Plate 10: The Lord Lieutenant’s march is marked thus ... General Lake’s march (... &c.) and the French thus ...[Folding map of Leitrim and Roscommon, facing p.559].

The gentlemen and landholders in the province of Connaught, piqued themfelves on the peaceable demeanour, and a refpect for the laws, which the lower clafs of the people there continued to evince, when moft other parts of the kingdom were difturbed by the united Irifhmen. But it has fince appeared, that the mafs of the people were univerfally infected with their malignant doctrines, though they had not broken out into acts of

open outrage; for at a provincial committee held at Dungannon,* the fourteenth of September, 1797, it was ftated, that the province of Connaught was in a tolerable ftate of organization; that a great number of united Irifhmen had been made there, and more fince the proclamation. §

In the beginning of the year 1798, a number of fugitive families arrived in the counties of Mayo and Sligo, from the north of Ireland; who, as they alleged, fought for protection from the orangemen, who were perfecuting them on account of their religion. They were all Roman catholicks, and from their appearance of decency and induftry, the plaufibility with which they reprefented their fufferings, and the knowledge which they poffeffed of the linen manufacture, they readily obtained an afylum from the gentlemen of the country, and were confidered as a great acquifition in it. They had alfo an apparent folemnity and sincerity in their manners, and fhewed fuch attention to the duties of their religion, as procured them the efteem, not only of perfons of their own perfuafion, but excited the pity of proteftants, who confidered them as an innocent perfecuted people.

This was the general idea entertained of them; but fome gentlemen, who conceived that their improper conduct muft have been the caufe of their perfecution and expulfion, were not inclined to encourage or protect them. Neverthelefs, fome hundred families of them fpread themfelves over the country, particularly near the fea-coaft, and for fome time demeaned themfelves in a peaceable and induftrious manner.

But it was foon difcovered, that they were much addicted to fpeculate on politicks; that they held clubs and meetings, where newfpapers, for which they fubfcribed, were conftantly read; and that they were perfectly well verfed in all the political fubjects which were then the topicks of converfation. They alfo brought with them a number of ftrange and abfurd prophecies, which they pretended were delivered by the ancient Irifh bards and prophets, foretelling the wars and calamities which were fhortly to take place in the country, and which were to prove nearly fatal: to the catholicks.‡

* Report of the fecret committee, Appendix, No. XIV. p.104.

§ This alludes to the proclamation of the feventeenth of May, inviting the people to return to their allegiance, and offering an amnefty to fuch as fhould do fo; and it proves the contumacy of the traitors in fpurning at the benign and conciliating meafures of government.
‡ In the fixteenth and feventeenth centuries, fuch prophecies were ufed during the civil wars, to rouze the people, as may be feen in Spenfer, Morrifon, Temple, Laurence, and Harris.

In one of thefe it was afferted, that the upper part of the county of Mayo, particularly the mountain of Croagh Patrick, near Weftport,§ would be the fafeft place of refuge, whenever thefe calamities would commence; which induced numbers of people to repair there, fome for protection, others to perform pilgrimage, and to do other pious offices, as it has been always confidered as a holy place.

Thefe prophecies|| have a very great effect on the minds of the lower clafs of people, who are perfuaded that the events predicted muft neceffarily come to pafs; and they were ready to catch at every rumour which feemed to correfpond with the ideas which they had infpired. They breathed nothing but death, bloodfhed and devaftation, painted the rivers as running crimfon with blood, and a peftilence raging through the country, occafioned by the effluvia of putrid carcafes, which remained unburied; with every other horror which a dreadful civil war produces.

Such prophecies were one of the many artifices ufed to excite hatred in the popifh multitude againft proteftants, who were figured under the title of the black army, and were deftined to commit thofe atrocities againft the catholicks; and to furnifh a pretext of maffacring them, whenever an opportunity fhould prefent itfelf.

Thefe northern families were but a fhort time in the county of Mayo, when a perfon of high refpectability informed the magiftrates and country gentlemen, that they were deeply concerned in the confpiracy then carried on in the north, and that moft of them, confcious of their crimes, fled from a country, where they were clofely watched, and dreaded the vengeance of the law, to one where, not subject to fufpicion, they might eafily execute their defigns.

Orange focieties had at that time commenced in the North, whofe avowed object was, to protect themfelves, and their country, from the machinations of a fet of popifh traitors, who had bound themfelves by the moft folemn ties to overturn the conftitution and extirpate the proteftants; and that in fo fecret a manner, that many thoufands were united before a difcovery could be obtained. At their fecret meetings, which were generally held at night, they methodized their operations, employed

§ Plate X. 6.
|| I have already mentioned that many popifh families had emigrated from the county of Tyrone to Connaugbt, in confequence of prophecies.

emiffaries to propagate their doftrines; collected money for the purchafe of arms and ammunition; laid plans for attacking the houfes of proteftants, and taking away their arms; and finally concerted the means of a general rebellion and maffacre, in conjunction with the rebels of every other part of the kingdom.

The gentlemen and magiftrates of the country were well aware that fuch mifchiefs were hatching; but found it very difficult to procure full and convincing proofs to fubflantiate the facts, and to bring the traitors to punifhment.

It was in this critical ftate of things, that the fpirit and promptitude of the Orangemen, alive to the intereft of their country, and attached to that conftitution for which their anceflors fought under king William, affociated under the ftrongeft bonds of loyalty and affection; and relying on the goodnefs of the caufe in which they had embarked, they, without fear or reftraint, hunted thefe traitors to their dens, developed their dark proceedings, and dragged them to punifhment. By their well-timed and fpirited exertions, they delivered that part of the kingdom from thofe horrors, which were ready to burft upon the heads of the loyal inhabitants.

This was the perfecution which the difaffected fo much complained of, and which afforded a plaufible pretext for the outrages afterwards committed by the rebels.

The conduct of thefe northern families on the landing of the French proves with what malignant defigns they were originally actuated; for, when that event took place, they threw off the veil of religion, and the cloak of humility, boldly affumed the iron front of war, preffed forward to receive arms and ammunition from their new deliverers, chofe leaders among themfelves, erected the ftandard of rebellion, and plundered and defolated the houfes and the property of their proteftant friends and benefactors.

It is very remarkable, that thefe men, defpifing the want of courage and abilities in the Connaught rebels, refufed to ferve promifcuoufly with them, but formed a feparate corps, who kept together during the rebellion.

The peafantry of the counties of Mayo and Sligo, (I mean of the Roman catholick perfuafion,) are favage, ignorant, and fuperftitious; and

though they were organized and fworn to affift the French on their landing, yet I am convinced that they would not have had fpirit or refolution enough to rife in rebellion, if that event had not taken place, however well inclined they might have been.

The gentlemen and men of landed property, with but few exceptions, were proteftants of the church of England, and confequently loyal, and ftrongly attached to the eftablifhed government. To thefe were added an equally loyal and very refpectable proteftant yeomanry, moftly freeholders, and planted rather thickly over the country. All thefe were tolerably expert in the ufe of arms, having ferved in the volunteer and yeomanry corps.

Thefe two bodies, united in common intereft, and roufed by the danger which furrounded them, would have continued to overawe and reftrain an ignorant and unarmed rabble, without men of property or confequence at their head, and ftimulated to action only by fome low emiffaries from other countries; or by their weak and infatuated clergy, many of whom were found among the foremoft in joining the enemy, and in ftrengthening the ranks of rebellion.

The landing of a little more than one thoufand French, achieved, almoft inftantly, what the united Irifhmen could never have effected, notwithftanding all their arts to make the popifh multitude rife in rebellion.

Struck with a fudden panick at the unexpected appearance of the French, the loyalifts, for the moft part, abandoned their houfes; the rebels, armed and encouraged by the French, elated with their firft fuccefs, and animated with a defire of vengeance, and the hope of plunder, entered fword in hand into the deferted abodes of the fugitive loyalifts; where, not content with pillage and rapine, they, with the moft favage barbarity, like the Goths of old, facrificed to wanton revenge every thing valuable, which art and fcience had formed and collected for the comfort and delight of the virtuous and intelligent; and in a few days defaced thofe ornaments and improvements which human induftry had been raifing for a century before.

Another circumftance which contributed to promote the caufe of rebellion in thofe counties, and to cement its votaries, by a bond ftill more binding than the oath of the united Irifhmen, or defenders, was the

propagation of the myfteries of the Carmelites among the Roman catholicks. This was originally a religious order, which was faid to have been inftituted for the advancement of piety and morality, but it was now perverted to the purpofe of affociating men for the exprefs purpofe of committing treafon, murder, facrilege, and robbery, with every other inferior crime, which depravity might fuggeft, or opportunity afford.

As its malignant influence operated much ftronger in Connaught than in the province of Leinfter, where alfo it was made a vehicle of rebellion, I fhall give the reader a more minute defcription of it. In the neighbourhood of Ballina,* there were fome mendicant friars, who were led, by the poverty of their fituation, to convert the credulity of the popifh multitude to their benefit, by inducing them to believe, that an admiffion into this fraternity would enfure them eternal happinefs; and this foundation being once laid, it was not difficult afterwards to perfuade them to pay a fmall fum of money for its attainment.

At their initiation they received a fquare piece of brown cloth, with the letters I. H. S. infcribed on it, meaning Jefus hominum Salvator,§ which was hung round the neck with a ftring, and lying on the fhoulder next to the fkin, was, from its fituation, called a fcapular. The price of it on initiation was, to the poorer clafs, one fhilling; to thofe who could afford it, higher in proportion to their ability. This diftinguifhing badge of the order, having received the prieft’s benediction, was fuppofed to contain the virtue of preferving the difciple, not only from outward dangers and injuries, but alfo from the attacks of the ghoftly enemy. They afcribed to thefe fcapulars the power of protecting a houfe in which one of them happened to be, from being confumed by fire, or of extinguifhing one on fire, if thrown into the flames; while the facred extinguifher would remain perfectly fafe from the power of the fire, like the three Hebrews in the Babylonian furnace.

The ignorance and credulity of the popifh multitude were impofed on by the following device: The cloth of which thefe fcapulars was originally made, being compofed of the Afbeftos, poffeffes a quality to refift fire; and on receiving the prieft’s benediction, they were committed to the flames, where, to the aftonifhment of the beholders, they were found

* Plate X. 3, 4.  § Jefus, the Saviour of mankind. See it in Plate V.

to preferve themfelves fafe and entire; and having undergone this fiery ordeal, the fupernatural power which produced it was afcribed to the prieft’s benediction.

Many of thefe were cut off the necks of the rebels when taken prifoners, and their virtue was put to the teft; by expofing them to the fire, where they gave a convincing proof of their frailty, by being (as the inventors themfelves have long fince been) reduced to duft and afhes.

The parifh priefts in the counties of Mayo and Sligo, either convinced of the efficacy and utility of this order, in promoting the caufe of religion, or feeing that the fale of fcapulars was very profitable, procured a power from the friars before mentioned to difpofe of them, and admit candidates into this holy order. Bags of them have been often fent to fairs and markets, and fold to the credulous multitude.

The officiating prieft at Balllna, curate to the popifh bifhop, was the perfon then entrufted with the diftribution of this facred fymbol, a large number of which he conferred on the worthy claimants.
This foon became the fignal by which thofe of the true faith were to know each other, and the rallying point for thofe devotees who carried on the crufade againft the hereticks; and a fhop was opened foon after the lauding of the French, where all the fons of Erin,* with their pikes in their hands, were fupplied with fcapulars at regulated prices.

Thefe were intended, not only to unite them more ftrongly againft the common enemy, but to arm them with frefh courage, and protect them from danger in the hour of trial. Good God! will that day ever arrive, when a pure, a fimple, a rational, and undefiled religion fhall be eftablifhed among the deluded natives of Ireland; when the clouds of fuperftition and ignorance, which fo much obfcure the human mind, fhall be difpelled by religion and reafon, thofe bright luminaries which the Deity has benignly afforded to erring man, to direct his wandering fleps through the thorny paths of life, and to guide his feet in the ways of peace?

We may fay to the popifh multitude of Ireland, in the words of holy writ, “Ye do err, not knowing the fcriptures.” Mat. xxii. 29.
The better to inflame the paffions, and awaken the fanatical fury of the popifh multitude againft proteftants, a report was univerfally propagated

* The Irifh for Ireland.

in the counties of Mayo and Sligo, fome months before the French landed, that the orangemen had combined, and were determined to maffacre the Roman catholicks, a device which was practifed in every part of Ireland.

At Balle, near Hollymount,* in the county of Mayo, a pattern was held fome time in the month of July, when the diffemination of that report had fuch an effect on the inhabitants of that town and its vicinity, that they remained in large bodies all night in the fields, where the leaders of rebellion organized and fwore them.

An active intelligent magiftrate informed me, that he expatiated on the dangerous tendency of fuch reports to the parifh prieft of Foxford,† fome time in the month of July, 1798, and recommended to him to undeceive his flock, by affuring them, from the altar, that they were falfe and groundlefs; but he objected to it, alleging as an excufe, that it would offend fome of his moft refpectable parifhioners.

The leaders of rebellion had recourfe to another very curious invention, to incenfe the minds of the Roman catholicks againft the proteftants, and inflame them with a fpirit of revenge; and though the abfurdity was more likely to excite ridicule than ferious attention, it had the wiihed-for effect on the femi-barbarous rabble.

A few days before the French landed, a report was induftriouljy circulated, that the proteftants had entered into a confpiracy to maffacre the Roman catholicks, and that they would not fpare man, woman, or child. It was faid that, for this purpofe, a large quantity of combuftible ftuff had been introduced by the orangemen, who made a kind of black candles of it; that they were of fuch a quality, that they could not be extinguifhed when once lighted; and that in whatever houfe they fhould be burnt, they would produce the deftruction of every perfon in it.

It was faid alfo, that this deleterious fyftem was to be carried into effect through the whole country in one night; and the people in the villages were cautioned not to fleep in their houfes, left they fhould be furprifed.‡

Multitudes, impreffed with this idea, fat up all night, or flept in the fields.

* Plate X. 7.       † Ibid, 5.       ‡This impofition was practifed in the county of Wexford.

The magiftrates, finding that this report was univerfally credited by the lower clafs of people, pofted up an advertifeinent at Ballina to undeceive them, and convince them of the futihty and abfurdity of this report; but they were taught to believe that this notice was only an artifice to lull them into fecurity, that they might more eafily become a prey to their perfecutors.

As foon as the French landed, one Crohan, who ferved as clerk to a popifh chapel, was feized in the act of proclaiming in the parifh of Kilmeckfhalgan, in the county of Sligo, that the orangemen were murdering the Roman catholicks.
Moft of the parifh priefts in the counties of Mayo and Sligo, to difarm the fufpicion, and lull the vigilance of government and the magiftrates, collected their flocks, and with them fwore oaths of allegiance before magiftrates, whom they folicited to adminifter them.

In the month of April, 1798, father O’Donnell, parifh prieft of Kilmeckfhalgan, afked Mr. Hillas, of Seaview, to attend him and his flock for that purpofe; and they, in the prefence of him and counfellor Webber, gave that teft of their loyalty; yet as foon as the French landed, that fame prieft feized Mr. Hillas’s beft horfe, and joined them.

The priefts of different parifhes, after the French landed, were heard to fay to their flock, from the altar, “God help you, poor people! Pray for your fouls; I cannot anfwer for your fafety; the king’s troops and the orangemen will put you all to death.”

In the courfe of the fummer of 1798, it was obferved, that the petty fhop-keepers, mechanicks and fervants, of the popifh perfuafion, ufed to hold frequent meetings at the low tippling houfes in Ballina, and its vicinity, which induced well grounded fufpicions that they entertained defigns of a treafonable tendency; particularly as fuch affociations were conltantly attended by fome of the northerns, who were alive and zealous in making profelytes to their pernicious doctrines. They alfo kept up a conftant intercourfe with their friends in the north, by means of emiftaries, who paffed and re-paffed in the guife of hawkers and pedlars. This intelligence having been privately communicated to the reverend Mr. Neligan, of Ballina, a very active and intelligent magiftrate, (whofe zealous exertions on this and other occafions became a fource of many future calamities to himfelf and his numerous family) he and a few friends, in whom

he could confide, were conftantly on the watch, in order to detect and counteract the treafonable plans of this party; but they were conducted with fuch fecrefy, as to elude their vigilance, and prevent them from receiving any certain information of their real defigns; however it had the good effect of filling them with alarm and diffidence, and of preventing them from diffeminating their doctrine in as wide a circle, and with as much rapidity as before.

Mr. Neligan, ever attentive to the duties of his office and the peace of fociety, having learned that an idle young man of the name of Reynolds, who often frequented the town of Boyle,* as a pedlar, was deeply concerned in the machinations of thofe traitors, wrote to a friend there, to have him arrefted, and interrogated on the subject. On his examination, he affumed an appearance of the moft perfect innocence, and denied every charge which was brought againft him; but a few lafhs of a cat-o’-nine-tails having been infticted on him by order of the officer commanding at Boyle, he difcovered the whole plot, and thofe who were affociated with him. The information having been fent to Mr. Neligan, he was aftonifhed at the number and refpectability of the perfons concerned in it; however, the events which took place in the courfe of the rebellion, verified his allegations; for the perfons whom he charged were the moft dangerous and defperate in it.

From the very critical ftate of the country, it would have been very dangerous to attempt the arreft of fo many perfons of the before-mentioned defcription; for there was no military in the country, except a fmall detachment of the carabineers, a troop of yeoman cavalry, and a company of yeomen infantry; and above one half of the latter, according to Reynolds’s evidence, were united Irifhmen, having, regardlefs of their oath of allegiance, enlifted merely for the purpofe of procuring arms, and joining the French when they fhould land; an event which was ftrongly and earneftly expected. It was then thought prudent to diffemble, and conceal a knowledge of the bufinefs, and to arreft but a few of the leaders, which might caft a damp on the fpirit of the party. Eight only then were taken up, and among thefe two of the name of Walfh, who were fent to general Taylor, at Sligo,† for examination; but they were

* Plate X. 5.      † Ibid. 2.

difcharged by the interceffion of fome gentlemen and magiftrates of the neighbourhood, who affured him of their upright charafters, their loyal and peaceable deportment, though it was declared upon oath, that they were the principal perfons to whom the rebels in the barony of Tyrawly were to look up to for advice and inftruction. Two of thefe magiftrates had foon reafon to retraft their opinions of their liberated friends; for the elder, dreading the punifhment due to his crimes, fled to America, after having defrauded one of the magiftrates at whofe inftance he was liberated. The younger Walfh was apprehended in the houfe of the other gentleman, who had been his encomiaft, with a predatory party in arms, ready to eftablifh liberty and equality, at the expence of his benefactor.

This fact affords a perfuafive leffon to men of property and influence, with what caution they fhould interpofe between the criminal and the laws of his country, particularly when their interference is intended, not to elucidate the innocence of the accufed on his trial, but to refcue him before it takes place from the hands of juftice.

From the following circumftances, which preceded the arrival of the French, no perfon can doubt but that they were expected by the rebels of Mayo and Sligo:

They had an immenfe quantity of pikes in readinefs: To inflame the Romanifts againft the proteftants, they fpread the ufual reports about orangiemen and their fanguinary defigns; and their priefts and their congregations were very eager to take oaths of allegiance, in imitation of thofe of the county of Wexford, to put the magiftrates off their guard, and to prevent the introduftion of troops into the country.

As fome of the Romifh clergy and their flocks in the county of Mayo expreffed a defire of teftifying their allegiance by taking oaths for that purpofe, doctor Stock, the bifhop, and fome of the magiftrates, defirous of encouraging fo laudable a defire in them, fuppofing that it would tend to keep the common people quiet and fteady to the government, held a meeting at Ballina, early in the month of June, 1798, entered into refolutions, and formed a committee, for carrying, their intentions into effect.

An active and intelligent magiftrate of my acquaintance entertained a very different opinion of that meafure, well knowing that treafon was then hatching among the people, and that it would foon burft forth into action; and therefore he abfented himfelf from the meeting, though he had been

appointed one of the committee, as he had ftrong reafons to doubt the fincerity of the Roman catholicks.

According to the plan adopted, the magiftrates divided the country into diftricts; and in order to accommodate the lower clafs of people, they attended at the popifh chapels on fucceffive Sundays, where the priefts were directed to have their flocks affembled, and where they had the oath folemnly adrairuftered to them, beginning with the prieft, and going through the whole of his congregation. By thefe means, (aided alfo by the feveral landlords who took care to bring their tenants forward) almoft the whole of the inhabitants, clergy and laity, had the oath adminiftered to them. The magiftrate, to whom I alluded, would not attend, becaufe he had many documents to prove, and was even informed by one of their own perfuafion, that they meditated the fubverfion of the conftitution, and that the favourite toafl at their convivial meetings was, “A total extirpation of proteftants!”

Similar perfidy, but ftill ftronger, took place in a yeoman corps, commanded by captain Jones of Ballina. The magiftrate whom I mentioned, received pofitive information, that about thirty of them, who were Roman catholicks, had all been united men, and had been fworn to join the French on their landing, which he communicated to their commander, but he could not be prevailed on to give credit to it. He, however, having mentioned it to them, they feemed very much hurt, and propofed that a very ftrong teft, in addition to the oath of allegiance which they had fworn, fhould be framed and adminiftered to them; and captain Jones having complied, they all took it with the greateft readinefs. This ferved as a mafk to their treachery for the prefent, but which they foon threw off, when an opportunity was afforded them of joining the French, which they all did, except three, adding defertion, perfidy and perjury, to their former crime of treafon.

There are two priefts in the neighbourhood of Ballina, who have not been taken up or put on their trial. One of thefe conftantly vifited the French and rebel generals at Killala, and gave directions and orders to them; and when an alarm was given one day, while he was celebrating mafs, that the king’s troops were approaching, he ordered every man who had arms, and was able to march, to repair without delay to the French Itandard to oppofe them. The other lived in a parifh the moft notorious

for difaffection in the county of Sligo, and a letter from him was difcovered, written to a rebel commander at Killala, communicating the ftate of the country, and mentioning the neceffity of fending a quantity of fpirituous liquors to keep up the courage of his people, and to make them ready for fervice.

There were at leaft a dozen Romifh priefts who went to pay their refpects to the French, and lived in habits of intimacy with them at Killala, and other places, eating, drinking, and making merry with them, on the fpoils of the unfortunate proteftants who had either fled or had been imprifoned; whilft none of the Romifh perfuafion, though reputed loyal, were known to fly the country, through apprehenfion of danger, or to join the king’s troops, or the armed loyalifts.

It was not uncommon to fee fome of thefe fpiritual guides introducing into the court-yard of Killala, fome of their half-naked raggamuffins, taking clothes out of the ftores, which were kept there for that purpofe, and: arraying them for actual fervice. There were two, however, of this clafs, who could not be induced, either through fear or promifes, to partake with their flocks in the rebellion, but ftrongly exhorted them to continue in their allegiance, and to attend to their induftry, forewarning them of the confequences of their difloyalty. One of thefe, was Mr. Conway, prieft of Ardagh: The other, Mr. Grady, prieft of Rathrea; of whom the latter was treated with great feverity, and dragged from the altar by his rebellious flock, becaufe he refufed to partake in their wickednefs, and accompany them to Killala. He had even the boldnefs to denounce vengeance on their guilty heads, fhould they perfevere in their treafonable fchemes.

The perfecution levelled againft the proteftant clergymen, was not confined to the imprifonment of their perfons, joined to the infults and menaces offered to them, and the deftruction of their houfes and properties, but was extended even to the demolition of their churches, which they gutted of all the timber and carpenter’s work, and moft wantonly and infultingly abufed, and tore the books which they found in them.

Amongft the churches moft damaged, were thofe of Lackan, Eafky, Killmaftige, and Ennifcrone, in the parish of Killglafs, and county of Sligo. Of the latter they tore up the floors, demolifhed the pews and the communion table, rifled the tomb with great indecency, and infulted

the remains of the reverend Mr. Valentine, who had been vicar of, and refident in that parifh, fifty-three years, and who died in the year 1765, in his ninetieth year, noted and univerfally revered for his humane and charitable difpofition. He left £600 for the fupport of the widows of the clergy of the diocefe, and £400 for maintaining a charity-fchool in the parifh, and for apprenticing the children who were inftructed in it. Doctor William Cecil, bifhop of Killala, had a monument erected to him, on which his virtues and good qualities were infcribed, as an example to his fucceffors.

The meeting-houfe belonging to the diffenting congregation of the Moy Water, near Ballina, fell a prey to their deftructive rage. This was a colony brought there by Sir Arthur Gore, from the north, near one hundred years ago; and from their preferving their primitive manners and dialed, and not holding much intercourfe with the common people of the country, they were more odious to the Roman catholicks than the proteftants of the eftablifhed church, and were treated with great feverity. They were diftinguifhed by the name of Albanaugh.*

The treatment which Mr. Little, vicar of Lackan, met with from thefe favages, deferves particular notice: This gentleman refided conftantly at his glebe-houfe, and a great part of his time was employed in enquiring into, and relieving the wants of his poor parifhioners, of every religious perfuafion. He applied himfelf very much to the ftudy of phyfick, and went to no fmall expence in purchafing medicine for their relief, which he beftowed liberally on them. The Roman catholicks (who, from their numbers and poverty, were moft likely to be the objects of his bounty) foon forgot the kind offices conferred on them, and requited his benevolence with unrelenting cruelty. Though he and Mrs. Little were in a very feeble and declining ftate of health, they forced them from their houfe without a horfe to carry them, and fcarcely clothes to cover them, and then plundered them of every thing worth taking, wantonly deftroying a valuable library, and every other article which they could find no ufe for; and joined to all this, they demolifhed his church.

The reverend Mr. Neligan, of Ballina, a gentleman of elegant tafte and extenfive learning, and an active and intelligent magiftrate, narrowly

* This is much of the fame import with Saffinagh, which fignifies equally proteftant and Englifhman; but alludes more particularly to the Scotch.

efcaped from that town with fome more loyalifts; and after having paffed through a country infefted by banditti, who were roaming in queft of proteftants,§ and after much peril and difficulty, arrived at Seaview, the feat of Mr. Hillas, in the county of Sligo. On his arrival there, fome of the popifh fervants of Mrs. Hillas informed her, that fhe would run a great rifk of having her houfe demolifhed by harbouring a proteftant clergyman.

At length, the event fo eagerly wifhed for by the Mayo and Sligo rebels arrived, for on the twenty-fecond of Auguft, 1798, three French frigates appeared in the bay of Killala,* a fmall town in the county of Mayo, which is the refidence of the bifhop; and as they had Englifh colours, Meffrs. Edwin and Arthur Stock, the bifhop’s fons, and Mr. James Rutledge, the port furveyor, were tempted to vifit them, and were not undeceived, till they were made prifoners.

As the bifhop held a vifitation at that time, and the town afforded but very bad accommodation for ftrangers, his lordfhip had a very numerous company in his houfe. Soon after dinner, a meffenger arrived in the utmoft confternation, to announce that three hundred French troops had landed about a mile from the town, and were marching towards it.

Two carabineer officers, who dined there, rode off inftantly to their quarters at Ballina, to convey intelligence of their landing, and to tranfmit it to Caftlebar.

The prince of Wales’s fencibles, and the yeomen of the town, in all about fifty, refifted them for fome time; but as they would foon have been overpowered by the great fuperiority of numbers, they retired into the caftle,† but not until Mr. Kirkwood, who commanded the yeomanry, after flanding many fhots, had fallen into their hands, and two of his corps had been killed.

The reverend doctor Ellifon of Caftlebar, one of the bifhop’s guefts, with great gallantry, appeared in the ranks, with a mufket, and received a wound in the heel from a fpent ball.

Mr. Edwin Stock, and many other prifoners, appeared at the gate, following general Humbert. The enemy entered the court yard of the

 § This praftice prevailed as much in Mayo and Sligo as in Wexford.       * Plate X. 3.     † The bifhop’s palace is fo called.

caftle, and made prifoners captain Cills and a party of the prince of Wales’s fencibles, but not without a very fpirited refiftance on the part of the captain, who wounded, in two places, the officer who led them on, and then fhut the gate. After having entered the yard, they called for the bifhop; and on his lordfhip’s appearing, the general declared, that he came to give them liberty, and to free them from the Englifh yoke.

They put in requifition all his lordfhip’s horfes, and fome of his cows and fheep, faying, at the fame time, that he fhould be paid for them by the Irifh directory, which would be immediately eftablifhed, in Connaught.

The French officers gave the following, account of the expedition: That about eighteen days before, one thoufand five hundred men, fome of whom had ferved under Buonaparte in Italy, the reft had been of the, army of the Rhine, embarked on board three frigates at Rochelle, and of a very dark night, eluded (beyond their expectation) the vigilance of the Englifh fleet, which was clofe behind them. Two of them had forty-four guns, eighteen pounders, the other thirty-eight guns, twelve pounders. They faid alfo, that they brought nine pieces of cannon, and arms, for one hundred thoufand men; but this was a French gafconade, as they had arms only for five thoufand five hundred men, and but two four-pounders. The meager perfons, and the wan and fallow countenances of thefe troops, whofe numbers did not exceed one thoufand and fixty rank and file, and feventy officers, ftrongly indicated the fevere hardfhips which they muft have undergone.

They hoifted a green flag in front of the caftle, with the Irifh words, “Erin go bragh!” infcribed on it, which fignifies in Englifh, “Ireland for ever!” and they invited the people to join them, having affured them, that they would enjoy freedom and happinefs by doing fo.

The firft day they paffed in landing their arms and ammunition; the fecond in clothing and arming the natives, of whom great multitudes flocked to their ftandard, and in granting commiffions to Irifh officers.

Every perfon endued with any degree of wifdom and virtue muft lament the ftate of the popifh multitude, who were fo perverted in principle, and blinded by fanaticifm, as to join a ferocious foreign enemy againft their king and country; though the paucity of their numbers precluded the moft diftant hope of being able, with their affiftance, to fubvert the government; and it is aftonifhing that their clergy, who had more

improved intellects, fhould have incited and ftimulated them to do fo, as it muft have terminated in their inevitable deftruction.
General Humbert, commander in chief, fent captain Cills and the prince of Wales’s fencibles on board fhip, and detained the yeomen twc days, but afterwards liberated the latter on their parole, having on al! occafions made a liriking difference between t-he native Irifh and the Englifh, from a fuppofition, that the former without diftinftion hated the latter, and wifhed to feparate Ireland from England.

The arms taken from the fencibles were delivered to the rebels, who faid, on receiving them, that they would kill every Englifhman and Orangeman in Ireland.

General Humbert told the bifhop, that the object of this invafion was, to refcue Ireland from the tyranny of England, and to give her a free conftitution, under the protection of France, and that he had not a doubt but that it would be accomplifhed in the fpace of one month, as another very powerful armament would foon arrive from France, to fecond his operations.

He informed his lordfhip, that a directory would fhortly be eftablifhed in Connaught, and faid, that he fhould be glad to avail himfelf of his lordfhip’s talents and confequence, to prefide over that important department; but he excufed himfelf, by faying, that he was bound to the king by repeated oaths of allegiance, which he could by no means think of violating.

General Humbert defired the bifhop to iffue his edict, to have all the horfes and cars in the country collected, to convey his cannon, ammunition and baggage to Caftlebar. His lordfhip affured him, that he was but a fhort time refident in the country, and that he had not fufficient power and authority to effectuate his defires, but that he would do his utmoft to ferve him.

Next morning, Humbert finding that no cars or horfes had been procured, became furious, uttered a torrent of vulgar abufe, prefented a piftol at the bifhop’s eldeft fon, and declared he would punifh his lordfhip’s difobedience, by fending him to France; and accordingly he fent him off towards the fhore, under a corporal’s guard. When he had advanced about half a mile, the general fent an exprefs on horfeback to recal [sic] him,

and at his return, he made him an apology, and pleaded neceffity for what he had done.

On the morning of the twenty-fourth of Auguft, a fmall detachment of the French marched from Killala to Ballina, but meeting with a more fpirited oppofition than they expected, from a party of the carabineers and yeomen infantry, commanded by major Kerr, they returned the fame day.

In the evening, major Kerr having received confiderable reinforcements, advanced towards Killala, but was obliged to retire, after an unfuccefsful fkirmifh, in which two dragoons were wounded, one mortally; and the reverend Mr. Fortefcue, reftor of Ballina, and nephew of the earl of Clermont, received a ball in his groin, of which he died in a few days, in excruciating pain.

In one point, the Irifh rebels were very much difappointed, for they imagined that the invaders were to commence their career with the flaughter of the proteftants, and the deftruction of their property; that the popifh religion was to be eftablifhed with the utmoft fplendor, on the fubverfion of the eftablifhed church; and that the eftates which had been forfeited in former rebellions, were to be reftored to the old Irifh families. But their aftonifhment was great, on being informed by the French, that their object was to give them a new conftitution fimilar to that of France; that they would not fuffer any perfon to be perfecuted for religious opinions; and as they confidered both religions as ridiculous and abfurd, they laughed at thofe who contended about them.

On Sunday the twenty-fixth of Auguft, the main body marched towards Ballina, with a prodigious number of the native Irifh, whom they had armed and clothed; but they left behind them two hundred privates, and fix officers, for the purpofe, as the general faid, to proteft the proteftant inhabitants from the fanguinary fpirit of the popifh multitude; but it is prefumed they had alfo another object in contemplation, that of guarding a large quantity of ammunition, which they left at Killala, and of fecuring a retreat. They took five hoftages with them, of whom Mr. Edwin Stock, the bifhop’s fon, and the reverend Mr. Nickfon, were two.
When the French approached Ballina, they blindfolded the hoftages, and led them to the houfe of colonel King, in the midft of a vaft

concourfe of pikemen, who infulted and reproached them as hereticks in the moft opprobrious language. They paffed the night under the protection of four Frenchmen, but were expofed to the invectives of fome hundreds of the rebels, who threatened to force the guard, and put them to death.

As their horfes could not be found next day, general Humbert at his departure permitted them to return.
On fetting out for Caftlebar, he left one True, a French officer, of a favage difpofition and vulgar manners, to keep poffeffion of Ballina.

Our troops, before they left that town, hanged a man of the name of Walfh, whom they found recruiting for the French, a commiffion from whom they found in his pocket. This was Walfh the younger, who was charged at Sligo, before general Taylor, of treafonable practices, but whom he liberated in confequence of the excellent character given of him by fome magiftrates and others.

The French officers having found his body fufpended when they entered the town, each of them gave it the fraternal embrace, and bedewed it with tears of fympathetic civifm; and after having expofed it fome time in the ftreet, to excite the indignation of the populace againft the loyalifts, it was carried to the Romifh chapel, where it lay in ftate with as much pomp and ceremony as if he had been the greateft hero or patriot of the age.

On the twenty-eighth of Auguft, Mr. Richard Burke was brought a prifoner from Ballina, where he had been haranguing the populace, and inciting them to murder the proteftants, which they had been but too well inclined to do before.

The French were very much aftonifhed at finding that no proteftants would join them; for not a fingle perfon in the whole country of the eftablifhed church could be found to do fo, except two drunken vagabonds at Killala, who in reality were deftitute of all religious principle, though they paffed for proteftants; and they went through the ceremony of conforming to popery, and were baptized, thinking that it would recommend them to the French.

The bifhop might have made his efcape before the French arrived at his palace, but with laudable fortitude he refolved on remaining, by which he

materially affifted the French officers in maintaining focial order, and in preferving the lives and properties of the proteftant inhabitants.

The popifh priefts very foon difplayed an ardent zeal to promote the intereft of the French. Father Thomas Munnelly lived in a place called the Backs, where he officiated as curate in a parifh which belongs to the popifh bifhop doctor Bellew: Soon after the invafion he repaired to Killala, and offered his fervices to the French, who gladly received them, well knowing the unbounded influence of the priefts over the popifh rabble.

He was employed in carrying them recruits, in equipping them with arms and clothes, and in fearching for orangemen, as the proteftants were indifcriminately called. Having heard that Mr. Knox of Bartra, brother to counfellor Francis Knox, a gentleman of good property, had ftill continued to defend his houfe, he voluntarily offered his fervice to vifit him, and to carry him a prifoner to the French. His offer having been accepted, he put himfelf at the head of a party of armed rebels, marched to Bartra, entered it by furprife, and with a piftol in his hand, forgetful of his allegiance, and of the facrednefs and refpectability of the facerdotal character, he defcended to the meannefs of a common robber, and obliged Mr. Knox to deliver his purfe, confifting of a few guineas, and then conveyed him, tied, as a prifoner, to the quarters of his new allies.

This villain defrauded the gallows of its due, for, after abfconding fome time, he furrendered himfelf under the proclamation, and has been tranfported with many culprits of notoriety.

Father Sweeny lived near Weftport, in the county of Mayo, and enrolled himfelf in the fervice of the French, foon after they landed. He repaired to the bifhop’s palace, and though uninvited, ftationed himfelf there at bed and board, fuppofing that his new allies would be defirous of availing themfelves of his influence over the popifh rabble.

He faid to the French officers, “As every thing belonging to the proteftants will be confifcated, I fhould be obliged to monfieur Charoft, if he would let me have the bifhop’s library, as I am fond of reading;” but Charoft turning from him with contempt, faid,

“The bifhop’s library is as much his own now as ever it was.”

This man took uncommon pains to prevail on the parifhioners of Mr. Conway, a loyal prieft, in the neighbourhood of Ballina, to take a part in the rebellion, in which he was ftrenuoufly oppofed by the other,

who conftantly preached up the duties they owed their king and country, in which he had confiderable fuccefs.
Sweeny was apprehended and tried by a court-martial at Caftlebar, where he was convicted on the moft unqueftionable evidence; and the teftimony of the before-mentioned loyal prieft tended much to bring him to the fhameful and well merited death which he there fuffered, having been hanged for his crimes.

From the very great contempt which the French fhewed for the bigotry of the common Irifh papifts, and the ftrong oppofition which they gave to their defire of maffacring and plundering proteftants, it is aftonifhing that they flocked to them in fuch numbers. The officers were filled with amazement on hearing the Irifh recruits fay, when they offered their fervice, that they came to take arms for France and the bleffed Virgin.

It is aftonifhing alfo, that the priefts fhould have been fo zealous for them, as they manifefted the moft ftriking diflike, mingled with contempt, towards them; though common policy required that they fhould ufe every art to conciliate them, as they had unbounded influence over their flocks; and as many of them had a fmattering of French, they ferved them as interpreters.
Monfieur Charoft faid, “That they had juft driven the pope out of Italy, and did not expect to find him fo fuddenly in Ireland.”
James Conroy, parifh prieft of Adergool, in the barony of Tyrawly and county of Mayo, a few weeks before the invafion of the French, took the oath of allegiance, in his own chapel, and in the prefence of fome hun dreds of his flock, who followed his example; and he exhorted them from the altar, to be loyal to the king and obedient to the laws, in a long fpeech, conceived in fuch forcible language, that the magiftrate, who adminiftered the oath, was convinced of his fincerity; and yet, in violation of it, he repaired to Killala, which was twenty miles diftant, as foon as the French landed there, embarked warmly in their intereft, and. was the firft perfon who shewed them the practicability of marching to Caftlebar, by Barnageehy, inftead of the ufual road by Foxford.*

As his houfe was in their route, he entertained the French and rebel offcers: He converted his chapel into a guard-houfe for them, his manfion

* See Plate X. 5.

was their banqueting-houfe, and the oxen which they took from his neighbours were flaughtered in one of his out-offices.

It has been since difcovered, that a meffenger had been difpatched to general Hutchinfon, to inform him that the French were advancing towards Caftlebar, by Croffmalina, inftead of Foxford; but Conroy and his coadjutor ftopped him, made him fwear the united Irifhmen’s oath, and enrolled him in the rebel ranks. His name was William Burke. He was afterwards hanged at Caftlebar. The ftopping him was the occafion of many calamities to this kingdom.

Conroy, confcious of his guilt, and fearing that he fhould be arrefted, kept guards conftantly round his houfe, after the arrival of our troops at Killaia; but a party detached by general Trench furprifed his vidette, killed two of them, wounded a third, and took the fourth prifoner. They were all in French arms and uniforms. They found in his houfe a French carabine, and fome cartridges; a printed proclamation of the French, offering liberty to the people of Ireland; and the entire correfpondence which had taken place between him and one Maguire of Crofsmalina,* a noted rebel leader.

He was hanged at Caftlebar, without either confeffing or denying his guilt; and though he was fure of eternal falvation for having oppofed an heretical ftate in fupport of the true faith, he had fcarce fufficient ftrength to afcend the fatal ftep.
On the firft of September, lieutenant-colonel Charoft received orders from general Humbert, to fend off all the French troops to

Caftlebar, but that he fhould remain at Killala, as commander of it, with another French officer of the name of Ponfon.

This intelligence filled all the proteftants with the moft gloomy apprehenfions, left the authority of the commandant would not be fufficient to protect them from that fanguinary fpirit which the lower clafs of people had fo often manifefted; and they dreaded the fate of the proteftant fufferers at Wexford-bridge, Vinegar-hill, and Scullabogue.

Charoft, a man of fenfe and honour, and naturally benevolent, fhewed great horror at the bigotry of the Romanifts, fympathized moft tenderly with the proteftants, and ufed the moft unremitted exertions to protect them from its baneful effects. He had two hundred Irifh recruits under

* See Plate X. 4.

his command, but the envenomed hatred which they had already fhewn towards all loyal fubjects proved, that they could not place much reliance on their protection. The commandant, wifhing to adopt meafures for fecuring the lives and property of the inhabitants of the town and the adjacent country againft robbers, invited them without any diftinction of religion or party, to accept of arms, but on condition that they would return them when called for. The inhabitants of the town, and efpecially the proteftants, embraced the offer with alacrity, and the diftribution took place on the evening of September the firft.

The rebels objected ftrongly againft fupplying the proteftants with arms, as they faid that they would turn them againft the French and their allies, as foon as an English army appeared; and two of their officers, of the name of Mulheeran and Maguire, who were fpokefmen on the occafion, became clamorous and vehement, the former having manifefted his difguft fo much as to lay down his arms.

The proteftants, intimidated by the menaces of the rebel foldiers, refolved to furrender their arms, and to reft their defence on the fidelity of the Irifh recruits.

As the rebels continued their murmurs and complaints, and harraffed the proteftants with domiciliary vifits, in fearch of arms, the commandant, at the inftance of the latter, iffued a proclamation, requiring that no perfon fhould appear in arms, except recruits for the French fervice.

In addition to the terror of being deprived of their arms, the proteftants were very much alarmed at the accounts which were conftantly received of depredations committed on the houfes of perfons of the eftablifhed church, in all the adjacent country. Every night fome houfe was plundered; and fcarce an hour paffed, in which the bifhop was not importuned to redrefs fome grievance, or to obtain from the commandant protection for fome houfe againft the rapacity of banditti.

Deal Caftle, the elegant feat of lord Tyrawly, was made a perfect wreck of. The commandant, therefore, iffued a proclamation for dividing the country into departments, and appointed a civil m-agiftrate, aided by a certain number of rebel foldiers over each. Mr. James Devitt, a Roman catholick tradefman, of good fenfe and moderation, was appointed to prefide over the town, and had one hundred and fifty Imen under his command.

About twenty men mounted guard in the caftle, which was confidered as the head-quarters of the allied army. This inftitution afforded in fome degree peace and protection to the town: but the moft fhocking depredations continued to be committed on the houfes of proteftants in all the adjacent country, by thofe very rebel guards who had been appointed to protect them.

This is not furprifing, as the rebels were elate on the arrival of tht French, with the hope of being allowed to indulge their fanguinary rage againft proteftants, and to plunder their property with impunity; and they were much vexed and difappointed when it was given out in publick orders, that any depredations committed on private property fhould be punifhed with death; and the rebel leaders fubmitted to fuch orders with the utmoft reluctance, for they were in many inftances little better in point of moral character than the femi-barbarous rabble whom they headed.

At Ballina, and its vicinity, any mifcreant who could influence forty or fifty ruffians, became captain of a company of pikemen, and obtained a commiffion from True the commandant; and the firft act by which he fignalized himfelf was, by dragging in orangemen, by which they meant proteftants, and by plundering their houfes.

Before I proceed to defcribe the operations of the main body of the French army at Caftlebar, I will give the reader a fketch of the characters of fome of the moft confpicuous rebel leaders in the neighbourhood of Ballina and Killala.

Henry O’Keon, was the fon of a cow-herd of lord Tyrawly, and was born at Kilcomin, within three miles of the latter. Having acquired a fmattering of Latin at a hedge fchool, he repaired to Nantz in France, where he ftudied divinity, and received holy orders, in the year 1788.* On the abolition of his order in France, he enlifted in the fervice as a private foldier, and was gradually advanced to the rank of a captain of grenadiers†

The following commiffion found among his papers, proves that he came as an interpreter to the French, and that their expedition was intended for the place where they landed:

† His teftimonium was found among his papers and produced oa bis trial. †His commiffion was alfo produced.

“Army of expedition Liberty! . . . Equality!

“General Humbert, on account of the civifm of citizen Henry 0’Keon, has chofen him to be employed in quality of an interpreter, and he fhall be confidered amongft the number of the ftaff. Citizen O’Keon will embark on board the Franchife frigate, with adjutant-general Fontaine, and fhall be admitted in the number of the ftaff of general Humbert, commander in chief of the expedition.

“HUMBERT.”

O’Keon, well knowing the fuperftitious credulity and the fanaticifm of the popifh multitude, affembled a vaft concourfe of them in the ftreet of Ballina, and having mounted the roftrum, he related the following flory to them in his native tongue, which he fpoke better than French or Englifh: “That he dreamt one night in France, that the virgin Mary vifited him, and informed him that her votaries in Ireland were fuffering the moft grievous perfecution, and fhe recommended to him to go to their relief. As he regarded it merely as an idle dream, fhe made him a fecond vifit, and bemoaned, in the moft doleful accents, the ftate of her friends in Ireland, and repeated her former advice; but as he shewed no regard to it, fhe made him a third vifit, and gave him a violent box in the ear. Convinced by this that her Holinefs was ferious, he repaired to the French directory, and perfuaded them to undertake this expedition; and he affured them that there could not be a doubt of its fuccefs, as it was undertaken by the advice, and under the fanction of the bleffed virgin.” The befotted multitude purfuaded of the truth of what he faid, teftified their joy and their approbation of it by vociferous acclamation.

O’Keon was humane, having upon all occafions oppofed the bloodthirfty difpofition of the popifh multitude.

Father Prendergaft, lived near Weftport, and was of the order of mendicant friars who fupport themfelves by the voluntary donations of fuch perfons in their neighbourhood as can afford to exercife acts of liberality; but he, like many others of his order, extorted very large contributions from the bigotted herd of papifts, who have an extraordinary fuperftitious reverence for their facerdotal guides of every defcription.

Such was father Prendergaft, a flout, fturdy, well fed prieft, who battened on the fat of the land, Epicuri de grege porcus, without giving himfelf any trouble about his fpiritual concerns, except when he could turn them to profit.
The moft fruitful fource of lucre which his vocation afforded him, was the fale of fcapulars, of which he often fold a bafket at fairs or patrons.

He alfo dealt in charms and prophecies. One of the former, of which I give the reader a copy, was found on the perfon of one Prendergaft, a farmer, who obtained it from this holy friar in the year 1798, by a very reputable magiftrate in the county of Mayo, near Weftport. I have given one of them found on a rebel in the county of Wexford, and a fimilar piece of fuperftitious trumpery is to be found in doctor Bernard’s hiftory of the fiege of Drogheda, written in the laft century.

“This is meafured of the wounds of the fide of our lord Jefus Chrift, which was brought from Conftantinople unto the emperor Charles, within a gold cheft, as a relief moft precious to that effect, that no evil or any thing might take him who reads it, hears it, wears, it, cannot be hurted by any tempeft, fire, water, knife, fword, lance, or bullet; neither the devil fhall hurt him. He fhall be victorious and never die an untimely death, and it fhall be a fure fafety to women with child. Amen, fo be it.” To Pat. Prendergaft.

As foon as the French landed, father Prendergaft attached himfelf in the ftrongeft manner to them, and was very fuccefsful in promoting their intereft, from the great influence he had over the lower clafs of people. When the king’s troops again took poffeffion of the country, he, with many others, fled to the mountains, where for fome months he endured much from want, anxiety and difeafe.

A party of the king’s troops, who went in fearch of a banditti which infefted the country, found this holy friar a moft miferable inftance of the uncertainty of human affairs, lying in a wretched hut, almoft confumed by that moft dreadful and loathfome diforder called morbus pediculofus,* of

* The loufy diforder.

which he died foon after; and fuch were the putrid effluvia which iffued from his body, that it was both dangerous and offenfive to approach it for the purpofe of interring it.

Father Owen Cowley was the fon of a poor peafant, who lived in the parifh of Caftleconnor, and county of Sligo, within about four miles of Ballina. At a hedge-fchool he acquired a competent fhare of Latin to read the mafs, and received holy orders, having been fanctioned by the impofition of doctor Bellew’s hands. One of the crimes charged againft Jeroboam was, “That he made of the loweft of the people priefts of the high places: Whofoever would, he confecrated him, and he became one of the priefts of the high places. And this became fin unto the houfe of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to deftroy it from the face of the earth.”*

The fame praftice prevails among the Roman catholick bifhops of Ireland, as they commonly recruit from the loweft clafs of the people, to fill the vacancies in the ecclefiaftical ranks; and when fuch perfons are felected to preach the gofpel, it is not furprifing that vice and immorality are fo prevalent, or that the popifh clergy are found at the bottom of plots and confpiracies, and that many of them are the moft active incendiaries, and foremoft in the ranks of rebellion.

Father Cowley having finifhed his Irifh education, repaired to France, to complete himfelf in humanity and divinity.

When the French republicans were exercifing a cruel and fanguinary fpirit againft minifters of the gofpel, he retired to his native country; and yet fuch was his difaffection to a proteftant king, and a proteftant ftate, that he offered his fervices to thofe very republicans, though they were the avowed enemies of chriftianity, as foon as they landed in Ireland.

True, the French commandant of Ballina, employed him as an interpreter, an office which he abufed very much, having poifoned his mind againft the proteftants, whom he reprefented as peftilent hereticks, and as enemies to French liberty; and he affured him, that their complete extirpation was effentially neceffary for the eftablifhment of the new con. ftitution offered by France.
True, though favage and ferocious, refufed to accede to his propofal, from motives of policy; but Cowley having reprefented, that they were conftantly conveying fecret intelligence to the king’s

* I Kings xiii. 33, 34.

troops, he obtained permiffion to arreft and imprifon them. He, therefore, in imitation of the Wexford rebels, fent out gangs of banditti, to fearch the country for proteftants, and they fulfilled the moft fanguine wifhes of their favage employer; as they feized a great many perfons of the eftablifhed church, and committed them to the houfe of the honourable colonel King at Ballina, where father Cowley daily vilified and infulted them as hereticks, and denounced death againft them in various terrifick forms.

At one time, he was heard to declare that he would burn them alive in a kiln; another time with tar barrels; and when he defpaired of procuring them, he faid, that his purpofe could be effected by tying flax round their bodies, and by fetting fire to it. Death was prefented to their imaginations another time by the ruthlefs pikemen, of whom fome thoufands daily paffed by the windows of the houfe where they were confined. This villain had the temerity to inform the rebels (who were panting for the blood of the proteftants) that he had procured them permiffion to affaffinate them; and his diabolical defign would probably have been carried into execution that night, but for the interference of Mr. Barrett, fon of doctor Barrett, of whom I fhall fpeak in the fequel; and his difcovery and communication of it to True was near proving fatal to him; for the pikemen, indignant at their difappointment, in not being allowed to riot in the blood of their heretical enemies, attempted to wreak their vengeance on Barrett’s head, from which the fpirit and activity of his horfe alone preferved him, when furrounded by a wood of pikes.

His addrefs to the prifoners was often in thefe words: “Ye damnable hereticks — ye fcum of hell — ye breed of the devil — your time is but fhort — ye have but this night to live, and to-morrow ye fhall fuffer for your crimes.”

This happened in the time of tranquillity, when the country was in the hands of the French, without interruption; but in the hour of danger his fanguinary rage againft them did not abate, for when the rebels were ordered to march towards Coloony to reinforce the French, he folicited and obtained permiffion to march the proteftants with them, under pretext that they would efcape for want of guards, but in reality with an intention of having them cut off. Thus furrounded by a numerous body of pikemen, thefe unfortunate people were marched off thirty miles, many

of them barefoot, and almoft naked, as the rebels when they arrefted them, ftripped them of their clothes, after the example of their Wexford friends.

During the engagement at Coloony, the prifoners were ftationed near the church, expecting to be put to death if the king’s troops were victorious; but after the battle, the guards being engaged in plundering and revelling, the prifoners made their efcape, but were afterwards taken and reconducted to their former prifon.

Though this wretch efcaped the gallows, he fuffered a more fevere and painful death. Having wandered about the mountains for fome months, fuffering all the miferies of hunger, thirft, watching, and fear, his friends, formed a fubterraneous cavern for him, under a corn field, of which the aperture was covered with a large ftone, fo as to elude the obfervation of his purfuers, who often paffed clofe to it. His provifions were let down to him by a rope. At laft, he was found dead in his den, and his death was imputed to fuffocation from coals, which his friends fupplied him with, to correct the humidity of his cavern. His funeral obfequies were performed at midnight by a number of priefts, who, it is faid, were ordered to attend them, by doctor Bellew, the popifh bifhop. I fhall refer the reader to Appendix, No. XX. 7, for a proof of the brutal treatment which fome of the prifoners received from this ferocious monfter.

General Bellew was defcended from an antient and refpectable family in the county of Galway, and was nearly allied to Sir Patrick Bellew.

He was brother to doctor Bellew, Roman catholick bifhop of Killala, and when that gentleman was at Rome, fludying divinity, their father fent out his fecond fon Matthew, to have him educated for the priefthood under his brother. He fubmitted for fome years, though reluctantly, to the courfe of fludy neceffary to qualify him for the paftoral office; but being of a lively volatile difpofition, and having formed an acquaintance at Rome with fome Auftrian officers, who encouraged him to join them, he entered into the Imperial fervice, and was foon after promoted to the rank of lieutenant; but not finding fufficient employment for the activity of his mind and body at that time in Germany, he entered into the Ruffian fervice, where he found fufficient occupation for

the energies of both, in the bloody war which broke out between tha Ruffians and Turks. Here his courage and conduft were fo confpicuous, that he was foon advanced to the rank of major in a regiment of infantry. His rapid career in military fame, of which he ever feemed immoderately fond, was fuddenly checked by an unforefeen accident.

At the fiege of Ifmail the enemy fprung a mine, which blew up part of the works, and buried in their ruins our unfortunate hero and a great many Ruffian foldiers. Happy had he been, to have been numbered with the dead, and to have finifhed his life like a foldier, as he had begun it! but Providence referved him for a more ignominious fate, and exemplified in him the uncertainty of human affairs. In his early days, he fought for glory in a foreign land, and fought with courage the battles of alien princes. In his maturer years, he incurred difgrace and infamy at home, and took up arms againft his lawful fovereign and his native country.

When extricated from the ruins, he had but few fymptoms of life: He languifhed a long time under his wounds, and his intellects were fo much impaired, that he was found unfit for fervice. It was thought advifable then to give him a long leave of abfence, and to let him return to his friends, in hopes that tranquillity and his native air would reftore him.
Frefh misfortunes awaited him on his return to Ireland, As he had no fortune, he lived with his friends and his brother, on whom he had great dependence; but when the glofs of novelty wore away, they grew tired of him, and manifefted by their conduct that they confidered him a troublefome and unwelcome gueft. This drove him into low company, and a habit which he had acquired of drinking fpirits, encreafed his derangement, and made him difagreeable and offenfive. His brother having quarrelled with him, refufed to admit him into his houfe, and ufed to billet him among his priefts, month about; a fituation very difagreeable to him, as he difliked the principles, and was difgufted with the ignorance and vulgarity of his hofts, which in his gayer hours were a fubject of merriment and ridicule to him. By the death of an uncle, he became entitled to £600 which he frequently folicited, to carry him back to Ruffia; but, notwithftanding the moft preffing folicitations, he could not obtain it from his brother, who tranfacted the affairs of the deceafed. He was frequently invited to the tables of the genteel and

refpectable families at Ballina, particularly by the reverend Mr. Neligan, who was much entertained with the narrative of his adventures; but from the want of clothes and cleanlinefs, and the filth and fqualidnefs of his perfon, he foon became unfit for fociety.

Being in this ftate of mifery and wretchednefs on the arrival of the French, he had not firmnefs and fortitude enough to refift the temptations which they offered him to enter into their fervice. His firft offer, however, was to his king and country; and juft as the enemy were about to enter Ballina, he earneftly entreated Mr. Neligan and Mr. Weft to fupply him with arms and a horfe, declaring, that he was ready to accompany them and to fhare their fortune. With this requeft, it was impoffible at that time to comply: He was left then with no other refource, but to fly or to join the enemy, and he embraced the latter. The French were happy to find a man who could fpeak. their language well, and who was likely to be ufeful to them, from his long experience in the military line; they therefore conferred on him the rank and dignity of general in the army of the Irifh republick. But as he continued to give way to his former habits of diffipation and drunkennefs, they found him rather an incumbrance than a benefit.
Incenfed againft his brother for the indignities and flights which he had formerly received from him, he plundered his houfe of whatever he wanted; but the doctor having been appointed by the French commandant prefident of the municipal government of the town, had intereft enough to get the general removed and ftationed at Killala.

Mindful of former kindneffes conferred on him, he, previous to his departure from Ballina, pofted a notice on the houfe of Mr. Neligan, denouncing vengeance upon any perfon who fhould moleft it; but his authority ceafing with his prefence, the demolition of it foon took place.

It was ufual with him to levy fmall contributions on the people in the neighbourhood, to purchafe whifkey and tobacco, of which he was immoderately fond; but in no other inftance did he offer any violation to the perfons or property of the loyalifts; and contenting himfelf with the pleafures arifing from his glafs and his pipe, he feemed perfectly indifferent about the iffue of the war.

At the approach of the king’s troops to Killala, he refufed to take up arms, or to march againft them; though furrounded by a hoft of pikemen.

He was taken in the town, tried next day by a court-martial, and hanged. His dejection on his trial was fuch, that he was incapable of making any rational defence. He was a man of quick lively parts, very fhrewd in his remarks on men and manners, and had much sincerity and ingenuoufnefs in his conduct and converfation. He knew the French, Italian, German, and Sclavonian languages well, and fpoke the firft three with fluency and accuracy. It is much to be lamented, that a man who might have been a benefit and an ornament to fociety, fhould, by a train of misfortunes, to which he was not acceffary, be reduced to fuch a ftate of debafement, and be finally driven to make fo ignominious an exit.

Father McGowan, a fellow of very low extraction, and a noted drunkard, lived at Crofsmalina; but having a difpute with the Maguire family, who made a confpicuous figure in the rebellion, he was obliged to change his refidence. Though deeply concerned in treafon and rebellion, the loyalifts could not obtain fufficient evidence to convict him; but though he efcaped the gallows, juftice overtook him in another way. Soon after the furrender of the French at Ballynamuck, a report having reached him, that they had made another defcent, while he was revelling at a chriftening, he, elate at the pleafing intelligence, indulged in the joys of Bacchus to fuch an excefs, that returning to his own houfe at a, late hour of the night, he fell from his horfe, and broke his neck within a few paces of it.

Many circumftances confpired to favour the defcent and the progrefs of the French in the county of Mayo, and to make it difficult for government to oppofe them with effect. The oaths of allegiance taken by the popifh clergy and their congregations, like thofe of Wexford, Wicklow, and Kildare, for the purpole of impofing on the government and the magiftracy, lulled the vigilance and banifhed the fufpicion of both; and the inhabitants of that county were, in appearance, but feebly organized, and did not break out into any open acts of outrage; and therefore but very fmall parties of the military were quartered in it.

There was a large army ftationed in Munfter, as an infurrection was to be apprehended there, and bccaufe it was more likely to be invaded by the French than any other part of the kingdom. As the landing of the French in Ireland fuddenly occafioned a ftrong and vifible fenfation, not only in the difaffected inhabitants of Dublin, but in thofe of every

county which had previoufly fhewn any fymptoms of difloyalty, and as ftrong indications of an intended infurrection appeared in them, it would have been very perilous to have marched the troops out of fuch diftricts.
Major-general Hutchinfon, who commanded in the province of Connaught, and who, with major-general Trench, was in the town of Galway,* on receiving intelligence of the enemy’s defcent, refolved on marching towards the counties of Mayo and Sligo, with whatever troops he could collect; but from the flender force under his command, this could not be effected without leaving the counties of Leitrim and Rofcommon, notorioufly difaffected, liable to infurrection, and the bridges on the upper part of the Shannon without protection. The troops with which he moved towards Caftlebar,† were the Kerry militia from Galway, a detachment of the Frafer fencibles from Tuam,| the Kilkenny militia from Loughrea, the Longford from Gort, a detachment of lord Roden’s fencible dragoons, four fix-pounders, and a howitzer from Athenry.|| Thefe troops were afterwards joined by the fkeleton of the 6th regiment, about one hundred men, from Galway; which afterwards continued to be garrifoned by a few corps of yeomanry only.

The difpofition of the country feemed at firft favourable, which was by no means the cafe in the counties of Leitrim and Rofcommon, Cavan and Weftmeath, in which there was a confiderable movement of the people, and the blackfmiths were bufily employed in making pikes.

Brigadier-general Barnet ordered the city of Limerick regiment of militia to march from Athlone§ to Carrick-on-Shannon.**
In the mean time reports were received from general Dundas, who commanded in the county of Kildare, that there were ftrong apprehenfions that a general infurrection would take place there, as notices had been circulated by the difaffected, inciting the people to rife; and as many of the inhabitants had left their houfes, he was under the neceffity of detaining part of the reinforcements intended for Connaught.

The marquis of Cornwallis having received intelligence the twenty-fourth of August of the landing of the French, ordered lieutenant-general Lake to proceed to Galway, to take the command of the troops

* Plate X. 10.      † lbid., 6.   ‡ Plate X. 8.    || Ibid. 10.   § Plate X. 9       **Ibid. 5. 

affembling in Connaught, his excellency intending in perfon to collect the troops that could be fpared from leinfter, at Athlone, or Carrick-on-Shannon, and to act in concert with the other general officers, as cirumftances fhould require. He arrived at Philipftown on the twenty-fixth, with the 100th regiment, the firft and fecond battalions of light infantry, the flank companies of the Bucks and Warwick militia, and on the twenty-feventh proceeded to Kilbeggan;* the troops having made a progrefs of forty-four Irifh miles in two days.

Major-general Hutchinfon arrived at Caftlebar on the twenty-fifth, and made proper difpofitions to receive the enemy. Two roads led from Ballina to Caftlebar; one to the eaft of Loughconn, by Foxford,† a village eleven miles from Caftlebar, and fituated on the river Moy, which is broad and deep, and is croffed by a bridge of many arches. As this is by far the beft road, general Hutchinfon detached the Kerry regiment, with their battalion guns to defend that pafs; and brigadier-general Taylor arrived there alfo, with a detachment of regular troops and yeomanry. As there is a very ftrong pafs, called Barnageehy, on the other road,‡ to the weft of Loughconn, and as it is far lefs prafticable, and therefore much lefs frequented, than the road by Foxford, it was univerfally believed, and it was reafonable to fuppofe, that the French would make their approach by the latter; and it is moft certain, that general Humbert, openly and feduloufly announced, fome hours before he marched, that he would proceed by Foxford, intelligence of which was conveyed to generals Hutchinfon and Trench; and the better to deceive them, he marched part of the road towards Foxford, and then turning fuddenly to the right, he proceeded by Loughconn, where a narrow pafs, called Barnageehy, through the mountains of Fanogue, is fo ftrong by nature, that one company with a battalion gun pofted there, would have checked the progrefs of the French. But for the reafons which I have affigned, generals Hutchinfon and Trench could not have the moft remote fufpicion that the French would advance by that road.

At the hour of three o’clock in the morning, a yeoman who had been vifiting his farm near Barnageehy, arrived, and informed general Trench that he had feen a large body of men in blue clothes advancing that way;

on which the general proceeded to reconnoitre, attended by a few dragoons; but when he had advanced about three miles from Caftlebar, he was fired on by the advanced guard of the French. He then returned with the utmoft fpeed, and marched the garrifon to a rifing ground outfide the town, which he had fixed on the preceding day as an alarm poft, fhould the enemy advance to attack them. It was on a hill at the north-weft extremity of the town, running from east to weft, and commandng a rifing ground oppofite to it, over which the French muft neceffarily pafs, and at the diftance of about one thoufand yards.

Our line was drawn up in the following order: The Kilkenny militia, the fkeleton of the 6th regiment of foot, and a fubaltern’s detachment of the prince of Wales’s fencibles, formed the firft line. The Frafer fencibles, with a fmall corps of Galway yeomen infantry, formed a fecond line; but both drawn up in irregular lines, fo as to occupy the fummits; of the heights they were deftined to defend. The four companies of the Longford were drawn up in a valley in the rear, and a little on the left of the main body of the Kilkenny. The cavalry, confifting of the 1ft fencibles, and a part of the 6th dragoon guards, were ftationed in the rear of the firft line, fome piquets excepted, who had been previoufly fent out, and fome yeomen cavalry, who were pofted in different quarters.

Captain Shortall, who commanded the artillery, took poft with two curricle guns in front of the firft line, confifting of the 6th infantry and the Kilkenny, who were a little to his right to fupport that flank; the two battalion guns attached to the Kilkenny militia being on his left, feparated by the road, but parallel to him. He left the two other curricle guns in the centre of the town, in an open fpace, under lieutenant Blundel, of the artillery.

They remained in this fituation till near eight o’clock, when the enemy appeared in columns, advancing over the rifing ground in front. When the French general viewed our line, he covered his column deep with rebels, dreffed in French uniforms, to draw the fire on them, and from his own men. A numerous rabble, who were all pluderers, attended them alfo.
When they had nearly gained the fummit of the hill, a round fhot from captain Shortall’s right gun ftruck the head of their column, and nearly divided it in two parts. This made them fail back, feemingly in confusion;

but in fome time advancing again, a fhot from the fecond gun ftruck them with the fame effect as the firft, with this difference, that the part of the column on the right of where the fhot entered, rufhed forward (about fifty yards) to the cover of a houfe, on which the captain found it neceffary to direct his fire againft the main body, and foon fucceeded in driving them back. After this the enemy difappeared for a few minutes, when they advanced a third time in the fame direction, but endeavouring to deftroy the effect of the fhot, by forcing fome cattle into their front. In this attempt they were alfo fruftrated, and obliged to retire under cover of the hill. In a fhort time they were perceived deploying from the centre, which was performed in a quick and mafterly ftyle, with the files very open. In this manner their line advanced, until it was parallel to (or fomething before) where their column had been fo often obliged to retire from. Here it was, that our infantry committed a fatal miftake, in beginning a fire at fo great a diftance, that it could produce no effect, which the enemy imputing to panick, or the want of judgment, rufhed rapidly forward, to fome hedges immediately in our front, under cover of which they continued to advance in detached parties, and without preferving any regular line, and at the fame time extending their wings with an evident defign of outflanking us. In this fituation they did not refift him fufficiently with their mufketry; and in a very fhort time after, the detachment, which was pofted for the fole purpofe of fupporting the guns, retired, leaving behind them the gallant major Alcock, of the Kilkenny, who was wounded.

It was ftill hoped, that they would have rallied in rear of the guns, when they perceived the execution made by the canifter fhot; but they ran off; and captain Shortall had only time to fire three rounds, when the enemy rufhed in on his right, and would certainly have put him and all his men to death, but that it is fuppofed their ammunition was expended. While captain Shortall was at the britchin of his gun, he was clofed by a French officer, who having fired a piftol at him, and miffed him, was on the point of drawing his fword, but the captain knocked him down with his fift, and then retreated.

In juftice to the earls of Ormond and Longford, I think it proper to obferve that they did their utmoft to rally their regiments.

The earl of Granard, major Thompfon, captains Chambers and Armftrong rallied fome foldiers of the Longford, and fome ftragglers of other corps, and covered the retreat of our troops, by maintaining, as they retired, a well-directed fire from behind hedges and walls, on the enemy as they advanced. Thefe officers then took poft on the bridge with their fmall party and a curricle gun, well ferved and directed by corporal Gibfon of the Royal Irifh artillery, and with great gallantry and good judgment defended that pafs for above half an hour againft the main body of the enemy. At the fame time, lieutenant Blundell, with the other gun in the ftreet, ufed the utmoft exertion to oppofe them.

The party who defended the bridge, confifting of the before-mentioned officers, fome of the Longford, a few of the Kilkenny and Frafer’s, fuffered moft feverely, as it was expofed to a crofs fire, both from the roads leading to it, and from the houfes on each fide. The men often fell back and were rallied by their officers. At length, moft of the Royal Irifh artillery, who worked the gun, having been killed or wounded, it became ufelefs; and the enemy were able to pufh forward a body of cavalry, whofe charge was however repulfed by this fmall party, and two of the foremoft huffars were killed in our ranks. By this charge, however, our numbers were much reduced, and having loft the affiftance of one captain and one fubaltern, who were defperately wounded, they were obliged to retreat, after having loft near one half of their party.

Captain Chambers fell, covered with wounds; and when down, a Frenchman, enraged at the fpirited defence which he and his fmall party had made, drove a bayonet into his mouth, and the favage rebel women leaped on his body, and yet he ftill furvives; but fo impaired in his health, being completely exhaufted and debilitated by the number of wounds which he received, and the great effufion of blood which enfued, as to be but the fhadow of what he was: But it is to be hoped, that fome fubftantial rewards will one day await that fignal valour which he difplayed in the fervice of his country, and which renders him an honour to it.

Many of the French officers affured me, that they never faw guns better ferved or more deftructive than thofe of our artillery; and that the action would have terminated in our favour, if the infantry had ftood their ground and fupported them for ten minutes longer.

The French approached the new gaol to break it open: It was guarded by a highland Frafer fentinel, whom his friends had defired to retreat with them; but he heroically refufed to quit his port, which was elevated, with fome fteps leading to it. He charged and fired five times fucceftively, and killed a Frenchman at every fhot; but before he could charge the fixth time, they rufhed on him, beat out his brains, and threw him down the fteps, and the fentry box on his body.

A party of French dragoons purfued our retreating army above a mile from the town, and took a piece of cannon, which they were on the point of turning on their rear, but a party of lord Roden’s fencibles refcued the gun, and killed five of them.

A refpectable inhabitant of Caftlebar gives the following account of five French foldiers who refided in his houfe, and of fome other particulars: “When they entered my houfe, I implored them to fpare the lives of me and my wife: They raifed us from our knees, and faid, “Vivant!” They demanded bread, beef, wine and beer, and by fupplying them with thofe articles, as far as my purfe went, I obtained their good will. The rebels who accompanied them at firft plundered us of various articles; but one day when they revifited us, I alarmed my foreign inmates, who expelled and chaftifed them feverely. One of them, by name Philip Sheers, was from Holland; I gave him my watch, but he kindly returned it; another, Bartholomew Baillie, from Paris, was mild, learned, and rather filent. He had been a prieft, but on the overthrow of his order, became a foldier: He denied a future exiftence. One Ballifceau, a Spaniard, was as intrepid as Hannibal: Since the age of fifteen, he had followed the profeffion of a foldier: He had been a prifoner in Pruffia, in Paris, and in London: He had been confined in a dungeon at Conftantinople: He croffed the Alps with Buonaparte, and fought under him in Italy: His body, head and face were covered with wounds: He was a hard drinker, a great fwearer, and mocked religion; and yet he was very fond of children, and never entered my apartment without conftantly enquiring for my wife, who was on the point of lying-in. The fourth was from Rochelle, and the fifth from Toulon.

“As foon as the French learned that lord Cornwallis was arrived at Hollymount, which was but fourteen miles off, the Parifian came to me

* Taken prifoner when in the Imperial fervice.

at midnight, and faid, with diftrefs painted in his countenance, “We muft depart, for the English, headed by a great general, are approaching.”

Every perfon poffeffed of moral fentiment, muft contemplate with horror mingled with pity, the depraved and degraded ftate of a people in a revolutionary ftate like the French; for devoid of every tie, human and divine, accuftomed to idlenefs, and unacquainted with the arts of induftry, their only occupation and refource is to plunder and defolate the territories of their neighbours.

On the night of the battle at Caftlebar, bonfires were lighted on all the high grounds near it, particularly towards Weftport and Newport, for the purpofe of inciting the common people to rife, and which it occafioned moft effectually. A numerous mob of favages entered the former, and plundered and almoft demolifhed the houfes of the proteftants, but did not injure one belonging to a Roman catholick. All the loyalifts were obliged to fly to Caftlebar to preferve their lives.

Though lord Altamont and his family had evinced a very ftrong partiality for the Roman catholicks, and had on all occafions given to government the warmeft affurances of their loyalty, their property was not fpared. They carried off his lordfhip’s horfes, cows, and ftieep, drank all the liquor in his cellars, broke fome of the doors and windows in his houfe, which they would have demolifhed, but that James Jofeph McDonnell, who, accompanied by a French officer, took poffeffion of it as his own manfion.

They told lord Altamont’s French cook that they would not injure him, as he was a Frenchman and a Roman catholick.

Mount-Browne, the houfe of the honourable Mr. Dennis Browne, his lordfhip’s brother, and member for the county, they plundered and deftroyed beyond precedent, where fire was not ufed; though on all occafions he had been unremittingly the warm advocate of the Roman catholicks in parliament. They carried off all his horfes, cows, and ftieep, and cut down many ornamental trees in his demefne, to make pikes. In fhort, the favages plundered the houfes of every proteftant in the country which was not defended, but in no indances the property of a Roman catholick was injured.

The perfons who took the lead in the rebellion in that country, were James Jofeph McDonnell, a barrifter, fon to Mr. Jofeph McDonnell, a magiftrate, and a man of good property. The whole country was organized

by him. John Gibbons, formerly agent to lord Altamont, and for whom his lordfhip had a very warm friendfhip: He was the chief director of the pike manufactory: He was far advanced in years. Thomas Gibbons, his brother, and Edward Gibbons, his fon, Valentine Jordan, a very opulent farmer, the reverend Miles Prendergaft, a friar, all papifts. Not a fingle proteftant was concerned in it.

The entrance of the favage natives into Caftlebar was truly terrifick, as they made dreadful yells, and were as rapacious and deftructive as a flock of locufts. They bore flags, having on them a harp without the crown, and the words, “Erin go braugh!”|

Soon after the French had gained the town, the popifh favages attacked and defiled the church, making obfcene figures on fome of the pews, and deftroying others. They were fo prophane, as to poftute with the greateft indecency the bible, which they called the devil’s book. They urged father Egan, the parifh prieil, to fay high mafs in it, and he confulted doctor Ellison on the propriety of doing fo, but he diffuaded him from it. They plundered moft of the proteftant houfes, and whenever the French endeavoured to reftrain them, they would fay, “Sure it is only the houfe of a proteftant!” fuppofing that the French harboured the fame fanatical hatred againft that fect of chriftians which they did.

Though lord Lucan had been always humane and charitable, and a very good landlord, they made a perfect wreck of his houfe, breaking the chimney pieces, and deftroying every article which they could not carry off. They ferved the houfe of the reverend doctor Ellifon, his lordfhip’s agent, in the fame manner, though a gentleman univerfally and defervedly efteemed.

Some of the favages expreffed great furprife and horror at feeing fome of the French eat meat of a Friday; but they treated them with contempt mingled with irony.

They debated in lord Lucan’s lawn on maflacring the proteftants; but the French officers oppofed it vehemently, and they were joined by Bartholonew Teeling and Henry O’Kane, who, though papifts, were free from the fanguinary fpirit which actuated the common herd. The latter faid, “Gentlemen, when you were in the power of the proteftants, they did not fhed your blood; and when your friends were taken in Wexford,

| Ireland for ever!

moft of them were pardoned, and but few were put to death,§ though they were in actual rebellion: You fhould alfo confider, that you yourfelves may foon be in the power of the government; but if you will maffacre the proteftants, put me to death with them.”

The French ate the beft of meat and bread, drank wine, beer and coffee, and flept on good beds. They compelled the rebels to eat potatoes, drink whifkey, and fleep on ftraw. They beat and abufed them like dogs, in the name of liberty, equality, fraternity and unity. A volume would not contain an account of the brutal actions of the rebels; and the women, who were worfe than the men, carried off hides, tallow, beef, cloth and various other articles.

The following fhort journal of a perfon who travelled from the county of Galway to Caftlebar, while the French were in poffeffion of it, will fhew the reader how univerfally the fpirit of difaffection pervaded the popifh multitude, and how much their minds were debafed and perverted by fuperftition: “Left Monavea, within fix miles of Tuam,* the thirtieth of Auguft, and found the people idling about the ditches, and eager for news refpecting the ftate of his majefty’s forces. They rejoiced much at hearing of their defeat at Caftlebar, and their retreat from it, faying, it was quite confonant to the various prophecies,† importing, that the day was come, when proteftants would be completely extirpated, and that their property (a long time ufurped by them) would be reftored to Roman catholicks, who were the only juft and rightful owners of it; that it was all the work of God, who had enabled a handful of Frenchmen to beat a large army of hereticks.

“When I arrived within five miles of Hollymount,| I found the roads much crowded by people who were very inquifitive about news relative to the army, and of what form pikes fhould be made. I entered a houfe to refrefh myfelf, and was foon after followed by a fervant of Mr. L—— , and the fteward of Mr. R——, who were united Irifhmen, and who faid that I was a fpy. They detained me as a prifoner all night. Next morning

§ See a lift of them in Appendix, No. XXI, 4.      * Plate X. 8.
†The popifh priefts in moft places fabricated prophecies, as if made by eminent faints, fome centuries before, predicting, that hereticks would be expelled from Ireland, with the aid of the French; and the popifh rabble really believed that it would be accomplifhed at that time.
‡ Plate X. 7.