Camp at ATHLONE, 25th. paſt, (Two in the Afternoon.)

SINCE my laſt, it's ſaid, The Drum that came to the General, was an Anſwer to a Meſſage, ſent by the General, about Exchange of Priſoners on the 24th. This Morning about the Hour of Six, the Drum returned from the Enemies Quarters; all our Hands (that can any ways poſſibly be ſpared from other Duty,) are mending the Tin Boats; and our Men are working, with all diligence, in raiſing of three New Batteries, one below the Bridge, another above it; and the third without the Town-Wall, by the River-ſide, oppoſite to a large Baſtion, the Enemy have erected, on the other ſide the River Shannon, which is there not ſo broad as the River of Thames, between Weſtminſter Horſe Ferry, and Lambeth at Low-Water.

About Seaven of the Clock this Evening, one of the Granadeers belonging to the Lord Lisburn's Regiment going under ſome Arches of the Bridge of Athlone, to look for Plunder amongſt the Enemies Dead, found a pair of Colours, belonging to a Company of the Earl of Clanrickard's Regiment; which were on the Breach when we Stormed the Town, and brought them off flying to the General; and though, I believe, 100 Shot were made at him, yet none hurt him: The Lord Baron Ginkle, our General, very generouſly Rewarded him with Five Guineas. The 25th. yeſterday the Enemy were very hard at work, in raiſing two new Batteries above the Caſtle; the one cloſe by the River ſide, the other on a riſing ground, a diſtance from it; and about Eight of the Clock laſt Night they were finiſhed, one of them are of four, the other of three, ſix Pounders, with the latter of which, they have played briskly on the old Walls of the Town, where our Men are, (but without killing, or wounding any;) with the other, they ſhot into ſome of our Regiments, who lay Encamp'd on the Bank of the River, which obliged our Men to Decamp, and remove farther off.

About this Morning, our Battery (below the Bridge) was finiſhed, and 26 four Pounders planted thereon, which has ever ſince Six this Morning, played inceſſantly on the Enemies Breaſt-work, on the other ſide, by which, moſt of the ſaid Breaſt-work is beat down and levelled with the ground; as alſo, moſt of the Houſes that ſtood on the other ſide the Town; by which means, the Enemies Works are ſo much expoſed to our view, that they are forced to quit the Town, a great part or them retiring to S … 's Camp, others retiring behind the Caſtle, and in the Work over the Bridge, which in a few hours, from our upper Battery, will be ſoon likewiſe ruined, and it's not doubted, but that very ſoon we may acquaint you, that we are Maſters of the River, and Ruined Town of Athlone: Our Guns are now firing very furiouſly from all our Batteries, with very good ſucceſs.

26th. At Noon. Sir,

Yeſterday our Guns and Mortars played inceſſantly againſt the Enemies Works, &c. The Tin-Boats are all mended, and all things in a readineſs to attempt our Paſſage over the River Shannon, &c. which will be at three ſeveral places, both above, and below the Bridge of Athlone; and I am certainly informed, that to Morrow will be the Day. A Deſerter that came into our Camp this Morning, ſays The Enemies Army hourly expects our going over the Shannon.

27th. At Seven of the Clock in the Evening.

Juſt now we have poſſeſſed our ſelves of the whole Bridge of Athlone, to the very Works of the Iriſſi Town; two Arches of the Bridge were broke down by the Enemies Troops, one of which we have mended, and the other is to be mended this Night; and to morrow Morning, by Break of Day, there is Eight freſh Regiments appointed to Storm the Town.

Kinſaile the 26th.

This Day is ſeen off of our Hills, a great Fleet, conſiſting, as near as we can tell them, of between Sixty and Seventy Sail, which we are aſſured, is the Smirna, and Turkey Fleet.