Sir William Petty's Political Survey of Ireland, by PETTY, Sir William - 1719: with the establishment of that Kingdom, when the late Duke of Ormond was Lord Lieutenant; and also an exact list of the present peers, Members of Parliament, and principal Officers of State. To which is added, an account of the wealth and expences of Engl

London: printed for D. Browne, W. Mears, F. Clay, and J. Hooke, 1719. This, perhaps, is the best of Petty's works Second edition, corrected and enlarged, following initial publication in 1691 under the title The Political Anatomy of Ireland. "Petty wrote his Political Anatomy of Ireland about 1671 after his second long stay in the country. It provides a wide survey of Irish institutions and government with much statistical evidence... the volume concludes with Verbum Sapienti, a short treatise in ten chapters called by Petty 'A Discourse about Taxes and the value of People', being an assessment of the wealth of the nation and its capacity to pay taxes" (Keynes, p. 34). "This, perhaps, is the best of Petty's works; and is valuable alike for the authentic information it affords respecting the state of Ireland in the latter part of the 17th century, and for the judicious suggestions of the author with a view to its improvement" (McCulloch, The Literature of Political Economy, p. 211). The second edition included an additional "The Present State of Ireland" listing the principal political officers in 1719. Octavo (200 x 120 mm). Early 20th century half calf to style, red morocco label to spine with gilt motifs to compartments, brown marbled sides. Title page with contemporary ownership inscription erased in an early hand and the Royal Society of Britain's library stamp in blind, the Society's disposal stamp to rear pastedown. Spine lightly sunned with faint rubbing to joints, pages toned with dampstain at top corner of initial 30 leaves and foot of gutter of final few leaves, slight creasing to pages. A very good copy. Goldsmiths', 5514; ESTC T149613; Keynes 35.