ORIGINAL LETTERS OF KING JAMES II.

DEPOSITED IN THE MSS. CLOSET OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED, IN WHICH THE ORTHOGRAPHY IS PRESERVED.

LETTER I.

ADDREESSED, "FOR L: GEN: HAMILTON.§."

Dublin May 1: 1689:

I am sorry to find by yours of the 27: that Luisignan is so ill hurt lett him know how much I am troubled at it, and make a complyment to Pointz upon his being hurt also, you do very well to precaution yourself against sallys, from a towne where there is so many men, and pray let the Gen: officers who remaine not expose themselves to much, I have sent you a power to pardon such as will accept of it, L^d. Melfort shall give you an account of the troops I am a sending down to you, as also of what cannon and mortars are a preparing with all possible deligence, you shall have all I can send you to enable you to reduce that rebellious towne, and to make the more noyse the D: of Tyrconnel is a preparing to go downe to you, it being, as you well observe, of the last consequence to master it, I expect to have an account every moment of the arrival of the French fleett, for Besides that the wind has been so many days faire for them, letters from Kinsale say they were left but fifteen leagues from that port, you will before this getts to you have been informed of Bohan's having entirely beaten the rebels w^ch. were gott together in the County of Downe, at least five thousand in number, and killed several hundreds of them on the place, I hope the advice you had from Mrs. Lundy, will prove but a story, if what a Sergeant w^ch. came from Leverpoole but last weeke says be true, w^ch. you will know by this. §.

J. R.

I am a sending Dorrington downe to you. §.

LETTER II.

TO THE SAME.

Dublin May 10: 1689:

I am sorry for the losse of Ramsay, such accidents will happen, and one must not be discouraged, I am sensible you have a hard worke on your hands, but at last will I hope be able to overcome it, I am sending downe one great mortar and two pieces of battery by land, and the same number of both by sea, 'twas actually impossible to dispatch them sooner, ten Comp: of Eustach will be soon with you, all well armed, and clothed, and five Comp: of the same Reg: are to march downe, what other I send, shall be well armed, I send you downe with this a paper concerning Derry, you will see whether it be practicable or no, of w^ch. none can judg, but you that are on the place, I am sending downe, S^r. Ne: O Neal's Reg: of Dragoons into the Countys of Downe and Antrim w^ch. will be the more necessary since you have ordered Gen: Maj: Bohan to you, I thinke it absolutely necessary you should not lett any more men come out of Derry, but for intelligence, or some extraordinary occasion, for they may want provisions, and would be glad to rid themselves of useless mouths,§

James R.

LETTER III.

TO THE SAME.

Dublin May 20: 1689:

You will before this, have had an account from L^d. Melfort, of what men, arms, and stors, have been sent you, and are designed for you, I now send back to you this bearer L^d. Dungan to lett you know that this day I have been informed by one who came from Chester on Wednesday last, that Kirke was to sett saile with the first fair wind from thence with fower reg^s. of foott, to endeavour to relieve Derry, I have ordered a copy of the information to be sent you, I know you will do your part to hinder if you can, their getting into that towne, for should once more those English succors be obliged to return againe, that rebelious towne could not hold out long with the force I send you, but if you cannot hinder their getting into the towne you must then take care to secure your retreat as well as you can, on your side, and to take care also of the cannon, mortars and men, w^ch. are on the east side of the river of Derry, for no doubt they will presse you, when you draw off, in case you should be obliged to do it, what I propose is that you should endeavour to keep Castlefin, Cladyford bridg, and Strabane to hinder them from coming over those waters, this I thinke may be easily done considering tho' they may be strong in foott, they can have but few and bad horse, and that I designe to go about to reduce Eniskilling, in the mean tyme I am thinkind of sending some more troups towards Charlemont which will be ready to look toward you, or Carrickfergus as occasion shall offer, lett Castlederg, be well provided, I have sent some horse and dragoons to reinforce Sarsfield at Sligo, and have ordered Pursell's dragoons to Belturbet, what els I have to say, I refer to this bearer L^d. Dungan,§.

James R.

LETTER IV.

TO THE SAME.

Dublin July 8th. 1689:

I do not find by what I heare from you and others that those in Derry are so prest for want of victuals as once was believed, so that if they could be prest otherways, it would do well, I am sensible you are but ill furnished with wherewithal to carry on your trenches, and to attaque them vigorously, but however I am sure you will do what is to be done, I am afraide your French enginers tho very able men in their trade may have been so used to have all things necessary provided for them, and to want nothing, that they are not so industrious as others lesse knowing men might be, and that they do not push on their worke as they might do, having so much to say for themselves, upon the account of their being so ill provided, however methinks they might have gott Maderiers ready in all this tyme, to have lodged the miners w^ch. I have seen done to a stronger towne than Derry, and where we wanted cannon to mine their defences, I only hint this to you, not pretending at this distance to judg whether it be practicable or no, and for making of Maderiers, I am sure tis but the puling downe some house in [this word is partly erased in the original, but substituted by the following] neare Derry, or at Lifford or Strabane, where one may find beams strong enough to make them, and tho Lattin be not to be gott, new hids will do as well to preserve them from fire, this is only for yourself, you have another letter from me about what had been reported here, of some proposals made to you by those of Derry, to which I refer you:§.

J. R.

[from the mss. closet of trinity college, dublin.]

ORIGINAL LETTER OF THE DUKE OF BERWICK,

never before published,

addressed "to lieutenant-general hamilton, at the camp before derry."

Trelick the 5th July:

I received just now the honour of yours, and I will write to Carills aboute Cap^t. Manus Odonnell. There is an escorte sent to meet the amunition coming from Charlemont who is likewise guarded by a regiment of foot.

I marched yesterday morning from Newtown-Stewart, and joyning Coll. Sunderland at Omah I marched hither; my advance guard cutt off several of their sentries, and a great many of the rebells party, with such vigour, as they beat with 30 dragoons three troops of horse of theirs, which were drawn up at a distance from us. Cap Patrick Bellue and Major Magdonnel commanded the van-guard. There was eight or nine of the enemy killed but none of ours. I went with my horse and dragoons within four miles of Inniskiling and drove a great deale of cattle back to Trelick where I am now and which is nine mile from Enniskiling. I am sure no considerable party dearest stirr out from that towne for feare of my being upon their backs, so that all backwards is secure. The party of two hundred foot and fifty horse and dragoons that were left at Belturbet under the command of L. Coll. Scott, are taken prisoners officers and all. I can assure you that all the inhabitants of this countrye are universally rebells. my humble service to Mareschall Rozen and believe me, your most humble and obedient servant

Berwick.

I forgot to tell you that our vanguard pursued so close three companies of foot that they took one of their colours and two drumms within four miles of Inniskiling, before I was come upp, this has entred[22] Coll: Purcell's dragoons very well.

Fac-Simile of the Autograph and signet of King James II. Fac-Simile of the Autograph and Seal of the Duke of Berwick. T. Badge. sculpsit.

THE END.

FOOTNOTES

☛ The Book-binder will take care to place the Engraving, which presents fac-similes of the hand-writing and seals of King James II. and the Duke of Berwick, at the opposite page.