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Despite the appearance of some books and articles on specialized topics, there has been no general study of Irish history at the time of the American Revolution since Lecky's A History of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century. This remarkable work, written about 1880 as part of his English history, is now long out of date. As was the fashion in Lecky's day, Irish historians have until recent times tended to emphasize the purely political aspects of the national story. The availability of much new material and the heightened interest in social developments call for a new and more comprehensive study of this important period. The present work deals with Ireland for the nine years, 1775 to 1783, from just before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War until about a year after its conclusion. For valuable guidance and advice I am deeply grateful to Professor Holden Furber of the University of Pennsylvania and to Professor R. Dudley Edwards of University College, Dublin. I am much in debt to Ashley Powell, B.A., of the Irish Bar whose advice on Irish land tenure saved me from serious error. My gratitude is also due to Professor Leonidas Dodson of the University of Penn11 Despite the appearance of some books and articles on specialized topics, there has been no general study of Irish history at the time of the American Revolution since Lecky's A History of Ireland in the Eighteenth Century. This remarkable work, written about 1880 as part of his English history, is now long out of date. As was the fashion in Lecky's day, Irish historians have until recent times tended to emphasize the purely political aspects of the national story. The availability of much new material and the heightened interest in social developments call for a new and more comprehensive study of this important period. The present work deals with Ireland for the nine years, 1775 to 1783, from just before the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War until about a year after its conclusion. For valuable guidance and advice I am deeply grateful to Professor Holden Furber of the University of Pennsylvania and to Professor R. Dudley Edwards of University College, Dublin. I am much in debt to Ashley Powell, B.A., of the Irish Bar whose advice on Irish land tenure saved me from serious error. My gratitude is also due to Professor Leonidas Dodson of the University of Penn11 12 IRISH POLITICS AND SOCIAL CONFLICT sylvania; Professor Robert E. Burns of the University of Notre Dame, who enabled me to examine valuable material ; Brigadier Maurice D. Jephson, C.B.E., for placing important family documents at my disposal; Eric J. MeAuliffe , who investigated several points on my behalf; Basil O'Connell, K.M., whose knowledge and understanding have been very important to my work; and Eoin O'Mahony, K.M., whose insight into the Irish past has. been of great value. I should also like to record my appreciation of the assistance of Miss Josephine O'Conor, Max Neville of the Irish Bar, Liam O'Brien, Sean O'Reilly, Maurice Twomey, Thomas J. O'N eill of the Irish National Library , and the Hon. Desmond Guinness. I am indebted to the University of Pennsylvania and to the University of Portland for aiding me financially in carrying out my research. The Director and Staff of the National Library of Ireland very graciously gave me every possible assistance. I should like to thank also the officials of both the London Public Record Office and the Manuscript Department of the British Museum. Maurice R. O'Connell 12 IRISH POLITICS AND SOCIAL CONFLICT sylvania; Professor Robert E. Burns of the University of Notre Dame, who enabled me to examine valuable material ; Brigadier Maurice D. Jephson, C.B.E., for placing important family documents at my disposal; Eric J. McAuliffe , who investigated several points on my behalf; Basil O'Connell, K.M., whose knowledge and understanding have been very importal~t to my work; and Eoin O'Mahony, K.M., whose insight into the Irish past has been of great value. I should also like to record my appreciation of the assistance of Miss Josephine O'Conor, Max Neville of the Irish Bar, Liam O'Brien, Sean O'Reilly, Maurice Twomey, Thomas J. O'Neill of the Irish National Library , and the Hon. Desmond Guinness. I am indebted to the University of Pennsylvania and to the University of Portland for aiding me financially in carrying out my research...

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