THE joyful News of Sir Clowdsley Shovel's Success at Dublin-Harbour, has much Elevated the de­prest Spirits of our poor Friends here; and I doubt not but it will meet with the like joyful accep­tance where-ever it comes, which has much induced me to send you this Letter, which will give you an account of a notable Engagement.

THe before-mentioned Worthy Commander, with the Squa­dron of Ships mentioned in my last, Arrived safe on Good-Friday last, in the Bay of Dublin, where he spyed in the Harbour, the Irish Admiral (a Scoth Ship taken from Captain Hammilton, and now Commanded by one Patrick Bennet) with about Twenty other Vessels of smaller Burthen, Laden with Hides, Tal­low, [Page 2]and Butter, riding at Anchor in Polebeg, within the Bar. Where­upon the Captain quitted his own Ship (She being of too great a Bur­then to enter the Harbour,) and went on Board the Monmouth-Yatch, and with That, and Two more, he went over the Bar, Steering his Course directly towards the Irish-Admiral, who cut her Cables, and endeavoured to run up to Kingsend-Point (as the other Vessels did, du­ring the Engagement,) but Sir Clowdsley Shovel being under Sail, approached so fast, that he forced an Engagement; and the Fight lasted an hour, being closely fol­lowed on both sides; after which, Captain Bennet seeing little hopes of Victory, and perceiving many of his Men to lye dead on the Decks, he run the Ship on ground, on the South Strand, and the Capt. and what Men he had left alive, made their Escape, and got on Shore, leaving his Ship a Prize to that Worthy Commander, our English Captain. The Firing so briskly in the Harbour, soon Al­larmed the City, whereupon King James, and his small Army, being Two Regiments of Foot, and One of Horse, came down on the Strand, by Andrew Cave's House (about half a Mile from Ringsend) dread­ing an Invasion, and fearing the business would have gone farther than the loss of his Ships. Sir Clowdsley Man'd out some long Boats, and by the help of the Tide, brought off the Vessel: King James himself being a Spectator, and Eye­witness of this our Commanders Bravery, and his own great loss: And I believe was glad it proceeded no farther. All the Opposition his gazing Soldiers gave, was, Two French Troops rid into the Water, and shot their Pistols against the side of the Ship: In recompence whereof, a Shot was sent from the Ship, which brought one of the Troopers into the Water, his Horse being shot under him.

Two Boys ran from the Shore (being Protestants) up to their Necks in Water, desiring help from the Sea-men, and were taken up by one of the long Boats.

In this Action we lost not a Man, neither had we any but one Wound­ed, though there were found in the Enemies Vessels Twenty Dead, besides others, which in the Fight, undoubtedly dropt over-Board.

On Munday last came in here Forty Five Waggons, belonging to the Train of Artillery; and yester­day Morning they went down to Highlake.

Yesterday came in here Count Nassaw's Regiment of Foot: And to Morrow comes in another Regi­ment of Foot.

We hear from Lisburne, of the 14th Instant, That the Forces Shipt off at Bristol, are safely Arrived there, consisting of Three Thou­sand Men: And that Fifty Thou­sand Pounds Sterling came thither that day: And that our Men are Hearty, and the Weather good; so that we suddenly expect to hear of further Action.