IRELAND - FRENCH EXPEDITION


MORGAN (EDWARD) A Journal of the Movements of the French Fleet, in Bantry Bay, from their First Appearance to their Final Departure; Compiled from Notes Taken on the Spot, FIRST EDITION, AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY TO LORD BANTRY, with 3-page autograph dedication, and marginalium on p.38, pencil sketches of ships and lifeboats on blank leaf, half-title, contemporary Irish red morocco gilt, upper cover with inlaid oval black morocco label gilt lettered "Lord Bantry", light rubbing, modern solander box, 8vo, Cork, M. Harris, 1797
|EFFECTIVELY THE DEDICATION COPY - inscribed to Lord Bantry who had led forces loyal to Britain against the French force landing at Bantry Bay in order to support the Society of United Irishmen. In his autograph dedication dated 14 June 1797, Morgan apologizes for not making the dedication public as "the source from whence I drew my information, almost precluded the possibility of correctness." White had been created Baron Bantry on 24 March for his loyalty to the Crown.Provenance: Richard White, 1st Earl of Bantry (1767-1851), dedication from the author; Sotheby's, 5 February 1979, lot 61.