There was an air of excitement in the streets of Derry.

Knots of people were gathered, talking excitedly.

Women stood at the doors of all the houses, while men moved aimlessly and restlessly about between the groups, listened for a time to a speaker, and then moved on again.

The work of strengthening the defences, which had gone on incessantly for the last three months, had ceased, while numbers of persons were gathered on the walls, looking anxiously towards the south.

A general air of gloom and despondency hung over the place.