12 December 1798: The body of George Phillips, a Rathcoole yeoman missing for over a month, is found on the 6th, "buried in a ditch on the lands of Donard, belonging to Mr William Coogan". His killers are unknown but Michael Dwyer's rebel faction makes its presence felt on the 8th - moving along the Baltinglass road intent on avenging the death of a friend.
Two members of the 89th regiment are killed on the road near the home in which two Saundersgrove yeomen named McGuinness are slain for quibbling over the surrender of guns. Another yeoman, Thomas Young, is shot at his Tuckmill home before the raiders retreat into Imaal.
Holt continues to attract curious visitors to his Dublin Castle cell and hostile press commentary. Freeman's Journal reports on the 8th that "the self-dubbed General Holt . . . who a short time ago was a common labourer, has become such a penitent, that he returned all sustenance . . . except, i.e. unless he was indulged with salmon. The victualler who knew the doughty general right well, that he was never used to dainties and that no salmon was to be had for any money at that day, waggishly told the mock general that he could get no salmon without offering a reward for the taking of it, for it was more scarce than traitors."
Finn's Leinster Journal discusses the modified terms granted to the "state prisoners". Notification is given to the Newgate men to "take their departure for some foreign port not at war with England, in the course of the month, with the exception of Captain Thomas Russell, Mathew Dowling, and Samuel Neilson - who, it is said, will be detained to the end of the war. A similar notice was served on the state prisoners in Kilmainham gaol, with the exception of Arthur O'Connor, John Sweetman, Dr McNevin and Henry Jackson, who, it is likewise asserted, will be detained to the end of the war. If they do not comply with the above notice, they are, it is said, to support themselves at their own expense."
Plans are laid to confine the key United Irish figures in Fort George, Scotland, for the duration of the French War.
On the 10th the barristers of Dublin assemble in Chancery Chamber to consider the proposed Act of Union with Britain - but the numbers who attended are so numerous that the meeting reconvenes in the Exhibition House, William Street.
Ambrose Smith chairs the assembly which unanimously issues a resolution asserting "that the measure of a LEGISLATIVE UNION of this KING DOM & GREAT BRITAIN is an INNOVATION which would be HIGHLY DAN GEROUS and IMPROPER to propose at the present juncture to this country". William Ridgeway signs the document and William Saurin thanks Smith.
James Stewart writes to Charlemont on the 12th expressing his opinion that "to introduce a subject of controversy, as the union must be, at such a time is unpardonable, and in my mind impolitic . . . I think the general opinion will be to dissuade Lord Cornwallis from attempting it now." The allies of Marquis Buckingham, however, assure him that "the Catholics almost unanimously are for it, even without a stipulation of any sort for advantages or for protection; which, as they have told Government, they conceive themselves sure of obtaining from the equity and policy of the kingdom when united, but which might embarrass the question if urged at present . . . Much of the same language is held by the Dissenters in the North, and the commercial people, save the traders of Dublin."