Sinclair's, on Monday, "that a party of the Black Horse had gone over to the insurgents." Let it not be forgotten that Colonel Stapleton was an entire stranger to me, and, that he was then resident in Newtown Ards ! ! ! !

I immediately gave Captain Marshall an account as before written, of that and other reports of the day, which I had repeated there, and begged that he might communicate it to Colonel Stapleton. He said, he had much rather I would write to the Colonel. I, therefore, got pen, ink, and paper, and wrote him, that I had repeated the "rumor of the Black Horse," and several others, at Mr. Sinclair's, on Monday, as the common reports of that morning in Belfast-that, if I had been there, two days afterwards, on my return from the same place, I could, and perhaps would, have repeated many more, which were in general circulation-and that I would not have thought myself blameable in so doing: but that, if any farther inquiry was deemed necessary, "I would be found at Ballee, the two following days, and in Portaferry at night; and that, for some weeks afterwards, I twould be found at Ballynahinch, from noon on Monday, until the same hour on Saturday, and, on the intermediate time, in Portaferry, on the road between the two places." This letter I read to Captain Marshall, sealed, put into his hand,

and

and saw him deliver it to a dragoon, then mounted at the door, and waiting for his dispatches to the Colonel.

This done, I hurried off to Ballee, four miles distant, where I arrived in time to perform the service allotted me. Agreeable to what I had written to Colonel Stapleton, I went to Portaferry, in the evening. Next morning, I returned to Ballee, performed the duties of the day, and went back to Portaferry. On Monday, I attended again, at Ballee; and, after the service of the day, baptized a child for, and dined with, a Mr. John M'Neown, a very repectable farmer of that neighbourhood. After dinner, the conversation turned on " the floggings," "shavings with red-hot iron," and "half-hangings," which for some time had been practised in the country. "Very well," said one of the company, "if they do not proceed to whole-hanging." "Well, indeed;" said I," for my part, from what I am experiencing, and the manner in which I am hunted, I am sure they will hang me if they can find any plausible pretext:" or words to that effect. This circumstance, I mention, only on account of the base use that was made of it, several years afterwards, by a reverend brother, as will appear in the sequel of this Narrative. And I beg it may be remembered that this conversation took place in presence of two clergymen, a wealthy linendraper,

H

draper, and a large company of respectable country-people, with one of whom I was not personally acquainted, except the clergymen and linen-draper.

A few minutes after this conversation, the linen-draper, a Mr. James Brown, and I mounted our horses, and travelled together until within a mile of Ballynahinch. Captain Magenis, of the Castlewellan yeomanry, and another gentleman were my companions, for that mile. When we parted, I drove to the inn, where I supped alone, and slept that night. Anxious to receive benefit, as soon as possible, I rode out to the well, at seven o'Clock, next morning, and drank the water; did the same at one; and a third time, at five in the evening. On my third trip, I felt happy in meeting Edward Smith, Esq.-a man of excellent character, approved loyalty, and an officer in his Majesty's revenue, with a sister, on their way to lodgings, which they had taken, for the season. Thither I accompanied them, and spent some time with them, devising means of getting accommodation in the same house; after which I returned direct to town.

As the hour of this return was the last of my liberty, for three years, seven months, and seven days, I quit it with regret. Let me therefore pause, and request my readers to review the occurrences of the last two months, as I have

related

related them; and the relation of which, I challenge any man living to controvert. I believe, it has never been alleged that any plan of the Northern Insurrection was digested, previous to the month of March. As I was out of the kingdom, during the greater part of that and the month following, I could have no part in what was then done. Indeed, none of the informers, so far as I know, have brought any charges against me, during that period. The succeeding period, of less than six weeks, I have accounted for, almost to a day, and even that day no one of them has filled up, as might have been been supposed, from their accounts of themselves, by mentioning a single meeting with any brother General to concert a plan of operations; or with the Colonels under my command, to give them necessary instructions. Yet,

1 may have been a General, for aught that appears to the contrary; and I may not have been a General, though people said I was. But be that as it was, General, or no General, it appears from the cases of the "tobacco-box" and "Black Horse," as well as other circum. stances, that my doom was pre-determined, though, contrary to expectation, it did not prove fatal. Perhaps, however, as Mr. Pollock said afterwards "had I been left to myself two days longer, it might have been otherwise."

It was on the evening of the 5th of June, that I returned, from my interview with Mr. Smith, to Ballynahinch. I had scarcely sitten down in my room, when a servant informed me, that a gentleman, in the street, requested to speak to me. On going out, I met Captain Magenis, already mentioned, in company with a Lieutenand Lindsay, of the same corps. We walked out of town, at the request of Colonel Magenis and, after much hesitation and embarrassment, he informed me, in great agitation, that there had been a meeting of yeomanry officers, that day, in Clough; and, that he had received a letter, from Colonel Lord Annesley, ordering him to detain me, as a prisoner, till he should receive farther instructions." I begged that he would be composed, for that I was perfectly easy, as I could bid defiance to malice itself, if unsupported by villainy, in respect to every part of my conduct. On asking him for his warrant, he told me that he had only his Lordship's letter; and that, as I had a horse, I might take a ride. This I declined, and asked him and Mr. Lindsay to accompany me to my room, as I had saddle-bags and papers there, which it might be proper for them to examine. This also they positively refused to do. I then told them, that I would retire, and requested them to place sentinels on the inn, lest they should be charged with neglect of duty. This also they refused, saying, that they supposed my detention was only a whim of his Lordship,