Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/454

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

450 NORRIS. immediately put under arrest by the admiral; but through the mediation of the Duke of Ormond, the affair was accommodated. In 1704, he was stationed as one of the seconds to Sir Cloudesly Shovel, in the engagement off Malaga, in which he acquired great commendation by his gallant behaviour, and was honoured by Queen Anne with knighthood, and 1000l. In March 1707, he was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue; in which station he served under his friend Sir Cloudesly Shovel, who com manded in the Mediterranean during that year. Being detached by the commander-in-chief to force a passage over the War, though the French considered the works upon that river as impregnable, he sailed with four British and one Dutch ship of the line to conduct this daring enterprise. On arriving at the mouth of the river, he embarked six hundred seamen and marines in open boats, entered i t , and advanced within musquet-shot o f the enemy's works, keeping up such a n incessant fire a s the French could not withstand. Sir Cloudesly Shovel, arriving a t the place o f action, and seeing the disorder into which the enemy was thrown, ordered Sir John t o land with the seamen and marines, i n order t o flank the enemy. This service was performed with s o much con duct, and the men advanced with such valour and resolu tion, that the French fled i n confusion from their works, which were immediately occupied b y the English. Upon this gallant exploit the army marched t o Toulon without opposition; but that enterprise miscarried, though i t pro duced some happy consequences, b y the damage the French sustained i n their shipping, the blowing u p o f their magazines, the burning o f one hundred and sixty houses i n Toulon, and the devastation committed i n Pro vence b y both armies. After having been successively advanced t o b e rear-admiral and vice-admiral o f the white, h e served under Sir John Leake i n the Mediterranean, where nothing material occurred. Soon after his return i n Decem ber 1708, h e was promoted t o b e vice-admiral o f the red, and i n a few months after t o the rank of admiral o f the blue. To enumerate a l l the particulars relative t o the transac