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GRAVES. 275 there among his friends, who were not astonished at his speech in 1815, in which he whetted the sword of Euro pean despotism against the independence of France; thus countenancing a principle, in his glorious opposition to which his earliest laurels had been won, foreign inter ference in domestic policy. In the great question, how ever, of catholic emancipation, he was always consistent. It was the constant theme of his tongue, the chief feeling of his heart. He lived to advocate i t s justice,—he died t o confirm i t s truth. I n the spring o f 1820, h e felt his dis solution approaching, and h e knew that a journey t o Eng land would accelerate it; but, a s the happiness o f his country had been the great purpose o f his life, h e was determined that i t s interests should not suffer b y his death. He embarked with his family for London, for the purpose o f devoting his last breath i n the British parliament t o the great cause o f catholic emancipation. I t was fated otherwise. His enfeebled frame was not again permitted t o give public utterance t o the aspirations o f his fervent soul. He expired a t his house i n Baker-street, o n Sunday night, May 14th, 1820. SIR THOMAS GRAVES, K.B. A skilful and fearless seaman, was the son o f a cler gyman, who settled i n the North o f Ireland, where h e had a n exceeding large family. The subject o f our memoir left his father a t a very early period o f life, and put him self under the protection o f his uncle, Admiral Samuel Graves, with whom h e served for some time a s a midship man, o n board his majesty's ships Scorpion, Duke, and Venus. After the peace o f 1763, h e was placed under the care o f his relation Lord Graves, who then commanded the Antelope, and was Governor o f Newfoundland. I n the year 1765, h e accompanied him t o the coast o f Africa, where h e was promoted t o a lieutenancy o n board the Shannon. After the Shannon was paid off, h e was selected b y Lord Mulgrave t o b e one o f his lieutenants o n