opening had been designedly left by the general for the enemy's retreat, in order to avoid the dreadful slaughter that might have ensued had the rebels found themselves hemmed in on all sides. If so, policy and humanity, dictated the arrangement, but if it arose from negligence, much censure would attach to General Needham *. The fugitive rebels directed their course towards Wexford. They left behind them a quantity of rich plunder, with thirteen pieces of ordinance. The loss on the side of the king's forces was inconsiderable.

The royal troops obtained possession of Wexford on the same day as Enniscorthy. General Moore, at the head of about 1200 men had, on the evening of the 20th been intercepted by an army of five or six thousand led from Three Rocks by Philip Roche, at Goff's bridge near the church of Horetown. A smart contest ensued, in which the rebels were defeated. Joined by two regiments under Lord Dalhousie, the army took post on the field of battle, and on the morning of the 21st was proceeding to Taghmon, when two gentlemen arrived with proposals from the inhabitants of Wexford, to surrender the town on condition' that their lives and properties should be guarrenteed by his majesty's generals. Moore forwarded these proposals to the commander in chief, (General Lake) who returned for answer, that no

It seems to have been General Lake's design to oblige the whole multitude to surrender, and thus, put an end to the rebellion; a wise measure if it had been practicable.

terms could be granted to rebels in arms; but that the deluded multitude might have peace and protection, when their arms and leaders should have been delivered into his hands. Lord Kingsborough, Colonel of the North Cork Militia, who was a prisoner in the town, promised them full · security if they complied with those conditions.

The insurgents were with difficulty prevailed on by their chiefs to quit the town. They divided themselves into two bodies; one, under the command of the Rev. Philip Roche, marched into the' barony of Forth, and encamped that night at Sledagh; the other, under the conduct of Messrs. Fitzgerald, Perry, and Edward Roche, proceeded over the bridge to Peppard's Castle, where they took their station for that night. When General Lake, arrived at Wexford on the 22d, he found General Moore in possession of it. Many persons who remained, upon the faith of Lord Kingsborough's assurances of safety, were immediately apprehended and suffered death. Philip Roche, likewise, coming alone to Wexford to settle with his majesty's generals the manner in which his troops were to surrender and disperse, was seized, maltreated in a manner quite shocking to humanity *, and committed to prison.

* He was instantly dragged from his horse, and in the most ignominious manner taken up to the camp on the Windmill Hill, pulled by the hair, kicked, buffetted, and at length hauled, down to the gaol in such a condition as scarcely to be res cognized,

These acts of apparent perfidy had an injurious effect. His followers, as soon as they were made acquainted with his fate, regarding their case as desperate, marched away to the county of Carlow, under the conduct of John Murphy, the priest who had first raised the flag of insurrection in the county of Wexford.

The great system of rebellion, however, as it it had been originally organized was now broken up, and though a few skirmishes took place between the insurgents and the royal troops, and many barbarities were committed especially by the former, nothing like a general or vigourous course of operations was proceeded upon. Reduced in their numbers, and hunted in every quarter by various bodies of royal troops, they made a flying. march in the counties of Kildare, Meath, Louth, and Dublin, skirmishing with such parties of the king's forces as overtook or intercepted them, and bearing the various hardships of their peculiar warfare with an amazing strength of body, and a vigour of mind well worthy of a better cause. With the final dispersion of the Wexfordian insurgents the rebellion was terminated; but the fatal consequences to those concerned in it, did

Lot so soon end.

CHAP. X.

Lord Cornwallis succeeds Earl Camden as viceroy-Change of measures introduced-An act of amnesty passed-Many of the chief conspirators admitted to a capitulation with government -Acts of attainder against Lord E. Fitzgerald, Cornelius Grogan, and Bagenal Harvey-Invasion of Ireland by the French-Land at Killala-Account of their proceedings-Frustrated in their hopes-Parliament prorogued-Increase of the Orange system, and by what

means,

IT

was thought necessary by the government at home, that some change should be adopted in the administration of the affairs of Ireland at this imminent and perilous crisis. Earl Camden was therefore recalled, and succeeded by the Marquis Cornwallis, who assumed the civil government and supreme military command (a union which it was found requisite to make in the same individual) on the 21st June, 1798. "This appointment," says Mr. Plowden, "was under Providence the salvation of Ireland." It was a special instruction to his lordship to put down the rebellion by moderation, and to check the ferocity of the

Orange system by firmness. On the 28th of June General Lake was recalled from Wexford, and General Hunter appointed in his stead. The first prominent act of the marquis, to close the system of blood and terror which had been hitherto acted upon, was a proclamation authorising his majesty's generals to give protection to such insurgents as, being simply guilty of rebellion, should surrender their arms, abjure, all unlawful engagements, and take the oath of allegiance to the king. The full sanction of law was given to this measure by a message from his excellency to the house of commons on the 17th July, signifying his majesty's pleasure to that effect; and an act of amnesty was accordingly passed in favour of all engaged in the rebellion, who had not been leaders, who had not committed manslaughter except in the heat of battle, and who should comply with the conditions mentioned in the proclamation *.

His arrival, however, could not immediately close the system. Trials by court-martial, and executions in the usual manner, proceeded at Wexford immediately after its surrendering, and several men suffered as leaders of rebellion. Their names and sufferings need not be recorded.

The act of amnesty being passed, the surviving chief leaders were admitted to a capitulation by government, partly through the interference of

* James Napper Tandy and about thirty others, mostly fugitives in France, were excluded from the benefit of this

act.