COOPER, George. Letters on the Irish Nation Written During a Visit to that Kingdom, in the Autumn of the Year 1799.

London: Printed by T. Bensley, Holt Court, for J. White, at Horace’s Head, Fleet-street, 1801. Second edition. pp. xl, 354, 2 (publisher’s list). Contemporary full tree calf, flat spine divided into panels by single gilt rules, title in gilt on red morocco letterpiece in the second. Armorial bookplate and stamp of Sir George Ralph Fetherston, Bart. on front pastedown and endpaper. Also with neat stamp of Blackrock College and inscription in ink. A fine copy.
JISC locates the QUB copy only of this edition. One eBook copy only on WorldCat.
The author in a series of letters tells us in his introduction that it was the Legislative Union with Great Britain that attracted his attention to Irish affairs “which principally induced me to visit the country ... It must certainly be allowed, that nothing is more interesting, useful, and honourable, than the study of government, the religion, the commerce, and the manners of a great nation. They form a large portion of the whole circle of human science.” He goes on to tell us that he cannot aspire to be considered as more than a superficial observer, acknowledging the country presents many other interesting objects to a visitor, it abounds with the greatest variety of natural curiosities, and with the most enchanting rural scenery. He discusses the interests of the Catholics and Protestants in Ireland in a political point of view. In respect of the Irish Rebellion he endeavours to get at the causes of it both from his own research and the examination of public documents.
The chapters include: Short Account of the Climate of Ireland, and the General Physical Appearances of that Kingdom - Character of the People - Inquiry into the Causes of National Characters - Distinction of Ranks in Ireland - Colonists with their Descendants, and Native Irish or Aborigines - Hospitality - Love of Gaming - the Destructive Excesses to which it is carried in Ireland; Higher Class of People Considered - their Refinement - Education - Lawyers - Compared with English Ones - Irish Gallantry - Virtue of the Women - Lower Class Considered - Irish Peasantry - Lodging - Diet - Disposition - Their Gross Superstition; Political Discords - Irish Aristocracy - No Middle Rank of People - Some Account of Dublin and its Public Edifices - Tradition from the City to the Country - Oppression of the Peasantry; Religious Distinctions - Historical Sketch of the Origin of their Religious Animosities - Protestant Colonists and Catholic Natives; Agriculture a Leading Resource - Securing to the Farmer the Fruits of His Labour - General Want of Employment - Manufactures - Inland Trade - Foreign Commerce; Inquiry into the causes of the Late Rebellion - State of the Parties since His Majesty’s Accession - Rise of the Orange Faction, and the Conspiracy of the United Irishmen - French Principles, How Far they Influence the Latter - Their Attempts to Stir Up the Catholics - Triumph of the Orange Party; Causes which led to the Acknowledgement of the Irish Constitution of 1782 - Review of Causes which led to a Legislative Union, etc.
Provenance: From the library of Sir George Ralph Fetherston. There have been two baronetcies created for persons with the surname Fetherston, one in the Baronetage of England and one in the Baronetage of Ireland. Both are extinct. The Fetherston Baronetcy of Ardagh, County Longford was created in the Baronetage of Ireland for Ralph Fetherston on 4 August 1776. Sir George Ralph Fetherston, 3rd Baronet (1784-1853) was MP for Longford 1819-1830.

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