The life, trial and conversations of Robert Emmet, Esq., leader of the Irish insurrection of 1803 : $b also, the celebrated speech made by him on the occasionAnonymous
History
The life, trial and conversations of Robert Emmet, Esq., leader of the Irish insurrection of 1803 : $b also, the celebrated speech made by him on the occasion
I know how men without candour will pronounce on this failure, without
knowing one of the circumstances that occasioned it. They will consider
only that they predicted it; whether its failure was caused by chance,
or by any of the grounds on which they made their prediction, they will
not care—they will make no distinction between a prediction fulfilled
and justified—they will make no compromise of errors—they will not
recollect that they predicted also that no system could be formed—that
no secrecy nor confidence could be restored—that no preparations could
be made—that no plan could be arranged—that no day could be fixed,
without being instantly known at the Castle; that government only waited
to let the conspiracy ripen, and crush it at their pleasure; and that on
these grounds only did they predict it miscarriage. The very same men
that after success would have flattered, will now calumniate. The very
same men, that would have made an offering of unlimited sagacity at the
shrine of victory, will not now be content to take back that portion
that belongs of right to themselves, but would violate the sanctuary of
misfortune, and strip her of that covering that candour would have left
her.
R. E.
The following facts have come to our knowledge, too late to be inserted
in their proper place. But we deemed them too interesting to be
altogether omitted. Indeed, every incident of his short, but virtuous
life, however slight, cannot fail to impart some degree of at least a
melancholy pleasure to every generous and patriotic bosom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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