mitting, and his courage moft confpicuous. Whereever his presence and his example were neceffary, he discharged his duty with magnanimity, though often expofed to the most imminent danger. Amidft the exertions of his courage, and the confufions infeparable from fuch a scene, he was perfectly collected; of which the following is a very remarkable inftance-In the heat of the engagement, one of his own foldiers, through mistake, fuppofing him to be an enemy, prefented a pistol to his head; William, not in the leaft difconcerted by this imminent danger, calmly put it by "what, faid he, do not you know your friends? James instead of mingling in the battle, or difcharging with fpirit the duties of a general, upon an occafion in which the lives of his principal friends were at stake, and in which his honor and fortunes were fo deeply interefted, kept himself at a diftance from the fcene of action, as if he had been no more concerned in the event than a common spectator. Did this proceed from any want of confidence in the rectitude of his caufe? When James was admiral of the British fleet, he exhibited proofs of distinguished courage. His conduct during the action and fubfequent to it were equally,difgraceful. Though in a country devoted to his fervice, he might have kept the field, and eafily repaired the inconfiderable lofs he had fuftained, immediately after the engagement, he haftened to Dublin, where he affembled the magiftrates and council; expreffed much diffatisfaction at the conduct of his troops; told them that Providence did not feem to favour his caufe, that he was ftill interefted in their welfare, but that it was most prudent for them, in the present emergence, to fubmit to the Prince of Orange. He then proceeded with all poffible expedition to Waterford, and embarked

for

for France. His departure was haftened by a letter from Lewis, in which he pressed him to go over, to embark with a body of troops, which he was then preparing for the invafion of England. But when he was informed that James had been vanquished at the Boyne, and that his affairs had fo very unfavourable an aspect, he dropt the design.

T

LETTER

LIV.

Adieu.

HE life of William had been very much chequered, by the viciffitudes of profperous and adverfe fortune. Of this he experienced a striking instance, on the present occafion. Immediately after the late battle, he received intelligence from England, that foon after his departure, a moft dangerous plot against his government had been difcovered; that a number of the confpirators were feized, but that how many more were concerned in it, it was impoffible to fay; that a French fleet, by concert, in order to favour the defign, having appeared off the English coaft, was attacked by Lord Torringten, the British admiral, off Beachy Head, whom they defeated, and obliged to retire to the Thames; that about the fame time, the Dutch army had come to an engagement, at Flirus, with that of France, and had the misfortune to be vanquished. This combination of unfavourable circumftances, pointed out to him the neceflity of haftening from Ireland, with all poffible expedition. But he could not return immediately, without rifquing all the advantages of which he had now the fairest prospect.

THE garrifon of Drogheda, intimidated by the late fuccefs of his arms, dropt all thoughts of oppoition, and permitted his troops to take poffeffion of

the

the town. He then proceeded to Dublin, which had fubmitted to his government, publicly returned thanks to God for the fignal victory he had granted him, received an address from the Protestant clergy, and then returned to his army which he had left encamped at Finglas. Here he published a proclamation, by which, all in arms of a lower clafs, were promised pardon, upon fubmitting to his authority. Had the King, on reasonable terms, extended the offer of forgiveness, to the perfons principally concerned in the rebellion, it is highly probable they would have embraced it, and that the nation would immediately have returned to a state of tranquillity. But he was prevailed with to except them, by the influence of those, who caft a rapacious eye on the property of others, which they wished to poffefs, infenfible to the obligations of juftice, and to the interest of their country. Commiffioners were appointed, to ascertain and take poffeffion of the forfeited lands. Thefe harpies violated protections, oppreffed the weak; they executed their orders, in violation of the common dictates of humanity. The leading men of the Irifh, who had efpoufed the intereft of James, being thus driven to extremity, refolved to continue the war.

As the exception in the proclamation was indeterminate, pointing out only in general terms, "the defperate leaders in the rebellion," every man feared for himself, who could poffibly be affected by it. It was the interest and the ftudy of all these, to prevent those of an inferior order from laying down their arms. Hence the offer of pardon could have little effect.

WILLIAM now put his army in motion, and proceeding along the fea coaft, fo as to preferve the communication with his fleet, advanced to Munster.

In

In a fhort time, Wexford, Clonmell, Waterford and the fort of Duncannon furrendered to his arms.

By this time, the French fleet had appeared a fecond time on the British coaft. The King determined immediately to embark for England; but, being informed that the enemy, without effecting any thing of confequence, had retired, he changed his intention, and went on with his military operations. The principal object which now engaged his attention was Limerick. Here he advanced with a confiderable part of his troops, where shortly after his arrival, he was joined by General Douglas, who with a detachment, had made an unfuccefsful attack upon Athlone. Limerick was well fortified, more efpecially that part of it called English-town. Boileau a Frenchman commanded the garrifon, which confifted of fourteen regiments of foot and five of cavalry, befides a body of forces for it's affiftance, which was posted in the vicinity, under the command of Tyrconnel. On being fummoned to furrender, Boileau returned this fpirited reply, "I wish to gain the Prince of Orange's good opinion, which I cannot obtain, unless I defend well the poft committed to my care." His valorous conduct juftified this magnanimity. The fiege commenced. When the King left Dublin, he did not bring along with him his train of battering cannon. It was now coming forward to him. Sarsfield, one of the Irish generals, having received intelligence of this, fet out with a detachment from Limerick, furprised the escort, cut it off, and deftroyed the artillery. King William, who had heard of the march of Sarsfield, fent Sir John Lanier with five hundred men to intercept him, but he escaped, and returned fafe to Limerick.

To

To remedy this difafter, cannon was collected from different places, and the fiege conducted with fpirit. The town was defended with equal refolution. At laft, a breach was made in the walls of fome confiderable fize: Five hundred grenadiers advanced to the affault, repulfed the enemy and paffed the breach. A number of them paffed into the town. The garrison now rallied, attacked the affailants in their turn, killed or wounded almost the whole of them, and advanced to the breach which they obftinately defended. Three hours was the affault continued with great violence, and fuftained by the enemy with obftinate valour. King William, having five hundred men killed, more than a thousand wounded, and finding that farther efforts would be van, drew off his men. Several unfavourable circumftances, particularly the advanced season, and the probable confequences of it to the health and fafety of his troops, determined him to give up the defign. He raifed the fiege. Having created Lord Sydney, and Thomas Koningsby justices, and placed the army under the command of Count Solmes and General Ginkle, he left the kingdom.

UPON his arrival in England, finding that there were five hundred troops unemployed, and that the the French fleet was laid up for the season, he refolved to fend them to Ireland, under the command of the Earl of Marlborough, to reduce Cork and Kinfale, a defign which he had formed before he left this country. About the middle of September, Marlborough landed near Cork, and being reinforced by near five thousand men, laid fiege to that town. But shortly after, the Duke of Wirtemberg arrived in the Camp. He was a fovereign Prince and therefore claimed the command. Marlborough pleaded

that