He also issued a proclamation commanding all the Catholics in Ireland to resign their arms, on pain of being considered rebels, and being treated as such by his army. He further commanded the people whom he called his subjects to abstain from fleshmeat on all Fridays while the war continued in Ireland, on pain of incurring his high displeasure. He next appointed Sir Richard Rieves, Knight, Robert Rochford and Richard Pyne, Esquires, Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal; but, notwithstanding all these preparations the Prince did not pass Chapelizod, as he there ascertained that the reports respecting his defeat on the Continent were greatly exaggerated, and hearing on the most reliable authority that there was no likelihood whatever of an invasion of England being attempted by the French, he resolved to remain in Ireland until the conclusion of the war, and accordingly returned to his camp at Goldenbridge, and on the 7th proceeded to Cahirconlish.

CHAPTER XX.

AFTER A STORM COMES A CALM.

SINCE the receipt of the letter which O'Shaughnessy wrote to his father, giving an account of the bad treatment he received in France, no other news of him reached home until the arrival of the Chevalier de Tourville at Duras, a few days after the Chief of Cineal Aodh's death. The bold seaman heard with regret of the demise of his friend, the circumstances connected with which were related to him by the Chief of Duras. The day after he landed he rode to Clooneene, and the Chieftain having sent for Dermot Oge, De Tourville presented him with a letter from O'Shaughnessy, addressed to his father, which Dermot Oge, without hesitation, opened and read. It stated that he had left college and entered the regiment commanded by his first cousin, the Honourable Daniel O'Brien.

De Tourville, De Merville, and Isadore de Latour, who had lately joined the Flying Eagle as an officer, sojourned at Clooneene until the vessel was prepared to sail from Duras.

The Chieftain was not as cheerful as usual, as he and all his friends sincerely regretted the death of O'Shaughnessy. In a few days' time, however, Sir Toby Butler came from Sraghnagalloon on a visit, and enlivened the company very much by his wit and good humour. He was

greatly annoyed at the turn affairs had taken, and occasionally gave expression to his indignation.

"Indeed," said he, "his Majesty should have retired beyond the Shannon, as he was advised by his ablest generals, and not have perilled his crown by a battle which he undoubtedly lost by not having cannon enough to defend the pass at Oldbridge; but the fact is, he did not imagine that our gallant dragoons would have rushed through the Williamite ranks so bravely and triumphantly, and charged them over ten different times with success on the day of battle. I am sure that if the King thought the Irish would have made such a gallant resistance, he would not have sent away the cannon, and made the other preparations for a retreat; but then, if he thought they would not fight, what puzzles me is, why he marched to give the enemy battle. But, what is worse than all, he has taken back with him, as a guard, the French fleet, under the Marquis de Seignelay, which was sent by the King of France to destroy the transport ships of the enemy; for, as the English fleet was defeated by the French off Beachy Head, they had no longer command of the seas. Nay, more, the King received, on his arrival in Dublin, a letter from France, giving an account of the great victory at Flueurs, gained by King Louis over William's troops and their allies."

"Rien ne m'étonne autant!" exclaimed De Tourville, who spoke warmly against the unaccountable conduct of the King, in not fighting to the last under the circumstances, of the French being masters of the seas, and the utter impossibility of the Prince of Orange being able to provide provisions and animunition for his troops fighting in this country.

"I agree with you, De Tourville," said Sir Toby, "and have to thank you for the large case of wine which you brought me on your last visit to Duras. I must, however, complain of having had to retire from Dublin in such great haste, owing to the result of the battle. I felt sure our troops would have gained the victory, and had arrangements made for giving a banquet to celebrate their success, at which it was my intention to broach your good wine and brandy; but, indeed, the times are so changed since the ruthless invasion of the Dutchmen, that I often wonder how I can laugh or be merry. On my way from Srahnagalloon, I heard news from O'Dea, which I know you will be all sorry to hear, and that is that our curious, but erudite and kind-hearted old friend, Doctor O'Fynn, died suddenly, on hearing the result of the battle of the Boyne. He feared he would have to endure, in his old age, a recurrence of those severe and unchristian persecutions which he was subjected to in his youth, and the shock was still greater as he had

M

been previously in the highest spirits. I have been told that since the King landed last March, he considered all would be well, and, to use his own words, often remarked, 'Now, I hope as the King has arrived that all will move with method.' He believed there was a bright, unclouded future in store for his unfortunate country, which he dearly loved, and that the King would triumphantly lead forth his army to victory. Indeed, while the King was in Ireland, the learned old Doctor spent most of his time in reading about the brilliant military actions of Sesostris the Great, Alexander the Great, and other able and famous generals of past ages, whom he felt quite sure the King would rival by his warlike actions."

"I can assure you, Sir Toby," said the Chief of Clooneene, "I am extremely sorry to hear of his untimely end; but, perhaps, it is as well for him that his chequered career has closed."

"I also regret to hear of his death," said De Tourville; "and, as regards the opinion he entertained of the King, I, for one, must say that he was justified. I am a sailor; King James was another; and if his Majesty failed as a general, he did not as an admiral, and those who remember the great, the brilliant victories which he gained, and the courage which he invariably displayed, when Duke of York, will endeavour to forget the battle of the Boyne, and that he took part in it."

"De Tourville," rejoined Sir Toby, "I admire your laudable conduct in praising the sailor-King. But, to return to what I was saying. I beg leave to observe the times are so very disturbed that I did not expect to see you at Clooneene, and I therefore find greater pleasure in your society. It is not at all safe or judicious to be cruising about at present, particularly while sailing under the flag of France or Ireland. I know you are a brave fellow, and a stranger to fear; but that is the very reason you would not relish being confined in a Dutch prison. Why, your proud spirit would never endure it. I was once in Holland, the land of dykes, swamps, and lazy, purse-proud burgomasters, and a more dismal, dreary country, I never travelled through. In fact, everything there looks frightfully wretched, except the rats, which were in excellent condition; and I must candidly confess I could never have kept up my spirits, were it not that there was no lack of Hollands and tobacco. Evidently, there must be some attraction in this country for you, which makes you regardless of all danger. If I don't mistake, old fellow, you usually cast anchor at Duras ?"

"Yes," replied the Chevalier, "colouring slightly."

"Then," said Sir Toby, with a knowing wink at the Chieftain,

I have solved the problem, as a mathematician would say; for I am sure De Tourville did not leave Duras without having seen the beautiful Fanny Ffrench (85), who is one of the most accomplished young ladies in this county, as his countrymen are always much attached to the fair sex. She was the belle of the Court while the King was in Dublin, and was much admired by the young Duke of Berwick, who is a dashing officer, and a great favourite in the army."

"Sir Theobald, who is always very amusing, is inclined to be merry at my expense," responded De Tourville.

'Indeed," said Lieutenant de Latour, "during our voyage from France, the Chevalier was very much confined to his cabin, which is an unusual circumstance with him, as he always likes to breathe the refreshing sea breeze, while pacing the polished deck of his own good ship; but, if I do not mistake, he passed most of his time composing poetry in praise of some fair one, and I believe it is an ancient custom in all countries that when a man pays his addresses to a lady, he generally invokes the muses."

"I agree with you," said De Merville; "and as De Tourville has composed a song, which he showed me, about a lady whom he greatly admires, I propose that he sings it for us."

"My friends," said De Tourville, "Sir Toby has been pleased to quiz me a good deal to-night, and as the young lady to whom he alludes is, indeed, very beautiful, I have endeavoured to scribble a few lines in praise of her charms, which I will willingly sing, if it affords you pleasure. I have no hesitation in doing so as she is well known to you all, and it will help Pour passer le temps." Being called on by the company, the Chevalier de Tourville then sung, in a manly voice :

FANNY OF KINVARA.

FAR to the west, where waves expand,

And mermaids sport through fertile islands,

Where zephyrs fan the pebbly strand

That girds the distant wood-crown'd highlands,

There dwells amidst this sweet retreat

A maid whose bright eyes shoot like an arrow:

With sylph-like form and fairy feet,

She is lovely Fanny of Kinvara.

While cleaving through the surging foam,

My good barque's swift course still wafts me nearer

To the wild, sequestered home

Of her who is hourly growing dearer

To me, her more than willing slave,

Who would gladly hail the joyful morrow
That bore me o'er the sparkling wave
With my darling Fanny of Kinvara.

From bleak Malbay's dark, shelving peak,
There dwells not a more loving creature-
All round the coast, to Patrick's Reek,
Nor one who boasts a kinder nature.
Her smiles are brighter than the sun;-
Ah, me! they do my bosom harrow.

I fear my heart will be undone

By charming Fanny of Kinvara.

My nights are passed in dreamy sleep;

Even when tempests gather o'er me,

Her gentle spirit haunts the deep,

And smoothes the stormy way before me.

Her voice is ever in mine ear,

But absence smarts me to the marrow :

No bliss I know till I am near

The beauteous Queen of old Kinvara.

When the Chevalier concluded, he was loudly applauded by all present; and Shane O'Halloran having filled Sir Toby's goblet, he arose and said

"I am delighted at De Tourville's good humour, and it is evident by your applause that you all are so. He is a right good fellow, and shows how well he can take a joke by singing a song which himself had composed about a fascinating young lady with whom we are all acquainted. The sentiments he expressed in that song which he has sung at our request justly entitle him to our esteem, and are another proof of his affection for this, the land of his maternal ancestors. It is evident, gentlemen-I was going to say of the grand jury, but I will say of the grand national alliance, for we all profess the same political creed, which is to forward the interests of our Fatherland-that he was taught by his much-respected mother to regard Ireland as his country, and to take an interest in its social and political welfare. He was born in France, and perhaps naturally considers himself a Frenchman from being educated in the customs of that country, between which and Ireland the most friendly relations always existed, at least since the reign of the illustrious Charlemagne, who patronized her scholars, and at whose Court the learned Irishman was always received with cordiality, and where his presence was courted and his merits justly rewarded. Still, though he is a Frenchman, descended from a long line of distin