BARRINGTON, Sir Jonah. Historic Memoirs of Ireland; Comprising Secret Records of the National Convention, The Rebellion, and The Union; with Delineations of the Principal Characters connected with these transactions. Illustrated with curious letters and papers in fac-simile; and numerous original portraits (DUKE OF SUNDERLAND’S COPY)

London: Published for Henry Colburn for Richard Bentley, 1833. Quarto. First edition. pp. (1) xlii, 358 (2) ix, 464. Near contemporary full calf, covers framed by triple blind fillets enclosing in the centre the gilt armorial arms of George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland. Spines divided into six panels by five gilt raised bands, title and volume numbers in gilt on red and green contrasting morocco labels, year in gilt at heel; green and gold endbands; board edges ruled in gilt; splash-marbled endpapers; blue silkmarkers. All edges marbled. A very good and attractive set. Rare in this condition.

First issued in parts as Historic Anecdotes and Secret Memoirs of the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland between 1809 and 1815, the first edition was finally published in 1833, completing a work some thought had been suppressed by the British Government. Provenance: From the library of George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland, KG (1786-1861), styled Viscount Trentham until 1803, Earl Gower between 1803 and 1833 and Marquess of Stafford in 1833, was a British peer and Whig politician from the Leveson- Gower family. Educated at Harrow School from 1798 to 1803, then entered Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1806 and M.A. in 1810. In 1841 he graduated D.C.L. at the same university. Between 1806 and 1808, Earl Gower travelled in Prussia and Russia. During the Prussian campaign against Napoleon’s French forces, he spent time at the Prussians’ general headquarters. Sutherland was an active first-class cricketer in 1816 when he played for Marylebone Cricket Club and a team organised by E. H. Budd in a total of three matches. He was a keen book collector and was one of the founder members of the Roxburghe Club in 1812. He was a trustee of the National Gallery from 1835 and of the British Museum from 1841 to his death, as well as appointed a Fine Arts Commissioner in 1841.

[Cat 160]