17 January 1798: Coverage in the Belfast Newsletter of an Edinburgh sedition trial, that of Dundee weaver George Mealmaker, reminds Irish readers that republicanism is spreading to Britain. The Newsletter reprints the evidence of William Smith, a "writing master" in Cupar, Fife, and self-confessed United Scotsman, who implicates Mealmaker as the regional delegate to a "National Meeting" in Edinburgh.
The United Scotsmen have adopted the constitution of their Irish counterparts and are using it to swear over 10,000 members. They are assisted by scores of experienced agitators fleeing military repression in Ulster, as well as by Irish emissaries travelling the migrant labour routes. In excess of 80 "united" societies now meet in Manchester and Lancashire, with strong cadres in London, Birmingham, Leicester, Wolverhampton and Nottingham. Mealmaker is convicted on the 11th of administering illegal oaths and sentenced to 14 years transportation to the spartan penal colony of New South Wales. He will join the "Scottish Martyrs", the half-dozen exiled leaders of the Scottish Association and London Corresponding Society. Evidence presented in Dublin to the Commission of Oyer and Terminer on the 11th throws new light on the modus operandi of the city United Irishmen. John Byrne is accused of aiding Patrick Doyle in administering an illegal oath to Kilkenny Militia sergeant James Caulfield on Temple Street in May 1797.
On the 13th, however, Saunders's Newsletter concentrates on the sensational revelations of Chelsea Pensioner Charles McGowan, who admits joining "a brotherhood of Irishmen of all religious persuasions" in Temple Bar and agreeing to "swear as many to the same obligation as he could influence". McGowan received "a constitution paper, which he could not read" and saw the 24 men donate a penny each towards the upkeep and defence of their imprisoned comrades, the "brotherhood in Newgate".
McGowan's society at Molloy's of Strand Street was encouraged to go to the army reserve camp at Lehaunstown, near Bray, `to give notice to the United Irishmen of the several regiments, to up and join their fraternity in the country, who were intent on forming a body to come to Dublin to massacre [Gen] Lord Carhampton [the commander-in-chief], the Lord Lieutenant, all the bishops, all the placemen, and others receiving fees or emoluments under the present government, and the whole family of the B[astar]ds". This spirited and fanciful deposition is greeted with "a loud laugh" by the court, but the activity of city seditionists cannot be ignored.
Cork-born barrister John Philpot Curran subjects McGowan to an incisive cross-examination, resulting in the acquittal of the defendants. Curran boldly implies the testimony is coerced by Assistant Town Major Henry Charles Sirr, Dublin's de facto chief of police.
Lord Camden, the Viceroy, informs London on the 15th "the leaders of the disaffected in some parts of the midland and southern districts" circulate inflammatory publications and send agents "to revive religious animosities and to open the prospects of plunder". Ultra-loyalist elements coalesce in the face of the challenge and found Orange lodges in Mullingar, Edenderry and in other midland towns.