The grand embarkation designed for Ireland was to be made from Vannes in Lower Britanny. To cover it, a fleet was fitted out at Brest, commanded by M. de Conflans. The execution of this scheme was delayed by Sir Edward Hawke, who blocked up that harbour with twenty-three ships of the line. But boisterous winds having driven the British fleet off their station, in the month of November, Conflans embraced the opportunity, and sailed with twenty-one large ships and four frigates. On the twentieth, Sir Edward Hawke pursued and came up with the French fleet. He had been reinforced by a few ships under the command of Captain Duff, who had for some time been cruising from Port l'Orient in Bretagne to the Point of St. Gilles in Poitou. In the neighbourhood of Belleisle the van of the English engaged the rear of the enemy about two o'clock in the forenoon. Happy for Britain and to the unspeakable advantage of this country, Providence favoured the English fleet with a complete victory. In October, the squadron designed for the North of Ireland had sailed from Dunkirk: it consisted originally of five ships: one of forty-eight, two of thirty-six, and two of twenty-four guns each, and carried a thousand two hundred and seventy land forces. The reputation acquired by M. Thurot, as captain of a privateer, raised him to the command of the naval department employed in this expedition. Adverse and tempestuous winds drove the squadron to Gottenburgh. Having continued here a few days, they set sail and proceeded to the place of destination. Upon arriving on the coast of Ireland they were overtaken by a storm, to escape which they attempted to shelter themselves in Lough Foyle, but the wind changed and continuing to blow tempestuously, obliged them to keep the sea, two of the ships were separated from the rest by the violence of the storm and returned to France. The remaining three directed their course to the island of Ilay, where they anchored, repaired some damages they had sustained, took in a small quantity of fresh provisions, and to procure a supply more adequate to their necessities, sailed for Carrickfergus. They arrived here on the twenty-first of February, and about two miles from the town, landed their forces now reduced to six hundred men. Meanwhile an officer belonging to the small number of troops of which the garrison consisted, advanced with a reconnoitring party, and took post on a rising ground to observe the motions of the enemy. Having made the best disposition of his men which the time and circumstances would permit, and ordered them to make every effort to retard the approaches of the French, he returned to communicate the ne

"in every point but one; and while their private opinion interferes not with "public tranquillity, I think their industry and allegiance ought to be encou"raged."

cessary information to the commanding officer. The troops were on parade, from whom detachments were sent to defend the gates and all the avenues leading to the town. A number of French prisoners, then in Carrickfergus, were sent off to Belfast with all possible expedition. By this time the fire had begun betwixt the reconnoitring party and the enemy, which killed several of them, and wounded Brigadier General Clobert, their commanding officer. This accident threw them into confusion, and for some time retarded their approach. The reconnoitring party having expended their powder and ball were forced to retreat to their garrison, who, after having attempted in vain to prevent the enemy from entering the town, shut themselves up within the castle. Though they were not in any respect prepared for such an attack, a number of them being quite undisciplined, and there being a breach in the wall fifty feet long, they defended themselves with spirit until their ammunition was expended. They were now obliged to capitulate: it is supposed, that, previous to the surrender of the castle, a hundred of the French were killed, among whom were four officers, one of them a person of distinction, much regretted for his courage and amiable qualities. Of the garrison not more than three lost their lives. When intelligence of the landing of the enemy reached different parts of the country, volunteer companies flocked to Belfast from all quarters. By the willingness which they discovered to risk their lives in the service of their country they acquired much honour, but they were strangers to discipline, and numbers of them unprovided with arms. Had they proceeded to attack the enemy, as was proposed by some, many would have been sacrificed, and the probability of success was much against them. However the French were alarmed and would have left Carrickfergus without delay, had they not been detained by unfavourable winds: having plundered the town, they re-embarked on Tuesday the twenty-sixth of February. To avoid the imminent danger to which they were exposed from the English ships of war, they wished to return by the North of Ireland, but the wind was adverse, and compelled them to attempt a passage through the Channel. Very soon their hopes of escaping vanished. The day on which they re-embarked, Captain Elliot, of his majesty's ship Æolus of thirty-two guns, received information from government of the arrival of the French at Carrickfergus. Taking with him the Pallas and Brilliant, each of them with the same force, with respect to guns, he set sail in quest of the enemy. The twenty-eighth he discovered them, gave chace, and came up with them near the Isle of Man. Having engaged with them about an hour and a half, they struck, being much injured in their masts and rigging, and three hundred of their men killed.

a

Thurot lost his life in the action. Thurot had in the course of the preceding year signalized his courage and conduct in large privateer, called the Belleisle, which had scoured the North seas, taken a number of ships, and at one time maintained an obstinate battle against two English frigates, which were obliged to desist after having received considerable damage.*

In consequence of these events, it was resolved by the House of Commons, "that the thanks of that house should be given "to Lieutenant Colonel Jennings, for his prudent and resolute "conduct at Carrickfergus, and for the gallant stand he made "there against a much superior force, by which he gained time " for the militia to assemble, and preserved Belfast from being "plundered." It was also resolved, "that the zeal, courage, "and activity, exerted on the landing of the French in this "kingdom, by the counties of Antrim, Armagh, and Down, and "by the citizens of the city of Londonderry, were highly ho"nourable and beneficial to themselves, and their country.".... The inhabitants of Belfast presented Lieutenant Colonel Higginson of the 62d regiment of foot, with a large and elegant silver cup, having an inscription expressive of their gratitude for the exertion of his great military knowledge, vigilance and activity, for the security of the town of Belfast, on the landing of the French troops at Carrickfergus, the like compliment was paid to Colonel Jennings.*

On the 25th of October, 1760, his late majesty George II. died at Kensington at the advanced age of 77 years; none of his predecessors on the throne lived to so great an age; none enjoyed a more happy or glorious reign; it was a peculiar blessing to this monarch, that the love and affection of his subjects encreased constantly to the close of his reign. He was a prince of personal intrepidity: upright and honourable in his conduct, though not distinguished for any extraordinary brilliancy of talent: he was particularly fortunate in the choice of his last ministry, under Mr. Pitt. His British subjects ill-relished his marked predilection for his German dominions, and complained, that he visited them more frequently, than was consistent with the welfare of the state.

* A List of the Militia that marched against the French on this occasion.

CHAPTER V.

THE REIGN OF GEORGE THE THIRD.

From his accession to the Throne to the Declaration of Irish Independence in 1782.

NO prince ever ascended the throne more to the joy and satisfaction of his people than our gracious sovereign. Pleased, said Junius, with the novelty of a young prince, whose countenance promised even more than his words, they were loyal to him not only from principle, but passion. It was not a cold profession of allegiance to the first magistrate, but a partial animated attachment to a favourite prince, the native of their country. In his first speech to the British parliament, he said,.... "Born and educated in this country, I glory in the name of "Briton: and the peculiar happiness of my life will ever con"sist in promoting the welfare of a people, whose loyalty and warm affection to me I consider as the greatest and most per"manent security of my throne: and I doubt not but their " steadiness in those principles will equal the firmness of my " invariable resolution to adhere to and strengthen this excellent "constitution in church and state; and to maintain the tolera"tion inviolable. The civil and religious rights of my loving "subjects, are equally dear to me with the most valuable pre"rogatives of the crown: and as the surest foundation of the "whole and the best means to draw down the divine favour on my reign, it is my fixed purpose, to countenance and encourage the practice of true religion and virtue." In these flattering assurances of the new monarch to the people of Great Britain, Lord Halifax, then lord lieutenant of Ireland, had it in command to declare to the sister kingdom, that his subjects of Ireland, were fully, and in every respect, comprehended.* Congratulatory addresses to the throne flowed in from all descriptions of persons: amongst which, none were more remarkable than the addresses from the people called Quakers and the Roman Catholics: the former, contained more moral sentiment and less common place flattery, than are usually contained in such addresses: the latter was strongly expressive of their loy