January 3rd, 1798: The new year begins on a contentious note for the liberal figurehead, Earl Charlemont, who receives an anonymous letter challenging him, `the Irish Washington', to denounce the government's coercion policy.
`Amicus' queries whether the Earl will `inhumanly look on to see his countrymen and his tenants butchered and burnt by a merciless soldiery, directed in the work of ruin by an odious and profligate government,' and urges him to support the anticipated stance of Earl Moira in the House of Lords.
There are signs, however, that the staggered extension of martial law to the most disaffected parts of Ireland is having a positive effect. Saunder's Newsletter reports its `satisfaction' that `the inhabitants of the neighbourhood of Clonea, Ardfinan [sic], Newcastle, Clogheen, Caher and all the adjoining parts of the counties of Tipperary and Waterford are still continuing to report to Lord Donoughmore to take the oath of allegiance to his Majesty. His lordship went for this purpose on Monday last, to the town of Caher, by the request of the inhabitants where he was attended by a very great concourse of people, who showed a serious desire to testify to their loyalty and obedience to the laws.' Fear of the military has inspired similar displays of loyalty across the country, although many compromised United Irishmen are rendered desperate by their fate.
A political prisoner on the squalid William and James tender in Belfast Lough tells a sympathetic visitor that he and his 86 comrades `would rather be put to death than pass another night in that situation.'
So oppressive is the heat in the prison hold that the men cannot wear their clothes, and when a number are granted access to the deck they rush and overpower their two Reay Highlander guards.
A Belfast-based correspondent of the Newsletter reports that the mutineers quickly `gave the watch word to their companions in the press room by crying Blood! Blood! The prisoners immediately knocked down the sentinel at the press room door and crowded to get to their assistance, but the weight of the numbers rushing up broke down the ladder, by which their design was frustrated.'
Lieut Elsmer and Midshipman Pollock regain control with difficulty by shooting one `rioter' at point-blank range and bludgeoning others. Two more are shot dead as they swim for the shore through the icy waters of the Lough, where their bodies remain.
Belfast's William Drennan, a founder member of the United Irishmen who has distanced himself from their organisation, ascertains that `many wounded' are `stuffed into the prison hold among the others' overnight.
The situation is comparatively quiet in the capital, where `nothing either interesting or particular' transpires during legal proceedings at the New Sessions House on the 3rd.
Complaints, however, are conveyed to the Recorder of `the Sabbath being broken by crying of newspapers through the city on Sundays.'