guards, shall be tried by a court-martial, appointed and chosen from amongst the commanders of all the different corps, and not to depart therefrom under pain of death, unless authorised to quit by written orders from the Commander-in-chief for that purpose.

"It is also ordered, that a guard shall be kept at the rear of the different armies, with orders to shoot all persons who shall fly or desert from any engagement; and these orders to be taken notice of by all officers commanding in such engagements.

"All men refusing to obey their superior officers, to be tried by a court-martial, and punished according to their sentence.

"It is also ordered, that all men who shall attempt to leave their respective quarters when they have been halted by the Commander-in-chief, shall suffer death, unless they shall have leave from their officers for so doing.

"It is also ordered by the Commander-in-chief, that all persons who shall have stolen or taken away any horses, shall immediately bring in such horses to the camp at head-quarters; otherwise, any horse that shall be seen or found in the possession of any person to whom he does not belong, shall, on being convicted thereof suffer death ;* and any person or persons, who shall take upon them to kill or murder any person or persons, burn any house, or commit any plunder, with

• Rather the thief was to have been put to death.

out special written orders from the Commander-in-chief,

shall suffer death.

"By order of

"B. B. HARVEY, Commander-in-chief, "FRANCIS BRIEN, Sec. & Adjt."

Head-Quarters, Carrig-burn Camp,

June, 6th, 1798.

All this day, Harvey was in the greatest distress of mind, and could not avoid shewing his dislike to the inhumanity of the priests, which they, however, soon resented, by collecting their different flocks, and pointing out to them the impropriety of having a heretic for their commander; which so prejudiced them against him, that he was now in a critical situation. On the 7th of June, the whole camp removed from Carrigburn to Slieve-quilter, within five miles of New-Ross. Here priest Roche, of Poulpearsey, formerly of Gorey, had influence enough to get Harvey deposed from his generalship, and himself elected Commander-in-chief. Indeed such was Harvey's conduct, in consequence of the cruelties inflicted on the prisoners, that the priests were apprehensive if they did not exert themselves, they would lose their consequence among the people; and having gained their wish in removing Harvey from the chief command, they strenuously exhorted them to persevere in their glorious work. Among those ecclesiastics who appeared most zealous, was priest Murphy of Bannow; who, in a speech after the battle of Ross, delivered himself as follows:

"Brethren, you see you are victorious every where: that the balls of the heretics fly about you without hurting you; that few of you have fallen, whilst thousands of the heretics are dead; and the few that have fallen, was from deviating from our cause, and want of faith; that this visibly is the work of God, who is determined, that the heretics, who have reigned upwards of one hundred years, should now be extirpated, and the true Catholic religion be established." This priest frequently preached the same doctrine to them.

Their new commander being determined to shine in a conspicuous manner, collected several bullets, which, he assured them, he had caught in the battle of Ross, and distributed several to his brethren, when in the heat of action, who loaded their pieces with them; and he asserted, that this was what no other army could boast of. He would also, he said, give them such gospels to hang about their necks, as would make the person who wore it, proof against all the power of heretical artillery; but that notwithstanding their extraordinary utility to the Irish army, they would be of no avail unless they were purchased. The price to the better sort of people, was half a crown; but as the poorer sort were so zealous in their glorious cause, he would only ask from them sixpence a piece. Thousands of these were made, which were speedily sent round the country.

A copy of priest Roche's Protection or Gospel!

"No gun, pistol, sword, or any other offensive weapon, can hurt or otherwise injure the person who has this paper in his possession; and it is earnestly recommended to all women with child to carry it, as it will be found an infallible preservation against the fatality of child-bed.

“ No. 7601.

ROCHE."

One of those gospels was taken from off the neck of John Hay, a rebel chief, who was executed at Wexford a few days after it was retaken by the king's army— they were generally sewed to a brown coloured tape.

While the rebels remained on Slieve-quilter, they committed several outrages on the persons and property of the surrounding inhabitants, particularly on a respectable old gentleman, Francis Glascott, of Pill-town, Esq. This gentleman and Mr. Harvey, prior to the commencement of the rebellion, were on very intimate terms; on which Mr. Glascott, (who was totally ignorant of Harvey's being deposed of his command in the rebel army) wrote to him, requesting he would send him a protection. Mr. Harvey returned him the following answer:

"DEAR SIR,

"I received your letter, but what to do for you I know not. I from my heart wish to protect all property; I can scarcely protect myself, and indeed my situation is much to be pitied and distressing to myself. I took my present situation in hopes of doing good, and preventing mischief: my trust is in Providence. I acted always an honest disinterested part, and had the advice I gave sometime since been taken, the present mischief could never have arisen. If I can retire to a private station again, I will immediately. Mr. Tottenham's refusing to speak to the gentleman I sent into Ross, who was madly shot by the soldiers, was very unfortunate; it has set the people mad with rage, and there is no restraining them. The person I sent in had private instructions to propose a reconciliation, but God knows where this business will end; but end how it may, the good men of both parties will be inevitably ruined. "I am with respect,

"Dear Sir,

66

Yours, &c. &c. &c.

"B. B. HARVEY."

Slieve-quilter, June 9th, 1798.

While the rebels remained on the hill of Slievequilter, a party of them attacked his Majesty's gunboat, the Louisa, at Fisher's-town, on her way with despatches from Waterford to Ross, and killed Mr. Robert Hayland, the master of the boat, and three of the sailors; and probably would have taken her, had not another borne up to her assistance. On the 10th of