convoy, apprehending no danger at so small a distance from the army, encamped loosely on a plain, without precaution or discipline. The main body of the convoy was retired to rest, their horses at grass, their baggage and cannon carelessly disposed, when Sarsefield rushed suddenly upon them, in a moment cut their centinels and waggoners to pieces, fell on the convoy, as they started from their sleep and attempted to regain their horses, and slaughtered or dispersed the whole party. He now collected the cannon, carriages, waggons, and ammunition; the cannon he filled with powder, fixing their mouths in the ground, and laying a train to the heap, fired it on his retreat. The hideous explosion announced the success of this enterprize to Lanier and his party; who, when the havock was already over, arrived in view of the enemy's rear, and made a futile attempt to intercept them. Sarsefield was better acquainted with the country, and returned triumphantly to Limerick."* Two of the cannon had escaped uninjured in the general havock, some others were brought from Waterford. "With these the batteries were furnished, and, after the interruption of a week, the siege was vigorously renewed. The besieged, on their part, encouraged by the late success, animated by their officers, fired with emulation at the brave defence of Derry, and equally inveterate against their assailants, defended themselves like men whose interests were to be decided by one final effort. Without entering into a mi * Leland. nute detail of all the incidents of this siege, let it be sufficient to observe, that from the opening of the trenches on the eighteenth day of August, both the assault and the defence were maintained with vigour; and William, who took an active part in every operation, was frequently exposed to danger; when, on the twenty-seventh, a breach was made twelve yards in length, and the king ordered the counterscarp, and two towers on each side of the breach, to be assaulted. Five hundred grenadiers in the farthest angle of the trenches leaped over, ran towards the counterscarp, were furiously opposed, but, in the midst of a tremendous fire, dislodged the enemy, and pursuing even to the breach, many were actually in the town, while the Irish ran from the walls in confusion. The regiments appointed to second them stopped at the counterscarp, agreeably to their orders. They, whose ardour had hurried them within the walls, thus found themselves unsupported, their ammunition spent, and the enemy, who discovered their distress, rallying and pouring down upon them. They prepared to retreat, but many of them were killed, and almost all wounded. The Irish again marched to the breach, and defended it in a rage of valour. Even their women mingled with the men, encourrged them, advanced before them, defied the besiegers, and assailed them with stones."* Brigadier Talbot, who was then in the hornwork with five hundred men, ran round the wall on the outside,, and charging them in the rear, * Leland. drove them out, and entering by the breach, posted himself there. "For three hours a perpetual fire both of great and small arms was maintained on each side. One regiment of Brandenburghers seized a battery, but the powder catching fire, they were almost all blown into the air."* The failure of this assault caused the siege to be raised, when the garrison had not fifty barrels of powder; nor more than double the quantity among their adherents.+ Continued rain, in his speech to the English parliament, William alledged, caused him to raise the siege. The duke of Berwick, an eye witness, asserts, that not a single drop of rain fell for above a month before, or for three weeks after. This concluded William's personal enterprises in Ireland. Leaving his army at Clonmel, under count Solmes and Ginckle, he embarked at Waterford, accompanied by George, prince of Denmark, the duke of Ormond, &c. Tyrconnel left the general command to the duke of Berwick, and went to France, to represent the ill state of affairs, and that without considerable succours Ireland should be abandoned. M. de Lausun went with him, and carried back the French troops at the same time. The departure of this French general was no injury to the Irish cause. For at the action of the Boyne he made it appear, that if ever he had had any knowledge of the military profession he had by that time totally forgot it. When the enemy passed * Leland. + Berwick's Memoirs. the at Slane, he said they must be attacked; but while he was endeavouring to find a proper spot to act upon, the enemy had time to get into the plain, and form themselves, after which it was impossible to charge them. In short, in Ireland he shewed neither capacity nor resolution; though on other occasions he was said to be a man of great personal bravery.* Soon after, on the 21st of September, Marlborough, who had embarked at Portsmouth with 5000 men, arrived in Cork road, landed with little opposition, and laid siege to the city. Ginckle reinforced him with nine hundred horse, and four thousand foot. Berwick advanced on the side of Kilmallock, to attempt its succour, but his forces were so inferior, that he was content to observe their operations. A breach was made; the Dutch and English, led by the duke of Grafton, son of Charles II. forded the river at low water, under the fire of the garrison, and posted themselves under the bank of a marsh, which served as a counterscarp to the city wall. Here the duke of Grafton was mortally wounded. The garrison, whose ammunition was exhausted, were compelled to surrender prisoners of war. William and Mary were proclaimed; and all papists ordered, on pain of death, to surrender their arms. Kinsale was immediately summoned. The governor returned a refusal, and prepared for a vigorous defence. The town, being untenable, was destroyed; Castle-ny-fort, and Charles-fort, occupied. After a brave resistance, in which the governor, several officers, and half the garrison were slain, Castle-ny-fort was taken. Ten days after, Charles-fort was forced to surrender, when the besiegers were preparing for a general assault, on condition of the garrison marching out with their arms and baggage, and being conducted to Limerick. After this nothing of any consequence passed during the winter. Not to interrupt the detail of military occurrences, several particulars of intrigues and cabals have been omitted; a short account of which shall here be given. "From the time of the king's (James) arrival at Dublin, several of the Irish conceived an aversion for lord Melford, a Scotchman, who was prime minister, and secretary of state. The duke of Tyrconnel, who saw with displeasure the great credit of this favourite, contributed, underhand, to make the public murmurs break out, and at length caused an address to be presented to the king, in the name of the Irish nation, requesting that Melford might be dismissed. The king, in the present circumstances, thought he could not refuse the request of a nation, which was making such noble exertions in his favour, and to which he, at that time, expected to have the obligation of being re-established on the throne of England. Melford therefore was sent to France, and from thence to Rome, to reside at the pope's court, as the king's minister. Sir Richard Nagle, an Irishman, who was attorney-general, was, at the solicitation of Tyrconnel, appointed secretary of |