-deck of the Royal Sovereign, the very ship that Mr. Ley at that time com manded. For this breach of decorum Captain No rris was WOL. I.I. GG