soldiers, without any provocation whatever, cut one of the ferry-men almost to the loss of his hand, and some of them broke into houses, and took provisions thence by force.

"When the inhabitants of Derry heard that, under pretence of four hundred men that were to come into the city, there were at least twelve hundred on the road to it, besides a great number of women and boys, they then deemed it providential that the mob had been stirred up to shut the gates for their safety.

"In conclusion, we request your lordship will represent our danger to lord Tyrconnel, and obtain his countenance for securing ourselves from our enemies, who never were obedient when they had power in their hands."*

Cairnes, who was a lawyer, and had considerable property in Ulster, was qualified both by station, education, and nature, for the important and responsible position which he then filled. During three days of anxious precaution, and watchfulness, he superintended and suggested the plan of defence for the city, and on the fourth (the 11th of December), he set out, at much personal risk, as the bearer of letters to king William, and to the Irish Society of London. These letters were from the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, as well as from persons of rank and influence, stating the pressing emergency of their position, and imploring a speedy supply of arms and ammunition. We subjoin the letter addressed to the Irish Society, which was published in the first edition of M'Kenzie's Narrative, a scarce book, and now out of print.

66

Right Worshipful,-In our sad calamity, and under the greatest apprehensions of our total excision by the Irish in these parts of the kingdom which border upon us, we thought it necessary for us immediately to dispatch David Cairnes, Esq., a very worthy citizen of this city, and lately a member of our corporation, into England, to report our case to you, and to use his endeavours, by all just means, for our speedy relief. And we have eternal obligations laid on us to bless God, whose mercy and providence rescued us from the designs of wicked men that conspired our ruin, without any provocation on our parts, whose inclinations as well as interest it was to live peaceably with all men.

"On Friday, the 7th instant, several intimations came to hand hereabouts, that on the Sunday following, a massacre was designed by the Irish in Ulster; and although it caused great thoughts of heart to the most assured amongst us, yet many of the most aged and grave came to no other resolution than to submit to the Divine Providence, whatever the result might be; and just in that juncture, whilst the younger and more inconsiderate were consulting their own safety, and, it seems, had resolved on the means, a part of the earl of Antrim's regiment, newly levied, and all composed of Highlanders and Irish papists, came to the river side, and their officers came over for quar. ters and lodgings for them.

"We confess our fears on the occasion became more pungent, but we still remained silent, except in our prayers and devotions. But

* Memoirs of the Cairnes Family, by the Rev. J. Graham.

just as the soldiers were approaching the gates, the youthhood, by a strange impulse, ran in one body and shut the gates, and put themselves in the best posture of defence they could.

"We blamed, but could not persuade them to any other resolution that night; and so the soldiers retired, and were quartered in the neighbourhood, where although they did not murder or destroy any, yet many threats they uttered, and outrages they committed.

"The next day we hoped to prevail with those who assumed the power of the city, to open the gates and receive the garrison, but the news and intimations of the general design came so fast, so full from all quarters, that we then blessed God for our present escape, effected by means unforeseen and against our wills.

"In the general hurry and consternation of not only us, but all the neighbouring counties, when we have had but scarce time to hear the repeated informations of our danger, it is not possible for us to furnish the bearer of this letter with all requisite testimonials to evince this sad truth, nor will it consist with our safety to protract his stay till it can be done, the vessel that carries him being just ready to sail. We must refer you to his report, and to copies of papers carried over by him, for your farther satisfaction in particulars; but we do most humbly and heartily beseech you, as you are men of bowels and charity, to assist this gentleman, how best you can, to secure us from the common danger, and that we may peaceably live, obeying his majesty and the laws, doing injury to no man, nor wishing it to any. Your interest here is now no argument to engage you; the lives of innocent men, women, and children, are at stake. If you can, and will not now afford your help to the utmost, we shall never be able to urge a motive to induce you, or to prevail upon you. May the Lord send deliverance to us, and preserve you all in peace and tranquillity, is the hearty prayer of, Gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

"GEORGE PHILLIPS.

"SAMUEL NORMAN.

"MATTHEW COCKER.

"JOHN CAMPSIE.

"ALEXANDER TOMKINS."

LONDONDERRY, Dec. 10, 1688.

Cairnes sailed on the following day to London, where he was detained for nearly three months before the necessary supplies of men and arms could be obtained. Early in March he received directions from the earl of Shrewsbury to return to Londonderry with as much expedition as possible, and to convey to the governor and magistrates of the city, the king's high approval of the firm and determined spirit already evinced by its inhabitants, with an assurance of his deep concern for their security, and a promise of speedy and effectual protection not only to them, but to the entire kingdom; and as an earnest of this, he sent, previously to this communication, a supply of men, arms, and ammunition, for the present emergency.

The earl, at the same time, delivered to Cairnes the accompanying testimonial to his energetic and unwearied exertions:

"Given at the Court of Whitehall, on the 11th of March, 1689. "Mr David Cairnes, the bearer hereof, being appointed by the committee for Irish affairs forthwith to repair to Londonderry, these are to certify to all whom it may concern, that the said Mr Cairnes hath for these two months past attended constantly his majesty and the council, in behalf of the said city, and that he hath behaved with prudence, diligence, and faithfulness.

"SHREWSBURY."

He arrived in Derry the 11th of April, having been preceded about three weeks by captain James Hamilton, afterwards earl of Abercorn, who brought to its relief from England a quantity of arms and ammunition, with five thousand pounds in money.

As he approached Derry, he had been surprised by meeting crowds of men, and even some officers, leaving the town in panic, and bearing passes from Lundy, which at once suggested to the mind of Cairnes the treachery of the governor, and this was farther corroborated by learning that it was from him they had received that impression of terror which impelled their flight. He had also neglected to form any line of defence along the frontier garrisons on the Bann and the Finn water; and had it not been for the timely return of Cairnes, who intercepted and recalled the fugitives by his animating representations, he would have succeeded in quietly and treacherously emptying the town of a large portion of its most effective population.

Being the bearer of a letter from the king to Lundy, Cairnes delivered it to him in the presence of his council, and announced at the same time that they might look with confidence to speedy and effective aid from England, as large bodies of troops were already on their way to them from thence; and implored the governor not to allow this strong hold of protestantism to be deserted.

He demanded from him, in the king's name, a particular account of the state of the city, what means of defence had been resorted to, what quantity of arms and ammunition it contained, and how it was provisioned in case of a siege. To none of these questions could satisfactory answers be returned, and the total neglect of all precautionary measures, combined with other less equivocal symptoms, produced a general impression of the faithlessness of the governor.

The excitement of the populace was so great, on the first surmise of treachery, that he was compelled to leave the town in disguise, and to remain concealed until their fierce ebullition had subsided. A new and trust-worthy council was immediately formed, and their declaration of union, and resolute determination of defending the city to the last, posted on the market-house.

The expressed approbation, and promised aid of the king gave a new stimulus to the loyalty and determination of the citizens, to which they gave vent in loud shouts and huzzas. The enemy, probably aware of the friendly dispositions of the governor, and seeing no obstacle to their approach beyond the walls of the city, began to make preparations for crossing the Foyle in their boats. The Rev. George Walker, who afterwards took so prominent a part in its defence, receiving intelligence that the Irish army was rapidly advancing on the

city, hastily rode into it, and communicated the fact to Lundy, who was already too well informed on the subject, and who had the audacity to treat it as an idle rumour. Walker finding his warning slighted, remounted his horse, and returned to Lifford, where he joined Colonel Crofton's regiment, and bravely fought the enemy on the banks of the river during the entire night, each keeping their respective sides, as from its swollen state they were forcibly prevented from coming into closer contact.

On the 11th of the month, that portion of the enemy which had been stationed near Derry, moved on towards Strabane. Cairnes, perceiving their movements, strenuously urged upon the governor the importance of securing the passes of Foyle and Finn at Lifford and Clady; but a careless reply, that orders had been given to this effect, served to diminish the general astonishment at the sad occurrences of the following day.*

On the nearer approach of the enemy to Derry, Lundy led out a body of seven thousand men on the pretence of opposing them, but really for the purpose of placing in jeopardy the lives or loyalty of his own troops. After making a sign to the opposite commander, he fled; and the indignant citizens appointed major Baker as their governor, Murray having refused the honour.

David Cairnes accompanied Murray to Pennyburn mill, on which occasion he was as much distinguished for his personal valour, as he had before been for his zeal and ability. The Irish were repulsed with much loss both of men and commanders, and four hundred of their wounded soldiers had to seek for shelter in the church of Culmore. Cairnes, who had been appointed lieutenant-colonel to a regiment of horse, again distinguished himself at the rout of general Hamilton's army on the Windmill hill, on the 1st of June.

We have no farther account of his martial services, "and henceforward find him acting only as recorder for the city, or the representative of it in the house of commons, which latter trust he discharged with zeal and fidelity for thirty years after the siege."

On the 9th of June, 1692, colonel Cairnes and Robert Rochfort, Esq., recorder of Derry, were appointed by the Irish Society as commissioners for rebuilding the city of Derry, and for granting leases.t

Cairnes in 1707 succeeded Rochfort as recorder of Londonderry, and was also promoted to the rank of attorney-general. To a petition from the mayor and commonalty of the city, praying for some remuneration for their great losses, the committee of the house of commons state in their reply, that in investigating "the extraordinary losses, disbursements, and debts contracted by the inhabitants of Londonderry, from and after November, 1688, in the securing and fortifying the place," &c., &c., adding "that it appeared to them, that David Cairnes, Esq., member of parliament for the city of Londonderry, had been remarkably instrumental in first securing of the said city against the Irish, and that he afterwards underwent several hazardous journies for the preservation of it, and that he had been a great sufferer by the siege," &c., &c., they accordingly recommend the lord-lieutenant

*Memoirs, by the Rev. John Graham.

Rev. John Graham.

to lay the case before the king for his "princely consideration." It does not however appear that his long and indefatigable services were further rewarded than has been already stated, as in his will, (a very interesting and impressive document,) he says, after enumerating a long list of bequests and legacies, as if in excuse for the smallness of some of them, "I did indeed once think and expect, and had much reason for it, to have been, ere this, in a much greater and ampler condition as to my outward state and concerns in the world, and in a capacity to have left my children, and offspring, and other friends also, much more than I have here done, and might also soon have obtained it, would I but have bartered my conscience for allurements of that kind, which, I bless God I never did, nor ever inclined to do; and had matters but any way answered my reasonable expectations from the state and government, for the faithful and important services I did them, and the whole protestant interest in these kingdoms, and the many sore and most dangerous journeys and travels I had both by sea and land, with many signal hazards of my life in the spring and summer then following, for the saving and preserving of that city, being sent and employed by the honourable lords of the privy council in England at that time, who have amply attested it under their hands, and public seals, yet extant. All these matters, for which I had many good words and promises of great things I had to be done for me, never yet had any effect or performance, but put me to much trouble and expense in making several applications on that behalf without any effect. I may indeed truly say I found but few grateful or suitable returns, either from the state, or divers other persons and people I had laboured and done much for, and to their manifest advantage, which I need here say no more of; but that how I myself, and that city of Londonderry, for all its services and sufferings, that were of such high consequence to these kingdoms, and so amply confessed by their parliaments both of England and Ireland, come to be so strangely overlooked and neglected as they are and have been, reflects not a little shame on the honour of these nations, so that all these assurances which I had, should be buried in utter oblivion. And lastly, I do hereby earnestly charge and exhort all my offspring, as if by their parent's last dying words, that they love and walk in the fear and love of God, and in the steadfast observance of his commands, worship and ordinances, while they breathe upon his earth here, that they may be serious and constant in humble prayer to him and in reading the holy scriptures daily, that God may own and bless them in all that they do or set about, that they carefully and watchfully abstain from and avoid, so far as they reasonably can, the society and intimate converse with all notorious, lewd and dissolute persons and company, being of much contagious and pernicious consequence that they associate themselves and converse as far as they well can, with sober, pious, and prudent persons, and crave from such, and expeet them, that if they, or any of them, come to dispose of themselves in marriage, they do it with much seriousness and earnest prayers to God for his directions and blessings therein, and with the advice of their best and most faithful friends, with particular regard in their choice to such as fear God and are brought up and live virtuously, and beware of rash and foolish engage