History of the Insurrection in the County of Wexford, A.D. 1798. Including an Account of Transactions Preceding that Event. With an appendix, etc. New Edition. Dublin: James Duffy, 1898. Pp lviii, 361. Bound in half dark green morocco, over marbled paper boards, spine with ruled bands, compartments ruled & embellished in gilt; title labels to second & third. A fine bright copy, handsomely bound.

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.