BANTRY, SHOWING HEAD OF BAY, COUNTY CORK. -Every Irishman, and nearly every American, has heard the old '98 "rebel" ballad of the "Shan Van Vocht" ("poor old woman") allegorical of Ireland. It refers to the attempted French landing in Bantry Bay, December, 1796, one one verse - the opening one - runs thus: Oh, the Frinch are on the say, Says the Shan Van Vocht! Sure the Frinch are on the say, Says the Shan Van Vocht! The Frinch are in the Bay, THey'll land without delay, And the Orange will decay, Says the Shan Van Vocht! The "Orange," at that time, represented the English-Tory interest in Ireland, and against it the Irish Catholics and Presbyterians were almost unanimously arrayed. The attempted French invasion-under Generals Hoche and Grouchy-the latter the same who failed Napoleon at Waterloo-sailed from Brest with 43 battle ships and 13,500 men. They were under the guidance of Theobald Wolfe Tone-the organizer of the United Irishmen. When almost within sight of Ireland, a violent storm arose and scattered the fleet. Hoche and the Admiral were separated from the main body. Grouchy, with 6,000 men, reached Bantry Bay, but declined to land, and the expedition failed. The sketch shows the olden fishing town of Bantry, seated at the head of its noble Bay-one of the finest in the world. It is situated in the County Cork.

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