probable route the enemy would take. The Colonel had merely time to take possession of the place, when it became necessary for him to act against the foe. He had occupied with the greater part of the corps the houses commanding the principal street, and was returning from posting his piquets, when a party of British dragoons, who had been advanced in front of the town, came back in full speed, pursued by the enemy's hussars, many of whom were mixed with them. The Colonel was at this time on horseback in the street, attended only by two orderly dragoons (one of whom was killed): he had barely time to caution his men against firing, lest they should destroy the British cavalry as well as the enemy, when he was attacked by two hussars, one of whom gave him a severe wound on the head, and on his facing him to return the blow, he received a second wound on the arm from the other assailant. At this critical juncture the grenadiers of the Colonel's regiment, who were posted on one of the flanks, seeing a good opportunity, fired upon a party of the hussars, which made the whole give way, leaving a number of killed and wounded. A singular instance of that presence of mind so necessary to a partisan, occurred here, by which the Colonel got out of the embarrassment and dangers that surrounded him. While he was engaged in the manner above described, a part of the enemy had pushed past, and occupied the narrow passage by which alone he could join his corps. He took the sudden resolution of going off in the same direction with the flying enemy, trusting to a

more

more favourable opportunity of extricating himself. His being wounded appears to have given them the idea of his being a prisoner, and accordingly he was unmolested, and ultimately passed by each of them; when, taking the advantage of a cross-road, he got back and rejoined his regiment.

He was again honourably noticed in His Royal Highness's official report of this affair. The Colonel was removed from hence to Antwerp, and ultimately to England, for the recovery of his wounds: at which time he received from his immediate commander, the following creditable testimonial of his conduct, not only in this affair, but. during the whole period that he had served this distinguished officer.

"Colonel John Doyle having applied to me for a testimonial relative to such parts of his service as I have had occasion to witness, I most cheerfully comply with his request. He was under my immediate command in America for part of the year 1779, and for the whole of 1780 and 1781. In every instance of the hard and trying business of those campaigns, he maintained the high character he had before acquired for courage and zealous activity. It was my lot to see him in circumstances of peculiar difficulty, and I never observed more firm◄ ness, judgment, or ready resource in any man. Subsequent to my quitting Carolina, he had the opportunity of distinguishing himself much at the head of detachments. Latterly he was again under my eye, during the short time which I passed on the Continent. At the attack which the French made on Alost, I had particular reason to applaud the cool intrepidity with which he repulsed them at one of the bridges: though he there received two wounds, he did not quit his regiment until the enemy had given up the attempt.

"I consider him as a most valuable officer, full of active resource, and it to be confidentially relied upon in any situation of danger.

MOIRA, Lieutenant General."

Upon the army's falling back upon Holland, the Colonel's regiment was thrown into Bergen-op-zoom, the garrison of which had basely sold the place to the enemy, and, contrary to a solemn promise, gave up the British regiment as prisoners of war.

On Colonel Doyle's return to his native country, he found a material change in the political system of Ireland. Earl Fitzwilliam had been appointed Lord Lieutenant for the purpose of conciliating that country; and amongst other popular characters brought forward by that amiable nobleman for this laudable purpose, we find Colonel Doyle placed at the head of the war department.

Enjoying the confidence and support of this nobleman, the Colonel was enabled to introduce many useful regulations into this department. Politics were excluded from the war-office, and the only claims admitted there were military merit and faithful services. While he held this public situation, the catholic claims were again agitated. It is well known that the melioration of this body was a leading feature in his Lordship's administration, in which he found an able assistant in his secretary at war. Lord Fitzwilliam's recall, in consequence of differing in opinion from the Minister upon this subject, is well known, on which occasion all the members of the

Irish administration were removed, excepting the War Secretary. This gentleman requested his Lordship's permission to resign, which he would by no means permit: indeed the Colonel's conduct was so conciliating to all parties, that he was continued in his office under Lord Camden, who succeeded Lord Fitzwilliam in the government of Ireland. In the subsequent discussions upon the Catholic question, this gentleman's consistency continued unshaken, and though he of course must have foreseen that differing from his colleagues on so important a question must have entailed the loss of his situation, yet he nobly preferred the faithful discharge of his duty to the emoluments of office. But we do not find him, as too frequently happens, commencing a rancorous opposition, but preserving the same cheerful urbanity of temper that had gained him so many friends.

He at the same time, by the reduction of the prince's household, lost the appointment of his Royal Highness's secretary; but notwithstanding this decrease of income, he closed his political career by a mark of generosity that well deserves to be recorded. His regiment being still prisoners in France, he collected their wives and families, and distributed amongst them 500l.

Upon the return of the regiment to Chatham, the Colonel joined them there early in 1796. At this time an expedition was formed against the Texel, with the hopes of surprising the Helder, and destroying the Dutch fleet. The naval part was committed to that gallant veteran the late Lord Duncan, and

the

the military force was entrusted to Colonel Doyle, with the rank of brigadier-general. He accordingly sailed for the coast of Holland in the month of Oc tober, 1796, with the tenth and eighty-feventh regiments, which were to have been joined by the marines of the admiral's fleet. This expedition was prevented from joining the Texel fleet by contrary winds and unavoidable delays till the 27th of October, when having held a consultation with the admiral, the naval officers, and pilots, it was unanimously determined, that the boisterous weather in those seas, at this advanced season of the year, rendered combined operations in that country difficult, if not impracticable, and all idea of surprise hopeless. The next day a gale of wind dispersing the fleet and destroying several of the small craft intended for disembarking the troops, justified this opinion, and put an end to the expedition, which, however feasible at a proper season, was rendered totally impractica ble under these circumstances; otherwise there was every thing to hope from the talents of the commanders, and the perfect cordiality that subsisted be

tween them.

In 1797, the Colonel was appointed a brigadiergeneral upon the staff, and ordered to Gibraltar. On his journey to Portsmouth, a circumstance occurred that had nearly deprived his country of the services of this able officer. Travelling in a postchaise, accompanied by his nephew Brigade-Major Doyle, they were suddenly attacked by robbers near Ripley, and a desperate encounter ensued, in which 1805-1806.

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