Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Seward, William Wenman

by Gerald le Grys Norgate

SEWARD, WILLIAM WENMAN (fl. 1800), writer on Irish politics and topography, published at Dublin:

1. ‘The Rights of the People asserted, and the Necessity of a more equal Representation in Parliament stated and proved,’ &c., 1783, 8vo (a fervidly patriotic effusion, dedicated to ‘the Volunteers of Ireland,’ displaying, however, considerable knowledge of political and constitutional history).
2. ‘The Hibernian Gazeteer,’ 1789, 12mo.
3. ‘Topographia Hibernica … giving a Complete View of the Civil and Ecclesiastical State of the country: arranged alphabetically, with Appendices,’ 1795, 4to; it is dedicated to William Robert, duke of Leinster, and has for frontispiece an engraving of the Round Tower of Roscrea, Tipperary; for the ancient topography, Archdall and Ledwich were followed; a copy in the British Museum (interleaved) has manuscript notes by the author; among these is an alphabetical list of the English adventurers in Ireland during the first English invasion, under Henry II; the book is described in Peel's ‘Bibliotheca Hibernica’ as ‘a valuable topographical dictionary.’
4. ‘Collectanea Politica; or the Political Transactions of Ireland, 1760–1803,’ 1803, 8vo (the British Museum has no copy).

[Seward's Works; Allibone's Dict. Engl. Lit. ii. 2000.]

G. Le G. N.