HAMILTON, Rev. William. Letters Concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim. Containing Such Circumstances as appear worthy of notice respecting the Antiquities, Manners and Customs of that Country. Together with the Natural History of the Basaltes, and its Attendant Fossils, in the Northern Counties of Ireland. The whole illustrated by An accurate Map, and Engravings of the most interesting Objects on the Coast. In two parts. In these letters is stated a plain and impartial view of the volcanic theory of the Basaltes.

Dublin: Printed by George Bonham, for Pat. Byrne, Grafton-street, Dublin; G. Robinson, Pater-noster-row, and P. Elmsly in the Strand, London, 1790. Octavo. pp. xi, [v], 190. Modern half morocco [by Nick Abrams] on marbled boards, title in gilt on black morocco letterpiece on spine. Signed presentation copy to John Gaiscom from James Pim, Jr. Signature of Rev. George H. Wilson. Tissue repair to one map. A near fine copy with exceptionally clean plates.
ESTC T146986. Bradshaw 4901.
William Hamilton (c.1755-1797) naturalist and antiquary, was born in County Derry. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and became a fellow there in 1779. Later he was Rector of Clondevaddock on the Fanad Peninsula in County Donegal, where he did much to improve the area, though it is said by some that he abused his power. J. W. Foster in his Colonial Consequences [Dublin: 1991], remarks on William Hamilton, “Derry antiquarian whose Letters Concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim professed a volcanic theory of the formation of basaltic rock in the Giant’s Causeway”. He was appointed as a magistrate and was assassinated on the shores of Lough Swilly.
“You would hardly believe how little remains of Irish history, language or customs, are to be traced in this part of the country, The revolutions which it has undergone, in consequence of forfeitures to the English, and the encroachments of the Scots, have overturned every remnant of its original state” (p.59) ... As the people of those days generally followed the fortunes of their chief, the greater part of the native Irish who survived these bloody scenes, transplanted themselves elsewhere; while the Scots remained peaceable possessors of the field. Hence the old traditions and customs of the country were entirely lost; and the few who speak the Celtic language at all, use a kind of mixed dialect, called here Scotch-Irish, which is but imperfectly understood by the natives of either country. The present possessors are in general an industrious thrifty race of people. They have a great deal of substantial civility, without much more courtesy to relieve it, and set it off to best advantage. The bold ideas of rights and privileges, which seem inseparable from their Presbyterian church, renders them apt to be ungracious and litigious in their dealings.”
Large folding map frontispiece. Three superb engraved plates [Caraig a Ramhaid - Cape Pleaskin - Casan an Fhir Liath] on heavy paper and two small engraved views as headpieces [Doon Point – Giant’s Causeway].

[L1 8B]