stirrup, and claiming quarter.O'Hara afterwards addressed to him several letters, thanking him for his life.

Colonel Howard continued in his command till the army was dis banded, when he retired to his patrimonial estate near Baltimore. He soon after married Margaret Chew, the daughter of Benjamin Chew, of Philadelphia; a lady whose courteous manners and elegant hospitality, will long be remember. ed by the society of Baltimore. In November, 1788, Col. Howard was chosen the governor of Mary. land, which post he filled for three years; and having, in the autumn of 1796, been elected to the senate of the United States, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resig. nation of Mr. Potts, he was, the same session, chosen for the full term of service, which expired on the 4th of March, 1803.

The fortunate situation of Colonel Howard's estate, in the immediate vicinity of Baltimore, not only placed him above the want which has pursued the old age of too many of our veterans, but was the foundation of subsequent opulence. The inconsiderable town which, at the close of the late war, numbered less than ten thousand souls, has since, under the influence of that liberty which he aided in asserting, expanded to a city of seventy-two thousand, embracing, by degrees, within its growing streets, the venerable shades which sheltered the retired soldier. An old age, warmed and enlivened by such topics of grateful reflection, is the most enviable of the conditions of human life, as well as an object of the utmost veneration and regard. To. wards the soldier of the Cowpens, this regard was felt, not only by

his immediate neighbours, and by his companions in arms, but by the most eminent worthies of his day. The "Father of his country," n more than one letter, expressed to him his confidence and esteem. In one, he regrets Colonel How. ard's declining to accept a post, as a loss both to himself and to the public, and requests, in another, the interposition of a gentleman in Philadelphia, to induce the colonel's acceptance. "Had your inclina. tion," says Washington in his letter to Colonel Howard, "and private pursuits, permitted you to take the office that was offered to you, it would have been a very pleasing circumstance to me, and, I am persuaded, as I observed to you on a former occasion, a very acceptable one to the public. But the reasons which you have assigned for not doing so, carry conviction along with them, and must, however reluctantly, be submitted to."

At his death, colonel Howard was the highest officer in rank in the continental service, except General Lafayette-Gen. Sumpter, who is still living, having been an officer of militia, and without any continental commission.

College, Dublin, commenced his preparatory professional studies at the university of Edinburgh, where he graduated in September, 1784, as M. D.

While in that university, he evinced the same untiring industry, and profound genius, which, at a later period of his life, and in another hemisphere, made him preeminent at the bar. The thesis, prepared according to the statutes, at the time of taking his degree, was selected for its merit, and ap. peared, among the best dissertations produced at that university, in the Thesaurus Medicus published at Edinburgh by Smellie, the naturalist. His inclinations, how. ever, obviously tended to forensic pursuits, and so conspicuous was he at this early period as a speaker, that we find him acting as president of no less than five debating societies. One of these societies, termed the speculative, was not confined to topics connected with the study of medicine, but em. braced the whole extent of poli. tics, metaphysics, political economy, and literature. With the view of completely preparing himself for the medical profession, he also visited the most celebrated schools of the continent, making the tour of Italy and Germany.

After attaining as much reputation as can well fall to the share of a student, he returned to Ireland, with the intention of commencing the practice of his profession. A different destiny, however, waited him. His brother, Christopher Temple Emmet, a member of the Irish bar, of surpassing talents, was cut off by a premature death, leaving a vacancy, which it was determined that the subject of this memoir should occupy. He ac. He ac

cordingly commenced the study of the law almost immediately after completing his medical studies. Two years were spent at London in attending terms in the Temple, and the courts at Westminster, where he often heard Erskine, then in the zenith of his fame.

He then returned to his native land; was admitted to the bar in 1791, and commenced the practice of the law in Dublin.

Shortly after his admission to the bar, he married Miss Jane Patten, the warm hearted and affectionate partner of his future life, and who showed, throughout the long and severe trials to which his poli. tical course subjected him, how justly she appreciated the character, and coincided in the views of the patriot of Ireland.

Mr. Emmet very soon rose to distinction at the Irish bar. He rode the circuit with Curran ; to whom, in the opinion of many, he was superior in talents, and unquestionably in legal attainments, and general information.

This, however, was not the time for him to realize his anticipations of legal distinction. The condi. tion of Ireland was such as to engross the constant thought of all who regarded her as their country.

For ages she had been suffering under the most monstrous system ever devised by a bigoted and unjust government to oppress, impoverish, and enslave a con. quered people. The resources and industry of Ireland had been regarded by their English neigh. bours as the legitimate objects of English cupidity, and the policy of the government had been directed, so as easiest to appropriate them to the use of the more favoured subjects of the empire. While

this policy had been acted upon until it seemed to have become the fundamental law of the kingdom, and while the efforts of the government had been directed rather to perpe. tuate so much of this system as could be preserved, than to reform it altogether, the progress of society in political science and intelligence, brought the Irish people into direct collision with the British government. For several years previous to the period alluded to, they had shown symp. toms of impatience at their galling yoke, which should have warned England of the danger of persisting in her infatuated policy. But the French revolution kindled a flame, which found in Ireland ma. terials too well prepared to extend the sphere of its action. The doc. trines of freedom promulgated in that moment of enthusiasm, met with a ready response from thousands of Irishmen, oppressed and degraded, but still sanguine and enthusiastic. They saw in the re. volutionary movements of France, a new ground of hope for Ireland, and they determined to use the favourable conjuncture, to effect, if not the emancipation, at least some melioration in the condition of their country.

With this view, in 1791, the association of United Irishmen was instituted, for the purpose of removing the differences previously existing between the Catholics and the Protestants, and of uniting all Irishmen, of whatever faith, into one party, aiming to remove the grievances of which the country so justly complained. Their ob. ject was at first the repeal of the Catholic laws; but as they soon found that the influence of the British cabinet was so powerful over

the Irish government, as to prevent any hope of success while the connexion continued, they began to regard freedom as attainable only through the medium of revo. lution. The short-lived administration of Lord Fitz William, only raised their expectations to blast them the more cruelly; and the decided manner in which all movements towards Catholic emancipation were repressed, by extinguishing all hope of constitutional relief, taught them that their sole chance of success was in an independent government.

The societies of United Irishmen were accordingly revived, in 1795, with increased strength, and the leaders of the revolutionary move. ments began to enrol their names among their members. These as sociations were organized on the footing of secret societies, and their members were bound by the most sacred oaths to their obligations as United Irishmen. Differences in point of religious faith were gradu. ally forgotten, and they were soon all united as one party in the cause of their common country.

These societies, however, by their constitution, could not com prehend more than thirty-six mem. bers, and in order to bring them to act together, a system of represen. tation by committees was instituted in an ascending order, from baro. nial, county, provincial, to national committees. This constitution was framed by a delegation from various societies convened at Belfast May 10th, 1795.

The national committee consisted of five delegates from each pro. vincial; the provincial, of three delegates from each county; and the county, of two delegates from each baronial committee, which

was formed by a similar delegation from the various societies within the barony. Where the societies in the barony amounted to more than eight, two or more baronial committees were instituted, with the view of preventing any one committee from becoming too nu. merous. These committees were elected by ballot, once in three months, and the several subordinate committees reported their proceed. ings to the next highest committee, until the communication reached the national committee. At the head of this organization, compre. hending half a million of persons, was an executive committee, of which Mr. Emmet was a member, and which was in effect a national government. Funds were raised by monthly subscriptions, and were paid into a national treasury. As the plan of organization was matured, it became more apparent that force must be finally resorted to, and a military department was engrafted upon the civil department the latter part of the year 1796, and was mostly composed of the same persons. In order to avoid giving alarm, the ordinary denominations were preserved. The secretary of the primary societies was commonly the sergeant; the delegate from five societies to a baronial committee, was the captain, and the delegate to the next grade was a colonel.-These officers were elected, but all of a higher rank were appointed by the executive. Adjutant generals were also appointed by the executive, and through these all military communications were held with the counties. The se. veral societies were thus formed into an organized military body, and each man was directed to pro

vide himself, as far as practicable. with arms, and the necessary mu nitions of war.

A military committee was formed in 1798, to prepare a plan of operations, and measures were taken to procure aid from France. This aid, however, was to be chiefly limited to arms and money. The number of troops asked for did not exceed 10,000 men. The committee was induced to ask for this small number of troops, because, first, they did not wish to excite any jealousy among their country. men of foreign interference; and, secondly, they were unwilling to give to France too strong a footing in Ireland. Their object was to render Ireland independent under a republican government; and though desirous of the aid of France, they sought it as from an ally, and not as from a protector.

With these views Mr. Emmet joined the association of United Irishmen in 1796, and his talents and character soon obtained him a place in their chief executive committee. In taking this step he gave a most signal proof of his disinterested patriotism. His rank in society, and intellectual powers, would have secured to him the highest stations, had he_chosen to join the court party. Fortunately for his true fame, he determined otherwise, and directed all his energies to obtain for his country her political and religious rights.

While in the executive, which was from January until May, 1797, and again from December until March, 1798, Mr. Emmet was most efficient in properly orga. nizing the association. Before, however, they were ready to declare themselves openly, the go. vernment discovered their inten

tions through the treachery of one Thomas Reynolds, who had so far obtained their confidence as to be appointed a provincial delegate from Leinster, and a colonel of a regiment.

In consequence of his disclo. sures immediate steps were taken to arrest the leaders, and on the twelfth of March, Oliver Bond, and twelve others, were taken into custody at Bond's house, and other distinguished friends of the revolution were arrested at the same time in other places. A procla mation was also issued, announcing the existence of the conspiracy, and the military authorities were authorized to employ the most summary measures to suppress it. Mr. Emmet of course was included among the number arrested, and was thrown, with many others, in the prison of Kilmainham, in Dublin.

This arrest of the leaders, how. ever, did not prevent the general rising, which took place on the 23d of May following, the day ap. pointed for that purpose. As the time approached, the dreadful notes of preparation were manifest in all parts of the country. In the interior the peasantry began to move in large masses to some central points. Night after night they were known to be proceeding along unfrequented roads to their places of rendezvous. The cabins through. out large tracts of country, were either deserted, or found to contain only women and children. The lower classes that were in the habit of flocking to the cities for employment were no longer to be found in their usual places of resort. A general consternation prevailed. Even the measures taken on the part of the government

promised no security. On the con. trary, from their arbitrary and des. potic character, they only tended to exasperate the spirit of disaffection. Martial law was proclaimed, and the people were sent in droves to the prisons, until they could contain no more. Prison ships were then employed, and many of the conspirators were informally executed, and many who were innocent were put to death in a summary manner. In this state of things, upon the appointed day the explosion took place. Deprived of their chosen leaders, the direction of the revolutionary movements fell into the hands of less competent men. After a short but sanguinary struggle, and some partial successes in the counties of Wexford and Wick, low, the insurgents were defeated, and entirely dispersed at the battle of Vinegar Hill, by the army under the command of General Lake, By the latter end of July the government had entirely succeeded in crushing the rebellion. Shortly after this a French army, about 1200 strong, under General Humbert, landed at Killala, on the north-west coast of Ireland, on the 12th of August. It was, however, too late to rally the Irish insur, gents, and in less than a fortnight the French were compelled to sur, render at discretion. This terminated the struggle for Irish inde. pendence, and we now return to the subject of our biography, During his confinement in Dublin prison, Mr. Emmet was treated with great severity, through the malignant disposition of the chie gaoler. Twenty of the state prisoners were confined in this prison, each in a room about twelve feet square, with a common hall, where, by the connivance of a subordi