HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
Wit have been cleared of insur- 
gents, rebellion crushed, and the 
‘dreadful calamities which afterwards 
took place prevented ; not a soldier 
was to be seen, and to the dismay of 
the loyal inhabitants of that quarter, 
it was speedily discovered that no 
post had been occupied, nor additi- 
onal guard of any description placed 
in that vicinity ! 
The plot had been well concealed, 
~ its machinery was perfectly prepared, 
and it now only remained to be proy- 
-ed, whether it could be put in exe- 
cution: every thing hitherto had 
favoured the designs of the conspi- 
rators, henceforward however, ulti- 
mate success entirely depended upon 
the conduct of that vast body they 
lad set in motion. 
Towards dusk the concerted sig- 
‘wal that all was in readiness, was 
given by some men riding furiously 
through the principal streets; but 
general alarm was not excited until 
the firing at and severely wounding 
Mr. Clarke in the midst and most 
frequented part of the city, had taken 
place ; an actas audacious as it was 
atrocious and brutal. This gentle- 
man, the proprietor of a considerable 
manufactory in the neighbourhood 
of Dublin, in the direction of that 
quarter whence the force was coilect- 
_ ed forthe meditated insurrection,hiad 
_ previously imbibed strong suspicions 
of approaching tumult, from the 
_ &ymptoms of fever and agitation uni- 
versally perceived by the mostincuri- 
ous observer,to prevail in the actious 
and manners of the lower orders, and 
of which he thought it his duty to ap- 
. prize the lord lieutenant’s secretary. 
On the afternoon of , this memorable 
day, some unusual appearances a- 
mong his workmen confirmed his 
opinion; as he rode from town (as 
was his custom) to pay them off at 
, Volk XLV. 
305 
the conclusion of the week, he met 
nearly their whole body proceeding 
to Dublin, without waiting for their 
wages or the accustomed hour of 
dismissal from work.—On question~ 
ing some of the foremost as to the 
cause of this extraordinary conduct, 
he was rudely and abruptly answer- 
ed; on which with great presence of 
mind he instantly turned round and 
rode with the utmost expedition to 
the castle, to apprize government of 
what he had seen, and thence con- 
jectured. Here surely was ground 
for active and immediate measures 
of precaution. His men. who ob- 
served this movement, and aware of 
his intentions reported the circum~" 
‘stance to their chiefs, who ordered 
them to way-lay Mr. Clarke on his 
return, and inflict upon him the 
dreadful punishment of death for 
this presumptuous interference : a~ 
bout nine in the evening as he rode 
homeward, a blunderbuss was dis- 
charged at him by one of his own 
workmen, which must have been 
provided for the occasion, as the 
party was yet unarmed when he first 
spoke to them. Such was the out- 
rage which commenced the horrors 
of thisbarbarous proceeding. Pro-=— 
videntially by the inexpertness of 
the assassin, or through some favour- 
able circumstance, Mr. Clarke es- 
caped with life although desperately 
wounded! 
About the period. of this pre-' 
meditated assassination, a smalk 
piece of ordnance, which had 
been in readiness for the pur- 
pose, was discharged, and a sky 
rocket let off at the same mor 
ment, so as to be observed through- 
outthe whole city. Mr. Emmett 
at the head of his chosen band - 
sallied forth from the obscunty 
of hts head quarters in Mar- 
> ae shalsea 
