September 26th, 1798: The departure of the first French prisoners for England on the Van Tromp transport and the Townshend cutter does not stem the profusion of stories inspired by their presence in the capital. Freeman's Journal reports on the 20th that "a gentleman who saw Humbert . . . said, he recollected him in France, in the capacity of a waiter, and as we have been informed, in the English prints, that Hoche was an hostler (sic), it is likely they were old comrades".
The Journal castigates "the Republican prints of this city" on the 22nd which, it claims, have "taken great pains to extol the spirits of the French prisoners, in coming down the Canal . . . who they mention, were singing the Marseliois (sic) hymn, and such other balderdash rhapsodies. But they seem to have forgot what was the cause of their merriment; and which was this . . . having been unaccustomed to the good filling they got while they were prisoners, they could not restrain from testifying gladness, as having not of hunger to complain, a situation that is not true of the soldiers of the self-dubbed `Great Nation'."
On the 20th, the Viceroy upholds death sentences passed at Newtownmountkennedy. Peter McLaughlin, Daniel Kelly and John Doyle are to die for "being active in the late Rebellion, for not having given up their arms" and robbery. Capital prisoner Richard Connell in Baltinglass has his claim to have been "forced away from his house by Holt and obliged to take the arms found in his possession" accepted. Connell's release is ordered if he swears the oath of allegiance.
A Castle survey of United Irish leaders killed during the French incursion reveals that former Russian army officer Mathew Bellew, "Gen[era]l" of the "Western District", was hanged after court martial in Killala with Col Richard Burke. Rebel commanders Toby Flanagan, Luke Nealon, John Kennedy, James Mulhurnan and Henry Nealon die in second Killala action; James Harrison at Cross molina and Richard Burke at Lackan. Ominously, Whitehall informs the Viceroy that "it is the intention of the French Government to avail themselves of this equinoctial season to invade Ireland at several points for the purpose of raising a general insurrection in this country"
Landings are expected at Youghal and Kinsale, which Napper Tandy is to support by raising rebel forces at Lismore, Mallow and Killarney. It is unclear if the 13,166 troops in Cork would be pressured by simultaneous French raids on New Ross, Bantry Bay, Killowen and Kenmare Bay.
News from Belfast on the 21st confirms that eight prisoners have been sent to Dublin while 13 others are discharged from the Postlethwaite prison ship "to transport themselves to America". The mood is different in the west. A Castlebar correspondent records that Gen Trench left the town for Ballina on the 22nd "whose force and those that marched in other directions, gave a total defeat to the rebels of Killala (under Ferdy O'Donnell), where numbers of them were slaughtered. Few prisoners were taken, amongst those that were secured are some of our chiefs, the insurgents were completely surrounded . . . A small rebel party is at Knockmore; they threaten to attack this town to-night, but if they do they will meet with a severe reception. All the prisoners who were in the hands of the desperadoes at Killala, have been released, among whom is the Bishop; he and others would have been put to death by the rebels, were it not for the interference of a French officer."