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to his Excellency, and if you wished it, would forward such memorial. When you were afterwards removed from the prison ship to the goal, on account of ill-health, through the interference of general Craddock, and recommendation came by which I was sent to you to inquire more particularly into your situation, when you demonstrated the facts so clearly to me by documents, and I had every reason to believe the general would liberate you, on discovering the iniquitous designs of the committee as I conceive you had sufficient proofs to shew the falsity of their assertion. But unfortunately for you at that period, the landing of the French in this kingdom obliged the general to depart hastily, which left you and many more innocent persons the victims of a persecuting sanguinary party, which I call that vile body, commonly called, "the "committee." However, I congratulated you on your happy escape from becoming the victim of suborned perjury, which to my knowledge was too commonly resorted to in that town under the pretext of law.

I regret exceedingly general Hunter is not in the realm, as you would be certain to meet from him every honourable testimony of your situation, as he never countenanced party of any kind, and was always ready to relieve the oppressed. I shall be happy at any time to come forward to attest any thing that comes to my recollection,

and should long since unveil the horrid atrocious practices of that town, if my public duties did not interfere.-I wish you may succeed in getting redress; and have the honour to remain, SIR,

Your obedient humble servant,
B. EDW. FITZ-GERALD,
Lt. Major of Brigade.

EDWARD HAY, ESQ.

SIR,

From what I saw of your conduct while I was at Wexford a prisoner, I am convinced, that you did all in your power to save the people whom the rebels wished to murder, and myself among that number. And it was through you, &c. that the town of Wexford was given up to me, which circumstance, I believe, saved the lives of many; and by what I have heard of your trial, &c. think you have been

from you

very unjustly persecuted.

Your most obedient humble servant,

Colney, Dec. 14, 1799.

EDWD. HAY, ESQ.

KINGSTON.

NUMBER IX.

Sir Richard Musgrave, author of Memoirs of all the rebellions in Ireland, (parturiunt montes!) has in a pamphlet professedly written againstDoctor Caulfield, Roman catholic bishop of Ferns, given us the following letter, demon

strative of military honour in men of liberal education.

COPY OF A LETTER FROM MAJOR WILLIAMS, TO MAJOR GENERAL NEEDHAM.

SIR,

Naas, March 1, 1802.

WE, the undersigned officers of the Durham regiment, who were present at the battle of Arklow, feel it a justice due to you, under whom we served, to declare, that Mr. Gordon was not authorized by any of us to make use of those insinuations, which appear in his history, tending to reflect on your conduct that day; and we are convinced, that no proposal to retreat was made by you to Colonel Skerrett, or any other officer:

We lament colonel Skerrett, being at Newfoundland, who could have given the best testimony. We have the honour to be,

SIR,

Your most obedient humble servant,

G. HANBURY WILLIAMS, major.

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OWEN FAWCET,

THOS. HASSEL, surgeon.

JOHN WALTON, assistant surgeon.

These very officers, particularly Holmes and Beever, so frequently told the story of general Needam's proposal of a retreat, and colonel Skerrett's answer, that I and many others were disgusted with the repetition. Of this the most ample proofs can be produced, since numerous indeed were the witness. Among those, who, most contrary to their inclination, would be bound by a sense of propriety to give this evidence is Mr. John Hunter Gowan of Mountnebo, near Gorey. His family are in the same predicament, and Miss Martha Gowan of Enniscorthy, his niece, has often heard the story from all these officers, and from colonel Bainbridge. Among those in the vicinity of Naas, who could give evidence in my favour, is Mr. James Critchly, the present high sheriff of the county of Wicklow, a man of a very respectable fortune and character, who repeatedly heard the story from Owen Fawcet. I know not what title to give Mr. Fawcet now, as I have not heard what office has been procured him for his signature by General Needham, and the Musgravian, or truth oppossing junto. Holmes told me that the general, being determined to retreat, and wishing to lay the blame thereof on colonel Skerret, sent his aid-du-camp to him for advice. concerning the choice of a place to which they should retreat. He afterwards informed me that general Skerrett (he had then become general)

had written some observations on the rebellion, for my use, which were then in the hands of colonel Bainbridge for correction, and that they should be sent to me as soon as the Colonel should have finished this correction. The general and colonel told me the same, and sent them to me corrected here and there, and in some places interlined with a pencil. They have been since the publication of the above letter of the honest officers, deposited with Mr. Porter, of Graftonstreet, Dublin, the publisher of the first edition of this book, who can shew them to any person desirous of seeing them.

The reply to the proposal of a retreat is con tained in pages 10 and 11 of these observations. Thus the manuscript runs." The noble reply "of colonel Skerrett to it was concise. We can

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only hope for victory by preserving our ranks. "If we break, all is lost, and after what I have "seen of the Durham regiment, they shall never "retire." In the interlining here we read, "That day will ever reflect honour on himself." The rest of the interlining in this place is obliterated; but the following words are legible, though a pen has been drawn over some of them; "to ask *****

“to ask ***** opinion as to a situation "in the case of being obliged to retreat."

Holmes, I am persuaded, (of the rest I have a worse opinion) would not dare to deny on oath what I assert, Men of low education have

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