The Irish standard., 1891-10-17
IRELAND'S INDUSTRIOUS SONS.

The memory of lroland's Industrious
SONS will doubtless become dearer with
time. and among the most cherished
nance, that OF Emmett will forever be
conspicuous. Although it is we'll nigh
a century since his execution, his name,
is still a household word in Irish homes
the world over All are familiar with
the oft-told tragic story Of Robert EN-
met; his love for Sarah Curran, the
daughter of the famous jurist; His az
tempted instruction in Ireland; his
concealment for a month afterward, in
spite of the reward offered for his cap
ture; his arrest, caused by resolving at
all hazards to meet MISS Curran before
attempting his escape to France; bis
trial before Lord Norbury; bis cele-
brated Speech from the Dock, repeat
eddy interrupted by the blo0dthirsty
Judge. AS Emmett told the Court, the
verdict was agreed upon before the jury
was empaneled, and promptly brought
in the verdict, "guilty." DR.. Madden
says:-"No published report gives any
adequate idea OF the effect its delivery
produced on the minds Of his auditors.
Emmett pronounced the speech in so
loud voice as to be distinctly heard at
the outer doors of the court house; and
vet, though he spoke in loud voice,
there was nothing boisterous In it's de-
livery or forced Or affected ID his man
ner; his accents and cadence of voice,
on the contrary, were exquisitely modu
lated. His action was very remarkable;
it's greater Or lesser vehemence CORES
ponded with the rise aud fall of his
voice." The trial closed at half past
ten o'clock at night, by sentence of
death, to be carried into effect next
day. He was immediately heavily
ironed and placed in cell in Newgate,
hare by the Court, and at midnight was
removed to Kilmaiaham. He spent
part of the night Ia writing long letter
to his brother, explaining and Justify
ing his conduct. This letter was never
delivered. Many years afterwards It's
contents reached Thomas Adds Emmett
through the press.) His last hours
were spent in religious exercises and
conversation with his friends. He re
joiced on hearing Of the dsath of his
mother few days previously. as he
hoped the sooner to meet her IN the
other world. He declared his political
principles to be unchanged. About
noon he wrote letter to Richard Cur
ran respecting his love for his sister
Sarah. He had already during the
night written to the father, juslifyinR
his engagement with his daughter.
About one O'Clock he was conveyed
under strong guard to Thomas street.
where, at the corner OF the pavement
by st. GATHERINGS Church, scaffoldine
had been erected, he assembled the
steps with firmness, and addressed the
crowd in a sonorous voice:-''M5
friends. di3 in peace and with senti
ments of universal love and kindness
towards all men," The halter was then
placed round his neck, the plank 90
which he stood was tilted beneath him,
and after hanging a few minutes the
head was severed from the body, and
held no to the Gro wd. Tals was Sep
TENDER Goth, 1903; he was aged "a. His
remains. first inferred in Bully's-acre
near Kllmaiuham Hospital, are said to
have been after wards removed either to
st. MIchan's or to old Glasnevin church
yard. In his speech before senten ce he
had made request: NO man
write my epitapb; for as no man who
knows my motives dare now yindicate
them, let not PREF JUDGE nor Ignorance
asperse them. Let them rest in obscur-
itv and peace; my memory be left in OBJ
llvioD, and nv tomb remain uninscribed
until other times and other men can do
Justice to my character. When my
country takes her place among the ma
tions OF the earth, then. and not till
then, let my epitaph be written. Robert
Emmet is described as slight in person;