Page:The Gael Vol XXII January to December 1903.djvu/306

October, 1903.

OR a year or more previous to the centenary of Robert Emmet's death the writer was the recipient of a number of communications from widely different portions of the world, urging that steps should be taken to determine accurately his burial place and it was held the initiative could only be made by the family. The writer had already made the attempt, in 1880, to begin such an investigation at Glasnevin but had met with so discourteous a response from the Rector at that time as to render him unwilling to place himself again in a false position.

It happened by good fortune the writer was last winter in correspondence with Mr. Francis Joseph Bigger, the editor of the Ulster Archæological Journal of Belfast, and other friends in Ireland and by them it was represented the difficulties supposed to exist were in all probability exaggerated.

In addition, David A. Quaid, Esq., a noted solicitor of Dublin, presented me at the time with a copy of his admirable work "Robert Emmet," in which he presents an accumulation of evidence to show that Emmet's remains were at some time placed in the family vault, St. Peter's Church-yard, Dublin. This view was so in accord with my own convictions that I determined to act.

This decision was hastened by the promised assistance of Messrs. Bigger and Quaid. Without further delay a personal application through them was made by me, as the representative of the family, early in the present year to obtain the necessary permission for beginning the investigation at St Peter's and, as I resided in New York and Mr. Bigger in Belfast, the work in detail was placed in Mr. Quaid's hands.

At the beginning of the investigation it became evident the examination would be confined to three places—the family vault, St. Peter's Church-yard; the uninscribed grave in St. Michan's church-yard, which had for years been accepted by a great portion of the Irish people as the hallowed spot; and, finally, to open the uninscribed grave in Glasnevin parish church-yard.

After some delay all obstacles were removed. Mr. Bigger's influence was most important at the beginning, the indefatigable energy of Mr. Quaid advanced the undertaking in detail, and finally, success was achieved by the co-operation of Mr. G. F. Fuller, architect of the Representative Church Body. In fact I fully realize that, without the earnest co-operation of this gentleman difficulties, which were easily overcome by his aid, would otherwise have been almost insurmountable. On the report of these gentlemen it is but a just tribute to acknowledge the great courtesy and consideration shown by. all in authority, from his Grace the Archbishop, the Church authorities of St Peter's; with the good wish of the rector, the Rev. Mr Mahaffy and during his absence, the valuable co-operation of his assistant the Rev. Mr. Robinson Before entering upon the report of the examination made, the reader should gain a knowledge of some other details.

At the close of the eighteenth century the Emmet family of Dublin resided on Stephen's Green, West, and Lamb's Lane, near the corner of York Street adjoining the present College of Surgeons, where the house still stands, though having undergone some alterations.

The parish church was St. Peter's fronting on Aungier's Street According to a map used by "The Wide Street Commissioners" between 1790 and 1800. the plot of the church-yard may be described as a parallelogram obliquely truncated on the west boundary. Aungier's Street running north and south, the north boundary being at a right angle and extending to Peter's Row or