At length, the expected despatches arrived, with the good tidings, that the defeat of the British fleet had not led to the results which were apprehended: the French neglected to turn their victory to any account. Some of the conspir

ators in England had been apprehended, and the rest were discouraged by the inactivity of France. Upon the whole, public confidence had been somewhat restored, and things looked safer and better in Great Britain than had been lately anticipated.

CHAP. VIII.

THE SIEGE OF LIMERICK.

RE-ASSURED by this intelligence, William's resolution was instantly taken to return to his army, and continue the war in Ireland. He disencumbered himself of all his heavy baggage, and unnecessary attendants, and, travelling with great rapidity, rejoined his army on the 2d of August, at Golden Bridge.

He had heard, before leaving Dublin, the account of Douglas's disastrous failure at Athlone. The news added greatly to the gloom and despondency which the defeat of the British fleet, and the rumours of conspiracies in England and Scotland, and the king's intended departure, had spread over the protestant portion of Ireland; and probably the defeat at Athlone had its influence in deciding William not to quit Ireland at that time, or until he had restored the confidence of his friends by some successful operation of importance.

From his position at Golden Bridge, William now moved forward with his whole army towards

division under Douglas, which had at length made their way to the royal army, after a circuitous and harassing march. If they did not bring honour with them, they brought spoil. They had driven before them all the cattle of the country as they marched, and now joined William's main force with several hundred head of black cattle and horses.

William had heard much of dissensions, said to prevail in the garrison of Limerick, between the French and Irish troops; and he had hastened his march with a view to improve those disputes, if possible, into a surrender. He recollected, probably, that it was by such means that Cromwell's general, Ireton, obtained possession of this celebrated fortress, when all the efforts of his skill and valour had been unsuccessful. Ireton had availed himself of the quarrels between the confederates so skilfully, that he obtained possession of the town, without a blow, and hanged a few of both parties to prove his gratitude for so easy a conquest.

William was not so fortunate. Though but little inferior to Cromwell as an intriguer, and well disposed on this occasion to exert all his talent in that great branch of politics, and though it was true, that serious and even violent dissensions did prevail in the town, between the French and Irish parties, yet the accounts he had received, of a disposition to surrender, were with.

out foundation. There was no such disposition in either party; and William's efforts to improve the jealousies that prevailed into treachery or capitulation failed entirely of success; and not only failed, but returned upon himself, and contributed to his own defeat and discomfiture.

Limerick was at this time the most considerable city in Ireland, next to Dublin. The country for a great extent along the banks of the Shannon was much wooded, though not forest; but in the immediate vicinity of the town the land was well cultivated and thickly peopled. Population had every where taken refuge under the guns of the fortified towns, as the only security in the long wars which had so frequently swept the open country of its inhabitants. On William's approach, he found the city encompassed outside the walls, to a considerable extent, with thick enclosures, houses, orchards, gardens, and plantations. The land was every where divided into small fields, enclosed by strong hedges, and intersected by green lanes. A number of ancient, now ruinous forts and castles, were scattered among those modern improvements.

To the north of the town, the Shannon divides its stream, throwing out a large arm, which encircles the city and insulates the piece of land on which it stands. The town situate upon this

nected by two bridges; upon one side, with the county of Clare, upon the other with the Irishtown, or second portion of the city. The first, which was called Thomond Bridge, and which crossed the main stream of the Shannon, by sixteen arches, to the Thomond or Clare side of the river, was defended upon the latter side by a strong fort, and some field works, and on the city side by a drawbridge, flanked with towers and the city walls. The great length and narrowness of the bridge made it easily defensible. This bridge, which is of hewn stone, is supposed to have been built in the reign of King John, by one of the O'Brien family, then king of Limerick and Thomond: it was at least known to be in existence at that period.

The second bridge, which crossed the arm of the Shannon, and connected the two divisions of the city, that on the island and that on the county of Limerick side, was of ordinary dimensions, and lay within the circuit of the walls.

The town upon the island was by nature almost impregnable. It was built upon a rock of considerable extent; and the land upon every side of it was low and marshy, and could at any time be flooded so as to make the approach of an enemy almost impossible. The great breadth and rapidity of the main stream of the Shannon presented an insuperable impediment upon one side, and upon every other the arm with which