This move followed exhaustive attempts by Carey to have the Society stand bail for him (so that he could leave without requiring his friends to pay the surety). Durey argues that Carey accurately analysed the use of the existing funds, to support leaders of higher social rank than he had. In 1794 he was the chief witness in the treason trial of Drennan. On that occasion, he identified himself as a United Irishman. His evidence was broken down by John Philpot Curran, cross-examining; or, according to Durey, Carey did nothing to embroider a bald account. Drennan was acquitted. Having published his side of the story in late 1794, Carey spent some time in Philadelphia in 1795, and then came back to Dublin to run a government-subsidised paper, the "General Evening Post" (later the "Volunteer Packet"). Its sale dwindled, according to Francis Higgins, to under 20 copies, and intimidation was used against those selling it or buying space for advertisements. Carey took part in the yeomanry volunteer force, and there ran into trouble, thought to be inciting the lower ranks against the officers. During the Irish Rebellion of 1798 he left Ireland in June, for self-preservation, returning later. Carey left Dublin for England permanently, around the middle of 1799. A dealer in pictures, prints, and other works of art, he was one of the main agents used by John Leicester, 5th Baronet in the formation of his collection. For some years he had an establishment in Marylebone Street, London. He became chief art critic to the "Literary Gazette". Carey saluted the talent of Francis Chantrey the sculptor in the "Sheffield Iris", in 1805. At the end of 1816 he praised the graphical work of William Blake, then little known, and wondered aloud what posterity would make of his lack of patrons; the significant unsigned obituary of Blake in the "Literary Gazette" in 1827 is tentatively assigned to Carey. He praised Washington Allston and his work "Uriel Standing in the Sun" to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1818. Carey brought James Montgomery the poet into prominence. After a visit to Cork in 1824, he wrote letters in the Cork and Dublin papers to promote the work of John Hogan the sculptor. Hogan was then able to visit Italy, to study art. Carey settled in Birmingham about 1834.