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EMM a monolith, with inscriptions in English, Latin, and Irish, marks his resting place. Thomas A. Emmet was six feet tall, and stooped somewhat; his face wore a sedate, calm look; he was near-sighted, and used an eyeglass frequently. Pleasant and playful in his family circle, abroad he was courteous and polished, dignified and self-respecting, without anything approaching to arrogance or self-sufficiency. His widow survived him nineteen years, and died in New York, at the house of her son-in-law, Mr. Graves, on 10th November 1846, aged 71. Particulars of the other members of the Emmet family will be found in Madden's Lives of the United Irishmen, also in Notes and Queries, 3rd Series. ^31

Emmet, Robert, brother of preceding, was born in Molesworth-street, Dublin, in 1778. Shortly after his birth his father removed to 109 Stephen's green West (corner of Lamb-lane). There, and at Casino, his father's country place near Milltown, his early years were passed. He was sent to Oswald's school, in Dopping's-court, off Golden-lane; subsequently he was removed to Samuel White's seminary in Grafton-street; and was afterwards put under the care of Rev. Mr. Lewis, of Camden-street. On 7th October 1793 he entered Trinity College. His college course, like his brother's, was brilliant. He exhibited great aptitude for the exact sciences, especially mathematics and chemistry. He took a prominent part in the Historical Society, and espoused the national side in the political debates. Thomas Moore, his fellow-student, thus describes his oratory: "I have heard little since that appeared to me of a loftier, or, what is a far more rare quality in Irish eloquence, purer character; and the effects it produced, as well from its own exciting power, as from the susceptibility with which his audience caught up every allusion to passing events, was such as to attract at last the serious attention of the Fellows; and by their desire one of the scholars, a man of advanced standing and reputation for oratory, came to attend our debates, expressly for the purpose of answering Emmet, and endeavoring to neutralize the impressions of his fervid eloquence." In April 1798 the Lord-Chancellor held a formal visitation for the purpose of inquiring into the extent of the sympathy with the United Irishmen existing in the College. Robert Emmet, on being summoned, wrote a letter to the Fellows requesting his name to be taken off the books, and indignantly denouncing the proposed proceedings. In this he is said to have had his father's approval. Some fervid writings by Moore and Counsellor Walsh (the author of Ireland Sixty Tears Ago) were in truth the cause of this visitation. Emmet's professional prospects were now blighted; his brother, Thomas Addis, was in prison, and a warrant was out for his own arrest. We know little of his life for some years. Probably he acted occasionally as confidential agent for his brother and others of the United Irish leaders then in confinement. In 1800 he visited his brother Thomas in prison at Fort George, and passed on for a tour on the Continent — visiting Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Spain. On his way back he rested at Amsterdam, and met his brother, then released from confinement, at Brussels. Robert appears at this time to have been much engaged in the study of works on military science. The leading United Irishmen then on the Continent were resolved on renewing their efforts, in the event of a rupture between England and France — regarding the struggle in Ireland as only suspended. Napoleon gave positive written assurance of his intention to secure the independence of Ireland. In the autumn of 1802 Robert had interviews with Napoleon and Talleyrand, and was strongly impressed with the insincerity of the former, believing that if he did interfere in the affairs of Ireland, it would be merely to advance his own designs. The impression left on his mind by these interviews was that Napoleon would probably invade England in August 1803. He returned to Ireland in October 1802. The day before his departure from Paris, he dined in company with Lord Cloncurry and Surgeon Lawless. Lord Cloncurry afterwards related how Emmet spoke of his plans for a revolutionary movement in Ireland with a view to securing its independence "with extreme enthusiasm — his features glowed with excitement; the perspiration burst through the pores, and ran down his forehead." On arriving in Ireland, he at once took the lead in a plan for insurrection the following summer. He had about £3,000 in cash, his own fortune, and some £1,400 advanced by a Mr. Long. His father and mother were then residing at Casino, and he remained there in seclusion for some weeks. In preparation for future possibilities, he formed hiding places between the floors at Casino, as he afterwards did at the house near Harold's-cross bridge where he was arrested. His father's death, in December 1802, left him more at liberty to pursue his plans. In the course of the spring he established depots of arms in Dublin, at Irishtown, Patrick-street, and at Marshalsea-