The brilliant, rapid, and successful attacks of the Irish cavalry spread a general alarm through the ranks of the enemy. As they approached, the general cry of "Horse! horse!" was raised, which was mistaken by William's advancing soldiers, for "Halt! halt !" The confusion was rapidly extending, when old Schonberg, perceiving the disorder, and that the remaining French Huguenots had no commander to lead them, crossed the river with a few followers, and put himself at their head. Pointing to the Frenchmen in James's ranks, he cried, " Allons, messieurs, coila cos persecuteurs!"* and was preparing to rush forward: but, scarcely were these words out of his mouth, ere he was shot through the neck by an Irish dragoon, or, as some supposed, by a fatal mistake of one of his own men.†

The critical moment had now arrived. The enemy's centre was in complete confusion. The Irish cavalry rode through their ranks. Their leaders, Schomberg and Caillemote, were both killed; and the men were waiting for orders, exposed to the galling fire of the Irish infantry and the furious charges of their cavalry. Had James improved the moment, and ordered the French troops to the instant aid of the Irish, there can be little doubt but the day would have been decided in his favour. But James looked idly down from the heights of Donore, surrounded by his unoccupied French body-guard of 6,000 men,-a safe and inglorious spectator of a struggle, on the issue of which his crown depended. He watched the tide of battle veering, now here, now there; his enemies pushing their way in triumph, and the brave Irish falling beneath the swords of the foreigner; then the dashing charge of the Irish cavalry, the route, the mélée, the pursuit. Now was the time for the electric word "Onward!" to be sent along the line. But no: the miserable monarch did not even sympathize with the success of his own soldiers; for it is said that, on observing the Irish dragoons of Hamilton cleaving down the cavalry, and riding over the broken infantry of William, he exclaimed, with a mawkish sensibility, 'Spare, oh! spare my English subjects!"

The firing had now lasted, uninterruptedly, for more than an hour, when William of Orange seized the opportunity to turn the tide of battle against his spiritless adversary. He entered the action at the head of the left wing, which consisted chiefly of Dutch, Danish, and English cavalry, and directed it upon James's centre, where the Irish now had the decided advantage. Crossing the river through a dangerous and difficult pass, in which he was exposed to considerable danger, he made his appearance at the

* "Come on, gentlemen; behold your persecutors !"---namely, the French catholics. About the same time, George Walker, the clergyman, whose success behind the walls of Derry seems to have given him a fatal predilection for the military profession, fell in the melee: when William was told of his fate, he merely remarked, "The fool! what business had he there?" William was right: after the siege of Derry, Walker might with much more propriety have resumed his Geneva gown, and left the war to the professional killing-men.

head of his squadrons, with his drawn sword, and soon forced back the Irish infantry. But the Irish dragoons still maintained their superiority. They again vigorously charged the foreign troops, and completely broke their ranks. William hastened up to the Enniskilleners, and asked, "What will you do for me?" They answered by a shout, and immediately declared their readiness to follow him. They advanced, but at the first volley from the Irish ranks, they wheeled and fled.* On William bringing up his Dutch cavalry, they returned again to the charge. The struggle now became very close, and the superior strength of William began to tell. The Irish, unsupported as they were by their French allies, while William's entire army was in action, slowly gave way: but, again and again they rallied, driving back the enemy; the Irish cavalry dashing in among the advancing troops, scorning all toil and danger. William fought with great courage, mingling in the hottest part of the fight. Several times he was driven back by the Irish horse, but at last his superior physical power enabled him to force back the Irish troops, and they retired slowly towards Donore. Here they again made a gallant stand, beating back the troops of William several times. The farm-house of Sheephouse for a long time withstood their attacks, and was taken and re-taken again and again. Again Hamilton endeavoured to retrieve the fortune of the day, by a desperate charge at the head of his horse. The British infantry withstood the furious shock; the cavalry were repulsed; and Hamilton, their general, was left a prisoner in the hands of the enemy. Having thus resisted to the last, the Irish retreated slowly to the pass of Duleek.

James had already meditated a retreat with his French troops. Sarsfield had implored him to put himself at their head, and make a last effort for his crown. With 6,000 fresh men coming into the field when the enemy's troops were exhausted by fatigue, there is little doubt but James would have succeeded. But the effort would cost him trouble, exertion, danger,-neither of which the royal poltroon would risk. Accordingly, James put himself at the head of his French troops-the first occasion on which he had led in the course of the day,-and set out on his route towards Dublin, leaving the rear of his army to shift for themselves.

The Irish army now poured through the pass; and when they had reached the other side, they faced about, and vigorously defended it with their scanty artillery. From Duleek, they pressed forward towards the Neal, another defile on their route, the enemy following without pressing upon them at all, until night closed upon

Most of the accounts of this battle state, in excuse of the Enniskilleners, that they mistook their orders. However this may be, William ever afterwards regarded them with dislike.

On being conducted before William, the king asked Hamilton whether the Irish would fight more."Upon my honour," said Hamilton," I believe they will: for they have yet a good body of horse." William surveyed the man who had betrayed him in his transactions with Tyrconnel, and in a sullen and contemptuous tone, exclaimed, "Honour! your honour !' ... LELAND.

the rival armies, and William sat down with his army on the ground which James had occupied in the morning.

Though the Boyne" has since become a party word of triumph among the protestants of Ireland, it seems to us that after all there was very little to boast of at the close of that day's battle. All the advantage that William had gained was, that he had succeeded in crossing the Boyne, in the face of a very inferior force,-inferior in numbers, in appointments, in discipline, and in artillery. His best troops had been repeatedly repulsed; his best generals killed; William himself was compelled to fall back, and more than once was in danger of overthrow; and would have been overthrown, but for his great superiority in cavalry, infantry, and artillery. The best part of James's force, the French, were never brought into action. Yet, with all these disadvantages, the issue was doubtful, even to the close of the day. William gained nothing but the ground on which his army encamped at night, and the dead bodies with which the field was strewed. For, with the exception of Hamilton, he made no prisoners. Neither did he take any spoil from the Irish, who retreated in excellent order, with all their baggage and artillery. There is little doubt that had not the Irish the misfortune to be commanded by a coward, the result would have been very different. The cry of the Irish after the battle was, Change generals, and we will fight the battle over again." The brilliant and successful charges of the Irish cavalry under Hamilton, shewed what might have been accomplished had James but possessed a tythe of the chivalrous spirit of this leader. The Boyne was neither more nor less than a drawn battle, though to William it had all the advantages of a complete victory.

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The loss of life in this battle was comparatively small, considering the severity and duration of the conflict. Little more than 500 fell on either side during the engagement, though many of the peasantry, who had come to witness the fray, were afterwards murdered by the Enniskilleners, and added by them to the loss sustained by the enemy. It is said also that many of the Irish foot threw away their arms, and dispersed after dark, and were cut down by roving parties of the British horse. The principal loss of officers on the side of William were Duke Schomberg, Colonel Caillemote, and George Walker; and among the persons of note who fell on the side of the Irish, were, Lord Dungan, the Earl of Carlingford, Fitzgerald, Sir Neal O'Neal, the Marquis d'Hoquincour, and Colonel Casanova. James fled to Dublin without halting, and, immediately on reaching the city, summoned a council of his friends. He told them that his Irish army had refused to support him in his hour of danger! He declared that they could not be persuaded to rally, though their loss was inconsiderable. The malignant coward further charged Providence with the misfortunes which were chiefly caused by his own imbecility. "It seems," said he, "that God is with my enemies." He told the council that "in England he had an army

which would fight, but deserted him; and that in Ireland he had an army which stood by him, but would not fight."

Thus saying, the flying James resumed his route southwards. He set out forthwith for Waterford, breaking down all the bridges behind him to prevent a pursuit. The Irish were glad to get rid of him. He had long since lost every thing like the respect of the nation, who only despised him too much to hate him. "James had no royal quality about him," says an able Catholic historian;"Nature had made him a coward, a monk, and a gourmand; and in spite of the freaks of fortune, that had placed him on a throne, and seemed inclined to keep him there, she vindicated her authority, and dropped him ultimately in the niche that suited him :

"The meanest slave of France's despot lord!"

CHAPTER XXV.

Surrender of Drogheda-State of Dublin-Protestant mobs-Entry of William→→ Issues a Commission of Forfeitures-The Irish prepare to resume the WarWilliam reduces the southern towns of Waterford, &c.-General Douglas reaches Athlone His reception by the governor-Athlone, Limerick, and the ShannonColonel Grace-Douglas is repulsed, and retreats-Advance of William to Limerick-Lays siege to the city-Brave defence of the garrison-Sarsfield surprises and destroys an escort-Attempt to carry Limerick by storm-Terrible resistance of the Irish-William raises the siege and retreats-Embarkation for England-Arrival of Marlborough-Siege and capture of Cork-Further successes -Withdrawal of the French-General Ginckle carries on the War-Rapparees -State of the Country.

DROGHEDA surrendered to William on the day following the battle of the Boyne; the garrison was allowed to depart unarmed, and immediately marched off to Athlone, over whose strong walls the standard of James was still flying. William then directed his march slowly upon Dublin.

In the meantime, the capital had been thrown into a state of great confusion by the flight of James. All his civil officers shortly after followed his example, and fled from the city. The military leaders, left entirely to themselves, though James had left them no instructions, resolved to continue the struggle, as their own rights and liberties were deeply concerned in its issue. They determined

It is pleasant to think that at least one of the subjects he had betrayed had the spirit to resent an insult to the country and the people. On reaching Dublin Castle, he was met by the Duchess of Tyrconnel, the lady of his viceroy. "Your countrymen, madam," he said, as he was ascending the stairs, "your countrymen can run well." "Not quite so well as your majesty," replied the high-souled woman, "for I see you have won the race." Even at the moment of his embarking from Ireland, for ever, he bequeathed it a sarcasm. Passing along the quay of Waterford, a sudden gust of wind carried away his hat. A venerable officer, named O'Farrall, immediately took off his own, and presented it to the exile. He took it without ceremony, merely observing, as he placed it on his head, "If he had lost a crown by the Irish, he had gained a hat by them.---HALL'S IRELAND.

now to adopt their original plan, and to retire behind the Shannon, where they would protract the war to its utmost extent. Before leaving Dublin, they set free all the protestant prisoners who had been put in confinement by James; and then marched off their forces to Limerick and Athlone.

The Irish army had scarcely withdrawn, when a protestant mob assembled, breathing vengeance against "the papists," and proceeded to rob and set fire to the houses of most of the leading catholics of the city. Among others, General Sarsfield's house was robbed, gutted, and totally destroyed. The city was, however, saved from destruction by a protestant military officer, named Fitzgerald, a member of the Kildare family, who assumed the command at this juncture, restrained the excesses of the mob, and sent expresses to William for immediate assistance. On the 3rd of July, the Duke of Ormond arrived with nine troops of horse, and took possession of the city in the name of King William. It was not until the 8th that William himself entered the capital in triumph, when he went direct to the cathedral church of St. Patrick, now again restored to the protestant faith, and returned public thanks for his victory.

The protestants, who again hungered and thirsted after forfeitures, now urged William to adopt the policy of his predecessor, Cromwell, and to seize all the property of the Irish who had adhered to the party of King James. William, thus driven by his own friends, forthwith issued a commission for seizing and securing all forfeitures accruing to the crown from the rebellion of the Irish. The commissioners, in their great eagerness to signalize themselves, seized without mercy; and the result was, that the Irish were confirmed in their aversion to the new government; and the peasantry, who were treated by William's agents with great severity, were forced again to take up arms for their own security, and crowded in large bodies to their old leaders behind the strong line of the Shannon.

On the 9th of July, William left Dublin, and marched southwards with part of his army; detaching General Douglas, with ten regiments of infantry and five of cavalry, to reduce Athlone. The position of William was now most critical. During his absence, the English and Scotch jacobites were accelerating their arrangements for a general insurrection, and only waited an opportunity. The combined Dutch and English fleets had also been defeated by the French, and James was daily expected to land in England at the head of a foreign army. William was now most anxious to secure some of the southern Irish towns, to gain a secure station for his transport ships; and he hastened to reduce them with his army. Wexford declared for him, and admitted his garrison. Waterford and Duncannon threatened resistance, but yielded without a struggle; Clonmel was abandoned by the garrison, and thus William within a very short time secured all the objects of his mission southwards.