O’DRISCOL, John. The History of Ireland.

Two volumes. London: Printed for Longman Rees ... Green, 1827. First edition. Octavo. pp. (1) xv, [1], 417, [1], (2) [iv], 400. Contemporary half green morocco on worn marbled boards. Spines divided into six compartments by five raised bands. Title and volume numbers in gilt direct in the second and fourth. Previous owner’s inscription on verso of front endpaper. A very good set. Very scarce.
John O’Driscol, a distinguished Corkman, barrister and historian, became Chief Justice of the Isle of Dominica in the West Indies and died at his post there on the 3rd June, 1828. His burial on the island was attended by the Governor and all the public dignitaries of the Colony. His son William Justin O’Driscol practised as a barrister in Dublin, and was residing at Mountjoy Square when he wrote the biography of his boyhood friend and fellow townsman Daniel Maclise. Concerned with the deplorable policies of previous administrations and the ignorance in Great Britain respecting Ireland, John O’Driscol decided to redress this situation by proposing radical changes and improvements for his country: “The destiny of Ireland has been singular. Voltaire thought she was fore-doomed to slavery: but this brilliant writer was mistaken. This fate is reserved for the willing slave only ... Never were there more turbulent and reluctant slaves than the Irish.” O’Driscol wrote several works on the sociology and history of Ireland. He died a year after the publication of this book.

[Cat 161]