ll. There were twenty six Protestants in
coloured cloaths, and about twenty Soldiers killed, some of the former
were butchered in cold blood, in a manner too dreadful to relate.

For the safety of Kilkenny, the Troops were obliged to return there
that night; the Loyalists who fled with them I think could not be
less than 600; they left the most of their property behind them,
which a party of the Rebels who returned carried off.

The hand of God was visible in our deliverance that day; but
remarkably so in three instances which I shall mention.--First, from
midnight till five o'Clock, we had the greatest Fog I remember to
have seen; had it not been for this, in all probability the Rebels
would have divided themselves into different parties, and surrounded
the Town: but being strangers in the Country, and not knowing where
they might meet the Army, they kept in a body on the main road, and
attacked us but in one place. Secondly, the burning of the Town; for
the day being remarkably calm, the smoak lay on the street, which
prevented them from seeing our Force; for had they known that the
Army fled, 'tis more than probable they would have entered, as
there were many Entrances unguarded.

Thirdly, the Waterford Militia's disobedience of Orders,--had they
retreated without a very extraordinary miracle the Loyalists would
have fallen a prey to their unmerciful yet unprovoked Enemies.

Yours &c. F. R.

LETTER IV.

KILKENNY, AUGUST 30th, 1798.

_My Dr. Friend_,

In a former letter you have an account of the fate of Castle-Comber,
&c.--I have only to notice in this, that some Gentlemen who fell into
the hands of the Rebels while in possession of that town were brought
into the presence of the Rebel general Murphy, who is said to have
been a Priest in the Co. Wexford, and was excommunicated for his bad
conduct many years ago.--He was dressed in black, affected the
appearance of a stupid enthusiast, and shewed some bullets which he
said had been fired at him, but had rebounded from his invulnerable
body--incredible as it may seem, this wretched invention was
generally believed by the more wretched dupes under his command--You
have here a real statement of the facts, of which I know you have
sufficient curiosity to desire to be informed.

On Monday morning[A] our reconnoitring parties observed the Rebel
Army posted on the bog, between John's-well mountains and the Ridge,
about eight miles distant from this City--