nal plans, were to enter the city of Dublin at the fame

moment.

The fignal to the infurgents, for commencing every where their operations, was to be the flopping of the mail-coaches on the poft roads. It was alfo planned, that a great infurrection fhould take place at Cork at the fame time. The united men were, however, at this period, not exactly agreed as to the nature of the infurrection. Mr. Samuel Neilfon, who had been peculiarly active in Belfast, and, as was before noticed, one of the proprietors of the Northern Star newspaper, with fome others of the leaders, were bent upon attacking firft the county goal of Kilmainham, and the goal of Newgate, in order to fet their comrades at liberty; and the project for attacking Newgate, was fixed for the 23d of May, the night of the general infurrection. The Sheares's, however, and others, were of a contrary opinion, and they wished to defer the attack of the goals, till after the general infurrection had taken place; and even threatened to give government notice of the plot, if Neilfon and his affociates did not immediately renounce their project. As both plots, however, were known to government, they were both completely fru ftråted. Meffrs. John and Henry Sheares, with fome others of the principal confpirators, were apprehended on the 21st of May, and Mr. Neilfon and others, on the 23d; the city and county of Dublin were proclaimed, by the Lord Lieutenant and council, in a ftate of infurrection; the guards at the caftle, and all the great objects of attack, were trebled; and, in fact, the whole city was converted into a garrifon. By thefe vigorous measures, the infurgents were unable to effect any thing by furprise; but without leaders, and almoft without arms or ammunition, the infatuated multitude ventured on the bloody conteft. Notwithstanding the apparent forwardnefs of the north, the first commotions appeared in different parts of Leinfter. The northern and Connaught mail.coaches, were ftopped by parties of the infurgents, on the night of the 23d of May;

and

and, about twelve o'clock at midnight of the 24th, a large body of rebels attacked the town and goal of Naas, about fourteen miles from Dublin, where Lord Gosford commanded. As the guard had been seasonably encreased, in expectation of fuch an attack, the affailants were repulfed, and driven into a narrow avenue, where, without order or difcipline, they sustained, for fome time, the attack of the Armagh militia, and of the fencible corps raifed by Sir W. W. Wynne, and known by the name of the Ancient Britons. The King's troops loft two officers, and about thirty men, and the rebels had about 140 killed before they took to flight. They were, however, completely difperfed, and feveral of them taken prifoners. On the fame day, a fmall divifion of his Majefty's forces were furprised at the town of Profperous; and a detachment, at the village of Clare, cut their way through the Naas, with confiderable lofs. About the fame time, General Dundas encountered a large body of infurgents, on the hills near Kilcullen, and 130 of these milled perfons were left dead upon the spot.

As this painful detail is, however, connected with our fubject, and as the two directories of France and Ireland had agreed on a confederation to difunite Ireland from Britain, we have, with fome degree of minutenefs, given an account of the origin and progress of this infurrection, and of their having in feveral parts of the kingdom actually taken the field, and of their first ef forts in arms being defeated, we fhall corroborate our narrative, by giving a further account of thefe tranfac. tions, as published by authority in the Gazette, and, as ufual, the reader will find a narration of thefe defeats of the rebels, as given by the British commanders of his Majelty's forces in that diftracted country, in a note below *.

On

*From the London Gazette, May 29th. Whitehall, May 29th.-Difpatches, of which the following are copies, have been received from his excellency the Lord Lieutenant

of

On the 22d of May, a body of about 400 rebels, under the command of two gentlemen of the names of Ledwich and Keough, marched from Rathfarnham, in

the

of Ireland, by his Grace the Duke of Portland, his Majefty's principal fecretary of State for the home department.

My Lord,

Dublin-Caftle, May 24th, 1798.

The intelligence contained in my laft difpatches must have prepared your Grace to hear of fome attempts being made by the rebels to carry their traitorous defigns into executions before every poffibility of fuccefs was destroyed, by the vigorous measures which have been lately pursued.

For fome days, orders had been iffued by the leaders of the United Irishmen, directing their partizans, to be ready at a moment's notice, as the measures of government made it neceffary for them to act immediately. Yefterday advice was received, that it was probable, the city of Dublin, and the adjoining districts, would rife in the evening; fubfequent information confirmed this intelligence. In confequence of which, notice was fent to the general officers in the neighbourhood, and the capital was put in a ftate of preparation. The measures taken in the metropolis prevented any movements whatever; but I am concerned to acquaint your Grace, that acts of open rebellion were committed in the counties of Dublin, Meath, and Kildare. About half past two o'clock this morning, there was a regular attack made, by a rebel force, upon the town of Naas, where Lord Gosford commanded, with a party of the Armagh militia, detachments of the 4th dragoon guards, and the Ancient British. The rebels confifted of about 1,000 men, armed with muskets and pikes, and they made their attack with regularity, but were foon repulfed by the Armagh militia, and then charged and purfued by the 4th dragoon guards and Ancient British; and, 1 underftand their lofs amounted to near 200 men. Two officers, and a few privates of his Majefty's forces have been killed. It gives me pain to relate, that a small detachment at the town of Profperous has been furprised, and a detachment at the village of Clare, cut their way to Naas, with fome lofs. There was alfo an attack on a fmall party of the 9th dragoons, near Kilcullen, which fuffered, but, in the courfe of the day, General Dundas was enabled to come up with a confiderable body of the rebels, near the hills of Kilcullen, where they were intirely routed, with the lofs of 200 men. There were alfo feveral bodies collected last night in different parts near Dublin, which were attacked by the Rathfarnham cavalry, and by a detachment of the 5th dragoons, and dispersed with some lofs, and fome prifoners and horfes taken. A rebel party, howVOL. II. Ff

ever,

the neighbourhood of Dublin, along the foot of the mountain, towards Belgatt and Cloudalkin in their progrefs they were met by a party of thirty-five dra

goons,

ever, assembled at the borders of the county of Dublin, near Dunboyne, and overpowered fome contables, and afterwards took the baggage of two companies, guarded by a fmall party of the Reay fencibles, coming to town, and have, during the courfe of this day, committed many outrages; feveral of them, however, have been killed, but the body remains undifperfed. The capital is tranquil, and I have no doubt will remain fo this evening, and I truft that on to-morrow, we fhall completely difperfe that body of the infurgents which had not been entirely routed to day.

I must ad that the mail coach, going to the north, was attacked within a few miles of Dublin, by a felect body well armed; the pallengers were taken, and the coach burned. The Galway mail coach was alfo attacked in the town of Lucan, but the rebel party was driven off before the deftruction of the coach was effected. In confequence of this defperate conduct of the rebellious, I iffued a proclamation, with the advice of the privy council.

I fhall, in a future difpatch, detail to your Grace the particular fervices which have been performed, but at prefent I am not furnished with reports of an authentic and regular kind, except from Lord Gosford, who appears to have acted with great firmnefs and decifion.

I am, &c. &c.

His Grace the Duke of Portland, &c. &c. &c.

CAMDEN.

Here follows his exellency's proclamation-but as it is long and circumftantial, and the fubftance of which we have inferted in the text, we will not trouble our readers with it.

Extract of a letter from Lord Viscount Gosford, Colonel of the Armagh militia, and Major Wardle of the Ancient Britith light dragoons, to Lieutenant-general Lake, dated Naas, Thurfday morning, eight o'clock, 24th of May, 1798.

This morning, about half past two o'clock, a dragoon, from an out-polt, came in and informed Major Wardle, of the Ancient Bri-. tifh, that a very confiderable armed body were rapidly approaching upon the town. The whole garrifon were inftantly under arms, and took up their positions according to a plan previously formed, in cafe of fuch an event happening. They made the attack upon our troops near the gaol, with great violence, but were repulfed; they made a general attack in almost every direction, as they had got poffeffion of almof every avenue into the town. They continued to engage the troops for near three quarters of an hour, when they

goons, under the command of Lord Roden. After fome refistance, the rebels were defeated, (fo little were they acquainted with military affairs) great numbers were killed and wounded, and their leaders, Ledwich and Keough, were taken. They were immedi

ately

gave way, and filed on all fides. The cavalry immediately took advantage of their confufion, charged in almost every direction, and killed a great number of them. A great quantity of arms and pikes was taken, and within this half hour, many hundreds were brought in, found in pits near the town, together with three men with green cockades, all of whom were hanged in the public freet. We took another prifoner, whom we fpared, in confequence of his having given us information that will enable us to puriue these rebels, and from this man we learn that they were above 1,000 ftrong; that they were commanded, according to his information, by Michael Reynolds, who was well mounted, and dreffed in yeoman uniform, but had made his efcape; his horfe we have got. About thirty rebels were killed in the streets; in the fields, we imagine, about 100. Their bodies have not yet been brought together.

It is impoffible to fay too much of the cavalry and infantry; their conduct was exemplary throughout.

Dublin Castle May 25th, 1798.

Extract of a letter from Lieutenant-general Dundas to Lord Vifcount Caftlereagh, dated Naas, May 25th, 1798.

In addition to the account 1 had the honour of fending you yefterday, I have the fatisfaction to inform your Lordship, that about two P. M. yesterday, I marched out again to attack the rebels, who had affembled in great force on the north fie of the Liffey, and were advancing towards Kilcullen bridge: they occupied the hills on the left of the road leading to Dublin, the road itself, and the fields, highly enclofed on the right. The attack began between three and four; was made with great gallantry; the infantry forcing the enemy on the road, and driving them from the hills on the left; the cavalry, with equal fuccefs, cutting of their retreat. The affair ended foon after four. The flaughter was confiderable for fuch an action; one hundred and thirty lay dead—no prifon

ers.

I have the further fatisfaction of ftating to your Lordship, that his Majesty's troops did not fuffer in either killed or wounded. The rebels left great quantities of all kinds of arms behind them, and fled in all directions.

The troops of every defcription, both officers and men, fhewed a degree of gallantry which it was difficult to refrain within prudent bounds.