persons in parliament to be thrown on the Catholics; for the attack on parliament happened on the very day after the address to the lord lieutenant had been signed and presented. On the 4th of December, 1759, the commons resolved upon an address to his grace the lord lieutenant, to return him thanks for his seasonable interposition in using the most effectual means on the preceding day to disperse a most dangerous and insolent multitude of people assembled before the parliament house, in order, most illegally and audaciously, to obstruct and insult the members of both houses of parliament attending the public service of the nation, in manifest violation of the rights and privileges of parliament.* taken to propagate a belief among the lower sort of people, that an union would soon be effected between Great Britain and Ireland; in which case this last kingdom would be deprived of its parliament and independency, and be subjected to the same taxes, that are levied upon the people of England. This notion inflamed the populace to such a degree, that they assembled in a prodigious multitude, broke into the House of Lords, insulted the peers, seated an old woman on the throne, and searched for the Journals, which, had they been found, they would have committed to the flames. Not content with this outrage, they compelled the members of both houses, whom they met in the streets, to take an oath that they would never consent to such an union, or give any vote contrary to the true interest of Ireland. Divers coaches belonging to obnoxious persons were destroyed, and their horses killed; and a gibbet was erected for one gentleman in particular, who narrowly escaped the ungovernable rage of those riotous insurgents. A body of horse and infantry were drawn out on this occasion, in order to overawe the multitude, which at night dispersed of itself. Next day addresses to the lord lieutenant were agreed to by both houses of parliament, and a committee of enquiry appointed, that the ringleaders of the tumult might be discovered and brought to condign punishment. The Duke of Bedford made the most honourable amends to the Catholics he could on this occasion, by directing Mr. John Ponsoby, the speaker, to read from the chair his answer to their address; which was an approbation of their past conduct, and an assurance of his future favour and protection as long as they continued in it. Thus clearing them from the foul aspersion in the very place, in which it had been cast upon them. It is remarkable that no trace of this whole transaction is to be found in the journals of the commons. And yet so unusual a proceeding affecting the rights of the bulk of the Irish nation should naturally have found its place in the parliamentary minutes of that day. On the occasion of that malicious attack upon the Catholics, the Prime Sergeant Stannard, who had come in upon the late change, spoke warmly in reply to some of the high-flying patriots, who most violently opposed the Duke of Bedford's administration. Contrasting the riotous conduct of the Lucasians (as they were then called after their chief,) with the quiet and dutiful behaviour of the Roman Catholics, in that and other dangerous conjunctures, he gave the following honourable testimony in favour of the latter. "We have lived amicably and in harmony among ourselves, and without any material party "distinctions for several years past, till within these few months, and during "the late wicked rebellion in Scotland, we had the comfort and satisfaction "to see that all was quiet here. And to the honour of the Roman Catholics be "it remembered, that not a man of them moved tongue, pen, or sword, upon "the then, or the present occasion; and I am glad to find, that they have "a grateful and proper sense of the mildness and moderation of our govern"ment. For my part, while they behave with duty and allegiance to the pre"sent establishment, I shall hold them as men in equal esteem with others, B The grand embarkation designed for Ireland was to be made from Vannes in Lower Britanny. To cover it, a fleet was fitted out at Brest, commanded by M. de Conflans. The execution of this scheme was delayed by Sir Edward Hawke, who blocked up that harbour with twenty-three ships of the line. But boisterous winds having driven the British fleet off their station, in the month of November, Conflans embraced the opportunity, and sailed with twenty-one large ships and four frigates. On the twentieth, Sir Edward Hawke pursued and came up with the French fleet. He had been reinforced by a few ships under the command of Captain Duff, who had for some time been cruising from Port l'Orient in Bretagne to the Point of St. Gilles in Poitou. In the neighbourhood of Belleisle the van of the English engaged the rear of the enemy about two o'clock in the forenoon. Happy for Britain and to the unspeakable advantage of this country, Providence favoured the English fleet with a complete victory. In October, the squadron designed for the North of Ireland had sailed from Dunkirk: it consisted originally of five ships: one of forty-eight, two of thirty-six, and two of twenty-four guns each, and carried a thousand two hundred and seventy land forces. The reputation acquired by M. Thurot, as captain of a privateer, raised him to the command of the naval department employed in this expedition. Adverse and tempestuous winds drove the squadron to Gottenburgh. Having continued here a few days, they set sail and proceeded to the place of destination. Upon arriving on the coast of Ireland they were overtaken by a storm, to escape which they attempted to shelter themselves in Lough Foyle, but the wind changed and continuing to blow tempestuously, obliged them to keep the sea, two of the ships were separated from the rest by the violence of the storm and returned to France. The remaining three directed their course to the island of Ilay, where they anchored, repaired some damages they had sustained, took in a small quantity of fresh provisions, and to procure a supply more adequate to their necessities, sailed for Carrickfergus. They arrived here on the twenty-first of February, and about two miles from the town, landed their forces now reduced to six hundred men. Meanwhile an officer belonging to the small number of troops of which the garrison consisted, advanced with a reconnoitring party, and took post on a rising ground to observe the motions of the enemy. Having made the best disposition of his men which the time and circumstances would permit, and ordered them to make every effort to retard the approaches of the French, he returned to communicate the ne"in every point but one; and while their private opinion interferes not with "public tranquillity, I think their industry and allegiance ought to be encou "raged." cessary information to the commanding officer. The troops were on parade, from whom detachments were sent to defend the gates and all the avenues leading to the town. A number of French prisoners, then in Carrickfergus, were sent off to Belfast with all possible expedition. By this time the fire had begun betwixt the reconnoitring party and the enemy, which killed several of them, and wounded Brigadier General Clobert, their commanding officer. This accident threw them into confusion, and for some time retarded their approach. The reconnoitring party having expended their powder and ball were forced to retreat to their garrison, who, after having attempted in vain to prevent the enemy from entering the town, shut themselves up within the castle. Though they were not in any respect prepared for such an attack, a number of them being quite undisciplined, and there being a breach in the wall fifty feet long, they defended themselves with spirit until their ammunition was expended. They were now obliged to capitulate it is supposed, that, previous to the surrender of the castle, a hundred of the French were killed, among whom were four officers, one of them a person of distinction, much regretted for his courage and amiable qualities. Of the garrison not more than three lost their lives. When intelligence of the landing of the enemy reached different parts of the country, volunteer companies flocked to Belfast from all quarters. By the willingness which they discovered to risk their lives in the service of their country they acquired much honour, but they were strangers to discipline, and numbers of them unprovided with arms. Had they proceeded to attack the enemy, as was proposed by some, many would have been sacrificed, and the probability of success was much against them. However the French were alarmed and would have left Carrickfergus without delay, had they not been detained by unfavourable winds: having plundered the town, they re-embarked on Tuesday the twenty-sixth of February. To avoid the imminent danger to which they were exposed from the English ships of war, they wished to return by the North of Ireland, but the wind was adverse, and compelled them to attempt a passage through the Channel. Very soon their hopes of escaping vanished. The day on which they re-embarked, Captain Elliot, of his majesty's ship Eolus of thirty-two guns, received information from government of the arrival of the French at Carrickfergus. Taking with him the Pallas and Brilliant, each of them with the same force, with respect to guns, he set sail in quest of the enemy. The twenty-eighth he discovered them, gave chace, and came up with them near the Isle of Man. Having engaged with them. about an hour and a half, they struck, being much injured in their masts and rigging, and three hundred of their men killed. Thurot lost his life in the action. Thurot had in the course of the preceding year signalized his courage and conduct in a large privateer, called the Belleisle, which had scoured the North seas, taken a number of ships, and at one time maintained an obstinate battle against two English frigates, which were obliged to desist after having received considerable damage.* In consequence of these events, it was resolved by the House of Commons, "that the thanks of that house should be given "to Lieutenant Colonel Jennings, for his prudent and resolute "conduct at Carrickfergus, and for the gallant stand he made "there against a much superior force, by which he gained time "for the militia to assemble, and preserved Belfast from being plundered." It was also resolved, "that the zeal, courage, "and activity, exerted on the landing of the French in this “kingdom, by the counties of Antrim, Armagh, and Down, and "by the citizens of the city of Londonderry, were highly ho"nourable and beneficial to themselves, and their country.". The inhabitants of Belfast presented Lieutenant Colonel Higginson of the 62d regiment of foot, with a large and elegant silver cup, having an inscription expressive of their gratitude 4 Smol. p. 460. The ideal approximation of circumstances trivial and remote, frequently leads to consequences of great importance and peculiar relevancy. On account of the penal laws then existing, the author and several other children of Catholic parents being sent abroad for a foreign education in July 1759 were taken in the packet by Thurot, between Dunkirk and Ostend: and were actually prisoners on board the Belleisle when she was attacked by what Mr. Smollet calls English frigates: the Belleisle mounted 40 guns, and had another privateer in company with her of 36 guns. On the very day of the capture of the packet three small English vessels mounting 20, 12 and 8 guns gave chace to and came up with the French privateers about midnight, and engaged them briskly till about four o'clock in the morning, when they were obliged to sheer off. Thurot's ship suffered so much, that it put in to Flushing to repair; where his prisoners lay for several weeks before they were exchanged. Here a mutiny happened on board the Belleisle, which Thurot quelled by killing two of the ringleaders with his own hands, and cutting off the cheek of a third. The three English vessels were commanded by Captain (afterwards Commodore) Boys, upon which a marine muse produced the following lines. Conflans, De la Clue, and such brave men as those, We think it sufficient to send only Boys. With unspeakable gratitude does the author contrast those times, when under a borrowed name he was necessitated to fly to a foreign country for education, with the present, in which through the liberality of government he has the happiness of giving that same education to his own children in their native soil. As this descent of Thurot was the only attempt of an enemy to land in Ireland for upwards of two centuries every particular concerning it may be interesting to the Irish reader: we have therefore inserted in the Appendix, No. LXVI. the official letter of General Strode, who then commanded at Belfast, dated February the 23d, 1760, to the lord lieutenant. for the exertion of his great military knowledge, vigilance and activity, for the security of the town of Belfast, on the landing of the French troops at Carrickfergus, the like compliment was paid to Colonel Jennings.* On the 25th of October, 1760, his late majesty George II. died at Kensington at the advanced age of 77 years; none of his predecessors on the throne lived to so great an age; none enjoyed a more happy or glorious reign; it was a peculiar blessing to this monarch, that the love and affection of his subjects encreased constantly to the close of his reign. He was a prince of personal intrepidity: upright and honourable in his conduct, though not distinguished for any extraordinary brilliancy of talent: he was particularly fortunate in the choice of his last ministry, under Mr. Pitt. His British subjects ill-relished his marked predilection for his German dominions, and complained, that he visited them more frequently, than was consistent with the welfare of the state. * A List of the Militia that marched against the French on this occasion. |