my conductor stopped, and tapping gently at it, it was
opened by a stout fellow, with buff-coat and jack-boots, and pistols
stuck in his belt, as also a long cavalry sword by his side.

He spoke with my guide, and to my no small satisfaction, in French,
which convinced me that he was one of the soldiers whom Louis had sent
to support our king, and who were said to have arrived in Limerick,
though, as I observed above, not with truth.

I was much assured by this circumstance, and made no doubt but that I
had fallen in with one of those marauding parties of native Irish, who,
placing themselves under the guidance of men of courage and experience,
had done much brave and essential service to the cause of the king.

The soldier entered an inner door in the apartment, which opening
disclosed a rude, dreary, and dilapidated room, with a low plank
ceiling, much discoloured by the smoke which hung suspended in heavy
masses, descending within a few feet of the ground, and completely
obscuring the upper regions of the chamber.

A large fire of turf and heath was burning under a kind of rude chimney,
shaped like a large funnel, but by no means discharging the functions
for which it was intended. Into this inauspicious apartment was I
conducted by my strange companions. In the next room I heard voices
employed, as it seemed, in brief questioning and answer; and in a minute
the soldier reentered the room, and having said, 'Votre prisonnier--le
general veut le voir,' he led the way into the inner room, which in
point of comfort and cleanliness was not a whit better than the first.

Seated at a clumsy plank table, placed about the middle of the floor,
was a powerfully built man, of almost colossal stature--his military
accoutrements, cuirass and rich regimental clothes, soiled, deranged,
and spattered with recent hard travel; the flowing wig, surmounted by
the cocked hat and plume, still rested upon his head. On the table lay
his sword-belt with its appendage, and a pair of long holster pistols,
some papers, and pen and ink; also a stone jug, and the fragments of a
hasty meal. His attitude betokened the languor of fatigue. His left hand
was buried beyond the lace ruffle in the breast of his cassock, and the
elbow of his right rested upon the table, so as to support his head.
From his mouth protruded a tobacco-pipe, which as I entered he slowly
withdrew.

A single glance at the honest, good-humoured, comely face of the soldier
s