I arrived at Newbrook, the feat of Mr. Bingham, which was completely plundered by his tenants, who carried and flaughtered all his bullocks and fheep; declaring that none of his heretick family fhould enjoy any part of his property, which fhould be given to Roman catholicks, the original and rightful owners of it.”

The bifhop of Killala often folicited the French to permit doctor Ellison to go to fee his family at Caftlebar, but they would not comply, till they had got poffeffion of it; becaufe, from his influence as the parifh minifter, and a magiftrate, he might have injured them materially; but when that event took place, they permitted him to go there, accompanied by monfieur Touffaint.

The French were on the point of levying a very heavy requifition in money and provifions on the town, but the doctor diffuaded them from it, by affuring them that they would alienate thofe who were attached to them, and roufe the indignation of the English government, by any act of feverity or oppreffion. On the whole he acted with fingular fpirit and good fenfe.

While the French were at Caftlebar, doctor Crump, a popifh phyfician, went to general Humbert’s lodgings, at the head of a numerous party, and implored him to give the Roman catholicks one hour’s revenge againft the proteftants, for a hundred years of cruelty and oppreffion. Fifty-three of the Longford militia who were taken prifoners, voluntarily entered into the fervice of the French; but fome of the carabineers, and the Galway yeomen, refufed to do fo though meffieurs Teeling and Roche threatened them with inftant death, unlefs they complied.

A perfon who joined the French at Caftlebar, gave me the following account of the occurrences there: “On my arrival! was introduced to Teeling, who conducted and prefented me to general Humbert, who was very inquifitive. Having informed him that I had been recently in Dublin, and had attended the trials of M’Cann, Byrne, Bond and the Sheares, he afked me many queftions relative to them, and invited me to fup with him, which I accordingly did, in company with many of his officers. There was a prieft there of the name of Gannon, whofe ignorance could be equalled by nothing but his bigotry. He defired Teeling to make me fwear whether I was a proteftant and an orangeman; but on his declining, the prieft fwore me. Numbers of people, all Irifh, were brought in

prifoners, under a charge of committing depredations; but they excufed themfelves, by faying that it was only proteftants that they had plundered.

Michael Gannon, a popifh prieft, conftantly attended general Humbert and his ftaff, and was active and ufeful to the French. He had been domeftick chaplain to the duke of Crillon in France, who being killed on the abolition of his order Gannon continued in the fame capacity to his duchefs; and he ufed often to boaft, when he drank freely, that he was curator, not only of her foul, but her body. On the extirpation of the priefthood in France, Gannon narrowly efcaped by flight, and came to his native country, where he made a moft fantaftick appearance, having a large fierce cocked hat, a la militaire, and filk clothes made in a curious fafhion, all the property of the late duke. From the window of Humbert’s lodgings, he addreffed a large body of rebels, who were in the ftreet, in the following words: “That though he wifhed well to their caufe, he could not think of taking any military command, but that he would both pray for their fuccefs, and march in their ranks; and at the fame time pulling out his oil flock,* he told them, that he would heal their wounds with his holy oil.”

One Roche, who was an officer in Humbert’s army, affured a perfon of veracity of my acquaintance, that he was fworn an united Irifhman at Paris, by O’Coigly, or Quigly the prieft, who was hanged at Maidflone, fo early as the year 1796.

While the French were at Caftlebar, Francis French of Cottage, in the county of Mayo, a Roman catholick gentleman, of an antient and refpectable family, fent a letter to one Roche, or La Roche, etat major to general Humbert, containing, among others, the following paragraphs: “The enemy are coming forward on both fides, and intend to put you between two fires; Plunket is ready with two thoufand men whenever he is ordered.” La Roche, after reading the letter to Humbert, wrote in anfwer,

“That he was furprifed gentlemen fhould wait for orders to march, knowing they were there; that they fhould affift them with as many men, horfes, cars, and as much ammunition and provifions as they could; and that by the co-operation of the inhabitants they would foon

* What the popifh priefts carry their holy oil in.

be able to wreft Ireland from her ufurpers.” Mr. French was hanged. Plunket, to whom I prefume he alluded, was his relation.
Mr. O’Doude, who was of one of the oldeft families in the county of Mayo, and of the popifh religion, joined the French, and was taken and hanged after the battle of Ballynamuck, when the French finally furrendered.

On the night of the third of September, general Humbert fent off his baggage and cannon, with part of his troops, towards Sligo, and about feven o’clock next morning he fet out with the remainder, about four hundred in number. The French found their Irifh recruits fo prone to defert, that they placed a guard in their front and their rear as they marched.

The fame day he fent doctor Ellifon with eighty prifoners to lord Cornwallis, as they were but an incumbrance to him. The doctor in his way met colonel Crawford, with a detachment of the Hompefchers, and lord Roden’s fencibles. He returned with them, and arrived at Caftlebar, about nine o’clock at night, and on entering the town, he announced aloud, that lord Cornwallis was coming, and he even befpoke a bed for his excellency; which intimidated the rebels who were left in the town fo much, that they fled, and the French officers immediately furrendered themfelves prifoners. Soon after they arrived, they fent for Mr. Moore, whom the French had appointed prefident of Connaught. He was preffed to inform them of the plans of the French and what route they had taken, but he declared his ignorance of them. On which colonel Crawford ordered one of Hompefch’s dragoons to draw his fword and cut his head off. Having made fome flourifhes over his head, as if they really meant to decapitate him, he fhrieked and roared, and was in fuch confternation from fear, that he produced his commiffion of prefident, by which he criminated himfelf. He was in a ftate of intoxication, which alone could account for fo egregious an act of folly. In extenuation of his conduct, he faid, that he waited on the French, and accepted the commiffion of prefident, merely to preferve the property of his father, a Roman catholick gentleman, who had an eftate of £4,000 a year, in the county of Mayo. The firft act of his office was to iffue affignats; I give the reader a copy of one of them:

Next morning colonel Crawford purfued the French, hung on their rear, kept them in a conftant ftate of alarm, and killed many of them, and their rebel allies. There is not a doubt, but that general Humbert had not determined the route which he fhould take, till the day before his departure, becaufe a perfon of the name of Jourdan, who at the inftance of Mr. James Jofeph M’Donnell, had acted as a fpy for the French, was fent out to learn what part of the country there was the leaft probability of meeting our troops, and he reported that the fafeft and beft courfe they could take was towards Sligo.

The French at their departure from Caftlebar were about nine hundred, including officers, and they had a great mob of rebels, who were conftantly deferting, notwithftanding their utmoft vigilance to prevent them. They did not halt till they arrived at Barley-field, the feat of Mr. M’Manus, whither fome of the French officers went to order provifibns to be fent thence for their ufe to Swineford.* They arrived there about feven in the evening, halted about two hours, and refrefhed the troops. General Humbert continued all the time in the field, where he ate his dinner, which had been dreffed at the houfe of a Mr. Brabazon.

From Swineford they proceeded towards Ballahy, having halted the army about two miles from that village, to which they fent an advance-guard. Thence they proceeded towards Tubbercurry, and they halted within two miles of it.

The Corranliney and Coolavin yeomen cavalry, ftationed there as a picquet, under the command of captain O’Hara, member for the county, having advanced to reconnoitre the enemy, had a fkirmifh with them, in which lieutenant Knott was taken prifoner, and his only fon was killed.

Captain O’Hara then fent intelligence to colonel Vereker, at Sligo, that the French were advancing.

Captain Ruffel of the prince of Wales’s fencibles, was taken prifoner at Tubbercurry, and though as fuch he was entitled to the protection of the

* See Plate X. 5,

French, a ruthlefs affaffin among the rebels fhot him in the back, and dying a few days after, in his feventieth year, he terminated a life which had been devoted to the fervice of his king and country for above fifty years.

Befides the rebels which marched from Caftlebar with the French, a confiderable body of them was fent from Ballina acrofs the mountains, to meet them at Tubbercurry, with eighty proteftant prifoners, whom they intended to get rid of, by putting them in the front rank, having infultingly told them fo; but their diftrefs for food was fo great, that they fent them back under a rebel guard.

Thofe ftationed at Ballina being incenfed with their brethren at Killala, for not putting their heretick prifoners to death, three hundred of them fet out with a defign of compelling them to do fo; but they were purfued by O’Keon, who prevented them, though not without difficulty.
Henry O’Keon more than once prevented the rebels from murdering their proteftant prifoners.

The following practice took place in Mayo, as well as in the county of Wexford: A popifh banditti was fent about in every part of it, to collect proteftants, whom they imprifoned, and intended afterwards to maffacre. In Wexford the rebels endeavoured to extirpate the proteftants, becaufe they had the county entirely at their devotion, and really believed that the entire kingdom was fo; but they did not proceed to fuch lengths in Mayo, becaufe there was a large body of the king’s troops in it, and their fanguinary fpirit was reftrained by the French officers.

From Tubbercurry* they proceeded to Coloony,† and in their way the pikemen plundered the houfe of Mr. Perceval, of Temple-houfe, becaufe he was a noted loyalift, and had been active againft the united Irifhmen.

I think it neceffary to defcribe here the circumftances which preceded an action which took place between the French and a detachment of the city of Limerick regiment, and a few yeomen, commanded by colonel Vereker, at Coloony, one of the moft brilliant which took place during the rebellion.

* Plate X. 4.       † Ibid. 3.

When the French arrived at that village, which is about five miles from Sligo,* the inhabitants of the latter, who amount to about fourteen thoufand, were in the utmoft confternation, as nobody doubted but that their defign was to have plundered it, and it contained property to the amount of at leaft £200,000; there were in its harbour a good many fhips, and twelve well furnifhed bleach-yards in its vicinity. The fmall force ftationed there, not more than fix hundred effective men, was ordered to evacuate it; however, colonel Vereker, with a detachment of the city of Limerick militia and a few yeomen, in the whole not exceeding two hundred and eighty-fix men, and two curricle guns, marched out, engaged the French and the rebels, and gave them fo fevere a check, notwithftanding their great fuperiority of numbers, as to deter them from approaching Sligo, and made them proceed towards Drumahair. The French had about nine hundred men, about two hundred and fifty of the Longford and Kilkenny militia who had defer ted, and a numerous body of rebels. Colonel Vereker’s right was covered by a rifing ground, on which he pofted a few men; his left, by a river. They outflanked and forced in his men on the hill, and attacked his rear, on which he was obliged to retreat over a river. The action began at half paft two, andlafted one hour and thirty-eight minutes. Of the French twenty-eight were killed, and a great many wounded: they left behind them at Coloony eighteen of their men, who were defperately wounded.

After the action, the grenadiers reprefented to general Humbert, that it would be ufelefs and cruel to compel them to endure the calamities of war any longer, as the rebels would not fupport them, and were deferting from them in great numbers; but the general faid, he could not think of furrendering to fo fmall an army.

About three o’clock fome difaffected people entered Sligo, and announced that our army had been beaten, and that the French were advancing; on which many proteftant women, and fome men who could not bear arms, embarked in the fhips, fearing more the popifh inhabitants than the French; but thofe who were capable of doing fo, to the number of three hundred, marched round the town in arms, and refolved to die in its defence. They were joined by a number of methodifts, finging hymns, who were headed by their preacher, Albert Bleft, a man of great piety, and noted for humanity and charity.

* See Plate X. 2, 3.

The king’s troops, who remained behind under the command of colonel Sparrow, occupied the moft advantageous ports in the avenues leading to the town. Thus they continued under arms all night.

The fpirit of popifh difaffection and fanaticifm appeared no where fo ftrong as in the counties of Mayo and Sligo, particularly in the barony of Tireragh, fituated in the latter. It is feparated from Ballina and Killala by the river Moy,* which forms a bay at the latter, not three miles over; and at low water it is eafily croffed by a ferry. The proteftant inhabitants of that barony, dreading not only the approach of the French, but the cruelty of the rebels, and there being no forces of any kind in the line from Ballina or Killala to Sligo, they fled to the latter for protection.

Many refpectable proteftant farmers were feen on foot, driving their cattle and fheep before them, and conveying on cars their wives and children, their beds and their wearing apparel. All the proteftant clergy were alfo obliged to fly precipitately.

The popifh inhabitants, aided by the Mayo rebels, plundered all their houfes, and even demolifhed fome of them. The principal fufferers were Mr. Nefbitt of Scurmore, Mr. Fenton of Efky, Mr. Brown of Portland, Mr. Grove, parifh minifter of Kilmuckfhalgan, meffieurs Charles and Robert Jones, the meffieurs Woods, and in fhort every other gentleman, and even the lower clafs of proteftants, all of whom were obliged to fly to fave their lives. Nothing could equal the deftructive rage of the popifh rabble, for they tore up the floors of Mr. Fenton’s houfe, pulled down the cielings [sic] of Mr. Grove’s, and danced on his daughter’s piano forte; in fhort, they deftroyed in every houfe fuch furniture as they could not carry off.

Some proteftants on the fea-coaft, went to fea in boats, to avoid the vengeance of the rebels; and on coming on fhore for food, fome of them were taken prifoners and conveyed to Ballina. Some fled to the mountains, and hid in caves, others in corn fields, and were almoft ftarved.

Conry, the domeftick chaplain and bofom friend of doctor Bellew, the popifh bifhop, and who had recently obtained the parifh of Adergold from him, father M’Donnel, of Efky, and father O’Donnel, of Kilmuckfhalgan, and Mangan, his coadjutor, made it a practice of compelling proteftants to be chriftened by a prieft, to which they fubmitted to fave their lives and their property.

* See Plate X. 3.

Mr. Hillas, of Seaview, who had adminiftered oaths of allegiance to father O’Donnell and his flock, at their particular defire, in the month of April, 1798, afked many of them how they came to violate them, and they anfwered, “How could we go againft our priefts?”

That prieft ufed to contend on the following grounds, that the houfe of Brunfwick had no right to the crown of England: That all monarchies were eleftive or hereditary: That no election could be perfect unlefs the majority of the people gave their affent to it: That the Roman catholicks of Ireland had not confented to the acceffion of George I. and that he had no hereditary claim, as he defcended from a younger branch of the houfe of Stewart.

A private in the Tireragh infantry, happened to fall into the hands of the rebels, who conveyed him to their head-quarters at Ballina, where father Cowley commanded. Being a proteftant, they proceeded to try him by a court-martial, at which Cowley was prefident. He was accufed and convicted of being an orangeman, and was to have been hanged next morning; but having infinuated to one of the French, that he was a yeoman, and that punifhing him would be followed by retaliation, he was difcharged.

Very great difaffection took place in the popifh yeomen of the counties of Mayo and Sligo.

The fcapulars a piece of fuperftitious trumpery, which I have before defcribed, was found on the bodies of many rebels killed in thefe counties.

For about a month before the French landed, the papifts shewed a great unwillingnefs to pay any thing they owed, which proves that they expected the invafion.

Father Owen Cowley had one hundred and twenty proteftant prifoners at Ballina, whom he mocked, and told infultingly that they fhould be executed next day; but early in the morning fome of the prifoners perceived an exprefs arrive, about whom the reverend father and fome of his friends flocked, and interrogated with much earneftnefs. Soon after, he approached the prifon with a dejected countenance, and, inftead of contumely, he addreffed the prifoners with mildnefs and complaifance, and told them they might go wherever they chofe. The intelligence

which the reverend father received was, that our troops were victorious at Ballynamuck, and that the French had furrendered to them.

From the following circumftance, we cannot be furprifed at the active part which the popifh priefts took in the rebellion in the counties of Mayo and Sligo: Captain Nicholas Ormfby, of the Tireragh yeomen cavalry, was quartered with his corps at Efky, in the county of Sligo, foon after the French landed. Having been informed that numbers of the lower clafs of people had affembled at fome diftance from his quarters, and had collected a large quantity of cattle for the ufe of the French, he proceeded to the fpot where that event took place, and refcued the cattle and difperfed the people. When he was on the point of returning, a woman told him, that father Deafe, a parifh prieft, was at a fhort diftance, enlifting for the French; and having advanced a little farther, he faw a great number of people ready to join them. Three of his corps were far before the main body: One of them who preceded the reft galloped by father Deafe, who fnapped a piftol at him. The next yeoman who came up, galloped fwiftly by Deafe, and fired a piftol at him, but miffed him. Deafe was cocking his piftol to fire at the third yeoman, who was coming up, but Mr. Jeremiah Fury, a gentleman of fortune, though a private, feized his arm before he could effect it, and made a prifoner of him. When captain Ormfby arrived, they were on the point of hanging him, but as he fell on his knees, implored mercy, and promifed to make a full confeffion of what he knew, they fpared his life. He then declared, what he afterwards folemnly and deliberately confirmed by information, fworn before a magiftrate, that Dr. Bellew, the titular bifhop of the diocefe, encouraged his diocefan clergy, at a general meeting of them, to rife on the prefent occafion; and that it was at his inftigation that they were fo active in affifting the French. The piftols which they found in Deafe’s poffeffion were French.

One Atkins, of Rathurlifh, in the barony of Tireragh, was bred a proteftant, but having married a papift, he conformed to popery, and became a fanguinary fanatick. He was to have headed five hundred of his own fect, and to have maffacred every proteftant from Ballina to Sligo. He owned this to numbers whom he folicited to affift him in perpetrating his bloody purpofe, and to his uncle and aunt, a worthy old couple, and both proteftants, whom, he faid, he would fave; but that he could not

protect their grand-children. He declared openly, that he would fpare none, from the cradle to the crutch. The day was fixed for the maffacre, but the event of the battle of Ballynamuck deterred him from his fanguinary defign.

I fhall now fay fomething of the movements of our armies, between whom it was impoffible to keep up any communication, but by ftrong patroles, as all the natives were inimical. Lieutenant-general Lake was ordered by the lord lieutenant to proceed from Tuam, on the fourth day of September, to which he had retreated after the battle of Caftlebar, with the Rea fencible infantry, the Armagh militia, with their battalion guns, a detachment of the Roxborough fencible cavalry, and to take command of brigadier general Taylor’s brigade, whom he joined at Ballaghdirreen.* He fent thence the honourable lieutenant-colonel Meade, about one o’clock, P. M. N. with a party of dragoons, to learn whether the enemy had left Caftlebar, and what route they had taken.

After advancing about four miles, to a place between Ballahy and Ballaghdirreen, he was informed by a rebel, taken by an advanced patrole, that the enemy had left Caftlebar, and had paffed through Ballahy towards Coloony, which intelligence he. communicated by a dragoon to general Lake, who came to him, and ordered him to communicate it to lord Cornwallis, fuppofed to be at Hollymount, which he accordingly did.

When on his way, about fifteen miles from Caftlebar, he perceived on the adjacent hills about three thoufand rebels, of whom fome were near him in a bog. Part of his dragoons charged, purfued, and killed fome rebels who were on a bridge, but contrary to his orders and his wifhes, as it might have brought on a conflict, and have impeded or even defeated his miffion to lord Cornwallis. Having made figns to them, that he would receive them in a friendly manner, a good many of them came to him, and furrendered about fixty French mufkets; and probably the remainder would have done fo, if he could have remained there long enough. At Swineford,† he perceived great numbers of them in the adjacent fields. All thefe deluded wretches whom he met in his progrefs had deferted from the French. He overtook lord Cornwallis between Clare and Ballyhanis,‡; where he remained that night.

* Plate X. 5.      † Ibid.        ‡ lbid. 6, 7.

Colonel Meade was fent a fecond time to reconnoitre the French, whom he faw pafs the Shannon at Ballintra,‡ over the bridge, which they endeavoured to make impaffable, by blowing up one of the abutments.

He was fent a fecond time to lord Cornwallis, who was at Carrick-on-Shannon,|| to communicate the motions of the French to him.

His excellency by croffing the Shannon at Carrick kept to the fouth of the enemy, fo as to intercept them, fhould general Lake, who purfued them with an army of about two thoufand men, fail in overtaking or defeating them, which was a moft judicious movement; and for the fame reafon his excellency advanced with rapidity from Carrick to St. Johnftown.§ As a further fecurity for the capital, he ordered the brigade of guards to Mullingar* and Kilbeggan, where they muft have ultimately defeated the enemy’s defign of approaching it; and at the fame time they were at a convenient diftance from the metropolis to awe the difaffected who meditated an infurrection there.

The firft day general Lake arrived at Balliniough; the fecond at Ballaghdirreen.† Thence he proceeded with thefe corps, united, to Ballahy, through which, he was informed, the French had paffed the preceding evening, about feven o’clock, more than fourteen hours before him.

He reached Tubbercurry about feven o’clock that evening, where he encamped and remained till two o’clock next morning. He was joined there by colonel Crawford, who formed his advanced guard, General Lake marched from Tubbercurry to Coloony, about eight miles diftant, heard there of the action, and found a number of French killed, and fome wounded, under the care of a French furgeon.

At Coloony, a Longford deferter was recognifed by fome of the advanced guards, and fhot; the whole army marched over his body with indifference; a ftrong inftance of the calamities of war, and how much they obtund the feelings of humanity!

Numbers of the rebels were found all along the road dead or dying, having been killed by colonel Crawford’s corps of light dragoons, who formed the advanced guard, and hanging on the enemy’s rear, harraffed them moft effectually.

‡ Plate X. 4.      || Ibid. 5.      § Ibid. 5, 6.      * Plate I. 6, 7.      † Plate X. 5.

Between Drumfhambo and Carrigan, he received orders from lord Cornwallis at nine o’clock, to march at that hour for Clone. He croffed the river at Ballintra, where the bridge was repaired. The enemy were fo hard preffed in the purfuit, that they left two pieces of cannon on the road, about a mile from Coloony, and threw five into the river at Drumahair.

General Lake encamped on the night of the feventh at Ballintogher, between Drumahair and Coloony. He was under the neceffity of conftantly fending accounts of his movements and thofe of the enemy to lord Cornwallis, which was diftreffing, as it could not be effected but by ftrong patroles. He marched to the fouth of Drumfhambo, halted there about three hours, and proceeded to Cloone, four miles from Ballynamuck; where a little after fun-rife, on the eighth of September, he faw the rear of the French army, whom, with about one hundred and fifty light infantry, mounted behind as many cavalry, he endeavoured to harrafs as much as poffible.

Before day, on the eighth of September, general Lake fent major Hardy to apprize lord Cornwallis of his brigade being near the village of Cloone, where the French had halted the preceding night, and where it was intended to have furprifed them, but from the darknefs of the night fome divifions miffed their route. The French were leaving the village as major Hardy entered it, of which he informed lord Cornwallis, whom he met at Mohill, and who ordered general Lake to hang as clofe as poffible upon their rear, and faid that he would keep in a parallel direction towards Granard, near enough to afford him affiftance if neceffary.
He came up with them about half a mile before they reached Ballynamuck,* when monfieur Sarrafin, who commanded them, furrendered.

General Taylor having reported to general Lake that the French army had yielded, general Craddock and admiral Packenham rode forward to the main body of them, who were halted on the road at Ballynamuck, when a French officer informed them that they would be fired on, unlefs they withdrew; but before they could retreat, a volley was fired, by which general Craddock was wounded.

Previous to this, the French had pofted a body of markfmen on the brow of a hill, about a quarter of a mile from whence Sarrafin had

* Plate X. 5.

surrendered, in order to take our troops on the left flank as they paffed. General Lake, whofe fpirit and vigilance are well known, being confiderably in front of our light infantry and cavalry, very fortunately difcovered them in time to prevent them from doing us any injury. He ordered the light infantry and cavalry to afcend the hill, whofe top intervening, prevented them from perceiving each other till they were within a hundred yards. After a few difcharges, our light infantry and cavalry charged, on which the French threw down their arms, and the rebels who attended them fled into an adjacent bog. The Frenchmen continued firing their cannon till the markfmen had furrendered, which, if they had been well ferved, muft have done very great mifchief, as our troops moved down a hill from the place where Sarrafin had furrendered, which expofed them to the enemy’s fire.

The following circumftances attended the furrender of the French: The earl of Roden and colonel Crawford, who led on the advanced guard, confifting of his lordfhip’s fencibles, perceiving an officer who feemed defirous to communicate with them, lord Roden ordered his trumpet to found, which was anfwered by the French, when his lordfhip and the colonel advanced into the French lines. The officer politely afked them what their wifhes were? they anfwered, to fave the effufion of blood, and defired them to furrender. The officer faid, that he did not command, but that he would go to general Humbert, which he accordingly did. Humbert came up, afked the fame question, and received a fimilar anfwer. He then demanded half an hour to give a final anfwer, which was granted, on condition that he halted his troops; to which he made no reply, but retreated with precipitation. Lord Roden then ordered his trumpet to found the advance, and came up to the firft and fecond brigade of the French army, who furrendered to about three hundred cavalry, under his lordfhip and colonel Crawford. After this they advanced with about twenty dragoons, and took poffeffion of three French guns.

Shortly after, Humbert rallied his grenadiers, the only part of the army, except the chaffeurs, that had not furrendered, and confifted of about four hundred men, who furrounded lord Roden and his twenty dragoons, They were given in charge to the huffars. While they were their prifoners, which lafted about fifteen minutes, the French officers loaded the united Irifhmen, their allies, with execrations, for having deceived and

disappointed them, by inviting them to undertake a fruitlefs expedition. They alfo declared, that the people of Ireland were the moft treacherous and cowardly they ever knew.

Lord Roden and colonel Crawford continued prifoners till his regiment of fencibles advanced in queft of their colonel, which the French huffars perceiving, requefted that his lordfhip would defire them to halt, as they meant to furrender, and by doing fo, he prevented them from being cut to pieces.

General Humbert furrendered to general Lake, and was afterwards conducted to lord Cornwallis, who was about fix miles off.
Our troops made dreadful havock among the rebels, who were moftly dreffed in French uniforms. Three of their leaders were taken, among whom was Mr. Blake of Galway, a very well-looking man, who was hanged. As our army purfued the French they found all the houfes on the road deferted, their inmates having joined the French.

I muft not pafs over in filence the fpirited and zealous exertions of the army under general Lake, who advanced fo rapidly in their purfuit of the French, as to overtake them, though they were fifteen hours before them; and though the farmers and peafants fupplied the enemy with a great number of horfes, on which the infantry rode in turn; and whenever they halted, with plenty of provifions, for which our troops were very much diftreffed; for their movements were fo rapid, that the heavy baggage could not keep up with them. The French and rebels in their progrefs deftroyed every kind of provifions, and our brave foldiers were obliged to fcour the country for cattle, and before they could kill them and cook their meat, they were ordered to renew their march; fo that potatoes, which they dug and boiled themfelves, were their principal fubfiftence.

When the French changed their route from Coloony towards the metropolis, the moft active exertions were ufed in all the intervening counties, viz. Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan, Rofcommon, Cavan, Weftmeath, and Meath, to raife the mafs of the people to join them; and fome confiderable and alarming movements were perceived among the difaffected even in Dublin and its vicinity.

A numerous body of infurgents, fuppofed to be not lefs than fix thoufand, having collected near Granard, on the fifth of September, feveral

yeomen corps, under the command of captain Cottingham, engaged, beat, and difperfed them, after having killed about one hundred and fifty.

Many Roman catholicks of confideration urged and headed the infurgents in the county of Longford, and a well-digefted plan of co-operation had been concerted with the Monaghan chiefs; but the latter were not to move unlefs the operations of their Longford brethren proved fuccefsful. At the head of thefe were the two Denniftons, the O’Haras, O’Connells, Farrell, and one O’Reilly, who appeared in arms on the fifth of September in 1798, and led on the attack on Granard. But the iffue of that affair difconcerted the plan of the Monaghan chiefs, and prevented the Cavan leaders from attacking the different garrifons in their county, which they had meditated. The two Denniftons and Farrell were members of the Maftrim yeomen cavalry, feveral of whom fought with the rebels on. that day. The elder Dennifton was firft lieutenant of it.

The popifh multitude in the county of Rofcommon, univerfally difaffected, were on the point of rifing, and waited for nothing but a hint from certain leaders in their refpective diftricts.

A refpectable magiftrate of my acquaintance, who had a ftrong regard, for a popifh gentleman who meant to have headed a numerous body of rebels, obtained a private interview with him for the purpofe of diffuading, him from fo rafh an attempt, which he affured him would terminate in the ruin of him and his family. This chieftain fpurned at the advice of his friend, and expreffed a downright conviction that his party muft fucceed, as the mafs of the people in every part of Ireland were engaged in it, and as they would rife at the fame time, the government muft be overturned, and that fuch perfons as refifted them would lofe their lives and property; and he even went fo far as to advife this magiftrate to be very moderate in the part he took, left his intemperate zeal might mark him for the vengeance of the infurgents. So fure were the difaffected that their party muft fucceed, though with the aid of but one thoufand French!

After an interview of two hours, he left him determined to perfevere in his rafh defign; but at the inftance of another perfon of high rank, who ufed the moft perfuafive eloquence on the occafion, he yielded, on condition of obtaining his pardon. By the wife and feafonable exertions of this perfon, the property and the lives of the proteftants of the county of Rofcommon were preferved from the rapacity of the deluded multitude,

who were on the point of rifing, and only waited for a fignal from this leader.

I think it right to mention, that this very important fervice was rendered by doctor Law, bifhop of Elphin, who shewed great magnanimity in maintaining his poft; for inftead of flying to the metropolis for protection, he fortified his palace, and bid defiance to the rebels, by which he fet a good example to country gentlemen.

I cannot pafs over in filence the laudable fortitude of doctor Percy, bifhop of Dromore, who alfo remained in his palace, while the rebellion exifted in the counties of Down and Antrim.
On Tuefday the fourth of September, a man on horfeback went about the county of Weftmeath, proclaiming that the orangemen were murdering the Roman catholicks, and burning their houfes. In confequence of it, numbers of people armed with pikes and other weapons, affembled in lord Sunderlin’s park at Baronftown. His lordfhip approached them with about twelve of his corps, and afked them, why they affembled in fo hoftile a manner? They anfwered, that they were afraid of the orangemen, who were armed and were determined to murder all the Roman catholicks.* His lordfhip affured them, that their fears were groundlefs, as no fuch perfons ever were in the country; and he promifed them protection, if they could point them out; but they perfifted in feigning fears and prejudices.

About two miles farther on the road towards Mullingar, his lordfhip met another body of pikemen, with whom he reafoned in the fame manner, but to no purpofe. At laft, one of them knocked down his lordfhip’s trumpeter, and wounded him; and foon after ferved a yeoman and one of his fervants in the fame manner; on which his lordfhip and his few yeomen retreated to Mullingar, and in their way faw great numbers of infurgents affembling.

In the courfe of a few hours they collected in great numbers, and attacked Wilfon’s hofpital, a charitable foundation, for the purpofe of

* As Mr. George Cooper, whom I mentioned in the dedication, has uttered the vileft flander of the orangemen, I think it right to mention, that a member of the Irifh directory acknowledged, while in prifon, that the alarming reports about them were invented by them, merely as a device to stimulate the mafs of the papifts againft the proteftants, and that the priefts eagerly adopted it for that purpofe.

feizing the arms in it and of deftroying it, becaufe it was a proteftant inftitution, eftablifhed for the purpofe of maintaining old men, and educating children. They rufhed into it with hideous yells, broke open fome doors, and carried off arms and other articles: They gave the reverend Mr. Radcliffe, the chaplain, two wounds; however, as he fhewed the moft undaunted courage, and feemed determined not to furrender his arms, they quitted the houfe; but they fent him a meffage about eleven o’clock at night, that they would level it next morning at three o’clock, unlefs he gave up his arms. But as that propofal was treated with contempt, they next day, about eight o’clock, to the number of five thoufand, forcibly entered the hofpital, plundered it of arms and every valuable article, provifions, and houfhold furniture; took Mr. Radcliffe prifoner, carried him to the town of Multifarnham, declaring, they would keep him till Mr. Latten Fitzgerald, confined in Mullingar, as a ftate prifoner, was difcharged; however Mr. Radclifte was fo fortunate as to efcape.

Next day they returned to the hofpital, converted it into a barrack, feized the cows and fheep, and killed moft of them. In fhort, they left the hofpital a perfect wreck. Alter committing all thefe atrocities they had mafs celebrated for them by a popifh prieft.

They had twenty-feven proteftant prifoners in an office belonging to the hofpital, whom they intended to have put to death, by the moft cruel torture, had they not been relieved by a party of the army and yeomanry, under the command of lord Longford, who routed the rebels with confiderable flaughter.

Some of the rebels propofed to put the boys (who were all proteftants) to death, after having plundered them of their clothes. The labourers, and the popifh fervants of the hofpital, were the leaders in this nefarious bufinefs, and feemed to exult in it.

A moft fanguinary denunciation was pofted on a church in the county of Weftmeath, foon after the French left Caftlebar, which the reader will fee in Appendix, No. XXI. 8.

The evening before the attack on Granard, a body of rebels entered Edgeworthftown, and plundered and almoft demolifhed every proteftant houfe in it, except thofe of Mr. Edgeworth, Mr. William Bond, the captain

of the Maftrim yeomanry, and Mr. Alexander Bond, poft-mafter; but they did not injure the houfe or property of a Roman catholick.

For a day or two before, reports had been induftriously propagated, that the orangemen were deftroying all the neighbouring country, and had burnt the preceding night Street and fome other adjacent villages. This, which was the watch word and fignal for infurrection, fpread like a conflagration.

A refpectable gentleman, an inhabitant of Edgeworthftown, gave me the following account of his fituation, and of the events which occurred there: “On my going into that village, all feemed to be alarm and confufion. The yeomanry determined, as one of their officers in perfon informed me, to defend at least the barracks, if attacked by the rebels; but fome events occurred in the courfe of the day, which induced them to evacuate the place and march to Longford. On hearing this unexpected misfortune, I immediately fent off my wife and family, and once more walked through Edgeworthftown, examining every countenance, and converfing for a few minutes with the two or three laft proteftants whom I met indignantly retreating. I foon returned to my houfe, wifhing, if poffible, not to defert what I deemed my poft, and yet, not knowing what to do in fuch an emergency; but I was foon roufed from this uncertainty, by intelligence from my fervant, that the rebels in a very numerous body were marching to Edgeworthftown, by the Granard and not the Dublin road, which would bring them within one hundred yards of my door. Before their arrival, I concealed myfelf in a little plantation on my lawn, where divine Providence protected me till morning. I faw almoft a foreft of pikes nearly oppofite my houfe. Some rebels on horfeback paffed within about thirty yards of me, and about three times that diftance, a proteftant, my next neighbour, who had juft fought an afylum in a fhady part of my lawn, received a ftroke of a pike in the head, which, though partially broken by the branches, cut him feverely, and almoft covered him with blood. I was “all ear” in my place of concealment, and ftunned with the difcord and confufion of martial mufick, firing, fhouting, crafhing of windows and furniture, and fuch clamorous exultation as might be fuppofed to iffue from a numerous mob in fo new a fituation, eager to practife republican virtues. It was late in the evening, and juft as the greater body of the rebels had retired, a detachment of lord Oxmantown’s yeomanry, being

accidentally near the town, and hearing of the outrages committed by the rebels, made a rapid charge through the ftreet, and fhot a few of the ftragglers without any lofs on their part, except one yeoman wounded in the face with a pike. Of the particulars of this tranfaction I was ignorant till next morning; for only once in the night I ventured to walk by my houfe, and, perceiving the windows broken, I again returned to conceal myfelf in the ftirubbery till morning,”

A man mounted on a white horfe rode about the country contiguous to Longford, on the fourth of September, and propagated a report that the Orangemen were murdering the Roman catholicks, and burning their houfes from Edgeworthftown to Carrickboy. To counteract his malig, nant defign, lord Oxmantown, who, with his corps, was on permanent duty at Longford, rode about the country, and by his exhortations and affurances of protection to the lower clafs of people, prevented the infurrection from being general, and induced numbers to return to their homes. The fame attempts were made in the counties of Meath and Cavan.

The rebels fhewed a difpofition to rife in the country round Belturbet, in the latter county; but it abounds fo much with proteftants, who were well armed, that they would not venture to do fo, but repaired to the mountains of Ballynamore, about fix miles off, where they affembled in confiderabla numbers. For the fame reafon they did not venture to rife in the county of Fermanagh, where there were fix thoufand proteftants well armed. From the battle of Caftlebar to the furrender of the French, the blackfmiths were employed in making pikes, in the counties of Monaghan, Leitrim, Longford, Rofcommon, Mayo, Sligo, Meath, Weftmeath and Dublin.

The landing of the French was known by the rebels in the county of Kildare, the Queen’s county, and part of the county of Tipperary; and the mafs of the people in them fhewed fuddenly a ftreng fenfation, and a fpirit of combination, even before the loyal subjectls were acquainted with that event.

I fhall now proceed to relate the defeat of the rebels at Killala, the relief of the fuffering loyalifts there, and fome of the circumftances which preceded it.

The fourteenth of September, the commandant loft his authority fo much, that little regard was paid to his protections; proteftants who

had obtained them were committed, and their houfes were plundered as Orangemen.

On the fifteenth of September, the French officers entertained ftrong fears that the town would be attacked by pikemen, and they declared that they wifhed for the arrival of the king’s troops. The bifhop and his friends who had been twenty-feven days prifoners fell into great defpondency on the feventeenth of September, as they expected every night that the caftle would be attacked. Twenty perfons in arms flept in it, befides the ordinary guard of eighteen; but the latter being Irlfh recruits, were not to be depended on. There were conftantly alarming reports of the fanguinary defigns of the pikemen, who were encamped clofe to the town.

On the eighteenth of September, one of the rebel leaders came to the caftle, and propofed to the commandant to imprifon every proteftant in the church, as hoftages for their own fecurity, fhould the king’s army arrive; and it was difcovered that they meant to have blown them up; but no other anfwer was given by the proteftants, than that they were ready for them. The commandant generoufly declared that he would lead on the Irifh againft the king’s troops, and that he would alfo head the proteftants againft the former, if any attempt was made againft their perfons or property. On the eighteenth, the guard and all the rebel foldiers murmmed very much at a report which had prevailed, that their friends at Caftlebar were in clofe confinement, and were ufed very ill; and at laft they grew very vehement. To do away the ill effects of it, the bifhop propofed to fend dean Thompfon, and one of their friends, with a flag of truce, and a letter to general French, to reprefent the dangerous fituation of the proteftants, fhould the rebel prifoners be ill-treated.

Dean Thompfon, and one Roger Maguire fet out for Caftlebar, the twentieth of September: They were frequently ftopped and interrogated by parties of the rebels, who would have committed violence on dean Thompfon, but that he was protected by Maguire. They returned next day, with the moft unquestionable teftimony that their friends were treated with humanity. Mr. Bourke, of Summer-hill, with fifteen armed men, bravely defended his houfe againft the fury and rapacity of the rebels; which enraged thofe at Killala fo much, that they refolved to attack it; but Charoft affured them, if they perfifted in their defign, that he would follow and fire on them.

On the twenty-firft of September, a body of pikemen having marched through the town in prefence of Charoft, he, with indignation, mingled with contempt, defired them to go to attend their harveft, as he had men enough to guard the town, and he would not be troubled with a pack of robbers; and Ponfon, another French officer, vilified and abufed them in the groffeft manner. This was alarming to the proteftants, as the rebels murmured and uttered fome menaces againft them, and complained of the ftrong partiality of the French for them.

Alarming accounts were received that the rebels, in fpite of the French, would enter and plunder the town; and, had they done fo, there is not a doubt but that they would have maffacred every proteftant. To encourage them in their fanguinary defigns, which they had conftantly manifefted, a prieft, of the name of M’Donnell, rode into the town on the twenty-firft of September, and announced that the orangemen were maffacring the Roman catholicks in all the adjacent country. On the morning of that day a report of cannon and fmall arms was heard towards Ballina, and fometime after intelligence was received that the king’s troops were within four miles of the town.

True, the French officer, and Henry O’Keon, arrived from Ballina, where the former had been commandant, and where he had a narrow efcape of being taken prifoner by one of our officers. He abufed, in the groffeft manner, his allies, the Irifh, for having fled at Croifmalina, without ftriking a ftroke.

By a preconcerted plan it was agreed between general French and lord Portarlington, that they fhould attack Killala at the fame time; the former approaching it on the fouth, the latter on the north-eaft fide. His lordfhip marched from Sligo on the twenty-firft of September, with his own, the Queen’s county regiment, a detachment of the twenty-fourth dragoons, the Tireragh yeomen infantry, commanded by captain Woods, and the Tireragh yeomen cavalry, under captain Ormfby, making in the whole, about eight hundred men, with two pieces of cannon. They halted the firft night at Grange, where a number of rebels approached them, but on firing one cannon fhot they difperfed. Next night they halted at Scarmore, where they were attacked by a numerous body of them, commanded by Henry O’Keon and Mr. Barret, fon of doctor Barret, who were foon routed with the lofs of about two hundred killed.

In this affair we have one calamity to lament, which left the ftrongeft fenfations of grief in every loyal heart. Not far from the fcene of action lies the village of Carrowcarden, where a few proteftant families lived, who, from their peaceable demeanour and good conduct, poffeffed the regard of even the rebels; fo that, partly by giving them entertainment and money as long as they were able, and partly by hiding themfelves in the bogs and corn-fields, they had hitherto avoided the captivity which their brethren fuffered.

On this day, a rebel party, commanded by John M’Dunnough, otherwife Pitcher, on their march to attack the king’s troops, were ordered to enter the village, and to force every man who was able to carry arms to join their party. They there met with fome of thofe poor proteftants, fome of them reaping their corn, others concealed in their houfes, all of whom they forced along with them at the peril of their lives, and even without arms to defend themfelves, and placed them in the front of the line.

When the rebel army gave way, thefe unfortunate men fled among the crowd towards their own homes; but having been overtaken by the advance guard, they fell in the indifcriminate flaughter of the rebels. It was in vain that they endeavoured to explain the caufe of their being there, or to juftify their conduct, as the troops, elate with victory, and inflamed with revenge, had not time to examine the circumftances of their fituation.

The loyalifts had foon after the gratification of feeing captain Pitcher taken prifoner; and having been convicted of that and other crimes, his life was forfeited to the vengeance of the law. This however was but a poor atonement to the community for the lofs of fo many loyal, well-behaved, and induftrious men; and no confolation to the unfortunate widows and helplefs orphans whom they left behind to deplore a lofs which can never be retrieved.

Next day the king’s troops having been joined by general Trench and his brigade, they proceeded towards Killala.
In its defence about four thoufand rebels took poft behind a ftone wall on a hill which commanded the road leading to it; and on which the Downfhire regiment advanced. Though the rebels maintained a conftant

fire on them from the time they firft came in fight, the Downfhire paid no regard to them, till they arrived at a bridge, which was but a fhort diftance from them. They then began a very heavy fire on the rebels, who fled from their ftrong pofition, and joined the main body, except about forty of them, who took poft in a grove, nearly forty yards from the palace, where fome of them ranged themfelves behind trees, and others behind a ftone wall. The Downfhire purfued them, and were followed by the Frafer fencibles and the Queen’s county militia. After about twenty minutes refiftance the rebels gave way and ran into the town, where they were charged by the Roxborough fencible cavalry; and though the rebels in the grove kept up a conftant fire on them, their only lofs was one man badly wounded, but he afterwards recovered. Mr. Arthur Stock, the bifhop’s fon, a youth of fixteen, was in the charge, dreffed in a red jacket.

After the king’s troops got poffeffion of the town, they killed great numbers of the rebels, whom they found concealed in the houfes, in the gardens, or in the ditches of the adjacent fields. It was to be lamented that our foldiers plundered what had been faved from the Irifh favages by the active exertion of the bifhop and the French officers. In the firft onfet it was impoffible to reftrain them, when they were elate with victory, and their vengeance was roufed by oppofition. Sometime after, lord Cornwallis fent two commiffioners to enquire into the damages committed by the king’s troops at Killala, and in March following, the demands of the fufferers were difcharged by an order on the bank.

Having related the events which took place in the counties of Mayo and Sligo, I fhall give the reader the charadlers of fome of the principal actors in them.

Colonel O’Doude, was defcended from a very antient family of the fame name, who formerly poffeffed a large traft of country in the counties of Sligo and Mayo, two baronies of which, namely Tireragh and Tyrawly had their names from two fons of the original chieftain of the family, who divided his eftate between them. On this extenfive eftate they counted twenty-four caftles, which were occupied by them and their adherents, and many of which are ftill in exiftence. O’Doude having been very active in the rebellion of 1641, this fine eftate was confifcated, and divided amongft the followers of the conqueror; a fmall mountainous

tract of land, called Bonneconclane, having been given by fpecial favour, to one of the family, and fo handed down to the late poffeffer James O’Doude.

The father of this man, whofe name was Thady, being a younger brother, and having neither property nor employment at home, went out a volunteer to Germany at the age of twenty-five years, and in the courfe of time was promoted in the Hungarian fervice to the rank of captain, having previoufly married a German lady, fifter to baron Wipler, of whom James was the iffue. He having been born and educated in the fervice, found no great difficulty in arriving at the rank of lieutenant, in which flation he ferved, when the death of his uncle David O’Doude, who poffeffed the family eilate and died without iffue, was announced to him. In confequence of this event, he left the army, came to Ireland, and took poffeffion of the paternal property, which proved to be worth about £500 a year, and which he applied himfelf to the cultivation of with great attention. He foon after married a mifs Fitzgerald, daughter to a gentleman of that name, and an attorney, by whom he left children. Previous to the breaking-out of the rebellion, he had become a member of the Tyrawly cavalry, and was confidered an attentive foldier, and very expert in the ufe of arms. On the landing of the French at Killala this corps was, like many others, put to flight by the enemy, and O’Doude deferted his poft, and returned to his own houfe, where, by the felicitations of his wife, and the exertions of one Egan, a bigot, who lived with him, and who had acquired a complete afcendancy over his judgment, he was induced to declare for the caufe of rebellion. Having affembled his tenantry and neighbours, he muftered about one hundred men, and putting himfelf at their head, he marched to the French camp at Killala, where he received his commiffion, and arms for his followers, while his wife, mounted on a good horfe, and decorated with green ribbons and cockade, attended the proceffion, and brought up the rear.

Their career of glory was but fhort, and the hopes of regaining the antient eftate foon vanifhed into empty air. After the defeat at Ballinamuck, he attempted to efcape, but was taken prifoner, and conducted to the camp of lord Cornwallis at St. Johnftown, where, being identified, although he endeavoured to pafs himfelf for a French officer, he was condemned and executed. He pleaded guilty to the charges brought againft him; but affured the court, that this was his firft offence, and

declared on his honour, if they would pardon this, that he never would be guilty of a fimilar offence; but being informed that his requeft could not be complied with, he begged to have a prieft; but as there was not time for this ceremony, he was conftrained to fubmit to his fate, which, he met, but not with that fortitude which might have been expected from a man who had fpent fo much of his life in active fervice, and fcenes of war.

To a great weaknefs of judgment, this unfortunate man added a high degree of vanity and bigotry, which laid him open to the defigns of interected and ill-difpofed perfons. Confidering himfelf the head of the clan or family, he defpifed taking a chrifhan name, and always fubfcribed himfelf, O’Doude, captain; and latterly he had the vanity to affume the title of baron, perhaps from his uncle, baron Wipler, in Germany.

He was fo much under the control of the priefts, that he fubmitted to walk barefooted, and with his head fhaved, to Loughderg, in the north of Ireland, to perform penance for his fins, and became one of the order of the Scapularians. He took more pains in cultivating the friendfhip of this ignorant clafs of men, than that of gentlemen of worth or knowledge, and his table was feldom without one or more of them, on whom he never failed to lavifh the bell meat and wine.

The idea of recovering his hereditary eftate was ftudioufly infufed into his mind by his wife and followers, who vainly imagined that a revolution would be accomplifhed, and that the defcendants of the old Irifh families would be fhortly reinftated in their former poffeffions and honours by the French. This family have a burying-place appropriated to them in the abbey of Moyne, where may be feen the gigantick bones of some of them, who have been very remarkable for their great ftature; as one of them exceeded feven feet in height.

Colonel McDonnel, a Roman catholick gentleman, was fon to Jofeph McDonnel, of Carnacun, in the county of Mayo, efquire, and in the neighbourhood of Caftlebar. His father being a wealthy man, and able to give him a fufficiency of money to fet him up in bufinefs, placed him with a merchant at Weftport; but confidering himfelf poffeffed of abilities fufficient to fhine in a learned profeffion, he renounced the mercantile life, and went to the Temple, where he profecuted his ftudies with tolerable application, and along with a knowledge

of the laws of his country, he acquired the feeds of thofe deteftable principles, which were afterwards matured and employed for the deftruction of law, property and juftice. There he became acquainted with the dangerous and feducing works of Paine and his difciples, and was introduced into the correfponding focieties, of whofe principles and practice he was a great admirer, and profited very much by their inftructions. Having returned to Ireland, he was recognifed as a champion for the Rights of Man, and chofen by his party as a delegate from Mayo to the catholick convention in Dublin, convened by Edward Byrne, where, by his inflammatory harangues and violent conduct in endeavouring to inftigate that body to unwarrantable means for profecuting their claims, he attracted the admiration of his friends, and at the fame time ftrongly excited the attention and fufpicion of government; infomuch, that it was debated whether he fhould be allowed to be called to the bar. He was, however, foon after called to it, and fworn a barrifter, which added to his confequence, and encreafed the influence which he was ambitious to exert among the Roman catholicks in Mayo. He fpared no pains in propagating his dangerous democratick principles amongft all ranks and orders of the people, and by corrupting their minds prepared them for the rebellion, which was foon to follow. The magiftrates of the county beheld his conduct with a very jealous eye, and had nearly determined to have him arrefted under a warrant from the fecretary of ftate. This, however, was deferred, through that miftaken lenity by which delinquents are too frequently fuffered to efcape, and by which the late Rebellion was allowed to raife his baleful head. He was permitted to proceed in his career until the invafion, when a full and fair opportunity was afforded him of difplaying both his principles and actions, which he did unequivocally, as foon as the French had made themfelves mafters of Caftlebar, whither he immediately repaired, and was appointed a colonel in their fervice.

He was attended by a large party of his followers, who had been taught to look for this event by his addreffes and harangues, and with thefe he accompanied Humbert on his march to Ballinamuck, and after the furrender he and colonel Blake concealed themfelves in a bog. Blake was taken prifoner, but he had the good fortune to effect his efcape, and made his way from thence into the wild mountains of Cunnemara, and from

thence embarked for Spain or France, with fome other fugitives of his own defcription.

Doctor Barrett, a Roman catholick, was a native of Irrus, in the county of Mayo, and defcended from an ancient and refpectable Irifh family, who formerly poffeffed a large eftate in that country, and of which he was not a little vain. Having got a competent knowledge of Latin, which he fpoke tolerably correct and fluent, though in a vulgar manner, he ferved a regular apprenticefhip to an apothecary, and carried on the bufinefs for fome years with much credit to himfelf and utility to the country. He alfo attended many of the genteel families in the neighbourhood of Ballina, (where he lived,) in the light of a phyfician, and was fo much efteemed by them, that they entered into a fubfcription to fupport him at Edinburgh, while he fhould ftudy phyfick there in a regular manner. His wife and children were alfo fupported in the fame manner at home, while he ftudied in Scotland, and that exclufively by the proteftant gentlemen, although he and his family were of the catholick perfuafion.

In that country fuch acts have not been uncommon; and I am forry to remark that the returns made to them have frequently been ungenerous and ungrateful, but were notorioufly fo during the late rebellion.

Doctor Barrett, having returned from his ftudies, commenced the practice of phyfick under the fame aufpices, in which, from his previous knowledge of medicine, and the fkill he had acquired in difeafes, he made fuch a progrefs, as to be in the receipt of £300 a year, in a country, more noted for liberality than riches, and where he had Sir William Boyde to contend with. Before he went to Scotland, the doctor was rather bigoted to his religion, but having frequently attended the prefbyterian form of worfhip, and converfed freely with well-informed men there, he became difgufted with the tricks and fuperftition of his own perfuafion, of which he often fpoke with much feverity, and feldom, if ever, attended mafs or confeffion from his return till his condemnation; and nothing but the prejudices which he had fo ftrongly imbibed, when young, and his pride, (of which, in common with the old Irifh families, he poffeffed a large fhare,) prevented him from abandoning entirely the catholick doctrines and worfhip. It is to be apprehended that his fituation was fimilar to that of many other well-informed Roman catholicks, who, unable to digeft the monftrous tenets prefcribed for their belief, and prevented by

pride, fhame, or prejudice, from embracing a religion more conformable to reafon and good fenfe, fuffer themfelves to lapfe infenfibly into a ftate of infidelity.

As to the doctor’s loyalty, before the invafion, it was unimpeachable, fo far as was known to his moft intimate friends; and, I firmly believe, he was totally unconnected with the leaders of rebellion before that period. On the approach of the French army, he and his family fled for fafety to an ifland in Lough Conn, where they continued for more than a week, but afterwards induced, partly through want of provifions, partly through promifes of protection, they came into the town, where, on account of their religion, they were not only protected, but amply fupplied with every article of fupport and comfort which the demefnes, houfes and cellars of the proteftant gentlemen, plundered by the rebels, could furnifh.

After the retaking of the town, the doctor was found peaceably at home, and feemed very happy to find his old acquaintances and benefactors returning in triumph, many of whom, as well as the officers of different regiments, he entertained very hofpitably for fome weeks, and feemed perfectly fecure from any danger; and, what is fomewhat odd, fome months elapfed before he was apprehended.

It did not appear on his trial that he ever took up arms, or accompanied the enemy in any act of hoftility, or behaved with feverity to the proteftants who were in his power; but, on the contrary, that he fhewed acts of kindnefs and indulgence to many of them. The chief matters which were proved againft him, were, confulting and advifing with the French officers; directing the guards; figning paffes in his fon’s name, (who was a rebel colonel,); and forcing his fon to take a command;

Before his trial, an offer was made to him, that he, and his whole family, would be permitted to remove themfelves to America; but fo confident was he, that no act of treafon or rebellion could be fubftantiated againft him, that he rejected the propofal; alleging, that if the gentlemen of the country could procure proof fufficient to condemn him, they would not make him fo lenient an offer. He was tried and condemned at Caftlebar, by the fentence of martial law, and fent to Ballina for execution. His reparation from an innocent, virtuous wife, and feven children, whom he was about to leave unprotected, and without the moft

remote profpect of fupport, was a punifhment far beyond that which the fentence of the law had decreed, and produced the ftrongeft emotions of pity in thofe who execrated the crime for which he was to fuffer, and by which they had been fuch great fufferers themfelves.

He walked from the publick houfe to the fatal tree, and read, as he proceeded, a litany, attended by two priefts, and met his fate with becoming propriety and without emotion, having, in a few fhort fentences, called God to witnefs, whether he had been guilty of the crimes for which he was condemned. He had many good qualities, and was a very ufeful member of fociety; but his having efpoufed a caufe, which was calculated to deftroy the lives and properties of his fupporters and benefactors, leaves a ftain of ingratitude behind it, which no time can efface.

Patrick Barrett, junior, a colonel in the rebel army, was fon to doctor Barrett of Ballina, before maitioned, and received a tolerable fchool education from his father, who intended to breed him to the profeffion of an apothecary. Previous to the rebellion, he enrolled himfelf in the Tyrawly cavalry, where he was always amongft the foremoft to volunteer any duty which required fpirit or activity, and never failed to acquit himfelf like a good foldier and a loyal subject.

On the taking of Ballina by the French troops, this corps, with fome others, were ordered to fall back on Caftlebar, and being badly officered, and partaking in the general panick, with which the troops of the line, as well as the yeomanry, were ftruck on that fhameful occafion, they divided into fmall parties, and effected their retreat, fome retiring home, others joining themfelves to different parties of the king’s troops, where they could find them. Unfortunately for Barrett, it was his lot to be amongft the former, and having come within a few miles of Ballina, he had an interview with his father, which ended in an acquiefcence on his part of coming into the town, which was then occupied by a French commandant, and a large number of rebels. It is afferted, that the caufe of his coming into town, was an expectation of procuring fome money to enable him to return and join the king’s troops; but in this hope he was difappointed, and was committed a clofe prifoner with the proteftants, where he remained until he confented to accept of a command in the rebel army, which he with great reluctance did, after his father had ufed all the authority of a parent, and even proceeded fo far as to ftrike him with a

ratan, becaufe he refufed fo flattering an invitation. Being invefted with the honour of a colonel, his time was more occupied in reftraining the exceffes of his favage and violent followers, than in training them to military difcipline. Thefe worft of barbarians, having received arms from the French, or furnifhed themfelves with pikes, were conftantly employed in plundering houfes, driving in cattle, imprifoning the few proteftants who remained in the country, or indulging themfelves in eating and drinking to excefs, and then becoming unruly and riotous, fo that Truc the commandant, and young Barrett were frequently called upon to exert their authority and reftore peace, which was the only duty that Barrett feemed to do with a good grace; and it was often remarked of him, that he was never feen to fmile after he had been promoted to the rank of colonel, and ferioufly requefted of his friends not to offend him with that appellation. He enlarged many of the prifoners from time to time, and fhewed them as much indulgence and lenity as his limited and precarious fituation enabled him to do. His exertions were not confined to the town, and he was frequently obliged to mount his horfe and gallop out to the country to protect private property.

Mr. Knox’s houfe at Rappa, being in danger of being plundered, he went there with a party, and conveyed into town the plate and other valuable effects, which he fecured at his father’s houfe.

The reverend Mr. Neligan’s houfe had early attrafted the notice of the rebels, and every thing valuable in it had been either taken away or demolifhed before Barrett came into power, except the papers and records of the regiftry of the diocefe, which were then in Mr. Neligan’s care, Thefe, though trampled under foot, and many of them flung into the ftreet, he carefully collected and depofited in a place of fafety, by which means the original wills and other records for near one hundred years back were preferved.

His endeavours to fave the proteftants from the cruelty of prieft Cowley were near cofting him his life. That villain, who was daily plotting their deftruction, pretended that he had received orders from Truc to give them up to the fury of their enemies; but Barrett, fufpecting the order to be falfe, applied to Truc by another interpreter, and learned that his fufpicions were well-founded; whereupon he publickly abufed Cowley, and accufed him fo fharply of the falfehood, that one of his

friends attempted with a pike to difpatch Barret, which he would have effected, had it not been for his vigilance and activity.

Notwithftanding his attention and humanity to the loyalifts when in his power, he was ready to draw his fword againft them when he met them in the field, and to acknowledge them, not as friends, but enemies. This he proved in two inftances, the firft in an attack made by him and Henry O’Keon on Caftlebar, on the twelfth of September, when in the hands of the king’s troops, at the head of a large body of rebels, where, by the bravery of captain Urquhart, a few of the Frafer fencibles and the proteftants of the town, he was repulfed and obliged to retreat to Ballina: The fecond was a much bolder attempt, but attended with equally bad fuccefs. When it was at length determined by the wifdom of government, that the unfortunate inhabitants of that part of the country were to be relieved, fome from their imprifonment, others from banifhment, and that the few cowardly and half-armed rebels who had fo long occupied the houfes and the properties of the loyalifts were condemned to expulfion, two large detachments were put in motion for that purpofe, the one from Caftlebar, the other from Sligo. Barrett marched out to meet the latter with a motley crew of his countrymen, but was foon repulfed.

He afterwards concealed himfelf in the town, and although he was proclaimed, and a reward was offered for his apprehenfion, the recollection of his past kindnefs to the proteftants prevented them from difcovering his retreat, or bringing him to trial.
After remaining in a ftate of dreadful fufpenfe for fome months, he effected his efcape to Sligo, where, in the difguife of a failor, he entered on board a veffel, and failed for America.

There were many good traits in this young man’s character, which would entitle him to a better fate. He was brave and generous, humane and grateful, and his perfon and manners befpoke fomething much beyond his education and expectations in life; and it is only to be regretted that his loyalty was not fufficiently ftrong to enable him to refift the influence which was exerted to feduce him to join the enemies of his country.

Henry and John Sheares, two brothers, who had been arrefted the twenty-firft of May, were tried in Dublin the twelfth of July, on charges of high treafon, and were convicted on the cleareft evidence of being

being deeply concerned in the confpiracy, and of having harboured the moft fanguinary defigns. They were the fons of Mr. Sheares, a banker at Cork, who was efteemed not only for his moral virtues, but refpected for his mental accomplifhments and intelledual powers, having written effays and differtations on various fubjects, which would not have difgraced the pen of doctor Johnfon. Thefe men were at Paris when the king and queen were put to death, and continued there during the tyranny of Roberfpierre [sic]; and at their return were heard to fpeak with delight of the fcenes of carnage which they had feen there. They were executed in front of Newgate, and in their laft moments difplayed that perturbation of mind, and that abject fear which feldom fail to attend the guilty when they are about to depart from this life.

John McCann, clerk to Henry Jackfon, was tried and convicted of the fame crime on the feventeenth of the fame month, and was executed on the nineteenth, when he fhewed a decent compofure, and acknowledged the juftice of his fentence.
William M. Byrne, of the county of Wicklow, was tried and convicted of the fame crime on the twentieth of July, and fuffered on the twenty-firft.

Oliver Bond, one of the principal leaders of the confpiracy, at whofe houfe the Leinfter delegates had been arrefted on the twelfth of March, was arraigned for high treafon on July the twenty-third, and his trial lafted till feven o’clock in the morning of the twenty-fourth, when he was convicted. This man, who had made a confiderable fortune as a woollen-draper, was the fon of a prefbyterian minifter of St. John’s-town, nine miles from Letterkenny, in the county of Donegall. I have very good authority for faying that he was a confirmed deift, and that he had been active in diffeminating the works of Tom Paine, of which he was a great admirer. I have been well affured that he was in indifferent circumftances, till he and Simon Butler were committed to Newgate by the houfe of lords, in the year 1793; on which occafion, being confidered as a perfecuted patriot, his cuftomers encreafed fo much, that he became opulent in the fpace of four or five years.

The prifoners confined for high treafon in the different gaols in Dublin, perceiving from the trials of the Sheares’s, McCann, Byrne and Bond, that they muft fall a prey to the vengeance of the law, applied

to counfellor Dobbs, M.P. to be their interceffor with government, hoping through his mediation to obtain the royal mercy, on making a full difcovery of the confpiracy. In confequence of his interference, the lord chancellor, lord Caftlereagh and Mr. fecretary Cooke, inclining to do every thing that was merciful on the part of government, condefcended to hold an interview with meffieurs Arthur O’Connor, counfellor Emmet, and doctor M’Nevin, whom all the ftate prifoners delegated to reprefent them. Government, whofe clemency and moderation were confpicuous on all occafions, agreed to the following terms: That the prifoners, about feventy in number, fhould exile themfelves for life to fuch country as fhould be mutually agreed upon; that Oliver Bond, who had been condemned to die fhould be fpared, and permitted to accompany them: And in return they were to difclofe the whole of the confpiracy, and their intercourfe with France; but that in doing fo, they were not to implicate any perfon whatfoever in their guilt.

As it was difcovered that the leaders in this band of traitors abufed the lenity of government, by endeavouring fecretly to foment rebellion while in prifon, the following perfons were fent to Fort George in Scotland, where the feverity of their confinement has been mitigated by the greateft indulgence on the part of government:

Another ftriking inftance of the clemency of the government was this: In the beginning of September, 1798, an act of general pardon, with but few exceptions was paffed, but it was not productive of as much benefit as might have been expected; for robbery and affaffination continued

to be perpetrated, the whole of that year, and till the end of the year 1799, in many parts of Leinfter; not only in that province, but in fome parts of Munfter, particularly in the counties of Waterford and Tipperary, treafonable combinations continued to be formed, and a ftrong fpirit of infurrection appeared. It is to be lamented, that at this time the popifh multitude are as much fraught with difaffection as ever; though they are ftill fmarting from the former rebellion, and though the royal mercy has been extended to them in a very extraordinary degree.

It might be faid that I have gone far in expofiug the errors of popery, and have been fevere upon them; but it fhould be recollected, that the popifh clergy never ceafe to reprefent the proteftant religion as a peftilent herefy, which brings the frowns of the Almighty on its votaries in this life, and dooms them to eternal damnation hereafter; and this not only orally, but by various publications, fome of which I fhall mention.

One of them, entitled, “Fifty Reafons, why the holy Roman catholick religion ought to be preferred to all the fects in Chriftendom,” is printed by Wogan and Crofs in Bridge-ftreet; and it is annually diffeminated among the lower clafs of people by their priefts. Every page of this wretched volume of fiction is replete with falfehood and bitter invectives againft the eftablifhed religion, and cannot fail of making the lower clafs of people rebels to a proteftant ftate. I give the following extracts from it:

“Proteftants cannot name fo much as one perfon of sanctity that was of their religion, page 36.

Our adverfaries will confefs, that during the firft five ages, there was no other religion” (meaning the popifh) to which nations were converted.” Page 38. “There is little or no inftruftion to be found among them” (proteftants) “upon points of morality, or the obfervance of God’s commandments; but every thing is allowed to the defires and concupifcence of depraved nature.”

“Their parfons varnifh over the dangerous maxims of their own religion, and every thing that tends to the perdition of thofe fouls that are guided by them.” Pages 96 and 97.

“They” (proteftant minifters) “are not priefts, fince they have not power to confecrate in the Eucharift, nor to forgive fins, which is yet the main office of prieftly dignity.” Page 80.

“Hereticks themfelves confefs, that Roman catholicks may be faved; whereas thefe maintain there is no falvation for fuch as are out of the Roman catholick church. What madnefs then were it for any man not to go over to the Roman catholicks, who may be faved in the judgment of their adverfaries!” Pages 17 and 90.

Every perfon endued with reafon muft recoil, on reading a treatife on the Scapular, a pitiful piece of fuperftitious nonfenfe, which is conftantly perufed by the befotted wretches who are in that holy order; and they are very numerous.

Another piece of grofs fuperftition and impiety publifhed by the fame bookfellers is, “Funiculus Triplex,” or the Triple Cord of St. Francis, which fets forth the great indulgences to which the votaries of that order are entitled.

What can be expected from a rabble drenched with the inebriating poifon of fuch produftions, but treafon, robbery, and affaffination!

A poem in four cantos, and in Hudibraftic verfe, entitled, “England’s Reformation, from the time of Henry VIII. was publifhed by Peter Hoey, a popifh bookfeller in Dublin, in the year 1791. It was written by one Thomas Ward, as a fatire on the reformation, and it abounds with ridicule and inventive on the illuftrious charafters who were the chief inftruments in effecting that glorious revolution. This production contains no lefs than 468 pages.

In the year 1790, the tranflation of a book entitled, “The general hiftory of the chriftian church, from her birth to her final triumphant ftate in heaven,” was printed in Dublin by James Mehain, a popifh bookfeller. It was written originally at Rome, by a fanguinary bigot of the name of Paftorini. This writer defends and expreffes his approbation of all the maffacres of proteftants, which ever took place in France and Ireland; and he endeavours to fhew, by falfe and tortuous expofitions of the prophefies, that it has been pofitively decreed by the Almighty, that hereticks of every kind and in every country in Europe would be extirpated about this time. This piece of blafphemy and folly, which is a large octavo voluime of 502 pages, was publifhed to encourage the mafs

of the Irifh papifts to join in the confpiracy which was framed fo early, and in the maffacre which was to fucceed it in the year 1798, as if it was to be conducted under the divine fanction; and yet, from the year 1791 to that period, the popifh clergy and laity frequently affembled in different parts of the kingdom, particularly in Dublin, expreffed their zealous and unabated loyalty, and made publick and unequivocal renunciations of the fanguinary and intolerant principles which ever characterlzed their church.*

It is moft certain, that the great mildnefs and beneficence of the proteftants of every rank towards the lower clafs of papifts, would foon make converts of them,§ but that their clergy never ceafe to infpire them with a fanatical hatred againft the proteftant ftate and their fellow fubjects of that perfuafion. Doctor Huffey’s paftoral letter is a ftriking proof of this.

We may form fome idea of this from an oath found on board the Gladiator, by which the Irifh traitors in the fleet bound each other, in the year 1798, to carry it into Breft, “and afterwards to kill all proteftants.”†

It appeared alfo on a trial on board the Caefar, that Michael Butler, an Irifh traitor, declared, that there ought to be a catholick government in Ireland; that the proteftants fhould be expelled from it; and that he fhould not die eafy till he fwam in Englifh blood.‡

* See page 81 of this work.
§ The Roman catholicks of a parifh frequently folicit proteftant gentlemen for ground to build chapels on, and I never heard of the requeft being refufed; and in many cafes, they built them at their own expence. Whenever a popifh chapel is to be built by fubfcription, the proteftants never fail, when folicited, to contribute largely to it.

† Report of the fecret committee of the Englifh houfe of commons, publilbed 5th of March 1799, Appendix, No. XIX.
‡ Ibid.

An account of the fums of money claimed by the fuffering loyalifts in the different counties of Ireland, for their loffes fuftained in the rebellion of 1798, and laid before the commiffioners appointed by act of parliament for compenfating them.