ON September the 20th, our INNISKELLEN Garison at SLIGO, having an Account that the Connaught Forces, consisting of about 5000 Horse and Foot, commanded by Colonel Kelley, Colonel Farrel, and Colo­nel Dillan, who came, in Revenge, to Attack the Garison, and to Regain their former Loss, by suppressing and cutting off the said Garison. To this they were animated and encouraged by one French an Inhabitant of Sligo, and a Man of great Interest in that County. And, to this End, the Irish forthwith marched towards the Curlue, a considerable Post between Coylough, and the Plains of Roscomon; whence Fi­ring at a great distance, making several Vollies, approached nearer and nearer, did no Execution: Our Men, not consisting of above 500 Horse and Foot, never moving nor firing till they came within Pistol-shot, did, on a sudden, pour in their Small-shot so thick upon them, that they immediately broke their whole Force, and forced them to retreat in the greatest Disorder and Confusion imaginable, flying towards the Boyle, were warmly pursued by our Foot; our Horse wheeling about, got into one End of the Town, whil'st the Enemy was entering in at the other, where in the Church-yard, between both Parties of our Foot and Horse, above 300 of the Enemy were killed, and a great Number wounded; of our Men in all but Six killed, and Seven or Eight wounded. There were killed of the Enemy in this Action in all above 500 Men, be­sides a great many wounded. The three Irish Colonels that commanded them, and 150 more, Officers and Soldiers, were taken Prisoners, besides a Booty of about 10000 [Page 2]Head of Black Cattel, belonging to the Creaughs of Roscomon, were taken by our victo­rious Men, and driven unto Sligo. God be praised for this Signal Victory.

Last Night, for this Victory, our Army gave Three Vollies from our Batteries and Musquets.

I Suppose, before this come to your hands, you will hear an Account from Colonel Stewart, Son to the Lord Mountjoy, (who left the Camp at Dundalk on Saturday last) of the great Defeat given by 500 of the Inniskillen, to 5000 of the Irish, killing 800 of them, and taking 300 Prisoners, Colonel Dillon, Colonel O Farrel, Colonel Bourk, and Colonel Buttler, with several other Officers being Prisoners, and taking 10000 Head of Black Cattel.

This Morning I discoursed one Peter Ward, who lately came from Dublin, and made marrow Observations, whil'st there, of the Condition of the Irish. He had an Intima­cy with one of the Commissaries of the Stores, who has a very great Kindness for the Protestants. He assured him they were in very great want of Powder; that they sent 45 Barrels to Carrickfergus, 15 of which the French Men of War kept for their use, the Remainder was sent into the Town, when surrendered there was but little left; That they had but 230 Barrels in their Stores, and but 4 Shots a Man in their Camp; That they wanted Fire-Arms, having lost most of them at Derry and Inniskellen, which was the Reason for the Arming most of their Men with Scythes, Half-Pikes, and Skeins; That their Horse consisted of 7 Regiments, and 17 of Dragoons. Their best Horses were most of them spoiled, and those that remained, were ill for Service. They have 56 Regiments of Foot, many of them without Shoes and Stockings. They are much disheartned, and could not be induced to appear at the Camp, but for the Curse of the Clergy, if they refused. He told me that one Captain Legallin was shot at the Camp at Drumconnough, for Running a way, or giving a False Word of Command, in Enga­ging the Inniskellen Men. At the time of his being shot, he desired all his Friends pre­sent to come up to him, and advised them that were in Arms to return, and not to en­gage longer, for that the Curse of God would blast all their Undertakings, and that it was in vain to fight against the English; That they should save themselves, by timely making Conditions, otherwise they and their Posterity would be ruined, and then was shot to Death. He denied the Fact laid to his Charge, but said he died to take off the Odium from Hamilton.

He tells me the Papists in Dublin shew much kindness to the Prote­stants, and that several of them spoke to him to befriend them if it lay in his Power, they gave themselves for a lost People, not having Aid sent from France. Tryconnel is very much against the Burning of Dublin, telling them it will but Exasperate the English, all the Papists in Dublin are of the same opinion. The French say the Late K. J. minds nothing but Shooting at Flies and Sparrows, and that he brought them to that Kingdom to be Murthered by the Irish, and they are in a deadly Feud.

Postscript. Since my writing the Above Letter, we have an Account from a Vessel come in hither, that the Horse from Scotland Landed on Sunday at Carrickfergus, and that the Late King James is Decamped.