dred and fifty men, in three bodies, all to be observant of the orders of Mr. James Devitt, the civil magistrate unanimously chosen by the people, because he was a substantial tradesman, a Roman Catholic, and a man of sense and moderation. He had under him two assistants of his own religion. The benefits of this regulation were felt immediately in the establishment of tolerable order and quiet, at least in and about the town; and without doubt they would have been felt to a greater extent, if the French power had been firmer.

"The example of Killalla was presently copied in the other departments. Magistrates were elected, always Roman Catholics, but commonly of the better sort among them, persons who had no desire to take arms against the British government. Some of these applied to the bishop for his opinion whether they should incur the penalties of treason by acting under a foreign power, merely for the common safety, and under the conditions stated above. His answer was, that he was no lawyer-but having always found the law of England to be consonant to reason, he would take upon him to say there could be no law forbidding to do, under these circumstances, what was absolutely enjoined by the great law of self-preservation. It is reported, that when the rebellion was over, several persons muttered against this doctrine. It might be conceded, they said, to the existing terror, but it was not sound, because it might be employed as an excuse for a tame and prompt submission to any invaders. To such tranquil declaimers on the merit of casting away life and property, in preference to bowing the head to a storm, it is obvious to reply, that had they changed situations with those who actually felt the distress, it is more than probable they would have seen good reason to adopt the very conduct which, in the fulness of security, they take upon them to condemn. To submit to a king de facto, and even to act by a commission from such a one to preserve the peace of the community, provided by so doing you do not preclude yourself from returning under the government of a king de jure, is a practice sanctioned by the authority of our most equitable English law."*

The ferocious character of the Wexford war did not, on either side, mark the western outbreak. In the former county, Gordon says that there was reason for believing "that more men than fell in battle were slain in cold blood. No quarter was given to persons taken prisoners as rebels, with or without arms. For one instance-fifty-four were shot in the little town of Carnew in the space of three days! How many fell in this manner, or were put to death unresisting, in houses, fields, and elsewhere, would be as difficult to state with accuracy, as the number slain in battle."

In making a last allusion to the Wexford rebels, horrible and revolting as their cruelties were, amid all their atrocities the chastity of the fair sex was respected. "I have not been able to ascertain," says Gordon, one instance to the contrary in the county of Wexford, though many beautiful young women were absolutely in their power

*Narrative of occurrences at Killalla.

One consideration may diminish the wonder, but not annihilate the merit of this conduct in the rebels: they were everywhere accompanied by great numbers of women of their own party, who, in the general dissolution of regular government, and the joy of imagined victory, were perhaps less scrupulous of their favours than at other times.'

No matter with what qualifications, or to what causes it might be assignable, this was a redeeming trait in the character of the Wexford insurgents, and one also, never to be forgotten. I lament to say, that at a time when military license was unbounded, many gross cases of female grievances were charged not only upon the troops, but upon men, from whose position in society a very opposite line of conduct might have been expected. Evil days they were! With parted life human animosity generally ends-but vengeance went even beyond the tomb. The rights of sepulture were refused to the clergyman,* and the corpse of the priest was subjected to indignities hard to describe, and harder to be credited.t

*The body of Mr. Heydon, who had been greatly beloved for his humane and amiable conduct, was left in the street of Enniscorthy till it was in great part devoured by swine.

† Gordon states that the body of Father Murphy was cut open, the heart taken ont and roasted, and the fat melted and used by some of the ancient Britons for greasing their boots.

CHAPTER XXV.

FRIVATE DIARY OF THE BISHOP OF KILLALLA, FROM THE LANDING TO THE SURRENDER OF THE FRENCH ARMY.

The

THE following interesting diary, detailing the transactions of the French army and their rebel associates, during their occupation of Killalla, was placed at the disposal of the author by a relative of the gentleman, to whom the letters were originally addressed. journal given by Dr. Stock is faithfully descriptive of the times and the occurrences-and the diary is consequently attached, as a running commentary on the events which marked the western outbreak. It may be remarked, that while the fidelity of the narrative is unquestionable, a spirit of impartiality appears in every line-while indications of a high and Christian courage are discernible throughout the whole, honourable to the memory of a worthy man and a most useful prelate :

Dear.

Killalla, August 23rd, 1798.

Yesterday morning we descried three large ships in our bay, so near the shore that we could plainly perceive them carrying English colours. This tempted two of my sons to throw themselves into a boat, and put off for what they longed to see (English men-of-war). They were made prisoners, and Arthur is still in their hands on board the fleet. Edwin they brought ashore with them, possibly because he spoke French. We remained some time without suspicion, a large company of us dining together at the castle, whom the visitation (that was to have been this day) had assembled under my roof. Two officers of the carabineers from Ballina made part of the company, and we were just rising from our wine to join the ladies, when a terrified messenger brought the news that the French were landed about a mile from us, and that about three hundred of them were in full march to the town. The yeomanry were collected from the morning, and made up fifty men, with the help of the Prince of Wales's fencibles, now quartered here. The carabineer officers rode off full speed to Ballina with the news. The yeomen and fencibles stood the first fire in the streets, but seeing two of their body killed, they were seized with a panic, and fled, leaving their Captain (Mr. Kirkwood) to stand fifty shots before he was taken. The two persons killed were our apothecary and another yeoman, much regretted. Presently my son Edwin arrived at the castle gate, following the French general, whose name it appears is Humbert. The enemy marched directly into my court-yard, and seized on the English officer (Captain Sills) and his twenty men, and demanded to see "Monsieur l'Evêque." I appeared, and have had full employment ever since as an interpreter, and still more as a contributor to the wants (they say) of a brave people, who are come to set Ireland free from the English yoke. They have already put in requisition five of my horses, five sheep, one bullock, and all the bread and meat in the house-and for our losses we are (they say) to have punctual payment from the Irish Directory, which is soon to be set up in Connaught. You may judge what a time we have had last night, with all the females of the town in this house, and scarcely beds for half the number. Mrs. S poor Mary are truly heroines, intent only on accommodating the refugees and children. The story of this invasion, as I have collected it from the French, is as follows: Fifteen hundred men, mostly of the army of Italy, embarked at Rochelle about eighteen days ago, and in a dark night eluded the vigilance of the English fleet

and

close beside them; they fetched a circuitous route, and instead of landing in Donegal, as they intended, they were (unfortunately for us) driven by contrary winds to us. Their naval force is two frigates of 44 guns, eighteen-pounders, and one of 38, twelve-pounders. They bring nine pieces of cannon, and arms for 100,000 men. The green flag is hoisted on the front gate of the castle (inscribed "Erin go bragh"), and the people are invited to join their standard, and be free and happy.

This morning, after a hearty breakfast given to three hundred men, forty horsewer were mounted on the best horses in the country, and proceeded to Ballina with sixty infantry; what success they have had against the troops in that town we as yet know not, but we fear the worst, as there is a report that the town is taken with but trifling loss. The French have hitherto maintained a most exact discipline, and our greatest apprehension of plunder is from our own peasantry. The second in command, a Monsieur Toussont, pleases me much by his politeness and good sense. He complains heavily of the slavery he has undergone here, worse, he says, than any he endured in Italy, when aide-de-camp to Bonaparte. The worst part of the story is, that they form only the vanguard of an army of 30,000 men, who are to leave France in small detachments like the present, and if they elude our fleet, will be here in a fortnight, carrying revolution and liberty to their " dear friends in Ireland.” They talk of proceeding towards Sligo to-morrow. All the squadrons are to ren

dezvous off the coast of Antrim, and push on thence to Dublin.

I am just returned from being sent away under a guard to the ships, in order to be sent to France, because I would not do what the general thought I could do— press cars, and produce them with horses for their artillery, &c. &c., after all our horses had been before carried away. After I had marched half a mile out of the town under a sergeant's guard, a dragoon was sent to recall me; and now they bawl as loudly at me for not having thirty quarts of brandy to give them. Poor Arthur! we hear nothing of him yet. What a pool a grenadier's blood has just now made in the parlour-he was wounded in an engagement with our cavalry at Ballina. The Rev. Dr. Ellison bravely marched out in the first action, and is shot in the heel, which, to hide the wound from notice, he calls the gout.

25th. Yesterday was a day of sad confusion and utter waste of my substance, attended with the slavery of interpreting, and striving to obey orders next to impossible to be executed. I have lost to the amount of £500 at least, and with little hope of being able to get away to any place of safety. This day I am going to be carried off as one of the six hostages for the safety of the officers and men left here, as a guard to the Protestants against the Irish levies, who, to the amount of thousands, have joined the French, and are certainly dangerous in no small degree. Allons: I go cheerfully to save my friends, leaving my poor family in the hands of the Almighty. Harry goes with me. I am to have my own chaise. Adieu ! Ever yours,

J. KILLALLA.

Sunday Morning.-They have changed their minds and left me on my parole, taking Edwin to serve as interpreter, in the place of Harry. The main army (about fourteen hundred French and an unaccountable number of Irish) are gone to Ballina to meet our army, which is said to be three thousand, yeomanry and regulars, as we are informed by Captain Grey, of the carabineers, who came this morning to Killalla, with a flag of truce. They say we are very safe here from the Irish, under half-a-dozen officers and two hundred men. Of the five hostages, Edwin and Mr. Knox, of Bartragh, have got a cabriole to the camp, lately belonging to the Rev. George Fortescue of this division, who was mortally wounded at Ballina; the other hostages ride-who are our curate, Nixon, Thomas Kirkwood, lieutenant of our cavalry, and James Rutledge, our custom-house officer. I should have told you Arthur Stock returned to us yesterday, after forty-eight hours' danger by sea and land, and being in a skirmish between our cavalry and the French. I fear the yeomen will never stand against those veterans without the assistance of the regulars. An action must take place very soon, which will probably settle the business; if the French are routed, they must surrender, as they have no ships to fly to, the frigates having returned to France. I am now trying to get leave for Dr. Ellison and John Thompson to return to Castlebar to their families.

27th.-Edwin and the other four hostages returned this morning, and bring word that the main body of the French were marching to Castlebar, from which we anxiously expect news, as we have heard cannon this day in that direction. Think what Dean and Mrs. Thompson and Dr. Ellison must suffer, while all that is valuable to them is in Castlebar. Dean Thompson's brother is also here, who has

one of the best houses in that town. There was but very little resistance made & Ballina. The French have been joined by several thousand rebels; the poor deluded peasants "take on," as they call it, merely for the sake of clothing and arms, and in the hope of being permitted to plunder, which trade they carry on most dexterously, in spite of their new masters, who forbid marauding under severe penalties, and certainly do not practise it themselves. Civiler men cannot possibly be than those officers who have taken up their quarters amongst us. As we have spent our own provisions, their mess supplies us very readily and plentifully from their own stores. I see now that if I had fled, as I was advised, this house and demesne would inevitably have been destroyed, and I think my presence is of use to the poor, though alas! in spite of every exertion, the depredations of the Irish are dreadful.

Evening. This is a sad one to us-the danger now grows very serious indeed. An express is just arrived from General Sarassin, second in command of the French army, stating that a complete victory has been gained by them this morning over our troops, eight hundred of whom were taken or slain, five pieces of cannon have fallen into their hands, and Castlebar has surrendered. This first success must swell the number of the Irish insurgents beyond calculation. 'Tis difficult to keep them from doing mischief as it is, but what may not the insolence of victory encourage them to do?

28th.-I was called up last night, just as I had got into bed, by the commandant (who made many apologies for the trouble), to explain the cause why a Mr. R. Bourke had been sent to him under a guard from Ballina, without letter or note from the officer there. It seems he had been busy haranguing the populace on the present state of affairs, probably exciting them to fall on the Protestants, a thing which the French will never consent to. He brought also an offer from his brother to raise recruits for the French. Night and day I am busied as an interpreter, so as really to think in French, though not as French. Reports are coming in fast with respect to yesterday's battle; Humbert writes that he has not seen a more obstinate engagement, even at La Vendée. The killed on both sides amount to about three hundred, amongst whom is a principal officer of the French. A fleet is this morning descried in the offing; the French say 'tis theirs, but we hope 'tis English. A cannonade has been heard about noon towards Foxford. What a suspense!

29th.-Nothing has happened to this day at noon, to ascertain what these ships of war may be. There are three in the road, one of them a line-of-battle ship.

We are now fully informed how matters went at Castlebar on Monday-Toussont, a man of honour and sentiment, was in the thick of the engagement-and he says it was a very obstinate fight, chiefly in the streets of Castlebar. The English were about three thousand, with ten pieces of cannon, new four-pounders, which were all taken, with about two hundred prisoners, fifty-two of whom have taken arms with the French, and have marched in this morning before my eyes to the camp in my demesne. Many say that the number of slain on our part was not near so great as the French, scarcely exceeding fifty, but the event shews that victory was with the French, as they are in full possession of Castlebar, which they have preserved as much as possible from the depredations of the Irish. The houses of Lord Lucan and the other principal inhabitants have been plundered of wine and provisions, but no other harm is done. Toussont, who returns there this evening, is to take Dr. Ellison with him. I find that the real object of the French in this invasion is to annoy England, and force us to a peace. As to forming a republic here similar to their own, they do not expect to be able to accomplish it, with such a handful of men; and they now begin to look on themselves as a forlorn hope, that will probably be forced in the end to surrender. A patrol of eighty men is in future to go round the town every night, to protect the inhabitants from the depredations of the insurgents. The French cannot long find subsistence here for themselves and their new allies. A French officer told me this morning, that he saw an Irish recruit lie down on his

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