ould be made at Dublin this winter; but the general
says that it has been decided to fight one more campaign on the
defensive, and that in the autumn, when the French arrive, there will be
a general advance. Now, I am ready to answer any question you are
instructed to ask."

"In the first place, sir, how many men do you think would be ready to
join in any rising in Dublin?"

"It would all depend upon whether an Irish army was advancing in this
direction. In that case, some seven or eight thousand men would rise. But
unless, there were a hope of early assistance, I do not think that above
a thousand could be relied on. I have about that number on my list. They,
as you see, could do nothing unassisted. There are three or four thousand
troops here, and the Protestant mob who would join them would number
seven or eight thousand, at the very least. Therefore, any attempt to
rise in the face of such odds, unless after a crushing defeat of
William's troops, would be out of the question. But, as I said, if an
army were marching on Dublin, the Protestants would be thinking more of
taking to their ships than fighting, and all the Catholics in the city
would then join the movement."

"I think the general hoped that you could have mustered a stronger force,
sir."

"So I could, a year ago," Mr. O'Brian said; "but the constant persecution
and ill treatment of the Catholics have caused large numbers of them to
leave the town. Many of the younger and more determined men have made
their way west and joined the army. I fear that the numbers I have given
are quite as many as can be relied upon."

"The general was in hopes," Walter said, "that a diversion might have
been caused in the spring, by a rising in Dublin, which would, even if
unsuccessful, compel the Dutch general to keep a large force here."

"It might have been done, six or eight months ago," Mr. O'Brian said;
"but the spirit of the people here has been very much broken, as well as
their numbers diminished. But you can rely upon it, that if anything like
a general rising can be got up, we will do our share here. With but a
thousand men I can rely on, I feel that any open insurrection would be
hopeless; but we could fire the city at a score of points, night after
night, and so alarm the citizens that they would insist on a considerable
force being kept here for their protection, and this would aid our
friends outside. I know nothing as to what is being done there, I have