_ press forward the execution of their” 
HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
distrust and uneasiness, although it 
does not appear to have particularly 
stimulated the suspicions or the 
efforts of government : and as the 
leaders of the conspiracy apprehend- 
ed that under such general impressi- 
ons it would not be much longer in 
their powerto machinate in security, 
they immediately determined to 
projected treason. 
The interval of the ten days next 
ensuing after the explosion, was em- 
ployed by the malecontents, either 
in deliberating on the propriety of 
immediately flying to arms, or in 
concerting the most practicable 
mode of commencing their operati- 
ons. It was considered that the 
discontent, the’ levity, and the 
ignorance of the multitude would 
afford an abundant supply of 
men: but to arm them was essential, 
and in arms they were deficient, It 
was then proposed to seize upon the 
Several depOts and arsenals in the 
vicinity of Dublin ; and above all it 
was universally determined to gain 
possession of the castle, as in that 
case it was supposed they could 
more decidedly influence the public 
mind by having the seat of govern- 
ment in their power, 
Iv is difficult to conceive, that a 
more absurd and impracticable pro- 
ject ever fascinated the mind of an 
heated and frantic visionary, than, 
that such a forceas wasat that mo- 
ment actually disposeable in Ireland, 
backed by the armed property of the 
kingdom, was to be subdued by 80 
adventurers at the head of a tumul- 
tuous, half armed,and undisciplined 
rabble! Iacoherently indeed did 
those deluded wretches calculate 
upon their means of success, when 
they flattered themselves with the 
- 
‘ tion. 
’ 
3014 
expectation of governing the mostin- 
tractable of all mobs, or of compel- 
ling it to any principle of subordina- 
Ifthey had even succeeded 
in carrying the castle, the booty it 
presented, would have unnerved 
their force, and dissipated their fol- 
lowers. How could they have im- 
peded or prevented immediate suc- 
cours from veing thrown in by Eng- 
land? nor would their success a- 
gainst the castle have supplied them 
with a single ship of war,—or with 
one defensible position upon the 
sea coast. 
As they approached the precipice, 
the greater part of the conspirators 
clearly contemplated their danger, 
and wished to defer the attempt. 
These were either the needy and the 
profligate who had fastened them- 
selves on the spoils of Emmett; the 
agents of the French government, 
whose object it rather was to agitate 
and predispose the country to fer- 
ment, than to embark themselves ig 
immediate action; or lastly thosé 
busy and depraved simpletons, who 
cherishinga morbid vanity and thirst 
of self importance, had imagined, 
that contrary to the obvious’ desti- 
nation of their rank jn life and en=. 
dowments, they were called uper 
to act 2 part on the great theatre of 
public affairs; but who, startled at 
the near view of da.ger,were willins 
(although now too fate) to shrink 
back and shelter ibeinselves in their 
own insignificance. Mr. Emmett 
however was peremptory in the op- 
posite way of thinking, and those 
who had assisted in feeding his ilka- 
sions, were now urged forwaré in 
their tum. He represented with 
an impetuosity not to be resisted 
that the militia was ahout.to be 
embodied: that the country would 
he 
