the ford at Oldbridge, James ordered Lauzan to march in a parallel direction with Douglas and young Schomberg to Duleek.  Tyrconnel followed.  The French infantry covered the retreat in admirable order, with the Irish cavalry.  When the defile of Duleek had been passed, the royalist forces again presented a front to the enemy.  William’s horse halted.  The retreat was again resumed; and at the deep defile of Naul the last stand was made.  The shades of a summer evening closed over the belligerent camps.  The Williamites returned to Duleek; and eternal shadows clouded over the destinies of the unfortunate Stuarts—­a race admired more from sympathy with their miseries, than from admiration of their virtues.

Thus ended the famous battle of the Boyne.  England obtained thereby a new governor and a national debt; Ireland, fresh oppression, and an intensification of religious and political animosity, unparalleled in the history of nations.

James contrived to be first in the retreat which he had anticipated, and for which he had so carefully prepared.  He arrived in Dublin in the evening, and insulted Lady Tyrconnel by a rude remark about the fleetness of her husband’s countrymen in running away from the battle; to which she retorted, with equal wit and truth, that his Majesty had set them the example.  He left Dublin the next morning, having first insulted the civil and military authorities, by throwing the blame of the defeat on the brave men who had risked everything in his cause.  Having carefully provided for his own safety by leaving two troops of horse at Bray to defend the bridge, should the enemy come up, he hastened towards Duncannon, where he arrived at sunrise.  Here he embarked in a small French vessel for Kinsale, and from thence he sailed to France, and was himself the bearer of the news of his defeat.  The command in Ireland was intrusted to Tyrconnel, who gave orders that the Irish soldiery should march at once to Limerick, each under the command of his own officer.  William entered Dublin on Sunday, July 7th.  He was received with acclamations by the Protestants, who were now relieved from all fear lest the Catholics should inflict on them the sufferings they had so remorselessly inflicted on the Catholics.  Drogheda, Kilkenny, Duncannon, and Waterford, capitulated to the victorious army, the garrisons marching to Limerick, towards which place William now directed his course.  Douglas was sent to besiege Athlone; but the Governor, Colonel Grace, made such brave resistance there, he was obliged to withdraw, and join William near Limerick.

The French officers, who had long since seen the hopelessness of the conflict, determined to leave the country.  Lauzan, after having surveyed Limerick, and declared that it might be taken with “roasted apples,” ordered all the French troops to Galway, where they could await an opportunity to embark for France.  But the brave defenders of the devoted city were not deterred.  The Governor consulted with Sarsfield,