he rushed out of the room, as I thought, to have his threat put into execution. However, I was mistaken. In a few minutes, he returned, told me to begone, and ordered the guard to take care of me, and deliver me where they had found me.

Thus was I, once more, relieved from the insults and outrage of this death-boding vulture; but not from his attempts to have me convicted, that he might consign me to destruction. Magin was soon after sent for, told what I had asserted, and asked, "whether he could personally prove his information against me." He said "he could not, but that he had it from different people, whose authority he could not doubt." "Can you produce them, you scoundrel?" was the next question. No, Sir, they were all concerned in the rebellion, and have made their escape." On this, Mr. Pollock's rage was turned on Magin, and his denunciations against him terrified the wretch, almost to death.

This I was told by the same man, to whom I was indebted for my former information concerning Magin, and whose veracity I had no reason to doubt. And, a very few days convinced me that Magin was sent to our prison, principally, if not entirely, in hope of procuring something, which might lead to my conviction,

as he was released unconditionally soon after this, and sent forth anew, to exercise his talents in the country at large.

I have, also, to observe, that every prisoner, of my acquaintance,, who was called before Mr. Pollock, informed me, that they were examined, as I had been, not on oath, but under denunciations of being hanged; and that more questions were asked about their knowledge of, and connexion with, me, than about any other person, action, or event, whatever. These things plainly shew that, in a conversation with Magin, which I have related, he was guilty of, at least, one truth, viz. " that I had bitter enemies."

One instance of this occurred, at this time, so wildly extravagant, and truly ridiculous, that I deem it not unworthy of notice. A young gentleman of the county of Down, of truly antient and noble family, had been arrested, sent to prison, and unfortunately placed near me. His character was so good, and the suspicion, on which he was committed, so slight, that application, for his release, was made to Mr. Pollock, by several gentlemen of his neighbourhood. On their representation, Mr. Pollock seemed disposed to liberate him, and he was sent for. However, he was asked, as others had been," whether he knew me." On his answering, "that he had been in my comL 2

pany

pany during part of his confinement; Mr. Pollock exclaimed; "if you have any connexion with him, by I can do nothing for you; his breath is poison, his tongue damnation, and his bosom hell:" or in words to that purpose. But, on being satisfied, afterwards, that this connexion with me, was not voluntary, Mr. Pollock was appeased, and the gentleman restored to liberty, and to his friends.

Besides these proceedings, in Belfast, and even within the walls of my prison, my confinement was embittered, by the situation to which my family was reduced, and the knowledge that every art, and every influence, was employed, through the lower part of the county of Down, to procure the information against me, so ardently wished for. The exertions of these were so numerous, and the zeal, with which they were prosecuted, so great, that their failure was perfectly astonishing, considering the terror of the moment, the inducements holden out, and the villainies to which they gave rise.

Of these I shall mention only one; and that one, as it will require some detail, merely on account of the meanness, falsehood, and cruelty, which it displayed.

On

On the commencement of the insurrection in the county of Down, the people of Ards made an attack on the town of Portaferry, in which seven lives were lost. On the day after, Mrs. Dickson, not thinking herself and children safe, applied to capt. Matthews, of Innishargie, commander of the yeomanry, for a protection. He candidly told her that he could not ensure her protection, against a set of ruffians; but would give her a passport to Donagadee. On receipt of this, she had two common wheel cars prepared for herself and family; but, such was the prevailing terror, that her own servant durst not venture to drive them; nor could she procure a man, for any money, to hazard the undertaking. Hence, she was obliged to trust herself and daughters to the conduct of our second son, then about fifteen years of age; our eldest son being then, and having been for some years before, serving his majesty, as a surgeon in the navy. Having reached Donaghadee, next day, after many interruptions by bodies of insurgents, she dispatched the child back to Portaferry, concluding, from his youth, that he would not be disturbed. However, a body of insurgents stopped him on the road, took possession of the horses and cars, carried him to Innishargie, the seat of capt. Matthews before mentioned, and thence to Newtown Ards. On the second night, he made his escape, and returned to Portaferry: where, innocently relating

lating his adventure, he was arrested at the instance of a ruffian, confined for two days, and then transmitted to Downpatrick. There, he was kept, for more than a fortnight, in the gaol yard, exposed to a burning sun by day, and the dews by night, with a wad of straw for his bed, and a great coat his only covering; and, for several days, destitute of meat and drink, except what was supplied by the humanity of common soldiers. At length, he was called before the earl Annesley and a number of magistrates and military Officers, who daily met in Downpatrick, by whom he was strictly examined. Every question concerning himself he answered, as I was assured, with the simplicity of a child, and coolness of a man. But, on being asked concerning the leaders of the insurgents who took him to Innishargie, &c. he positively refused to answer any question, except what related directly to himself. This refusal gave occasion to the display of meanness, falsehood, and cruelty, to which I have alluded. It was in such words as these, "Hark ye, my lad, you need not be afraid to tell all you know of the business-you cannot hurt your father now he was hanged in Belfast yesterday.”

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Luckily, colonel Stapleton before mentioned, was present, to whom Mrs. Dickson had written a circumstantial account of the child's being stopped by the insurgents, after leaving her in Donaghadee;