similar movement was made from Macroom, along the line of the Lee, and at Athlone and Ballymore, upon the Shannon. These movements were defeated by the vigorous and masterly dispositions of Ginckle, who at the head of three thousand men defeated and drove back the advance of the Irish at Ballymore.

A considerable portion of the spring was consumed in small operations of no important result, when two British frigates arrived in the bay of Baltimore (the Dragon and Advice) with a small French prize. They brought accounts that the long-expected fleet from France had arrived in the Shannon.

This fleet brought troops, military stores, and, above all, the general in chief, nominated by Lewis and James, to command the royal army in Ireland. Lewis was now in effect king of Ireland, or might have been, if he had thought proper. An additional ten thousand men, and a few more officers of real talent, would have given him the kingdom.

CHAP. XI.

CAMPAIGN OF 1691.

ST. RUTH, the general now sent to command the Irish army, was the only French officer that ever displayed even ordinary talent in the Irish war. Though St. Ruth was a man of considerable military reputation, his appointment to the chief command of the Irish army was felt by the Irish officers as a great indignity, and contributed to increase the alienation and disgust already existing amongst the Irish towards their French allies. St. Ruth, though too much a man of talent to despise the Irish military, as some of the French officers affected to do, yet treated the discontent which his appointment had created with the arrogant and disdainful levity of his nation. His manners were particularly offensive to the Irish officers.

Sarsefield, who had expected the command of the army, was displeased and discontented; and the whole Irish nation, who had looked anxiously to his appointment, were equally disappointed. Sarsefield's rank, talent, and influence with his countrymen, had all pointed him out as the man

the army; but a French commander was necessary to give Lewis that hold of the kingdom which he required. James endeavoured to console his Irish general with a title; he was created Earl of Lucan; but Sarsefield was not a man to be appeased with baubles.

Tyrconnel had been even worse treated than Sarsefield. He had been the mere creature of the French court, and had been deluded with obscure visions of an Irish crown, which the Grand Monarque proposed to place upon the head of his faithful viceroy in Ireland. Disappointed in these flattering hopes, and displeased at the mode in which the war was conducted by the French, Tyrconnel had become discontented, and it was found necessary to remove him. Rice and Nagle were appointed lords justices in his place; and this appointment gave universal satisfaction, for the new justices far surpassed the lieutenant, both in talent and integrity.

Apprehensive of the discontents and jealousies prevailing in the Irish army, the Catholics watched anxiously the disposition of William's government in Ireland; but they saw that the local administration stood between them and the king, and that nothing remained but to fight, and take the chances of the war.

Ginckle had now taken the field, and had established his head-quarters at Mullingar, pre

vious to opening the campaign. St. Ruth had assumed the command of the Irish army; and his orders were obeyed by the Irish officers with a cold and ceremonious but strict attention. He was busily engaged in parades and inspections along the whole line of the army, now concentrated between Limerick and Athlone. The Irish cavalry were found very deficient in horses; in other respects the army was greatly improved in discipline and appearance since the battle of the Boyne. They were well clothed, their own country furnishing much better materials than what had been sent from France. From the latter country, however, they had received considerable supplies of arms, and they were in that respect much better appointed than at the Boyne. They were much improved also in the material point of petty officers, who were now more conversant with their duties than the raw recruits of the former year had been. They had passed the winter in plentiful quarters, and enjoyed an abundant supply of food.

The rap

The difficulty was to find horses. parees had been very successful in carrying off the horses of the English cavalry during the winter by stratagem; and it was a common practice of the Danish soldiers and other foreign troopers to sell their horses to the Irish at the outposts, and pretend they were stolen. But all

and it was finally determined to try the effect of a stratagem upon their friends, as that upon their enemies had not been productive to the necessary extent.

A proclamation was issued by the new commander-in-chief, inviting the gentry within the frontier to attend the general at Limerick, mounted and accoutred in their best manner. This proclamation was circulated through every part of the Irish quarters, and reports were spread that an important communication was to be made to the gentlemen of the country from King James, and that marks of honour and distinction were to be conferred upon several. Accordingly, there was a very numerous attendance of gentry on the day fixed. The parade was appointed at the King's Island, near Limerick, and the assemblage on the ground made a very gallant show.

St. Ruth appeared on the ground attended by a large body of cavalry. He made a speech to the gentlemen present, complimented them on their punctual attendance and gallant appearance, set before them the arduous nature of the contest they were engaged in, and the necessity of great sacrifices and exertions to preserve them from the pollution of heresy, and the loss of their estates. After this the general quitted the ground, and the gentlemen were ordered to dismount and deliver their horses to the cavalry. It