and saw him deliver it to a dragoon, then mounted at the door, and waiting for his dispatches to the colonel.

This done, I hurried off to Ballee, four miles distant, where I arrived in time to perform the service allotted me. Agreeable to what I had written to colonel Stapleton, I went to Portaferry, in the evening. Next morning, I returned to Ballee, performed the duties of the day, and went back to Portaferry. On Monday, I attended again, at Ballee; and after the service of the day, baptized a child for, and dined with a Mr. John M⭑Neown, a very respectable farmer of that neighbourhood. After dinner, the conversation turned on " the floggings," ""shavings with red-hot iron," and ". half-hangings," which for some time had been practised in the country. "Very well," said one of the company, if they do not proceed to whole-hanging." "Well, indeed:" said I," for my part, from what I am experiencing, and the manner in which I am hunted, I am sure they will hang me if they can find any plausible pretext," or words to that effect. This circumstance, I mention, only on account of the base use that was made of it, several years afterwards, by a reverend brother, as will appear in the sequel of this Narrative. And I beg it may be remembered that this conversation took place in presence of two, clergymen, a wealthy linendraper,

H

draper, and a large company of respectable country-people, with none of whom I was personally acquainted, except the clergymen and linen-draper.

A few minutes after this conversation, the linen draper, a Mr. James Brown, and I mounted our horses, and travelled together until within a mile of Ballinahinch. Captain Magenis, of the Castlewellan yeomanry, and another gentleman were my companions, for that mile. When we parted, I drove to the inn, where I supped alone, and slept that night. Anxious to receive benefit, as soon as possible, I rode out to the well, at seven o'clock, next morning, and drank the water; did the same at one; and a third time, at five in the evening. On my third trip, I felt happy in meeting Edward Smith, Esq.-a man of excellent character, approved loyalty, and an officer in his majesty's revenue, with a sister, on their way to lodgings, which they had taken, for the season. Thither I accompanied them, and spent some time with them, devising means of getting accommodation in the same house; after which I returned direct to town.

As the hour of this return was the last of my liberty, for three years, seven months, and seven days, I quit it with regret. Let me therefore pause, and request my readers to review the

occurrences

occurrences of the last two months, as I have related them; and the relation of which, I challenge any man living to controvert. I believe, it has never been alleged that any plan of the Northern insurrection was digested, previous to the month of March. As I was out of the kingdom, during the greater part of that and the month following, I could have no part in what was then done. Indeed, none of the informers, so far as I know, have brought any charges against me, during that period. The succeeding period, of less than six weeks, I have accounted for, almost to a day, and even that day no one of them has filled up, as might have been supposed, from their accounts of themselves, by mentioning a single meeting with any brother general to concert a plan of operations; or with the colonels under my command, to give them necessary instructions. Yet I may have been a general, for aught that appears to the contrary; and I may not have been a general, though people said I was. But be that as it was, general, or no general, it appears from the cases of the "tobacco-box" and "Black Horse," as well as other circumstances, that my doom was pre-determined, though, contrary to expectation, it did not prove fatal. Perhaps, however, as Mr. Pollock said afterwards "had I been left to myself two days longer, it might have been otherwise."

It was on the evening of the 5th of June, that I returned, from my interview with Mr. Smith, to Ballinahinch. I had scarcely sitten down in my room, when a servant informed, me that a gentleman, in the street, requested to speak to me. On going out, I met captain Magenis, already mentioned, in company with a lieutenant Lindsay of the same corps. We walked out of town, at the request of captain Magenis and, after much hesitation and embarrassment, he informed me, in great agitation, that there had been a meeting of yeomanry officers, that day, in Clough; and, that he had received a letter, from colonel lord Annesley, ordering him to detain me, as a prisoner, till he should receive farther instructions." I begged that he would be composed, for that I was perfectly easy, as I could bid defiance to malice itself, if unsupported by villainy, in respect to every part of my conduct. On asking him for his warrant, he told me that he had only his lordship's letter; and that, as I had a horse I might take a ride. This I declined, and, asked him and Mr. Lindsay to accompany me to my room, as I had saddle-bags and papers there, which it might he proper for them to examine. This also they positively refused to do. I then told them, that I would retire, and requested them to place sentinels on the inn, Jest they should be charged with neglect of duty. This also they refused, saying, that they supposed my detention was only a whim of his lordship,

lordship, and that I would be discharged in the morning. However, at my earnest request, they placed a serjeant in the house, a distant relation of the family, who took his rest, during the night, without giving himself, or me, any trouble. This politeness This politeness and confidence I mention with pleasure; and am sorry that I shall have so few instances of the kind to record, as having occurred during my confinement in Ireland.*

About noon, next day, a colonel Bainbridge arrived in Ballinahinch, from Lisburn, gave orders for my transmission thither, and, without seeing me, proceeded to Montalto, to call on lady dowager Moira. Being informed of this, I dispatched a messenger, after him, to request, that, as I was in a delicate state of health, and the weather intensely hot, I might be permitted to ride, or travel in a chaise. The answer I received was not only blunt, but cruel: "A chaise, and be damned! Let him walk, or take a seat on the car, which goes to town with the old guns.'

Irritated with this harshness, so different from the treatment, which I had experienced, on the preceding evening, I determined to walk, be the consequence as to my health, what it might. About four o'clock, in the afternoon, I set out

with

* This confinement commenced in the fifth month of my 53d. year.