tering party, and took poft on a rifing ground, where he could plainly perceive eight boats landing armed men; and that they drew out in detachments, and took poft on the dykes, hedges, and all the rifing ground, from whence they could have the most extenfive views: upon which he gave the neceffary orders to his non-commiffion officers and men, to have a watchful eye of their approaches, and to take particular care that they did not get round them, by going at the foot of the hill undifcovered: in order to prevent which he posted them himself, and told them as foon as ever their advanced guard came within fhot, to fire upon them, and continue fo to do, until they repulfed them; or, if ne eeffary to retreat, he likewife pointed that out to them, with orders to take every opportunity or advantage of the ground, in their retreat, to retard the enemy's approach; and to be fure to keep up a communication with the town as much as poffible; and, on this he immediately went to the town and acquainted lieut-col. Jennings, where he met him with the troops on the parade, who immediately ordered detachments to be made to defend the gates of the town, and all the avenues leading thereto; foon after which the reconnoitering party retired, after having spent all their ammunition: during which time the lieut-col. and chief magiftrate of the town, fent off the fheriff and Mr. Macklewain (who is captain of the militia of the corporation) with orders to take off the French prifoners of war, and convey them with all fpeed to Belfaft, where they were to receive further orders from me. By this time the enemy were in full march for the town, which he computed to be near 1,000 men; and two or three straggling huffars, on horfes they had pick'd up after landing, attempted to enter the gates, but on the first fire, retired, but were foon fupported by parties of foot, who at tacked both the north and scotch gates; as alfo the garden walls of lord Donegal; but were-repulfed alfo, and kept back as long as the men had ammunition. On which col. JenKings ordered the whole to retire to the caftle; which he had fufficient time to do, as now the enemy was a little checked from our fire: and would have been more fo, if the men had ammunition. Before the gates of the castle were fhut, they made their appearance in the market-place; and then it was in his opinion the deftruction of the enemy would have commenced, had it not been for the still dreadful want of ammunition, not-withstanding the fupply of powder they had received a few days before by my order, from Belfast, but were in want of ball, and even time, if they had that, to make them up from which the enemy finding our fire fo cool, attacked the gates fword in hand, which from the battering of the shot on both fides, the bolts were knocked back and the gates opened, and the enemy marched in: but lieut-col. Jennings, lord Wallingford, captain Bland, lieut. Ellis, with fome gentlemen, and about 50 men, repulfed the enemy and beat them back, Here it was he faw great refolution in a few Irish boys, who defended the gate after it was opened, with their bayonets; and those from the Halfmoon, after their ammunition was gone, threw ftones and fticks. Had this attack of the enemy been fupported with any degree of courage, they muft certainly have fucceeded in it, but they retired back under cover, leaving the gates open, with our men in the front of it; which gave them a short time to confider what was the best to be done: first, to fee the men's ammunition, who if they had any, would have certainly fallied, and even without it, had not col. Jennings and all the officers thought the enterprize too hazardous.— Then they confidered if the gate could be defended breach in the caftle wall, could not; it being near 50 feet long; and having but a fhort time to deliberate, all agreed a parley should be beat, and lieut. Hall fent to know on what terms they might furrender; which was done accordingly, and on his going out, found the greatest part of the enemy under fhelter of the old walls and houses before the castle gate; and after the usual ceremony, demanded of the com mandant (the general being wounded) what terms would be 1 the given given to the troops on their furrender; and at the fame time fent the drum to call col. Jennings out of the castle, in order to treat with the French commandaut on the articles of capitulation, which he fays as well as he can remember were as follows," viz. "Col. Jennings demanded that the troops fhould march out with all the honours of war, and the officers to be on their parole in Ireland, and that an equal number of prifoners fhould be sent to France within one month, or asfoon after as ships could be got ready for that purpose. Granted. "That the castle of Carrickfergus fhould not be demolished, or any of the ftores deftroyed or taken out of it. Granted. "That the town and county of Carrickfergus fhould not be plundered or burnt, on condition the mayor and corporation furnished the French troops with neceffary provifions. Granted." This as well as he can remember, was the verbal articles agreed on, though on writing them the French commandant, after confulting his principal officers, declared he could not by any means answer to his master the French king for granting to his Britannic majefty the ftores in the castle, which he infifted upon and col. Jennings, to his great grief, had it not in his power to refufe, declaring solemnly, at the fame time with a grave countenance, that he would rather have been buried in the ruins. To which th French commandant replied that he could not infert it in de articles of capitulation, yet he would give his word of honour, and did fo, that if there was nothing of grea value in the caftle, belonging to the king, befides powder, he would not touch it: (which there really was not) but how far he will keep his promife, is not yet known. Likewife the magistrates of Carrickfergus, not furnishing the French with neceffary provifions, they plundered the town, declaring it was their own fault, as they were convinced they had it in their power to fupply them, as they had found enough in the town afterwards." "Mr. Hall further informs me that he has difcovered by fome of the French, that there was a difagreement betwixt their general and capt. Thurot, the general being for the attack of Carrick, and Thurot for landing at the Whitehouse and attacking Belfaft. He likewife judges the frigates to be one of 40 guns, the other two about 20 each. Lieut. Hall begs leave to prefent his duty to your grace, and hopes your grace will excufe any inaccuracy, that may be in his defcription, as he was no way provided with any papers, and states but from his memory, having been often interrupted by numbers of gentlemen of the militia, who were crowding perpetually into the room to receive orders." I beg leave to fubfcribe myself, my lord &c. Belfaft 23 Feb. 1760. Wm. STRODE." In about two days after thefe difpatches were received, M. Thurot thought proper to draw off his troops; he left the kingdom, but being purfued and overtaken by fome English veffels, an engagement took place in which the unfortunate Thurot loft his life. Capt. Elliot of the Eolus, in a letter to the admiralty, ftated this circumftance as follows: "On te 24th ift. I received information at Kinfale, from his grace thelord lieut. of Ireland, that there were three ships of the enemy's at Carrickfergus; the fame evening I failed with his majesty's ship under my command, together with the Pallas and Brillian, in queft of them. I made the entrance of Carrickfergus, on the evening of the 26th, but could not get get in, the wind being contrary and very bad weather; on the 28th, at four in the morning, we got fight of them, and gave chace; about nine I got up along-fide of their commodore (off the isle of Man) and in a few minutes after, the action became general, and lafted about an hour and an half, when they all three ftruck their colours. They are the Marshal Bellifle of 44 guns 545 men, including troops, M. Thurot commander, who is kill'd; the la Bland of 32 guns and 400 men, commanded by capt. La Kayce; and the Terpsichore 26 guns and 300 men, commanded by cap. Def raudais. I put into this road to repair the hips, who are all much disabled in their mafts and rigging: the marshal Bellifle in particular, who loft her bolt-fprit, mizen-maft, and main-yard, in the action; and it was with great difficulty we prevented her finking, &c. Inclofed is an account, of the killed and wounded on board his majefty's fhips, viz. Æolus, 4 killed, 15 wounded: Pallas, 1 killed 5 wounded: Brilliant, I wounded. N. B. I find it impoffible to afcertain the number of the enemy killed and wounded, but by the best accounts I can get, they amount to about 300." Dated 29 Feb. 1760. I JOHN ELLIOT. In confequence of these events, it was refolved by the houfe of commons," that the thanks of that house should be given to lieut-col. Jennings, for his prudent and refolute conduct at Carrickfergus ; and for the gallant ftand he made there against a much fuperior force, by which he gained time for the militia to affemble, and preserved Belfast from being plundered." It was alfo refolved 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 |