In point of fact the period authorities on international law do make a definite distinction between the treatment of the civilian population of a hostile nation state and the suppression of rebellion staged by one's own subject.

In point of historical fact, Ireland was not an independent nation in 1798. It was British territory and there were many Irish, many Catholic, who did not support the 98 rebellion, just as there were many Irish Protestants who did support it, Lord Edward Fitzgerald springs to mind. The 98 is not a black/white case, see Thomas Pakenham, THE YEAR OF LIBERTY: THE GREAT IRISH REBELLION OF 1798.

And, while we are on the subject, there were many Irishmen who did not support the creation of Eire in 1921, which is why there is a separate part of the island in the north.

The Irish factor is an important one to consider in the Napoleonic period as it presented an opportunity for Bonaparte who never took advantage of it. I believe he admitted that error while on St Helena.

DG