The Mission of Death; a Tale of the New York Penal Laws by Walworth, M. T - 1853

New York & Montreal: D. & J. Sadleir, 1853. 8vo. 175 x 120 mm., [6 ¾ x 4 ¾ inches].  281 pp.  Original brown cloth, embossed covers with text reading 'Fireside Library' on both boards, title and author gilt on spine; library stamp of St. Michael's Church, Chicago on title-page and ex-libris on front pastedown.  With faults a sound and attractive copy. First edition, with copyright date of 1853 on version of title-page, and imprint reading both New York and Montreal.  Reprinted in 1863 and 1904.  The first edition appears to be very scarce.  Walworth's novel The Mission of Death was published to expose the "penal laws enacted against Catholics citizens of New York by Protestants, facts in our history unknown to the mass of readers."  It tells the story of how the courts in New York supported the nativist movement and the resulting death and hardship experience by many Irish immigrants arrested by a corrupt police force. Mansfield Tracy Walworth, educated at Union College and a graduate of Harvard Law school, practiced law for a time but gave it up to write.  He was prolific in his publications, working as a staff writer for The Home Journal and later the Metropolitan Magazine.  He was the author of six novels, two of which, Delaplaine and Zahara are considered early science fiction publications. "Walworth's fiction has been overlooked by the bibliographers of fantastic literature. . ." (L. W. Curry). Walworth, is remembered today as the unstable husband who abused his wife Ellen Harding Walworth, herself an accomplished writer and historian.  M. T. Walworth was subsequently killed by his son in his attempt to stop the abuse of his mother.  A legendary court case was associated with the killing. Not cited in OCLC and NUC cites copies at Xavier (Ohio), Virginia, Kent State, and Berkley only.  Wright, American Fiction, II, 2624 (with explanation of imprint and edition dates).  L. W. Curry is a leading specialist in popular literature and science fiction.