cases proved and with a superior cavalry and artillery-the latter particularly well served the contest should not have lasted ten minutes. But Humbert's estimate of the British commanding officers will give a key to the secret cause of their defeat. "I met," he said, "many generals in Ireland-but the only general I met after all—was -Colonel Vereker."

"The French approached the new gaol to break it open. It was guarded by a highland Fraser sentinel, whom his friends had desired to retreat with them; but he heroically refused to quit his post, which was elevated, with some steps leading to it. He charged and fired five times successively, and killed a Frenchman at every shot, but before he could charge the sixth time, they rushed on him, beat out his brains, and threw him down the steps, with the sentry-box on his body."— Musgrave.

CHAPTER XXIII.

FRENCH OCCUPATION OF CASTLEBAR-HUMBERT'S MOVEMENT TO THE NORTH -SURRENDER OF THE FRENCH ARMY.

DURING the period that Humbert occupied Castlebar-that is, from the 27th of August until the morning of the 4th of September—the French behaved with the greatest moderation, protecting the Protestants from insult, and repressing every attempt at cruelty on the part of their ignorant and useless allies. Invariably the invaders regarded the Irish mob who accompanied them as a pack of senseless savages—and no pains were taken to disguise these feelings of contempt. "The French ate the best of meat and bread, drank wine, beer, and coffee, and slept on good beds. They compelled the rebels to eat potatoes, drink whiskey, and sleep on straw. They beat and abused them like dogs, in the name of liberty, equality, and fraternity. A volume would not contain an account of the brutal actions of the rebels; and the women, who were worse than the men, carried off hides, tallow, beef, cloth, and various other articles."*

Bad as the peasantry were, the few gentry who had joined the French were even still more contemptible. All were men who, through drunkenness or poverty, had lost caste, with the exception of two or three, who, from imbecility or silly pride, had been led to declare for the invaders—and, wanting both in energy and influence, they were

allies but in name.

From the determination exhibited by the better classes to keep aloof from any political connection with the invading army, Humbert had long been convinced that nothing but another French descent upon the coast, and that too, in imposing strength, could, in the present state of Ireland, make any serious impression. On any real advantage which could arise from the co-operation of the priesthood and the peasantry, he had ascertained, by melancholy experience, that no dependence could be placed. Not a respectable person in holy orders had openly countenanced the movement-and such men as Gannon, Macgowan, and Cowley† were a disgrace to their own profession, and hence, their adherence to any cause would be damnatory. No wonder,

* Musgrave.

+ Gannon had been in France for many years, spoke the language fluently, and hence, was useful to Humbert. His character was very bad, and he was grossly immoral. Macgowan was a fellow of very low parentage, and a confirmed drunkard. He broke his neck returning home inebriated from a christening. Cowley was a peasant's son-illiterate and truculent; and, had he not been prevented by a misguided, but most humane man named Barrett, he would have proved one of the most sanguinary monsters of that fearful time." 'Though this wretch escaped the gallows,

therefore, that to the Irish priesthood the French officers exhibited a marked antipathy;* and indeed the few who joined them were but a sorry specimen of the order. Frequently, a latent hatred of Protestants became too apparent; but any attempt-and many were made to give a religious turn to the war, was on the French part furiously repelled. The freest exercise of worship was permitted to the Protestants-and, infidels themselves, the faith of others was scrupulously respected by the invaders.

Doctor Ellison, the rector of Castlebar, had formerly been a cavalry officer, and was remarkable for personal intrepidity. Slightly wounded and made prisoner at Killalla, he afterwards returned to Castlebar, and remained there in constant communication with the French officers, who treated him with great respect. On one occasion, while conversing with Humbert and his staff, a drunken priest entered the room to ask the French general's permission to celebrate mass in the Protestant church. Humbert laughed, and replied, "that he might say mass where he pleased, provided that he did not require him to attend it." The priest returned thanks, and was retiring, when Doctor Ellison called him back." So," he said, "Father , you intend offering mass up in my church?" "I do," was the reply. “I cannot prevent it," returned Ellison, boldly-" but mark what I promise. Offer the insult you intend to my church, and, by heaven! within one fortnight I'll have you hanged upon the steeple!" The threat had the desired effect-but, every thing considered, few men would have been bold enough to hold it out.

Nor was it alone when under the immediate eye of the commanderin-chief, that person and property were protected. The detachment which was left to garrison Killalla had been intrusted to a French officer called Charost,† and during the occupation of that town,

he suffered a more severe and painful death. Having wandered about the mountains for some months, suffering all the miseries of hunger, thirst, watching, and fear, his friends formed a subterraneous cavern for him, under a corn-field, of which the aperture was covered with a large stone, so as to elude the observation of his pursuers, who often passed close to it. His provisions were let down to him by a rope. At last, he was found dead in his den, and his death was imputed to suffocation from coals, which his friends supplied him with, to correct the humidity of his cavern."-Musgrave.

"The wonder was, how the zealous papist should come to any terms of agreement with a set of men, who boasted openly in our hearing, that they had just driven Mr. Pope out of Italy, and did not expect to find him so suddenly in Ireland.' It astonished the French officers to hear the recruits, when they offered their service, declare, that they were come to take arms for France and the Blessed Virgin.' The conduct of the several priests who engaged in the same treasonable enterprise was yet more surprising than that of their people. No set of men could be treated with more apparent marks of dislike, and even contempt, than these were by the French, though against the plainest suggestions of policy, which recommended attention to them, both as having an influence over their flocks, and as useful interpreters, most of them, from their foreign education, being able to speak a little French. Yet the commandant would not trust to their interpretation; if he wanted to know the truth, he waited till he could see the bishop."

"Lieutenant-colonel Charost had attained the age of five-and-forty. He was born in Paris, the son (as the writer was told) of a watchmaker in that city, who