9 May 1798: When at Loughbrickland, Co Down, the Rev Edward Hudson is confused by information that "agents of a certain body" are encouraging people "to take the Defenders' oath and . . . have been indefatigable for some time past". He assures Earl Charlemont on May 3rd that the overtures were spurned by the Antrim inhabitants of Portglenone, west of Ballymena, and do not meet with the approval of the more sophisticated United Irishmen. The real purpose of the recruiting drive, in his opinion, is a plan to "plunge the people more deeply in criminality, and to attack the Catholics by the influence of Defenderism". That no effort has been made to protect Catholics from this "snare" suggests to Mr Hudson that "that government knows of this business". Freequarters is showing signs of efficacy in west Cork where Major Nugent directs operations under Maj-Gen Moore. The burning of several houses in Caheragh on May 6th prompts the surrender of 65 firearms from those for whom Moore retains some sympathy. Moore is highly critical of the lesser gentry, whom he believes are "actuated by the meanest motives". The common people, he notes, "have yielded in this instance to force, are humbled, but irritated to a great degree, and unless the gentlemen change their conduct . . . or government steps in with regulations for the protection of the lower from the upper order, the pike will appear again very soon." Wicklow's liberal magnates still refuse to sanction the economically ruinous use of freequarters on their estates notwithstanding complaints from hardliners. Matters are different on the Marquis of Downshire's Blessington property, however, as the absentee northerner, in marked contrast to his nearest Wicklow neighbour, Earl Miltown, is a staunch supporter of government. Downshire is probably pleased to learn on May 7th that the "arms and pikes are coming in, but not so fast as was expected. The troops begin to live at freequarters this day in the neighbourhood of Blessington."
Twelve miles to the south an anonymous loyalist clergyman insists that "the extent of this conspiracy is such through every description of men, that if it be attempted to be suppressed all at once or violently eradicated the innocent and truly loyal will suffer equally or even more than the guilty from the disaffected of the soldiery and a most dreadful civil war may be blown up, which is all the Rebels now wish for . . . no measures can be too strong against the guilty." The net tightens around the United Irish leadership on May 8th, when Ballymanus House is ransacked by Tinahely yeomen who correctly suspect that its owner, Garret Byrne, is one of the most senior figures at large.
The ever-increasing numbers of prisoners exert strain on relations between the Castle and the Duke of Portland, who requests that "some other mode of disposing of disorderly persons should be adopted than sending them to serve in the Army or Navy". Camden reminds him on May 7th that the detainees must be deported; if not to the regular army then into the service of the East India Company or to the arid penal colony of New South Wales. Aware of Portland's finance-related objections to the Australian option, the Viceroy inquires if "any mode suggests itself . . . short of transportation to Botany Bay & whether any other part of his Majesty's Dominions is open to that sort of importation".