Moore's work is about the famous Irish revolutionary Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who was killed while resisting arrest on charges of treason near the end of the 18th century. From the preface: "With respect to Ireland, her situation at present is, in most respects, essentially different from that in which the crisis commemorated in these pages found her. Of the two great measures, Emancipation and Reform, the refusal of which was the sole cause of the conspiracy here recorded, one has already been granted, and with that free grace which adds lustre even to justice, while the other is now in triumphant progress towards the same noble and conciliatory result. That in the condition of Ireland there still remain grievances to be redressed and anomalies to be got rid of, is too manifest to be questioned. But, instead of having to contend, as in former times, with rulers pledged against her interest by a system traditionally hostile to all liberal principles, my country now sees in the seats of authority men whose whole lives and opinions are a sufficient security that, under their influence, better counsels will prevail; and though the traces still left among us of our "blind time of servitude" are unfortunately too many and too deep to be all at once obliterated, the honest intention will not be wanting, on the part of our present rulers, and a generous confidence in them will go far towards giving the power. That I have regarded the task of writing this Memoir as one purely historical will appear, -too strongly, I apprehend, for the tastes of some persons, -in the free and abstract spirit with which I have here entered into the consideration of certain rights and principles which, however sacred and true in themselves, are in general advanced with more reserve, when either applied, or capable of being applied, to any actually existing order of things. For the fears, however, that can be awakened by the assertion, however bold, of any great and incontrovertible political principle, I am not inclined, I own, to feel much respect or pity; well knowing that under such fears a consciousness of injustice, either done or meditated, is always sure to be found lurking. Recollecting, too, from the history of both countries, for the last sixty years, how invariably and with what instructive juxta-position of cause and effect, every alarm of England for the integrity of her own power has been followed by some long-denied boon to Ireland, I shall willingly bear whatever odium may redound temporarily upon myself, should any warning or alarm which this volume may convey, have even the remotest share in inducing the people of this country to consult, while there is yet time, their own peace and safety by applying prompt and healing remedies to the remaining grievances of Ireland.
