Barrington, George

8vo (175 x 118mm.), 48pp., printed on tinted blue/grey paper, woodcut ship on title, red straight-grained morocco gilt, blue endpapers

Ferguson 210, but cf. 209-212 for other Swindells printings

A fine copy
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Barrington (1755-1804), a celebrated actor, pickpocket and transported convict, was part of the Third Fleet, arriving in 1791. He was sent to the out-settlement at Toongabbie and received a conditional pardon from Governor Philip in 1792 and an absolute pardon in 1796.

"From the moment of his conviction in 1790 London and provincial publishers used Barrington's name without scruple. The first attributed publication appeared in London in 1790 in the Attick Miscellany, entitled ‘An heroic epistle from George Barrington to Major Semple on his sentence of transportation to the coast of New South Wales’. Barrington was later presented as the author of apparently authoritative accounts and histories of the colony which were in fact compilations from other sources. About 1793-4 An Impartial and Circumstantial Narrative of the Present State of Botany Bay appeared under his name; it was reissued in a more elaborate version in 1795, as A Voyage to New South Wales (sometimes A Voyage to Botany Bay)... Versions appeared for more than twenty years, and there were translations into other languages... While there is no evidence that Barrington had any part in these publications, he was nevertheless a man of fluent literacy." (ODNB). Ferguson lists ten editions or issues of this work, or versions of it, dated 1795 or c.1795. All appear to be rare.