History of the Insurrection in the County of Wexford, A.D. 1798. Including an Account of Transactions Preceding that Event. With an appendix, etc. Embellished with an Elegant Map of the County of Wexford. Dublin: J. Stockdale, 1803. First Edition. Pp xliv, 304, xxxvi, [20]. Ex library copy, with stamps. Original calf boards, rebacked. A very good copy.

With a folded map of Wexford & with folded table entitled “ANALYSIS OF THE STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF A PARISH.PROPOSED BY THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IN 1795.” and “Enumeration plan” (for enumerating the population of Ireland). The final 20 pages contain “Authentic detail of the extravagant and inconsistent conduct of Sir Richard Musgrave … with a full refutation of his slander against Edward Hay.”

Edward Hay’s account of the 1798 United Irishman rebellion in County Wexford was first published in 1803. An important historical account because it describes recent events from the perspective of a man who witnessed many of them at first hand. Edward Hay’s brother John Hay was executed for his role in the rebellion, but was himself tried and acquitted. Hay was lucky to survive as many thousands in Wexford both loyalist and rebel were killed in often indiscriminate slaughter during the rebellion.