principal in command of the army approaching the town; but not finding one supporter of this proposed scheme, he reluctantly surrendered to Lord Kingsborough his sword and other arms, but with the greatest formality.

Lord Kingsborough, thus invested with the military authority in Wexford, set about writing dispatches to the several officers' commanding the different armies approaching the town, informing them, "That the town of Wexford had surrendered to him, and in consequence of the behavior of those in the town during the rebellion, they should all be protected in person and property, murderers excepted, and those who had instigated others to commit murder, hoping these terms might be ratified, as he had pledged his honor in the most solemn manner to have these terms fulfilled on the town being surrendered to him, the Wexford-men not being concerned in the massacre which was perpetrated by country people in their absence."*

With these dispatches were enclosed, as a further document, the following proposals from the people of Wexford :-"That Captain M'Manus shall proceed from Wexford towards Oulart, accompanied by Mr. Edward Hay, appointed by the inhabitants of all religious persuasions to inform the officer commanding the king's troops that they are ready to deliver up the town of Wexford without opposition, to lay down their arms and return to their allegiance, provided that their persons and properties are guarantied by the commanding officer; and that they will use every influence in their power to induce the people of the country at large to return to their allegi

See Appendix, Captain Bourke and Lord Kingston's letters.

ance; and these terms it is hoped Captain M'Manus

will be able to procure.

66 Signed by order of the inhabitants of Wexford,

"Wexford, June 21, 1798."

"MATTHEW KEUGH.

All matters being thus arranged, I went down to the jail for Captain M'Manus, as well as to announce the news to all the prisoners. As I had on a former occasion consulted them on the letter written in their name and behalf, and as they were universally pleased with my sentiments, they all crowded about me, many of them even in their shirts, and when I communicated to them the purport of the mission of Captain M'Manus and myself, the joy they manifested can only be conceived by such as have been in a similar situation. They expressed sentiments of the utmost kindness to me in particular, and hearty success to our undertaking. Captain M'Manus then accompanied me to Lord Kingsborough, who waited his arrival to consult with him and the principal inhabitants together; and when all things were adjusted between them, and that his lordship had written his dispatches, enclosing the proposal of the townsmen, the captain and I set out, bearing these credentials, and proceeded as far as Castle-bridge, where, finding that the troops which had been stationed at Oulart had moved towards Enniscorthy, we thought it best to direct our course thither. As yet we had met with none but women and children who were bewailing their wretched condition in the most. piteous strains. Shortly afterwards, however, we met Captain Dixon, who had been present at the approval of our deputation by the people of Wexford in the morning; but the plan not corresponding with his sentiments, he had set out with intention to gain over a party in the country to waylay and put us to

J

death; but as all the men had gone to camp, he could not find accomplices to assist him in this undertaking. Soon after we met Morgan Byrne, a man of the same stamp, who was Dixon's associate the day before, and whose cowardice and cruelty were equally conspicuous;* he accosted us in the most abrupt and savage manner, vowing death and destruction against numbers, among whom he was pleased to include myself and my companion, whom he called a spy. Upon my declaring that I was going to take observation of the position of the army, he insisted upon accompanying us; and as he had a musket and bayonet, two cases of pistols-one in holsters and the other flung on his belts-while we had no arms whatever, I thought it most prudent to humor him; which I did for two miles that he rode with us, when we had the good fortune to shake him off; and I then informed Captain M'Manus of the danger we had escaped by getting off such a ruffian. We then came to a resolution to be the first to address every one we met, to show our confidence, and by this precaution we passed unmolested by great numbers who were flying from Vinegar Hill, and the more dangerous, as they were stragglers from the main body of the insurgents that had taken another road; and using many expedients to elude all inquiry on our business, but particularly calling out to the

*The conduct of this man exemplifies the usual infamy attendant on informers; as immediately previous to the insurrection he had waited on Captain (now Major) Kavanagh with a plentiful offer of information from his father and himself, when the sudden insurrection prevented its accomplishment. He and some of his relatives were distinguished by their barbarous dispositions, as true co-operators of Captain Dixon, whose conduct is a manifest proof how unlike you sometimes find even brothers, as they were distinguished by their tenderness and humanity, whereas he was a sanguinary monster.

fugitives to collect at the Three Rocks, (the place appointed for the insurgents to wait until the conclusion of the negotiation then on foot,) we at last arrived in sight of the army at Darby-gap, where Captain M'Manus threw off a great-coat which I had had the precaution to make him wear over his regimentals. We then hoisted a white handkerchief as our flag; and could descry the country all along between that and Enniscorthy in a most dreadful situation; houses on fire, dead men and women strewed along the road and in the fields; while the soldiers were hunting for such as might be concealed in the ditches, and bringing down every person they met; in fine, it was altogether a dreadful picture, exhibiting all the horrors of war! A small party of the Antrim militia happened to be among the first of the soldiery that we met, and these hailed their officer with the most heartfelt demonstrations of joy, and conducted us safely to Drumgold, where we met Major-general Sir James Duff, who led us into Enniscorthy to General Lake, the commander-in-chief, to whom we delivered our dispatches. The remains of the town exhibited a dreadful aspect, as the greater part of the houses, which had escaped until the arrival of the army, were still on fire; and the house which had been used as an hospital by the insurgents, and which was set on fire with all the patients in it, continued burning until next morning, when I saw a part of a corpse still hissing in the embers.

The news of our arrival having quickly spread through the town, numbers of officers, yeomen, and gentlemen of my acquaintance crowded around me; some anxious to hear of their friends, while others expressed how disappointed they would be if hindered from demolishing Wexford, with all the concomitant horrors and atrocities usual on such dreadful and

shocking occasions! Some had the savage indecency even to mention some young ladies by name, who, they intended, should experience the effects of their brutal passions before they would put them to death; but these intentions they feared would be frustrated by the account I gave them of the proposal and dispatches: others wished the extermination of all Catholics! some inquired for their friends and relations, and amidst these horrors were not destitute of humanity. While I was thus conversing with many of various descriptions, Major-general Sir James Duff kindly came to me and entreated that I would go into the house where the commander-inchief was, and by no means to remain in the streets; for that if I did, he entertained great apprehensions I might fall a sacrifice to the furious disposition of many persons in military array; offering at the same time to bring me any gentleman I wanted, as he should be sorry I should endanger my person, of which I ought then to be particularly careful, as, if I were to meet with any accident, it might put a stop to any further negotiation on so desirable an object as I was endeavoring to obtain. I then went into the house, where I continued the whole of that day and remained the whole night also, as upon soliciting an answer to the dispatches, the commanderin-chief signified that we should not get it until the next morning. Some of my friends have since informed me, that they prevented several persons who were on the point of shooting me from putting their murderous intentions into effect, in the streets of Enniscorthy. Captain O'Hea, of the North Cork militia, and Mr. Cloney arrived about two hours after Captain M'Manus and myself in Enniscorthy. They, having taken the road direct from Wexford, met the main body of the insurgents on their retreat; and