From The History of the Insurrection in the County of Wexford by Edward Hay, 1842.
SIR – As a friend to humanity, I request you will surrender the town of Ross to the Wexford forces now assembled against that town. Your resistance will but provoke rapine and plunder to the ruin of the most innocent. Flushed with victory, the Wexford forces, now innumerable and irresistible, will not be controlled if they meet with any resistance; to prevent, therefore, the total ruin of all property in the town, I urge you to a speedy surrender, which you will be forced to do in a few hours, with loss and bloodshed, as you are surrounded on all sides. Your answer is required in four hours. Mr. Furlong carries this letter and will bring the answer.
I am, sir, &c. &c.
B. B. HARVEY.
Camp at Corbet Hill, half-past three-o-clock morning,
June 5th, 1798.