CHAPTER XIV.

DIVINE PROTECTION.

In an account of the experiences of their family in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, written by Dinah Goff, a member of the Society of Friends, she says:

It was about the middle of the Fifth Month, 1798, that the county of Wexford, in Ireland, became a scene of open rebellion, headed by B- HH, a Protestant, and two Roman Catholic priests, John Murphy and Philip Roche. The aims of the insurgents were various; some were more cruelly disposed than others; all determined to liberate themselves by force of arms from the unequal yoke, as they believed it, of the British government, and to become a free people; some to bring all Ireland to Catholicism, etc.

About ten days before the rebellion broke out, a Roman Catholic, who resided near, called on my father, and desired to speak to him in private, He then informed him that the county would, in the course of a few days, be in a state of general insurrection. My father replied that he could not credit it, for that he had frequently heard such rumors. The person assured him that he knew certainly it would be so, and that he had procured a vessel, now lying at Duncannon, to convey himself and family to Wales, and that as a friend, he gladly offered accommodation to our household. My father thanked him for this act of friendship, but said that it felt to him a matter of great importance to remove from the position allotted him by Providence, yet that he would consider of it, and consult his wife. After having endeavored to seek best wisdom, my dear parents concluded that it was right for them to remain at home, placing their dependence and confidence in Him who alone can protect, and who has promised to preserve those that put their trust in Him.

The estate and spacious mansion, called Horetown, occupied by my parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Goff, and the family, were situated about ten miles from each of the towns of Wexford

and New Ross. The rebels formed two camps, at Carrickburn and Corbett Hill, one on each side of the house, at distances of two and five miles from it. This central position caused a constant demand on us for provisions, with which the insurgents were daily supplied, and they often said that they spared the lives of the family for that purpose.

A day or two after the commencement of the rebellion, two carts were brought to our door, and the cellars emptied of all the salt provisions, beer, cider, etc., which were taken off to the camp. Fourteen beautiful horses were turned out of my father's stables, and mounted in the yard by two or more of the rebels on each. Some, which had not been trained, resisted by plunging; but their riders soon subdued them, running their pikes into them, and otherwise using great cruelty. Much of our cattle they also took off, and orders were sent each week from the camp at Carrickburn, to have a cow and some sheep killed, which were sent for at stated times.

A party, who assumed the rank of officers in the rebel army, came to our house one day, and directed to have dinner prepared immediately. On my mother's requesting the servant to lay the tables in the hall, they indignantly asked: "Is it there you are going to give us our dinner? Show us into the best parlor in the house." But on my mother assuring them that she had seen noblemen sitting in that hall, they became calm and satisfied. They then asked for spirits and wine, saying they would have some; and when my mother told them that there were none in the house, they were greatly irritated still saying they must have some. On being spoken to by my mother in the singular number, they desired her not to say thee and thou to them, as if she were speaking to a dog; and on her again saying thou to one of them, he flourished his sword over her head, and said, haughtily: "No more of your theeing and thouing to me." They ate their dinner, however, and went off peaceably.

We were now informed that orders had been given to take my dear father's life, and my mother was most particular in keeping us all close together around him, saying that if it were permitted that our lives should be taken, we might be enabled to support and encourage each other, or else all go together.

One day, about noon, a large company appeared on the lawn, carrying a black flag, which we well knew to be the signal for death. My dear father advanced to meet them as usual, with his open, benevolent countenance, and my mother, turning to me, said, with her sweet, placid smile: "Perhaps my stiff stays may prevent my dying easily." On which the Roman Catholic who had taken refuge with us, said: "Have faith in God, madam; I hope they will not hurt you." She quickly pushed forward and joined my dear father, who was surrounded by a large party. He observed to them, he feared they might injure each other, as their muskets were prepared for firing; when one of them replied: "Let those who are afraid keep out of the way." My mother distinctly heard one of them say: "Why don't you begin?" and each seemed looking to the other to commence the work of death. Some of them presently muttered: "We cannot." At this critical moment, some women came in great agitation through the crowd, clinging to their husbands, and dragging them away. Thus a higher Power evidently appeared to frustrate the intentions of the murderers, and my beloved father was again graciously delivered. One man said there was "No use in taking Mr. Goff's life," but his two sons, if there, should soon be killed, and then the estate would be theirs.

One morning a most outrageous party advanced towards the house, yelling and roaring like savages, evidently with some wicked design; but two young men who looked serious again interposed in our behalf, and would not allow them to enter. Thus were the words of David fulfilled: "The wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath thou wilt restrain."

A young man who, with his mother, kept a neighboring public-house, used at that time often to walk into our drawingroom, lay his sword on the table, and amuse me and my young cousin by giving us his finely-decorated hat to admire. One afternoon he tried to prevail on us two to go with him to the camp, saying it was an interesting sight, such as we might never have an opportunity again to see. We were then sixteen and fourteen years of age, and on my saying I did not think my mother would permit us to go, he desired us not to tell her, and promised to bring us safely back. My mother, ever

watchful, was at this moment crossing the hall, and seeing us together, she came forward and inquired what he was saying. When we told her, she asked him how he dared to request the children to go to such a place? She then reasoned with us on the impropriety of listening to such invitations, saying she should never have expected to see us again if we had once gone.

Three or four hundred English troops, accompanied by Hompesch's German hussars, at length landed at Duncannon Fort. This was announced by the firing of cannon early in the morning, On my mother's entering my room, I expressed much pleasure at the intelligence, when she replied: “My dear, we must rejoice with trembling, having much to dread from their being strangers, and we know not what may be permitted. We have only to place our trust and confidence in Him who hath hitherto preserved us!" This little army formed an encampment on my late uncle Cæsar Sutton's lawn at Longgrague, about two miles from us. The next day, whilst we were sitting at dinner, one of the servants said the rebel forces were coming from Wexford in thousands, intending to surround the English encampment. The royal troops, commanded by general Moore, having had previous information, were, however, on the alert, and met them on the road, near our house. We counted twenty-four pieces of cannon, belonging to the rebels, which passed our entrance. A dreadful scene, partly in our view, was now enacted, and lasted for three hours. The firing was awful! Having closed the doors and windows in the lower part of the house as much as possible, we all retired to an upper room, and there remained in a state of fearful suspense. It was a terrible sight, and deeply affected us, the cannon-balls falling thickly about the house. On one of my sisters raising the window to look out, a ball whizzed by her head, and this, with many others, we afterwards found. At length, seeing the poor, deluded people running in, all directions, we learned that they were routed.

Two soon came to the house to have their wounds dressed, which my sister Arabella did as well as she could; one had a ball in the cap of his knee, and both bled profusely; they expressed much thankfulness, and hoped they might soon be able

again to fight for their freedom. A fine young man coming, who had received a severe wound in his side and shoulder, my dear mother used means to relieve him, and dressed him comfortably in clean linen, while he frequently exclaimed: "Do, ma'am, try to stop the blood. I don't mind the pain, so that I may but fight for my liberty." Observing him in danger from the great injury, she spoke to him in a very serious strain, and also recommended his going to the Wexford Infirmary. We heard afterwards that he died on the way, a few hours after he left us. This battle was at Goff's Bridge, on the twentieth of Sixth Month. Several hundreds of the insurgents were killed, but not many of the military.

Soon after the firing had ceased, we observed two of the cavalry moving slowly and suspiciously up our avenue; on which my father went down to the hall door, and advanced with a smiling countenance and extended arms to meet them. One, who was a German, at once embraced him, saying, in broken English: "You be Friend-no enemy, no enemy;" and gave him the kiss of peace, adding: "We have Friends in Germany." We got them eggs, milk, bread, etc., to refresh them, after the excessive fatigue and excitement which it was obvious they had suffered.

The evening before this engagement, one of my sisters, passing through the servants' hall, observed the coachman leaning on his arm, apparently much distressed. When she requested to know the cause, he hesitated and said he could not tell her; but on her entreating him, and adding that she should like to know the worst, he said that he had heard it planned at the camp that, if they conquered the royalists, we were all to be murdered, and the generals were to take possession of our house. He then added, weeping: “Oh, our plans are too wicked for the Lord to prosper them!" My sister remarked that we trusted in a Power stronger than man, and able to protect us in the midst of danger; or to that effect.

During the night following this battle, our house was surrounded by Hompesch's cavalry, who slept on the lawn, wrapped up in their grey coats. The next morning twenty or thirty of the officers breakfasted with us, and told us that we had had a marvellous escape on the previous day, the cannon having