CHAP. X.] CAUSES OF THE INSURRECTION.

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have joined in a business of that revolutionary character. Here was a very bad government, that strove by corruption, by intrigue, and by force, to take away the privileges that had been solemnly granted a few years before, (just as in the time of Charles the First, the king strove to cheat the people of England out of the concessions he had made); and if to this is added the subversion of the Constitution; and above all, and first of all, the new system of Government-best understood by its strange phraseology and its barbarous sounds,-equally horrid as the necessity they created: Vapulation-strangulation*-flagellation-conflagration-vigor beyond the law-free quarters -"means taken to make it explode." This compilation of crime rendered resistance to such a Government, at such a stage, merely a matter of policy, and a question of calculation. And if the people had not formed a French connexion; revolution, and the deposition of such ministers would have been justifiable. But if men were in love with rebellion, they should not have joined the party that led the insurrection, for they were peculiarly unfitted for such an enterprize; they seemed to want all the requisites for it steadiness, constancy,§ fidelity, union, secrecy, and the two grand qualities necessary

* A man of the name of Hepenstall, was called the walking gallows, from the circumstance of his hanging men across his shoulder.-See Barrington's History of the Union.

A serjeant of the North Cork Militia was surnamed Tom the Devil, from the practice he introduced of shaving the heads of the peasants, rubbing them with moist gunpowder, and then setting them on fire.— See Gordon's History.

Lord Castlereagh's flagitious and (for his reputation) fatal phrase in his examination of Dr. M'Nevin. This is omitted in the house of Commons Report. Lord Clare told M'Nevin they would only print what would serve their purpose.-See Pieces of Irish History.

§ In April, 1797, the Ulster Committee were betrayed at Belfast. In March, 1798, the Leinster Committee were betrayed in Dublin. On the 19th of May, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was betrayed, and on the 22nd the Sheares's.

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THE EMMETT FAMILY.

[CHAP. X.

for every revolt-money and courage. They turned the entire business into a riot. They rose in an irregular manner-no chieftain-no generals: some betrayed-some fled-some confessed. The leaders escaped, and the people became the victims. The Irish are very unjustly accused of being bad subjects; but it may be fairly said, they are the worst rebels.*

The most remarkable of these men were the family of the Emmetts, three sons of Doctor Emmett, a physician of some note and considerable practice. He attended Mrs. Grattan in her illness, but his mind seemed more engaged with politics than medicine, and Mr. Grattan used jocularly to say, "Emmett had his pill and his plan, and he mixed so much politics with his prescription, that he would kill the patient who took the one, and ruin the country that listened to the other." The education he gave his sons was singular, and led to much of their misfortunes. Curran used to describe him very drolly, giving them their "morning draught,"-"Well, Temple, what would you do for your country? Addis ! would you kill your brother for your country?would you kill your sister for your country?would you kill me?" Thus he misdirected the natural spirit of youth, and infused into their minds an extravagant sort of patriotism.

On one occasion, as Mr. Grattan was going into the House of Commons, old Emmett followed him with much bustle, imploring him not to lose a "Go in and propose my plan;-it is the only thing can save the country. He handed

moment.

* When Mr. Grattan was at Maidstone with Fox, Erskine and Mr. O'Brien (a friend of Fox,) the latter observed to him, "If I were to rebel, it never would be with your countrymen (Mr. Grattan); for by G- hey are the worst rebels I ever heard of." An individual came in to converse with Erskine about the trial, and in a short time Erskine said, "Sir, I would not advise Mr. O'Connor to call you as a witness : for from your conversation, I would hang you in five minutes."

CHAP. X.]

TEMPLE EMMETT.

357

to Mr. Grattan a paper containing his prescription, which Mr. Grattan represented as the most extraordinary compound. One part of it was to increase the votes in the House, not by increasing the number of members, but by giving each member, a number of voices :-thus, Mr. Grattan was to count as five, Curran four, Hardy three, and so on!

Temple Emmett, Thomas Addis Emmett, and Robert Emmett, were three most singular men. Few families could boast of such individuals.

Temple Emmett, before he came to the bar, knew more law than any of the Judges on the bench; and if he had been placed on one side, and the whole bench opposed to him, he could have been examined against them, and would have surpassed them all;-he would have answered better both in law and divinity than any judge or any bishop in the land. He had a wonderful memory-he recollected everything-it stuck to him with singular tenacity. He shewed this in his early youth, and on one occasion he gave a strong instance of it. There existed at that time in Dublin college an institution called the Historical Society;-there were subjects selected for discussion, and prior to the debate there was an examination in history. On one occasion the books happened to be mislaid, and it was thought no examination could have taken place; but Emmett, whose turn it was to be in the chair, and who had read the course, recollected the entire, and examined in every part of it, and with surprising ability. His eloquence was great, but spoiled by imagery. He had a singular taste-it was poetry; in fact, he could not speak prose. On one occasion he was to close the sitting of the Society by a speech from the chair-he did so in a most eloquent, but

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THOMAS ADDIS EMMETT. [CHAP. X.

flowery harangue;-it was full of talent, but it was a speech of blank verse. He sent it to Peter Burrowes, a great friend and admirer of the family; he begged of him to alter it, so that it might appear in the best manner, and to cut out such parts as he thought proper. Burrowes tried, but found he could not alter it without changing the entire-it was nothing but poetry. One passage Mr. Burrowes used to repeat with great earnestness and animation :-" America!America!-the land of arts and of arms, where that goddess, Liberty, was wooed and won, and twelve young eaglets springing from her nest, bore freedom upwards on their soaring wings." The whole was like this style, and Burrowes returned it, being unable to comply with the wishes of the speaker. He did not appear often in public, or interfere much in politics. He died young, in 1788, at an early age, and in high practice at the bar.

The next was Thomas Addis. He was called to the bar in 1790;-a very clever man. He possessed a powerful and logical mind, great talent and spirit. He was more connected with the people than his brother Temple, though he did not become a United Irishman till the end of 1796. He avoided, however, to plead for them openly; but in private he advised them, and when his character was not likely to be of disservice he came forward.

There was a case in which Mr. Burrowes prosecuted, as counsel for the crown, at Clonmell assizes, before Prime Serjeant Fitzgerald; the charge was for administering the United Irishman's oath. Thomas Addis was in the case, but would not appear, as his being concerned in it would have been quite sufficient for the jury to decide against his client; but he appeared on a

CHAP. X.]

ROBERT EMMETT.

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motion in arrest of judgment; and he argued the case with a knowledge of law, and a power of logic, that surprised every one who heard him. He displayed an intimacy with the abstrusest parts of the science, and maintained that in no country could such an oath be considered penal; that no one could be punished for taking it: and he concluded by a bold act. After a short pause he addressed the court thus:

"My Lords, here in the presence of this legal court, this crowded auditory, in the presence of the Being that sees and witnesses, and directs this judicial tribunal,—here, my Lords, I—I myself, in the presence of God, declare, I take the oath."

He accordingly kissed the book, and sat down. The court were surprised. They took no step against him; they were afraid; and the prisoner's punishment soon after was reduced to something very trifling.

The youngest brother, Robert, was a very clever man, but devoid of prudence and of judgment. His objects were quite visionary; yet he was an honourable enthusiast-as much opposed to the French as to the English, and ready to make war against both. He possessed the powers of eloquence in a surprising degree; and Mr. Burrowes (a good judge), used to say, that he was superior in this respect to any man he ever heard, in any country. He had a richness, a flow, and a style, both as to matter and manner, above any thing he had ever heard from any man. There were fine traits too in his character: the following was one of them. His attachment to Miss Curran was well known.* When he was sent to

prison for the outbreak in 1803, he took aside the gaoler, and gave him a letter for Miss Curran, and all the money he had about him, and begged

* A small tract, entitled "The Broken Heart," gives an account of it.