The Irish standard., 1895-03-09

native Of aRell or Connaught," but he
had influential friends who petitioned
Cromwell, and 90 influenced him to let
him Of, but as the Rev. Mr. Gibson very
succinctly observes in his History OF
Cork: "There may have bean another
reason, his property was very small" In
1870, the present royal forti6eation OF
Charles Fort was built by the Earl Of
Orrery, there being at the time an alarm
Of q French invasion, and representations
being made to the then king that Kinsale
was q most excellent harbor and the
most convenient for ships to resort.
On Wednesday, March u, 1859, James
IL. landed at Kinsale, whence, after q
short stay, he proceeded northwards with
his Irish and French allies. Then follow
ed the struggle between himself and
William, q series Of defeats from the
battle Of the Boyne to the second battle
Of Kinsale, which latter was gained by
Marlborough, after most desperate
resistance This battle was mainly
fought at the old fort The English first
took the fort by storm, but the Irish
garrison, still undismayed, retired with
their governor, Col. o. O'Driscoll, into Ring
roam Castle and there held out valiantly
until Col O'Drisco]l and 200 Of their
carriaon had been slain.
The other historical allusion. IL the
year 1891 occurred as the old records
term it-"one of the most glorious sights
that ever appeared on the coast OF Ire
land, for at the same time were seen the
English and D Datch fleets in the port of
Kineale, and the grand fleets of both
nations at the mouth of the harbor, ex-
tending from the Old Head to Youghal.
.'Thus," say the historians, "the i'm
portance of Kinsale was again known to
England, when upon false alarm that
the French feet was approaching, the
men Of war could draw into line Of
battle without any trouble or concern
for the merchant ships which we're Sc
curedin the harbor. Nor was this the
only benefit England received from Kin
sale that summer, for the Virginia and
Barbadoes fleets likewise took sanctuary
there until an pportunity. presented to
convey them safely to their respective
ports.
ALI this strange eventful history the
town of Kinsale has witnessed. The
walls which, ages ago, echoed the SON.
orous tones of the Spanish Dons, today
resound with the joyous laughter of
merry Irish children. The massive walls
of the forts, from which peered grjmly
death -belching cannon, now cast peace
full shadow DER the bright waters of the
harbor, DER which glide gracefully the
simple craft of the fisher folk. The zone
of encircling bills, which echoed and re-
echoed the roar of cannon, the rattle OF
musketry, and the fierce shouts of COM
batants, now echo only the sweet and
peaceful sounds of the church-b bell in
their call to evening prayer. The streets
such as they were then, are unchanged
now in size and formation, An air OF
grim mediaevalism hovers round the
place. The mind calls up instinctively
quaint pictures of the hardy rovers OF the
Spanish Main; the naughty Spanish
soldiers chafng at the restraint
of prolonged siege; and their
strange leader, proud, naughty, restless
and impatient t-most unfit allies these
for race equally imper1ous. It imbued
with the power of speech, what strange
tales those old walls could tell-what
curious assemblages they must have wit
nessed-what desperate deeds-what
grim tragedies. What field for the
novelist! Here be materials for tragic
novel, with no great call upon the writer's
imagination. Oh! for an Irish Dumas or
Victor Hugo to clothe these airy fabrics
with the vivifying influence Of chiyalrous
personalities. So much, then, Tor the
Kinsale Of the past.
Kinsale Of the present day is town OF
some LOCO inhabitants, with streets and
houses Of extraordinary antiquity, and,
as I have observed, with the places Of
historical interest we'll preserved. 1t is
study in brick and mortar for the an
tiquarian. II is most delightfully."- sit
uatsd, overlooking its charming, we'll
sheltered harbor, truly, q a1Statio bene
fida carinis?'' Viewed from the water,
the town rises in rather an abrupt slope,
and seems composed Of series Of tor
races, eliminating in the Convent Of
Mercy, which towers aloft, stately ed
ifice, gazing, as it were, benignly down
upon the town beneath, the whole crown
| ed with garland Of waving trees, which
soften and mellow the perspective. The
town is essentially maritime one. The
salt water seems 70 permeate every thing.
An atmosphere Of maritime life in all its
stages prevails. Walking on the pier or
quays, maritime phrases strike the ear.
There are some particular little nooksL
where old salts most do congreRate to
spin their yarns, which You can never
pass without catching some Of the curinus
words which form the staple Of the sea-
men's vocabulary. Profound sea lawyers
Of the jack Bunsby claas, some Of them
are, rho speak oracularly with . world