The Ancient and Present State of Orkney, particularly the Capital Borough of Kirkwall. To which are added, the petty tyrants; or, grinders of the poor. The characteristic new year's gift, or Lawrie's Elections ....

Newcastle upon Tyne: Printed for the Author, 1788 A very good copy of the scarce 1st edition. Written as a protest - the author's preface states 'the design of publishing....is rather to make more clearly known the hardships and unconstitutional government of this Burgh'. Eunson has an interesting history: some accounts state that he was a smuggler who turned 'gamekeeper' being made an Officer of Excise by an influential patron. His zeal made him enemies who then had him arrested and locked up. The book is said to be his revenge and he does not hold back - accusing the nobility of rigging elections in favour of their cronies; and that the legal profession were involved in smuggling. This copy is in a half leather binding with gilt lining and title label to spine and marbled boards. The spine and corners are new with the original marbled paper. It is therefore sound and tight. Paper has some scuffing. There is an ink note at the front endpaper. Contents: blank; title page; dedication; general preface 4pp; and text to p127 - which includes some poetry (eg 'Petty Tyrants, or Grinders of the Poor'); finis. Contents are very clean. There is some browning at the corners of the endpapers and initial and final blanks and general toning to paper. Some sections of the work have lighter print than others and there is occasional light brown marking - generally to margins. The word 'bodies' on the bottom line of p48 is part obscured by print. There are 3 professional paper repairs to edges.