'THE TRAVERSERS' RICHMOND BRIDEWELL - LAST DAY OF CAPTIVITY MAC-GEOGHEGAN, ABBÉ [trans. from French by Patrick O'Reilly] The History of Ireland: Ancient and Modern, taken from the most authentic records and dedicated to the Irish Brigade, James Duffy, 25 Anglesea Street, Dublin 1844. Hardback, green boards with gilding to spine and cover With presentation inscription to inside page 'This volume was presented by the publisher to John Gray Esq M.D. in Richmond Bridewell on the 6th day of September 1844, being the last day of his captivity in the Cause of Ireland’ Signed and inscribed on reverse of the same page by: ‘Daniel O’Connell M.P. for the County of Cork Richmond Bridewell 6th September 1844 the closing day of the unjust captivity’ ‘John O’Connell MP Kilkenny City Richmond Bridewell Sept 6 1844 the first day of liberation’ ‘Thomas Matthew Ray – Secretary of the Loyal National Repeal Association of Ireland – Richmond Prison 6th Sept 1844’ ‘Thomas Steele O’Connell’s Head Pacificator of Ireland – The last day of the captivity’ ‘Charles Gavan Duffy Editor of The Nation – Sept 6th 1844’ ‘Richard Barrett Ed The Pilot 6th Sept 44’ Daniel O'Connell had proclaimed 1843 the 'Repeal Year', in which the Irish nationalist cause would be achieved. He organised a campaign of public meetings around the country to garner support for the movement. This posed a serious threat to the law and order of the British Conservative government under Sir Robert Peel. In October of 1843, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland issued a proclamation banning a meeting that was due to take place in Clontarf. Though the meeting was cancelled, Peel's government and representatives in Ireland began to pursue a series of indictments against O'Connell and the other key members of the Loyal National Repeal Association based on speeches they had made and newspaper articles written on the subject. On 14th October 1843, warrants were issued against O'Connell and eight others. 'The Traversers' as the group was known, was made up of John Gray MD and six other above signatories of the book. Along with two others: Rev Thomas Tierney and Rev Peter James Tyrrell (who died in the intervening period awaiting trial). They were tried in early 1844 and found guilty. Judgment was passed on May 30th 1844 and the prisoners were sentenced to between 9 and 12 months in prison, with Daniel O'Connell receiving the longest sentence. They were to be imprisoned in Richmond Bridewell (now the site of Griffith College) on the South Circular Road, Dublin 8. As we can see from the date on the book, their sentence only lasted 3 months after an appeal was brought before the House of Lords in July and succeeded in overturning the guilty verdict. The whole trial process, imprisonment and appeal captured the interest of the public, with the court gallery and entrance to the Four Courts frequently thronged with onlookers. It was subject of intense debate in parliament, public meetings, written thoroughly about in the press and appeared in political cartoons and even ballads. Another unique piece of visual evidence can be seen in the set of watercolours commissioned by Thomas Ray from artist Henry O'Neill which show the considerable comfort and opulence that they lived in during their incarnation. They were sold in these rooms in 1990 £50,000 Irish pounds. We can see that both Charles Gavan Duffy and Daniel O'Connell had separate living and sleeping quarters, sitting rooms with open fires, bookshelves, writing tables and even a piano. The walls are covered in patterned wallpaper and artworks displayed, the floors warmed with thick pile rugs and elaborate velvet curtains on the large windows. The History of Ancient and Modern Ireland details the period from pre-Christian era through to the ascension to the throne of James I in 1603. MacGeoghegan, an Irish priest working and living in Paris, published the work in French in three volumes between 1758 and 1763. He dedicated the book to the Irish Brigade and made the infamous statement that during the fifty years following the Treaty of Limerick (1691) 450,000 Irish soldiers died in the service of France. Irish nationalist John Mitchell, published The History of Ireland, from the Treaty of Limerick to the Present Time, declaring it a continuation of the MacGeoghegan's work. As the original has long been associated with the cause of Irish nationalism, it is not surprising that it was gifted to John Gray on its publication in English in 1844.