An
Account of the Arrest of Lord Edward Fitzgerald.
Contributed by Lord Frederick Fitzgerald to the Journal of the Kildare
Archaeological & Historical Society
This
extract is taken from the original narrative written by Mr. Nicholas
Murphy, at whose house (now 151 Thomas Street, Dublin) Lord Edward Fitzgerald
was arrested. The narrative is dated 29th November 1831, and is now
in the possession of the Duke of Leinster at Carton.
Murphy
was confined in Newgate as a state prisoner, without being brought to
trial, for fifty-five weeks. During this time his house was occupied
as a barrack, and all his goods were looted or destroyed.
Frederick Fitzgerald.
“Arrest
of the Late Lord Edward Fitzgerald”
“On the night of Friday, the 18th of May 1798, Lord Edward Fitzgerald
came to my house, No. 153 Thomas Street, in company with a lady, (A
Mrs. Moore, in whose husband’s house, No. 119 Thomas street, Lord
Edward had been previously concealed) about the hour of ten or eleven
o’clock at night. I did expect him the previous evening, and the
reason I state this is, that a friend of his came to me, and requested
that I would receive him, as he wished to move from where he was at
present.. I was getting the house cleaned down and scoured, and I brought
his friend in, and he saw the persons employed as I told him; he mentioned
that it was not intended to remove him immediately, but said, “I
think a week or ten days would answer.” I assented, and indeed
with reluctance. However, I made no mention of that. In a few days previous
to Lord Edward’s coming the Government had offered One Thousand
Pounds Reward for his apprehension. I certainly felt very uneasy at
this circumstance, and I wished very much to see Lord Edward’s
friend, and where to see him I did not know. As a man of honour I wished
to keep my word, and I could not think of refusing him admittance when
he came. Unfortunately for him and myself, I did so. I expected him
on Thursday, but he did not come till Friday, 18th May’98. I perceived
he looked very bad from what he appeared when I saw him before. The
lady that came with him did not stay long, and I made a tender of my
services to go home with her as she lived in the neighbourhood. There
was a person we met on our way that I believe was waiting for her. I
had some knowledge of him myself, so I returned to the house with a
troubled mind.
Lord
Edward told me he was very bad with a cold, and it was easy to perceive
it. I had procured for him some whey, and put some sherry wine in it.
At this time he appeared quite tranquil, and went up to the room intended
for him; the back room in the attic story. In the morning, he came down
to breakfast, and appeared better than the night before. The friend
that spoke to me concerning him came, I believe, about eleven o’clock;
then it came out for the first time an account of the ‘recontre’
that took place the night before between Lord Edward’s party and
Major Sirr’s (The Town Major). It is perfectly clear in my humble
judgement that Major Sirr had known of his removal and the direction
he intended to take ; for his part and Lord Edward’s party came
in contact in a place called Island Street, the lower end of Watling
street; they there met, and a skirmish took place, and in the confusion
Lord Edward got off. However, one of the party (William McCabe) was
taken, but could not, I believe, be identified. I found my situation
now very painful, but nothing to what it was afterwards.
In
the course of the day (Saturday 19th) a guard of soldiers, and I believe
Major Swan, Major Sirr, a Mr. Medlicot, and another, were making a search
at a Mr. Moore, Yellow Lion, in Thomas Street. A friend came and mentioned
the circumstance to me. I immediately mentioned it to Lord E., and had
him conveyed out of the house in a valley to one of the warehouses.
While I was doing this, Mr. N. (i.e. Samuel Neilson) came and inquired
of the girl if I was at home. I belive she said not. ‘Bid him be
cautious,’ I think was what she told me that he said. I considered
that conduct very ill-timed ; however, I am led to believe it was well-intended.
On Saturday morning, the day of the arrest, there came a single rap
on the door. I opened it myself, and a woman with a bundle appeared,
and inquired if that was Mr. M (Murphy) and I said it was ; she informed
me that she came from Mrs. M (Moore) and was desired to leave that bundle
there. I knew not what it contained, but to my surprise, when I opened
it, I found it to be a uniform of a very beautiful green colour, gimpt
or braided down the front, with crimson or rose-colour cuffs, and a
cape. There were two dresses – one a long-skirted coat, vest and
pantaloons : the other, a short jacket that came round quite close,
and braided in front; there was also a pair of overalls that buttoned
from the hip to the ankle, with, I think, black Spanish leather inside;
I suppose they were intended for riding. The bundle contained a cap
of a very fanciful description, extremely attractive, formed exactly
like a sugar-loaf, or, as Mr. Moore says, conically ; that part that
went round the forehead green, the upper part crimson, with a large
silk tassel, and would incline one side or the other occasionally when
on the head. After placing Lord. E in the valley of the warehouse, I
came down in a little time, and stood at the gate; the soldiers still
at Mr. Ms (Moores) I perceived four persons walking in the middle of
the street, some of them in uniform; I believe Yeomen. I believe Major
Swan, Captain Medlicot, (of the City of Dublin Militia) &c., was
of the party. Toward four o’clock Lord E. came down to dinner.
Everything was supposed to be still now at this time. S. N. (Samuel
Neilson) came to see us; dinner nearly ready; I asked S.N. to stay and
dine, which he accepted. Nothing particular occurred, except speaking
on a variety of subjects, when Mr. N., as if something struck him, immediately
leaving us together. There was very little wine taken ; Lord E. was
very abstemious ; in a short time I went out. Now the tragedy commenced.
I wished to leave Lord E. to himself. I was absent, I suppose, about
an hour ; I came to the room where we dined, being the back drawing
room. He was not there. I went to the sleeping room. He was in bed.
It was, at this time, about seven o’clock. I asked him to come
down to tea. I was not in the room three minutes when in came Major
Swan and a person following him with a soldier’s jacket, and a
sword in his hand; he wore a round cap. When I saw Major Swan, I was
thunderstruck. I put myself before him, and asked his business. He looked
over me and saw Lord E. in the bed. He pushed by me quickly, and Lord
E., seeing him, sprang up instantly and drew a dagger which he carried
about him, and wounded Major Swan slightly, I believe. Major Swan had
a pistol which he fired without effect; he immediately turned to me
and gave me a severe thrust of the pistol under the left eye, at the
same time desiring the person that came in with him to take me into
custody. I was immediately taken away to the yard ; there I saw Major
Sirr and about six soldiers of the Dumbarton Fencibles. Major Swan thought
proper to run as fast as he could to the street, and I think he never
looked behind him till he got out of danger, and he was the parading
the flags, exhibiting his linen, which was stained with blood. Mr. Ryan
supplied Major Swan’s place and came in contact with Lord E., and
was wounded seriously. Major Sirr at that time came upstairs and keeping
a respectful distance, fired a pistol shot at Lord E., in a very deliberate
manner, and wounded him in the upper part of the shoulder. Reinforcements
coming in, Lord E., surrendered after a very hard struggle. Lord Edward
was imprisoned in Newgate.
Two
surgeons attended daily on Lord E. Fitzgerald. It was supposed, the
evening of the day before he died, he was delirious, as we could hear
him with a very strong voice cry out ‘Come on! Come on! Damn you!
Come on!’ He spoke so loud that the people in the street gathered
to listen to him. He died the next day, early in the morning on the
3rd of June. The surgeon attended and opened the body. Then he was seen
for the first time by the prisoners. He had about his neck a gold chain
suspending a locket with hair in it. Thus died one of the bravest of
men, from a conviction, I believe, that he wished to ameliorate the
condition of his country. I shall endeavour to describe his person.
I believe he was about 5 feet 7 inches in height, and a very interesting
countenance ; beautiful arched eyebrows, fine grey eyes, a beautiful
nose and high forehead, thick dark-coloured hair, brown or inclining
to black. I think he was very like the late Lady Louisa Connolly about
the nose and eyes. Any person he addressed must admire his manner, it
was so candid, so good-natured, and so impregnated with good feeling;
as playful and humble as a child, as mild and timid as a lady, and when
necessary as brave as a lion. He was altogether a very nice and elegant
formed man. Peace be to him ‘manes’.”
Note
by Lord Walter FitzGerald
The two informers implicated in the betrayal of Lord Edward were Francis
Higgins (proprietor of ‘The Freeman’s Journal’, at that
time a paper in the interest of the Government), and Francis Magan,
M.A., Barrister at Law. On the 20th of June 1798, Francis Higgins was
paid the Government reward of £1,000 for Lord Edward’s capture
(Fitzpatrick’s “Secret Service under Pitt”)
Lord Edward’s remains were placed in a vault under the East end
of St. Werburgh’s Church in Dublin; and, owing to the damp state
of these vaults, it became necessary to renew the coffin three times,
viz.: - In February, 1844, by the orders of Lord Edward’s daughter,
Lady Campbell ; again in 1874, by the 4th Duke of Leinster ; and lastly,
in May, 1896, by the Trustees of the Leinster Estates.
