[Griffiths, Ralph] ASCANIUS; OR, THE YOUNG ADVENTURER CONTAINING AN IMPARTIAL HISTORY OF THE REBELLION IN SCOTLAND IN THE YEARS
1745, 1746 IN WHICH IS GIVEN A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS,
AND DEATH OF COLONEL GARDNER. WITH A JOURNAL OF THE MIRACULOUS ADVENTURES AND
ESCAPE OF THE YOUNG CHEVALIER AFTER THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN.
Edinburgh, Ogle
Allardyce and Thomson, 1818
8vo, (17cm), 216pp.
Frontispiece and three other engravings.
Battle of Falkirk lines illustrated in text on p.40, and there is a
folding plate of the lines of the Battle of Culloden. Contemprarly sprinkled calf with gilt rules
to boards and spine compartments.
Marbled endpapers. Bookplate of
John Waldie and library plate to the front pastedown. Minor wear only
to covers. Binding sound. Internally
bright with very little foxing.
Occasional soiling mark. Moderate to heavy offsetting from plates. No inks.
An excellent copy of
this rare early 19th Century reprint of this Jacobite work first printed in
1746. Ascanius is often categorised as
“Jacobite propaganda” published to raise funds for the Young Pretender’s cause,
but this is not the case. Ralph
Griffiths was not a Jacobite by any measure, but the ostensibly glowing
portrayal of Bonnie Prince Charlie in Ascanius landed him in hot water. Griffiths, his printer William Faden and
his publisher, William Owen were all
examined at Whitehall Cockpit on January 9th, 1746/7 (O.S.) for seditious libel
following the appearance of this “Pamphlett”.
Griffiths claimed here that he had composed it from “accounts of the
Rebellion published in the London Gazette”.
The book was enlarged and became immensely popular, remaining a
best-seller throughout the 18th and 19th century. This unusual illustrated edition is seldom
encountered in commerce.
[ref:1536]£225