Barrington, George, 1755 1804 (4 results)

Facsimile Edition. Fine copy in the original gilt-blocked cloth over cushioned boards. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: 472 pages; 22cm. Notes: Reprinted 1984 from the 1810 edition published by M.Jones, 5,Newgate St., London. This work is prefixed by a detail of George Barrington's life, trials, speeches, etc. Subjects: 19th century description and travel. New South Wales description and travel. Travel writing. 19th century travel. 1 Kg.

Facsimile Edition. Fine copy in the original gilt-blocked cloth over cushioned boards. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: 472 pages; 22cm. Notes: Reprinted 1984 from the 1810 edition published by M.Jones, 5,Newgate St., London. This work is prefixed by a detail of George Barrington's life, trials, speeches, etc. Subjects: 19th century description and travel. New South Wales description and travel. Travel writing. 19th century travel. 1 Kg.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 2 volumes in one. Volume 1 with a Description of the country , manners, Customs, Religion &c of the Natives [vi]+120 pages with engraved frontispiece and engraved title-vignette depicting prisoners landing at Sydney Cove; volume 2 titled A Sequel to Barrington's Voyage to New South Wales, comprising an interesting narrative of the Transactions and Behavior of the Convicts; The progress of the Colony; an Official Register of the Crimes, Trials, Sentences, and Executions that have taken place: A Topographical, Physical, and Moral Account of the Country, Manners, Customs &c. of the Natives, - as likewise authentic anecdotes of the most distinguished characters, and notorious convicts that have been transported to the settlement at New South Wales viii+88+[6] pages with tables. Small octavo (7 3/4" x 4 1/2") bound in full leather with five raised spine bands and red label in gilt lettering to spine, blind stamped rule to edges. Often found bound together. (Ferguson: 328) Volume one first printed in 1795. Reprint. George Barrington was an Irish-born pickpocket, popular London socialite, Australian pioneer (following his transportation to Botany Bay), and author. His escapades, arrests, and trials, were widely chronicled in the London press of his day. For over a century following his death, and still perhaps today, he was most celebrated for the line "We left our country for our country's good." The attribution of the line to Barrington is considered apocryphal since the 1911 discovery by Sydney book collector Alfred Lee of the 1802 book in which the line first appeared. In 1771 he robbed his schoolmaster at Dublin and ran away from school, becoming a member of a touring theatrical company under the assumed name of Barrington. At the Limerick races he joined the manager of the company in picking pockets. The manager was detected and sentenced to transportation, and Barrington fled to London, where he assumed clerical dress and continued his pickpocketing. At Covent Garden theater he robbed the Russian Count Orlov of a snuff-box, said to be worth 30,000 pounds. He was detected and arrested, but as Count Orlov declined to prosecute, was discharged, though subsequently he was sentenced to three years hard labor for pocket-picking at Drury Lane theater. On his release he was again caught at his old practices and sentenced to five years hard labor, but influence secured his release on the condition that he left England. He accordingly went for a short time to Dublin, and then returned to London, where he was once more detected pocket-picking, and, in 1790, sentenced to seven years transportation. One account states that on the voyage out to Botany Bay a conspiracy was hatched by the convicts on board to seize the ship. Barrington disclosed the plot to the captain, and the latter, on reaching New South Wales, reported him favorably to the authorities, with the result that in 1792 Barrington obtained a warrant of emancipation (the first issued), becoming subsequently superintendent of convicts and later high constable of Parramatta. Condition: Some offset darkening to title, old gift inscription on front end paper else a very good copy.

BARRINGTON, George (1755-1804). An Account of a Voyage to New South Wales by George Barrington, Superintendant of the Convicts to which is prefixed a Detail of His Life, Trials, Speeches, &c. &c. Enriched with beautiful Colour'd Prints. [AND] The History of New South Wales, including Botany Bay, Port Jackson, Parramatta, Sydney, and all its dependancies, from the Original Discovery of the Island: with the Customs and Manners of the Natives; and an Account of the English Colony, from its Foundation to the Present Time.London: M. Jones, 1803 - 1810. 2 volumes. 8vo., (8 4/8 x 5 inches). Folding engraved map "A Plan of New South Wales", engraved frontispiece portrait of Barrington, engraved title-page with vignette of an Aborigine fishing with original hand-colour, and 9 further engraved plates with original hand-colour in volume one; volume II with engraved frontispiece and title-page with vignette of a black swan with original hand-colour, and a further 15 engraved plates with original hand-colour and one uncoloured plate (some light spotting). Contemporary diced russia, gilt (hinges starting at the head of the spine). Provenance: with the small ink library stamp of Hugh Selbourne, his sale, Bonhams, 8th March 2016, lot 262 First edition of the first volume, second edition of the second volume, uniformly bound and an attractive set. Including views and images of the ducking and shaving ceremony as the expedition crosses the equator, Teneriffe, the Cape of Good Hope, the entrance to Paramatta River, Pinchgut Island, Garden Island, and 3 views of Sydney in the first volume. The second volume includes views and images of Sydney Cove, indigenous Australians and some of their ceremonies, native birds and animals (a dingo, black cockatoo, and an emu) and botanical specimens. Both works were originally published in parts in 1802 and 1803, supposedly by George Barrington, but really taken from already various published accounts of the First Fleet. The real George Barrington was a pickpocket transported to Sydney in 1791. In 1796 John Hunter gave him an absolute pardon and appointed Barrington chief constable at Parramatta. He became a relatively wealthy landowner and died of drink in 1804. "Notoriety pursued Barrington long after his death. Irresponsible journalists credited him with great wealth and longevity, and countless works were published over his name. He wrote none of them and was not the author of the oft-quoted prologue reputedly spoken by him at the opening of the first Australian theatre in 1796. His persistent fame sprang from little more than 'a low pilfering habit' united with genteel manners and a shrewd fluency, although he showed signs of reform in New South Wales" ('Barrington, George (1755 1804)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University). Ferguson 367.