The invading fleet, however, anchored in Bantry Bay on the 24th of December, 1796 ; but as the general and a great part of his troops were on board ships that had not arrived, the admiral, after waiting for him a few days, re turned to Brest, having previously ascertained, however, that the country was well defended, and that even the pea santry, towards whom the French had been taught to look for immediate and hearty co-operation, were apparently :Averse to them.
A proclamation was issued on the 17th of May, 1797, declaring the civil power inadequate to quell the Utsurrce tion ; and this proclamation was followed by orders tor the military officers to act without waiting for any from the civil power. The el:litary, who had previously been highly irritated by the resistance of ti-e instiegonts, and who, it is too probable, har! e:Itered Ireland. ‘vitil belief that it might be treated 1.•:1 respects as a cene ecl country, now gave way, in too many instances, to the most oppressive outrages. Under the pretence that arms were concealed, houses were sometimes burnt or plunder ed ; and the military torture of the picket was employed to force a discovery. But it is painful to dwell on such outrages ; suffice it to say, that they were such as might be expected from soldiers acting not only without the con trol of the civil power, but, as they believed, in furtherance of the views of government, against a people whom they regarded as proper objects of their tyranny and cruelty. The United Irish, perceiving that their only chance of success was by assuming the appearance of being reduced to obedience, and conducting their operations in a more secret manner, discontinued their meetings ; and the state of the country generally improved so much, that in August 1797, the administration of justice was again committed to the civil power.
But the United Irish were only laying their schemes deeper, and were inactive and tranquil only that they might burst out with more violence and effect. Hitherto they had been chiefly confined to the northern provinces ; but now the associations began to extend to the western and southern parts of Ireland, and the whole organization to assume a military form. According to their new plan, the lowest societies consisted of 12 persons, who lived near one another, and among whom there was frequent and confi dential intercourse. Five of these societies elected each a secretary, and these secretaries formed a baronial com mittee, which had the superintendence of the first society. Ten of these lower baronial committees elected each a delegate, and the ten delegates composed an upper baronial committee, which directed the business of the ten lower committees. In like manner was the organization of county, district, and provincial committees effected. The supreme command was lodged in an executive directory, which was composed of five persons, unknown to all except the secre taries of the four provincial committees. From this direc tory the orders were conveyed in the most secret but effi cient and prompt manner ; and they were instantly and fully obeyed. Such was the civil organization of the Irish Union. The military resembled it, and, in fact, was graft ed upon it. The secretary of each of the lowest societies was its non-commissioned officer ; and the delegates of the lower and upper committees were respectively captains and colonels. There was also a military committee ap pointed by the directory, to contrive plans for the direction of the national force towards the grand object they had in view. In May, 1797, the number of men enrolled as mem
bers of the Irish Union in Ulster alone, was nearly 100,000. In the other parts of the kingdom, except Dublin and the counties of Wexford, Kildare, East Meath, West Meath, and King's County, their numbers were comparatively few; but they were using their utmost endeavours to extend the Union all over Ireland.
As the attempt to reduce Ireland to order and tranquil lity by means of force had now been carried on for a con siderable time, without producing the effect expected and intended, it was hoped that the British ministry would have adopted different measures, more consonant to the spirit of tile constitution, as well as more satisfactory and pleasing to the friends of humanity. Under this idea, Lord Moira and Mr. Fox moved in parliament, that a humble address shott1c1 be p•rsented to his Majesty, praying him to inter pose h:s r interference tor the allaying of the alarm ing subsisting in Ireland ; but these mo scCr. ''vecl, as well as one which his I.•edship a -:-s. :e the Irish House of Lords, whc;c he c (I ''i'f of the most absurd as welt as y in any country. Indeed, it was only through the debates in parliament that the real state of Ireland at this period could be learnt ; for the news papers, which were in favour of the insurgents, as well as those of government, grossly misrepresented it. The form er were most licentious and mischievous in their repre sentations, and also in their endeavours to spread the flame of sedition and rebellion ; and, in more than one Instance, called down the vengeance of government. As soon as the members of the Irish Union found that they could not pro pagate their views by means of newspapers, they to hand-bills, which were privately printed and cir culated by their agents. In these, abstinence from spiri tuous liquors was recommended, in order that the revenue might be impaired; and this recommendation, which it might have been thought no motive would have induced the lower classes of the Irish to follow, was obeyed so generally and faithfully, that their habits were observed to be decidedly more sober than usual. The members were also cautioned against purchasing the quit-rents of the crown, as the bargains would not be valid in case °I a revolution. A caution was also given against the accep tance of bank notes. All these circumstances evidently proved that the Irish Union were still in hopes of accom plishing their ohject by a revolution; but, as they could not hope for this by their own unaided effoi ts, they again had recourse to France. Assistance was readily promised them ; and preparations for the invasion of Ireland were made at Brest and in the Texel ; but the expedition from the latter place was rendered abortive, by the defeat of the Dutch fleet at the battle of Camperdown. Still the Irish Union looked towards assistance from the Brest expedi tion ; but the French government appearing to have for gotten their promise, Arthur O'Connor, who was a mem ber of the Irish directory, was commissioned to proceed to France ; but, on his passage through England for that purpose, in February, 1798, he was arrested, along with an Irish priest of the name of Coigly, and Binns, a member of the corresponding society of London. They were tried ; O'Colinor and Binns were acquitted, but detained on another charge of treason ; Coigly was condemned and executed.