Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-03-29
From Moeauley's History of Englrnd.l
THE SIEGE OF LONDONDERRY.
M lesa.


more ftightful. The number Of the iuhabi-
tanis had been ihinned more by famine and dis
ease Than by the Gre Of the enemy. Yet that
FIRE was sharper and more constant than ever.
Ono Of the gates was beaten in; one Of The bas-
tions was laid in ruins but the breaches made
by day were repaired by night with indefaiiga-
bio activity. Every attack was still repelled.
But the Fighting men Of the garrison were so
much exhausted that they could scarcely keep
their legs. Several Of them, in the act Of
striking at the enemy, fell down from mere
weakness. A small quantity Of grain re-
NAMED, and was doled out By moulhfuls. The
stock Of sailed hides was considerable, and by
gnawing them the garrison appeased the rage
Of hrnger. Dogs, faiiened on the blood Of the
slain who lay unburied round the town, we're
Injuries which few could afford to purchase.
The price Of a whelp's paw was five shillngs
and sixpence. Nine horses were still alive,
and but barely alive. They were SO lean that
little meat was likely to be found upon them.
Ii was, however determined 10 slaughter them
for food. The people perished SO fast that it
was impossible for the survivors to perform the
right Of sepuliure. There was scarcely eel
lar in which some corpse was not decaying.
Such was the extremity Of distress, that the
rats who came 10 feast in those hideous dens
were eagerly hunted and greedily devoured. -
A small fish, eaugh, in the river, was not 10
be purchased with money. The only price for
which such treasure could be obtained was
some handfulls Of oatmeal. Leprosies, such
as strange and unwholesome diet engenders,
made existence a constant torment. The whole
city was poisoned by the stencil exhaled from
the bodies OF the dead and Of the half dead.
That there should be fits Of discomfort and in
subordinaiion among the men enduring such
misery was inevitable. At one moment il was
suspected iha, Walker had laid up somewhere
a secret Store OF food, and was revellng in pri-
va,e, while he extoried others to suffer resolute-
ly for the good cause. His house was strictly
examined his innocence was fully proved he
regained his popularity and the garrison with
death in near prospect, ibronged'to The caihe-
dral TO hear him preach, drank in his earnest
eloquence with delight, apd went forth with
haggard faces and ioiierng steps, but with spic-
ii.siill unsubdned. There were indeed some
secret plottings A very few obscure traitors
it was necessary that all such dealings should
be carefully concealed None dared to ute.
publicly any words save words Of defiance and
stubborn resolution. Even in that extremity
the general cry was "No Surrender" And
there was not wanting voiees which in low
tones, added, "Firsl The horses and hides; and
then the prisoners /; and then each other" Il
was afterwards related, half in jest, yet not
without horrible mixture Of earnest, that a
corpulent citizen, whose bulk presented a
strange coniras, 10 the skeltons which surround
ed him, thought ii expedient to conceal himself
from the numerous eyes which followed him
with cannibal looks whenever he appeared in
The streets.
Ii was no slight aggravaiion Of the softer
ings Of the garrison that all the time The Eng
lish ships were seen far of 10 Lough Foyle.-
Communication between the fleet and the city
was almost impossible. One diver who had at
tempted 10 pass the boom was drowned An
other was hanged. The language Of tue sig
malls was hardly ineligible. oa the thirteenth
Of July, however, piece of paper sewed up
in cloth button came to Walkers hands. II
was letter from Kirke, and contained assur-
ances Of speedy relief. But more than fort
nigh, Of intense misery had since elapsed, and
the hearts Of the most sangnine were sick with
deferred hope. BY no art could the provisions
which were left be made TO hold out Two days
more.
Just al this time Kirke received dispatch
from England, which contained positive orders
that Londonderry should be relieved. He ac-
cordingly determined TO make an attempt which,
as appears, he might have MADE, with at least
an equally fair prospect Of success six weeks
darlieT. .l u........ ..h
Among the merchant ships which had come
TO Tough Foyle under his convoy was one
called the Mountjoy. The master, Micaiah
Browning Native Of Londonderry, had brought
from England large cargo ofprovisions. He
had, it is said, repeatedly demonstrated against
the inaction of the armament. He now ca
gerly volunteered 10 take the first risk Of sue
coring his fellow citizens and his offer was
accepted. Andrew Douglas, master Of the
Phpuix, who had on board great quantity ol
meal from Scotland, was willing to share the
danger and the honor. The two merchantmen
were 10 be escorted by the Dartmouth fIigate
Of lhirty-six guns. commanded BY Captain John
I.eake, after an admiral Of grea. fame.
| Il was the ihirlieth Of July. The sun had
Just sci the evening sermon in the cathedral
was over and the heart broken congregation
had separated, when the sentinels on the tower
saw the sails of three vessels coming up the
Foyle. Soon there was stir in the Irish
camp. The bssiegers were on the alert for
miles along both shores. The ships were il
extreme peril for The river was lowi and the
only nasigable channel ran very near the lef
bank, where the head quarters Of The enemy
had been fixed, and where the batteries were
most numerous. Leake performed his duiy
with skill and spirit worthy Of his noble pro
iession, exposed bis frigate to cover the mer
chantmen. and used his guns with great effect
AT length The little squadron came to the Plae'
Of peril. Then the Mountoy rebounded an'
stuck in the mud, yell ofuiumph rose frou
the banks The Irish rushed 10 their boats, an'
were preparing to board but the Dartmouth
poured upon them well directed broadside
/ ,shich thraxv tham into dsorder Inst thel