Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/60

 and delicacy, however, remained to be settled at St. Petersburg, and the tsar personally expressed a hope that the ambassador would not abandon his post at such a juncture. Sir Robert reluctantly consented to remain in Russia, though he knew it was at the risk of his life. The premature death, in 1892, of his only son, Victor Albert Louis,' at the age of twenty-five, broke his once buoyant spirits, and his already weakened constitution was unable to repel a severe attack of influenza in the spring of 1893. He went to the Crimea, and then to Reichenhall in Bavaria, without permanent improvement, and died at Montreux, near the ancient seat of his family, on 16 Nov. 1893. He married in 1861 Alice, daughter of General Jonathan Peel [q. v.], but no male issue survived him. With his death a distinguished line of diplomatists became extinct.

 MORIER, WILLIAM (1790–1864), admiral, fourth son of Isaac Morier [q. v.], consul-general at Constantinople, was born at Smyrna 25 Sept. 1790. He spent two years at Harrow School, entered the navy in November 1803 as first-class volunteer, on board the Illustrious, 74, and became midshipman on the Ambuscade, with which he saw much service in the Mediterranean. From 1807 to 1810 he was employed on the Mediterranean and Lisbon stations, and became acting lieutenant of the Zealous, 74, and took part in the defence of Cadiz. In 1811, on H.M.S. Thames, 32, he contributed to the reduction of the island of Ponza, and displayed characteristic zeal in the destruction of ten armed feluccas on the beach near Cetraro; and other boat engagements on the Calabrian coast. He was also present at the bombardment of Stonington, in 1813, in the American war, and commanded the Harrier and Childers sloops successively on the North Sea station in 1828. Becoming post-captain in January 1830, he retired, attaining the rank of retired rear-admiral in 1855 and vice-admiral 1862. In 1841 he married Fanny, daughter of D. Bevan of Belmont, Hertfordshire. He died at Eastbourne 29 July 1864.  MORINS, RICHARD (d. 1242), historian, was a canon of Merton, who in 1202 was elected prior of Dunstable. At the time of his election he was only a deacon, but on 21 Sept. he was ordained priest. Nothing is known of his parentage, but he seems to have been a personage of importance, and a lay namesake who held lands in Berkshire is several times mentioned in the Close and Patent Rolls as in John's service. In February 1203 Morins was sent by the king to Rome, in order to obtain the pope's aid in arranging peace with France (cf. Cal. Rot. Pat. p. 26), and returned in July with John, cardinal of S. Maria in Via Lata, as papal legate. In 1206 the cardinal constituted Morins visitor of the religious houses in the diocese of Lincoln. In 1212 Morins was employed on the inquiry into the losses of the church through the interdict. In the same year he also acted for the preachers of the crusade in the counties of Huntingdon, Bedford, and Hertford. In 1214-15 Morins was one of the three ecclesiastics appointed to investigate the election of Hugh de Northwold [q. v.] as abbot of St. Edmund's (ib. i. 124, 140, 1406; Memorials of St. Edmund's Abbey, ii. 69-121). Later, in 1215, Morins was present at the Lateran council, and on his way home remained at Paris for a year to study in the theological schools. In 1222 he was employed in the settlement of the dispute between the Bishop of London and the Abbey of Westminster (, iii. 37), and in the next year was visitor for his order in the province of York. In 1228 he was again visitor for his order in the dioceses of Lichfield and Lincoln. In 1239 Morins drew up the case for submission to the pope as to the Archbishop of Canterbury's right of visiting the monasteries in the sees of his suffragans. In 1241 he was one of those to whom letters of absolution for the Canterbury monks were addressed (ib. iv. 103). Morins died on 9 April 1242. The most notable event in Morins's government of the abbey was the dispute with the townspeople of Dunstable. Morins also records a number of minor events connected with himself. The lady-chapel in the canons' cemetery was built by him.

Morins was the compiler or author of the early portion of the 'Dunstable Annals,' from their beginning to the time of his death. Down to 1201 the 'Annals' consist of an abridgment from the works of Ralph de Diceto, but from this point onwards they are original. From a reference in the opening words Morins would appear to have commenced the compilation of his 'Annals' in 1210, and afterwards to have continued it from year to year. The 'Annals' are mainly occupied with details as to the affairs of the priory. Still, 'very few contemporary chroniclers throw so much light on the general history of the country, and, what would scarcely be expected, on foreign affairs as well as those of England. Many historical facts are known solely from this chronicle' (, Preface, p. xv). The manuscript of the 'Annals' is

