The Irish Union, thus disappointed in their hopes of as sistance from France, resolved to trust solely to their own power. By this time, the number of men swot') into the conspiracy amounted nearly to half a million, and plans were formed for the simultaneous rising of this body. Their object, however, was discovered by a man of the name of Reynolds, who was a delegate for the province of Lemster ; and from his information, the members who formed the committee of this province were arrested. Em mett, Nlacnevin, and Bond, members of the directory, were also arrested. Government, at the same time, by the seizure of papers, were made thoroughly acquainted with all the plans of the Union, and thus were enabled to frus trate them. The Union, thus deprived of their directory, proceeded to elect new members, among whom were two brothers of the name of Sheares ; but neither these nor the other members were equal in talents to the former mem bers ; and yet greater talents were now requisite, not mere ly on account of the discoveries made by government, but also because the lower members of the Union, wearied with waiting, and anxious not so much to accomplish the politi cal objects of the Union, as to gratify their own private revenge, could not be managed, except by men of the great est talents and influence.
On the 30th of March, 1798, government issued a pro clamation, which proved that they meant to adopt the most vigorous measures which were in their power, for the im mediate suppression of the disaffection and disorders in Ireland. In this it was stated, that " a traitorous conspi racy, existing within the kingdom, had been considerably extended, and had manifested itself in acts of open rebellion; and that in consequence thereof, the most direct and posi tive orders had been issued to the officers commanding his majesty's forces, to employ them with the utmost vigour and decision, for the immediate suppression of this con spiracy, and for the disarming of the rebels, and all dis affected persons, by the most summary and effectual mea sures." At the same time General Abercrombie, who then commanded the forces in Ireland, was directed by the lord lieutenant to proceed With his army into the disturbed counties, vested with full powers to act as he should think proper. His first object was to restore the discipline of the army, which was in such a state, that it could not be safely trusted with the execution Of the orders he meant to issue. Afterwards, on the 3d of April, he published a manifesto, calling upon the inhabitants of Kildate, where his head-quarters were fixed, to surrender their arms with in 10 days, and, in case of non-compliance, threatening that large bodies of troops should live among them at free quar ters, promising rewards to those who would give informa tion of concealed arms or ammunition, and denouncing other severities, in case the inhabitants did not return to a state of tranquillity.
At the expiration of the ten days, the troops were quar tered oil those who were known or suspected to be disaf fected; and their behaviour was such as in most instances might be expected from men of their habits and feelings, hitherto little accustomed to strict discipline.
The insurgents did not seem intimidated by these pro ceedings against them ; and as they were ignorant that government were acquainted with their plans, they still persevered in the determination to rise in a body on a fixed day. Before that day arrived, however, government caus ed Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who had contrived the plan of attack, and who was distinguished For his boldness, talents, and influence, to be arrested. He made a desperate resist ance,and died soon afterwards of a wound which he receiv ed before he was taken. The two brothers Sheares, and other conspirators, were arrested the same month ; and, on the 2Ist of May, the plan of insurrection was announced by Lord Castlereagh, secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, to the Lord Mayor of Dublin. The night of the 23d was the time fixed for it. An attack on the troops stationed near Dublin, and on the artillery, was to have been first execut ed. The castle was, about the same time, to have been surprised ; after which, the parties engaged in these en terprizes were to have united. The stoppage of all the mail coaches on the great roads, was to have been the signal for the rising of the people in the various parts of the coun try. The scheme was certainly well arranged, and, had it not been discovered, might have been attended with the most disastrous consequences.
Even though thus discovered, the insurrection broke out in a manner that caused great alarm, and, for some time, exposed parts of Ireland to all the horrors of a civil war. On the 24th of May, the insurgents, thougk they were nearly without leaders, and with scarcely any arms except pikes, commenced their operations by an attack on Naas, Carlow, and other places, from which they were repulsed with loss. They had previously destroyed the mail-coach es in their road to Dublin, to give notice to their confede rates that they were about to commence their operations, and to retard the communication of them to government. As soon as the first acts of rebellion took place, General Lake, who had succeeded General Abercrombie in the command of the forces, issued a proclamation, in which he expressed his determination to use, in the most summary and vigorous manner, the powers with which he had been entrusted to suppress the rebellion ; and commanded all persons of every rank, except officers and magistrates, to remain in titer houses from nine o'clock at night till five in the morning. Proclamations were also issued by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the Lord Lieutenant. In the first, all persons in Dublin were ordered to give in a list of their arms, or to surrender them if they had not a licence to pos sess them ; and every house-keeper to fix on the out-side of his door a list of the names of all persons resident in his house. In the second proclamation it was stated, that or ders had been sent to all his majesty's general officers in Ireland, to punish, according to martial law, all persons as sisting in the rebellion.