296 
to concede, and chose the mildet 
and more authorized mode of re-’ 
gular legal proceeding. It is more 
than probable, tliat under the cir- 
cumstances of local irritation, and 
inconsiderate intemperance every 
‘where abounding, that had the 
prayer of the magistrates been ac- 
ceded to, the flames of rebellion 
would have been rekindled through- 
out the entire ofthat fine country, the 
south of Ireland—the course wisely 
adopted, met with complete success, 
and tranquillity was restored. 
Some time before his majesty’s 
message to parliament had announc- 
ed the probability of a rupture with 
France, it became obvious to the 
wary observer, that there existed a 
considerable degree of feverish agita- 
tion among those who had favoured 
the late conspiracy, and an alarming 
resort to Ireland of persons notori- 
ously in the interests of the French 
government. Undoubtedly the 
great majority of the people who had 
been deceived and led away by the 
intrigues and artifices of the jaco- 
' bins; those especially who had.any 
property to lose, or stake in the 
country, had seen through, and 
heartily repented their delusion : 
But there were still to be found 
some pardoned delinquents, who 
had yet to learn prudence from their 
escape of punishment, and whose 
wickedness had not been put to 
flight by the glaring conviction of 
its folly. This intractable and rest- 
less description of people, hailed 
with transport the opportunity of re- 
eommencing their machinations, 
and while some spread themselves 
ever the country In every direction, 
ethers fixed themselves in the me- 
tropolis—an active correspondence 
was set on foot with France—and 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803. 7 
the organization of a new censpirac 
was commenced and prosecuted w ith 
unceasing diligence. Nor was Bo- 
naparte inattentive or remiss to for= 
ward. by every means in his power, 
his darling project of revolution. 
The chiefs of the last Irish rebellion 
were summoned to Paris, from me 
insignificance and contempt i 
which, since the peace of eng 
they had lived in. different states 
of the continent; consultations 
were held with them; their hopes 
and passions stintulated by promises 
and flattery ; and they were directed 
to communicate similar impulses 
to their agents and adherents in thein 
native country, 
The person who took upon hime 
self (or to whom that task was dele- 
gated by his confederates) she office 
of director and principal mover 
of this new plot upon the British 
dominion in Ireland, was, Mr. Robert 
Emmett, a young man of specious, 
and promising talents. He was the 
younger brother of that Emmett 
who had previously to the rebellion 
of 1798, abandoned a respectable 
situation at the Irish bar, in order to. 
project and carry into execution the 
wild schemes of that day—an Irish © 
republic, and seperation from Great 
Britain. His father had filled dur- 
ing a considerable period the situa- 
tion of state physician in Dublin. _ 
This young man had been suffi- 
ciently unguarded in his conduct 
while the late disturbances existed, 
to become an object of the vigilance, 
of government, and had found it 
prudent to reside abroad so long as 
the habeas corpusact w assuspended; 
but had returned to Ireland on the 
removal of that obstacle, His mind. 
was ardent, his imagination brilli- 
ant, and he possessed a flow of elo- 
eution, 
