the summer in Ireland, was devoted most actively by Government, to the detection and bringing to condign punishment the leaders and accomplices of the late, and to the forwarding of all cautionary measures against future insurrection. Pastoral exhortations to loyalty, and the manifestation of conspiracies against the state, were read in all the Roman Catholic chapels. From the day of the suspension of the Habeas Corpus act, all magistrates were strictly enjoined to permit no one to quit the country without passports. Every house in the City and neighbourhood of Dublin were searched for arms, and several gentlemen of approved loyalty were taken into custody. Firmness of character, disapprobation of a measure of Government, opposition or offence to any servant of the castle, sufficed to procure a warrant for apprehending men of undefiled loyalty. The Commander-in-chief had it in command from the Lord Lieutenant to express to the regular forces, the Militia and Yeomanry, his Excellency's warmest approbation of the zeal, alacrity and spirit, which they had displayed in suppressing the late rebellious insurrection. Particular thanks were expressed to the Scotch Fuzileers and Liberty Rangers for their marked zeal and exertions, and most special injunctions were enforced upon all the military to refrain from any act of severity or violence beyond what the faithful discharge of military duty should render absolutely indispensable.

1803. {

1803. Mr. Emmett after the disgrace, failure and Apprehen- horror of the night of the 23d of July fled with andex his whole staff to the Wicklow mountains, where

sion, trial

tion of Emmett.

he remained concealed for about a week, imposing upon the inhabitants, of whom they rather extorted than solicited refuge and support; they were in all about fourteen, armed with swords and fire locks, and they passed themselves for French Officers. Mr. Emmett himself on the 8th day after his escape, returned under the name of Hewit to his old lodgings at Harold's-cross, where during a whole month, he eluded the vigilance of Government and the police, without attempting any new project of insnrrection, that has come to light. He was at last taken by Major Sirr, who, having procured information of his residence, rushed unexpectedly into the house, as he was sitting down to dinner; he attempted to escape through a back window, but was pursued and secured by Major Sirr.* A special commission was opened to try the offenders in the City and County of Dublin on the 31st August, under Lord Norbury, Mr. Justice Finucane and Barons George and Daly. Twenty †

* This Gentleman's activity and intrepidity were rewarded by a piece of plate of the value of 100 Guineas, from the patriotic fund of Ireland. Pieces of plate of 50 guineas each were granted from the same fund to Captains Bloxam, Coultman, Douglass, and Brady, and Mr. Wilson, the peace officer, with inscriptions expressive of their spirited and meritorious services to the public on the night of the 23d of July.

† The names of the persons put on their trial were Robert Emmett, Edward Kearney, Thomas Maxwell Roche, Owen

were tried on different days, one of whom was acquitted and another respited. The rest were

Kirwan, James Byrn, John Beggs, Denis Lambert Redmond,
(respited) Felix Rourke, John Killen, John M'Cann, Jos.
Doran, (acquitted) Thomas Donelly, Laurence Begley,
Nicholas Tyrrell, Michael Kelly, John Hay, Henry Howley,
John M'Intosh and Thomas Keenan. Nothing new came out
in evidence at the trials or at the time of execution, which illus-
trates or confirms the history of that ephemeral insurrection,
excepting with reference to John McIntosh, who, before his
execution, discovered to Mr. Sheriff Pounden a secret door in
the house in Patrick-street, which opened into a select depot,
where were found above 300 pikes of a peculiar construction,
which being formed of several joints, would fold up in so
narrow a compass as to be easily concealed under a great coat,
and would let out to the length of 6 or 7 feet. There was
also found there a quantity of sulphur, and other matter of
mischievous preparation. Dr. Gamble told this man in his
cell, that Emmett had confessed to him in his latter moments,
that he had but 80 men on the night of the insurrection, upon
whom he could depend. M'Intosh acknowledged that was the
fact, and that he was one of them. There was found in the
house, from which Mr. Emmett was taken at Harold's cross an
unfinished manuscript to the following effect.
It bespeaks
reflection and tenderness to those, whom he had seduced.

" It may seem strange, that a person avowing himself to be an enemy of the present Government, and engaged in a conspi. racy for its overthrow, should undertake to suggest an opinion on its conduct, or expect, that advice from such a quartershould be received with attention. The writer of this, however, does not mean to offer an opinion upon a point, in which he feels difficulty-on which his candour might be doubted; his intenti on is to confine himself to points, on which he feels with the merciful, and as an Irishman with the English part of the present Government. He will communicate in the most preciso

1803. 1803.

executed. All, except Mr. Emmett, were persons in the low walks of life, without education or other means of subsistence than by the labour of their hands. The unfortunate Mr. Emmett, who was gifted with brilliant talents, which were absorbed in his enthusiasm, was the son of an eminent physician, originally from Cork, afterwards one of the state physicians in Dublin. At his trial the several facts and circumstances already narrated were fully proved; he called no witnesses and was found guilty. When put to the bar and called upon by the Clerk to the Crown to offer what he had to say, why judgment of death and execution should not be awarded against him according to law, he rose

terms the line of conduct, which he may be hereafter compelled
to adopt and which, however painful, would be doubly so,
if he did not try to avoid it by the most explicit notification.
It is not the intention of the undersigned to do more than state
what the Government must acknowledge, that of the conspiracy
it knows nothing; and instead of creating terror in its enemies
and confidence in its friends, it will serve by the scantiness of
its information to furnish new grounds of conviction to those,
who are too ready to accuse it for the want of that intelligence,
which no sagacity could enable it to obtain. If, then, it is una-
ble by a display of discoveries to evince its strength and vigi-
lance, it cannot hope to crush the Conspiracy by the weight of
its power. Is it only now, that men have to learn, that entering
into a conspiracy exposes them to be hanged? *
hope to injure the body of a conspiracy, so impenetrably woven
as the present, by merely cuting off a few of the threads ?*****
No system can change the conduct, which the U. I. will adopt
for effecting the emancipation of their country."

with great firmness and composure, and delivered a speech of considerable length, and would have extended it to a much greater, had not Lord Norbury thought he could not sit in Court to hear any man proclaim treason, and endeavour by his talents, which he admitted to be very great in the prisoner, to captivate and delude the unwary, and give circulation to opinions and principles of the most pernicious tendency. Then said Mr. Emmett, I have nothing more to say, if I am not permitted to vindicate myself.* Lord Norbury pathetically

* Mr. Ridgeway's report of this trial is the most authentic. Mr. Marsden procured a report of all those trials to be published in a very garbled manner, with a preface, introduction and conclusion, which bespeak the tendency of the publication. It ends with these words. "The dark page of domestic crime " will be relieved and brightened by the proofs of a wise and " humane policy; and amongst the British advisers of the "good Lord Hardwicke, the names of a Redesdale and a " Wickham will be remembered with gratitude and esteem." The last words, which Mr. Ridgeway took from the lips of Mr. Emmett are too important to be suppressed. " I beg " pardon-I wish to mention one circumstance, which is to " state expressly, that I did not come from France" (he met his Brother at Bruxelles) " I did not create the conspiracy-I " found it when I arrived here I was solicited to join it-I " took time to consider of it, and was told expressly, that it " was no matter, whether I did join or not, it would go on" I then, finding my principles accord with the measures, did " join it; and under the same circumstances would do so again." The infatuation, which drove Mr. Emmett into that fatal attempt without adequate means of success, left him not in VOL. I

Ω

1803.