earnest manner; he conjured them, as they hoped for mercy, to show it: he made every possible exertion to save the lives of all the prisoners: but it was in vain. He said he could witness the Wexford people had never fired upon them, or done them any injury, and that he could not again say mass to them if they persisted in their cruel resolutions. At last he influenced them so far as to prevail upon them to return into the gaol the fifteen Wexford men; but for those from Enniscorthy, he could obtain no remission.

With hearts overflowing with gratitude to the Almighty, we went back to our confinement, and in that state remained, every day seeing more prisoners brought in, and other taken out to be massacred, each of us apprehending it would next be his lot. On Wednesday, June 20, the dreadful massacre on the bridge of Wexford took place [see page 65] where the victims were all piked to death in the most horrible manner, and I should have met the same fate, but at the moment they were beginning to torture me General Roach rode up in great haste, and bid them beat to arms; informing them that Vinegarhill camp was beset, and that reinforcements were wanting. This operated like lightning upon them: they all instantly quitted the bridge, and left others with myself on our knees. The rebel guard soon came to us, and took us back to the gaol; telling us, that we should not escape longer than the next day, when neither man, woman, nor child of the Protestants, should be left alive.

Next morning, at eleven o'clock, the turnkey came to us, to inform us that we might walk out into the large yard. He addressed us by the title of "gentlemen," from which we were assured that some great alteration had taken place. About three o'clock, the captain of the rebel guard, a Mr. Murphy, came in, and addressed Major Savage, one of the prisoners, offering him the keys of the gaol, and arms for us all, if he would admit some of the rebels into the gaol, and strive to save them from that fate their own consciences told them they so richly deserved. This Murphy kept an earthenware shop on the quay at Wexford. His offer was instantly accepted by all, and accordingly we obtained the arms of those who a few minutes before were guarding us. The rebels now changed situations with us, and, as agreed upon, were locked up by Major Savage, who brought all of us who had muskets to the iron rails on each side of the great prison door. Here we stood, determined to conquer or die if attacked About five o'clock we had the heartfelt gratification of seeing the gallant Captain Boyd, accompanied by eight of his own corps, riding full gallop through the town; but not a rebel was there to be found. All the green boughs were immediately torn from the windows, and "Liberty and Equality,” which before were conspicuous on every door, where now no where to be seen. Captain Boyd was member of parliament for the town of Wexford, and colonel of the Wexford cavalry. He recommended to us not to leave the gaol at present, as the troops, expected in town, might suppose us enemies. This precaution proved not to be necessary, for the troops were encamped a mile short of the town, and orders issued by the generals, that no man should be put to death unless he had been tried and condemned by a court-martial. In about an hour after Captain Boyd left us, two companies of the Queen Royals arrived, and, giving three cheers, set us at liberty.

Reprieved criminals only can have experienced such feelings as ours, on being released. We quitted a spot become horrid to me, and went to the place where I once had a comfortable home. The house was standing, uninjured; but every thing belonging to me had been destroyed, even to my

working tools, within half an hour after the time I was first taken to gaol. A lady in the neighbourhood humanely afforded us an asylum, and once more we sat down in security.

Before night, many persons, who had joined the rebels, but still remained in the town, were taken up, and committed to gaol The next day a military court-martial was assembled, composed of one general-officer and six colonels, from different regiments.

The day before the re-conquering of the town by the royalists, it appeared that seventy-five Protestants had been shut up in a barn together at Scurrafoe, about eleven miles from Wexford, and the barn was set on fire. Some of the miserable sufferers endeavoured to escape through a small window in the side of the barn, but were received on the points of the rebel pikes, and forced back into the flames. Thus is proved what dreadful cruelties and murders were committed in Wexford during this period."

.. I do not believe that this cruel deed was in consequence of an order from any of the rebel commanders, but was an act of the mob. On the contrary, from what I saw while I was in confinement, or could learn, I think myself bound to say, that it is my opinion that such of the rebel chiefs as had been in respectable situations, detested the system of murder and robbery which was as universally adopted by the upstart officers and unruly mob, over whom they had little more than a nominal command. Let it then be a warning to men in high situations, how they tamper with and bring into action the turbulent dispositions of bad men, and afford them an opportunity, as was here the case, of directing the passions and working on the prejudices of low and ignorant people.

On Friday, June 22, several of his majesty's gun-boats and cutters (there not being sufficient depth of water for larger vessels) arrived for the purpose of assisting the military, in case of resistance from the town. They towed out the two vessels which had been converted into prisons, and burnt them, and another sloop, belonging to the captain who took Lord Kingsborough prisoner. We now had once more the heart-felt satisfaction of seeing the English jack triumphant over the rebel white flag.

General Lake published a proclamation, assuring all such as would come forward and deliver up their arms, that they should find mercy and pro

tection.

The distress of the town, from want of provisions, will readily be supposed. After having been in the possession of thousands of lawless banditti for three weeks, little could be left. Fortunately, on Sunday morning, June 24, near a hundred baskets of bread arrived from Dublin, part of which General Lake ordered to be carried to the bakers, to be delivered by them at the Dublin prices, which proved a very seasonable relief to the inhabitants.

This day, a man, dressed in woman's clothes, came into town as a spy. His name was McGuire. He was by trade a nailer; and had, some time before, been in gaol for treasonable practices. Being discovered, he was immediately executed at the bridge.

The rebel leaders were all sentenced to be hanged the next day at eleven o'clock at the bridge, where the Protestants had been so cruelly murdered.

I shall now hasten to conclude my narrative; for, were I to relate all the instances of hardships of the severest kind, suffered by the most respectable individuals, they would almost fill a volume. I have been assured, from undoubted authority, that, when the rebels got possession of the town of Wexford, Mrs. Ogle (wife of the Right Hon. George Ogle, many years member for

the county), and her sister, Miss Moore, like many others, got on board a vessel lying in the harbour, with the hope of escaping by sea; but they had not been long on board before the vessel was attacked and boarded by one of the armed boats belonging to the rebels. The ruffians, when they seized them, treated them, and many other ladies with them, with the greatest insolence and brutality, threatening to put all the men on board immediately to death; which so terrified one young woman that she leaped into the sea, saying, she would not live to see her husband murdered. After all the ladies on board were brought back to Wexford, they were confined (four and twenty in number) in a small room, where they remained, for above three weeks, without anything to lie upon but straw, and without having it in their power, in all that time, to take off their clothes. During the whole time of their confinement, from which they were released by the king's troops retaking the town, the only allowance of food for these twenty-four ladies was, an ox's head and four pounds of tripe, with a small portion of bread, which was to serve them for two days.

Having been informed, that a vessel was preparing to sail for England, with dispatches from General Lake to government, I made all the interest I could to obtain a passage in her; and the hardships and dangers I had suffered were described to Captain Keen, of the Royal Navy, in such a manner that he consented to give me a passage, if I could obtain a passport from General Lake. This I applied for; and a passport was immediately granted me. The ecstacy I felt, on being permitted to quit a country in which I had so long lived in a state of dreadful apprehension, I shall never be able to express: it seemed almost to deprive me of my senses. How sweet was the name of England at

that moment!

In the evening of the 28th of June, I, with my wife and child, went on board the sloop; and after a passage of two days and two nights, during which we were tossed about by contrary winds, we were safely landed at Milford, in South Wales, having no other clothes than those we then wore, and not a shilling in our pockets; but, to the everlasting honour of the inhabitants of that place, we were no sooner put on shore, and our case known, than each of them strove who should first render us assistance. A guinea was instantly gathered for us among the bye-standers, and our other wants were immediately supplied. The next day a recommendation, by the Irish refugees from Wexford, was written for me to the committee at Haverfordwest, from whom I received ten guineas to carry me and my family to London; and it was not to us only that this bounty was extended, but to every other person who had suffered by the rebellion, that applied to them. The impression these instances of humanity made on our minds is indelible. Once more did human nature appear to us amiable, and again we could acknowledge compassionate sympathy and benevolence. How detestable is that man who, to gratify his ambitious passions, or to indulge his fanciful theories, would endeavour to disturb the peace of his fellow-subjects, to inflame their minds against each other, and eventually, as I have shown, extinguish the best propensities of our

nature!

INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF VALVAIS, THE BOSOM FRIEND OF GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS.

Gustavus Adolphus came young to the throne of Sweden. One night, while he danced disguised at a ball that was given by his chief minister, the masque of the fairest of his subjects fell off, and she broke with a sudden and unexpected glory on the eyes of the assembly; for, though Adelaide was noble, her dent mother had secreted her far from court, and had tenderly brought her up, like the lily in the vale, unseen and unsullied.

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The king felt himself instantly struck with a respectful and humbling sense of inferiority before her: for it is the peculiar prerogative of beauty, that the mighty, and the bold, and the haughty, and even the savage, grow tame and depressed, as in the presence of the immediate representative of Divinity.

Adelaide, in a hurry, caught up her masque, and hasted to cover the perils of her countenance; but the deed was already done; and her image was impressed on the heart of the monarch as indelibly as though it had been fixed by the machinery of some engine.

He instantly drew his favourite, Valvaise, aside, and whisperingly gave a precipitate order, that he should discover and bring intelligence who the lady

was.

Valvaise zealously obeyed the injunction of his royal patron: he brought him word that she was a maid of illustrious birth, but little known, and where known, admired as a phenomenon, or new appearance in nature.

Valvaise had been preferred to favour by a peculiar appointment of Providence. Adolphus, in the chace of a stag, had outridden his attendants. Being thirsty and fatigued, he turned toward a neat hamlet, that was pleasantly situated at the entrance of a forest. He tied his steed to a tree; and, drawing near, beheld a young swain at the foot of an oak, intent on a little book that he held in his hand. The youth rose at his approach; and, having gracefully saluted him, led him into the house, where he hospitably regaled him with the home-brewed juice of the berry.

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Pray what are you reading?" demanded the prince. "A late treatise, Sir, on friendship," answered the student. "And what think you of it?""As cold as if it had been written by an inhabitant of Zembla."-" I presume, then, that your sentiments on the subject are warmer."- "As the difference," replied the youth," between the torrid and the frigid zones.”. "You love your friends well, then?"-" I should, Sir, had I any: but I dare not trust myself with such a connection; all the men I ever knew would certainly over-reach me; I should go twice the lengths for them that they would go for me."-" Such a one as you would make a friend for a king."-" But then I should never make a friend of a king. I am told that all who would please the great, must be flatterers; but the true province of friendship is to mind us of our faults."-" For that very purpose I engage you," said Adolphus, "I am your king!"

The youth, all abashed, fell precipitately at his feet; but the monarch as hastily raised and took him to his embrace.

From that day Valvaise became the favourite and bosom confident of his royal master. He had not, indeed, the burthen of the state laid upon him, neither the emoluments of high and envied trusts; all those he declined, wholly satisfied and happy in being the companion of the private hours, and the intimate of the bosom of his beloved lord.

The moment that Valvaise had given to Adolphus the desired intelligence

concerning Adelaide, "You must go, then, my friend, you must go," said the king," and woo this fair creature in my name. You are a youth of gentle manners and winning address; you cannot fail of prevailing in a cause where your heart will be so warmly interested on the part of the man you love. Say, I will marry her directly, in the presence of her mother and a few other witnesses in whom we may confide; but that this must be kept private, at least for a time, for fear of provoking the discontents of my people, as they expect I should strengthen my kingdom by some foreign alliance. Go, my Valvaise ! my opinion of your truth is fixed as a rock within my soul; I know your worth to be impregnable, impassable, unassailable."

Valvaise, all transport, all ardor, by his emotions and glowing countenance, pathetically, though silently, assured his master of a zealous and faithful execution of his commission; and instantly retired without farther promise.

On the following day, he applied himself to Adelmale, the mother of Adelaide, and flushed her with the ambition and eager desire of seeing her darling offspring exalted to royalty, to happiness consummate. But Adelaide, during a number of visits that he paid her, continued to veil the reality of her sentiments under the semblance of bashful maidenhood and modest reserve.

At length Valvaise grew importunate, and set forth the advantages of his proposal in the most striking lights. He held up to her imagination the personal attractions of his royal patron, accompanied by all the virtues and graces of mind and disposition that ever informed humanity. And, finally, observing to her, that Adolphus was more superior to mankind in private excellencies and attractions than in public station, he urged her assent to an immediate

union..

The maid repeated a long and deep-fetched sigh; then raising her head, and giving a side-glance that entered the heart of the orator, "Tell me, Valvaise," said she, "lives there a man upon earth in whose suit you would plead so warmly as in that of Adolphus ?"-No, Madam, not in the universe.""And yet," she blushingly and hesitatingly returned, "there lives a certain person in whose suit you might plead with much better success.

"Alas!" she continued, "what is Adolphus to me? my heart was never formed for pomp or royalty; it loves the littleness or lowness, the sweet vales and descents of life; it is as a gentle turtle in the meadows and groves, and seeks not, neither can find any kind of joy, save in the affection of its species, and the cooings of its mate. You, Valvaise, as I am told, are not of haughty descent; your manners are sweetly mild, your person is conformable, and it is the most ardent prayer of Adelaide, that you may be mated with a companion wholly suitable to yourseff."

"Ah!" exclaimed Valvaise," whither, whither wouldst thou lead me, thou perilous beauty? Alas! I was already but too prone to follow the sight of the syren; and wanted not the additional inchantment of her voice to seduce and to sink me into a deeper perdition. But honour, virtue, gratitude, shall stand at my side; they shall bind me as with chains of adamant, that Adelaide herself shall not be able to loose. No! though heaven were opened this instant before me, and all the powers and blessedness thereof conditionally offered me, I would not accept them at the cost of my friend's happiness, or of my own treason. It could not be a heaven to me upon such conditions; through eternity I should be wretched, in the condemnation of myself."

Unhappy Adelaide !" cried the fair one; "what a peculiar severity there is in thy fate-to be secluded from all possibility of hope by the very virtues that serve to increase my passion! Be it so, then, my friend; let us be greatly,