DRUMMOND, William Hamilton. Ancient Irish Minstrelsy. By William Hamilton Drummond.

Dublin: Hodges and Smith, 1852. First and only edition. Large post octavo. pp. xxviii, 292, [2 (Advertisement)]. Olive green blind-stamped cloth, titled in gilt. Signed presentation copy from the author to Stuart Blacker. A fine copy. Scarce.
COPAC locates 5 copies only. WorldCat 1.
William Hamilton Drummond (1778-1865) was born in Larne, County Antrim, and educated at Belfast and Glasgow. Ordained in Belfast in 1800 he became minister of Holywood, County Down. He opened a boarding school at Mount Collier, but left for a parish in Dublin in 1815. Apart from poetry he also wrote a number of histories.
A collection of Irish poems known as Ossianic or Fenian which have been translated for the first time into English. With accompanying explanations. Contents include: Lay of Magnus the Great; Departure, Return and Lay of Magnus; Argean, son of Angart of the Ships; Moira Borb; The Chase of Slieve Guillin, The Chase of Glennasmol; The Battle of Gavra; Death of Oscar; Ossian’s Courtship of Evirallin; The Chase of Slieve-ma-Man; Death of Carril; Combat of Fuath and Conan Maol; Beann Gulban; Cattle Prey of Tara; Talc Mac Trone; Lamentation of Aile; Conloch, Son of Cuchullin; The Champion of Italy; Defence of the Palace of Tara; Cuchullin’s Chariot; Bas Oisin - Death Song of Ossian. Dedicated to Richard MacDonnell (1787?-1867) Provost of T.C.D. Note by Blacker on half-title “I assisted Dr. Drummond in obtaining a careful literal yet spirited translation of the ancient Irish poem ‘The Chase of Glennasmol’ (see page 61 of this volume) it was prepared by Eugene Curry of the R. Irish Academy and was probably the last version made for this Volume by Dr Drummond as he presented it to me soon after in 1852”. Stuart Blacker, AM MRIA. Death notice with black border facing title

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