try, in retaliation for the obstinate resistance of a handful of brave and determined men, M'Cracken yielded to the feelings of humanity. what the force of his enemy could not have obtained, and he withdrew from the heights, his little band considerably reduced from fatigue, and the privations of a mountain campaign. He indulged for a time the hope of penetrating to Wicklow or Kildare, but finding the measure impracticable, he recommended his followers to provide for their personal safety. With seven attached friends he proceeded to the lesser Collon, and baffled by a masterly manoeuvre the vigilance of a corps that hung on his retreat but was unable to impede his march. This manœuvre, though simple, evinced the military talent of the leader, and impressed the enemy with the idea that his numbers were more formidable. Favoured by the nature of the ground, they appeared at intervals on different heights, exhibiting at one time the hurried march of men stripped to their shirts, while the clothes of which they had disencumbered themselves being affixed to poles, presented to the enemy in another direction the appearance of an additional. force; these were again as quickly removed, and the rapidity of the change, and the velocity of his movements, were successful in distract

men.

ing the enemy's attention, who, fearing to press too closely on him, remained at a secure distance, while he carried off his little band in safety in the presence of a yeomanry force of fifty But the hour of his destiny was at hand: his movements were closely watched, and his friends too few to make any successful effort to support him, he fell into the hands of the enemy. On the scaffold he evinced the firm. ness which he displayed in the field, and his martial courage was only surpassed by the superior virtues of his soul.

Few had better opportunities than myself of estimating the qualities of M'Cracken. He was my fellow-prisoner for twelve months, and often the companion of my cell. Lively, generous, and sincere, I met no man who bore privations with greater firmness. A short sketch has been drawn by one of his companions in arms who survived the fatal catastrophe.-"I saw him," said he, "as he marched for the field; his loose flowing locks were confined by the helm which shaded the arch of his manly brow, while his eye beamed with the fire which animated his soul, pure as the breeze from his native mountain, and generous as the floods which fertilize the valleys. The damps of the dungeon had rendered pallid his cheek and less robust his

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form, but the vigour of his mind was uninjured by the tyranny of the oppressor. I saw him in the blaze of his conquest-I saw him in the chill of defeat. I witnessed his splendour in arms, and the pride of his soul in distress. Circumstances unavoidably separated us. A little time, and he was the tenant of the tomb!"

CHAPTER XX.

Assembling of the United Troops in Down-Action near Saintfield-Attack on Portaferry-Battle of Ballynabinch-Total Suppression of the United Irishmen in Ulster.

THE disasters which followed the rising in Antrim had not the effect of intimidating Down, but a fatality attended their separate movements. Had they acted in concert, a different result might have been produced. The other counties of the province, though apparently tranquil, were far from composed, and had they risen simultaneously, the whole British force in Ulster would not have been able to suppress them. Antrim and Down alone could have produced more men for the field than the government of Lord Camden might have found it prudent to contend with.

The decisive battle of Antrim was fought on the 7th of June, and though M'Cracken had been able to maintain a fugitive warfare, with a few brave and determined followers, the spirit of

the county was broken, and no exertion of his was successful in restoring it.

The United Irishmen of Down first appeared in arms on the 9th, in the neighbourhood of Saintfield, but before any formidable number had assembled, they were forced into action. The town of Newtownards, a few miles distant, was garrisoned by an English regiment, the York Fencibles; these, under the command of Colonel Stapleton, together with a corps of yeoman cavalry, another of infantry, and two light pieces of cannon, marched with haste to dislodge them. Informed of Colonel Stapleton's advance, the people posted themselves in the line of his march, a short distance from the town of Saintfield, occupying the space between high and close hedges, which, then in full verdure, shadowed the road on each side over which he must pass. Here they awaited Stapleton's approach, and here they must have succeeded in cutting off his entire division, had it not been for the temerity of an individual, who observing in the yeomanry ranks a gentleman conspicuous for loyalty, the Rev. Mr. Mortimer, rector of Comber, levelled his musket and fired -Mortimer fell.

This shot was the first intimation to Stapleton of his perilous situation; about one half of