ROBERT EMMET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1941, 11 September 1888, Page 3

ROBERT EMMET

A lecture on "Robert Emmet, the It Uh patriot and martyr of 1803" was delivered in the Oddfellows' B&ll last evening by Mr J. D. Pope. Mr Pope has a reputation at a lecturer and elocutionist of no mean ability, and it was ezpeoted, therefore, that be would be greeted with a fnll house. This was unfortunately not the case, only about fifty persons being present. The lecture was, however, a great treat and it Is probable that should Mr Pope at any future time see his way to address an Ashburton audience he will receive muoh better support. Thechalr i»ts taken by Mr P. Williams, who in a neat speech introduced the leoturer, Mr Pope oommunoed his lectura with a fervid allusion to the Irish sentiment of devotion to country— a sentiment which he said, Imprisonment, the scaffold, bombshells and ooerolon had not eradicated, or subdued, and could not, because Irish patriotism could not be stifled till Ireland had taken her stand among the nations. He then sketched the main Incidents In thtlife of Robert Emmet, describing in graphic words the rising of 1803 and the events in oonneotion with It. Pathetic reference was made to the ill-starred attachment - between iLmmet and Sarah I Cnrran, the daughter of the great Irish advocate. The leoturer recited Emmet's ■paeon from the dock, when asked what be' had to say why sentence of death shonld not be passed upon him. The recital waa vivid and able, Mr Pope showing that the reputation he has gained Is not unmerited, and at the conclusion the audleric* demonstrated its satisfaction by load and long continued applause. Mr Pope sang three songs " The dear little Shamrock," " The land for the people," and " Tbe wearing of the green " in very good style, being heartily applauded for his rendition of each Item. Votes of tbanka to the leoturer and to the Chairman concluded the prooeedlpgg,