Footprints of Emmet (Classic Reprint)

Book excerpt: Excerpt from Footprints of Emmet The writer having, in view of the Emmet Centenary, prepared a series of photographs of places, etc., with which the name of Emmet is associated, considered that it might not be inappropriate that they should be accompanied by a short narrative sketch that would serve the purpose of explaining them. With this object he has collated from authoritative sources, as comprehensively as circumstances permitted, the authenticated facts of the young patriot's life story. He has endeavoured, at the same time, to make this little volume something more than a mere compilation, and trusts that it presents features sufficiently original to justify its appearance in conjunction with the many excellent biographies that have already appeared. In preparing the book the writer has of necessity drawn largely upon the materials supplied by Dr. R. R. Madden, whose arduous labours have preserved to us so much that relates to the 1798-1803 periods; and to whom we are undoubtedly indebted for almost all that is known of Robert Emmet. Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet, of New York, grandson of the celebrated leader of the United Irishmen of the same name, and grand-nephew of Robert Emmet, continued the researches of Dr. Madden. His investigations have confirmed many of the facts adumbrated by Dr. Maddens statements, and have thrown a flood of light on the mysterious circumstances underlying the Insurrection of 1803, particularly with regard to its actual origin and the real part played by its devoted and ill-fated leader. Dr. Emmet embodied the result of his investigations in his monumental work, The Emmet Family, a valuable historical record, printed in 1898. This interesting work, which was issued in a form that makes it one of the most beautiful and artistically produced books issued in America in recent years, was intended for merely family purposes, and only a limited number of copies were printed. Consequently it remained comparatively unknown until the approach of the Emmet Centenary year brought some of the facts it contained more prominently forward. In compiling the present sketch the writer has made full use of Dr. Emmet's valuable work, and has drawn upon it to an extent which would not be justified had the book been published for general circulation and otherwise available. The writer was enabled to submit the present short sketch to Dr. Emmet before publication. The author of The Emmet Family was kind enough to read the MS., and expressed the opinion that "from an historical standpoint the facts are correctly stated in accord with our present knowledge." About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.