410 p. Foxed. 8vo. 220 mm. Spine rebacked in black leather. Original boards, worn. First American edition. Hardbound. Good. Scots born Thomas Hamilton (1789-1842) was generally overshadowed by his famous father - William Hamilton (1758-1790), professor of anatomy and botany at Glasgow, and his brother Sir William Hamilton (1788-1856) the metaphysician and antiquary. In 1810, after fully showing, in Glasgow and Liverpool, his incapacity for business, he got a commission in the 29th Regiment. Twice on active service in the Peninsula, he received from a musket bullet, at Albuera, a somewhat serious wound in the thigh. He was also in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick with his regiment, which at length was sent to France as part of the army of occupation. About 1818 Hamilton retired to Edinburgh on half-pay. He became a valued member of the 'Blackwood' writers. Hamilton married in 1820, and for several summers he and his wife lived near Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott finding them very congenial neighbors and friends. In 1827 he wrote the ten popular novel Cyril Thornton. In 1829 they went to Italy, where Mrs. Hamilton died. Some time after his return, Hamilton visited America, bringing back materials for a this book on the Americans. 'Men and Manners in America' first appeared in 1833. 'Here his fund of humour and his genial satire, characteristics that struck Carlyle in his interviews with him in 1832-3 found scope, but his fun, if occasionally extravagant, was never unfair, nor were his criticisms directed by prejudice or charged with ill-nature.' - DNB. In the book he insightfully comments on all aspects of American culture, industry and government, he frequently expresses fascinating insight into the mores of this country. Especially interesting is his observations on American blacks - both Free and Slave. S&S/AI 19191; Sabin 30035; Howes 4481/H-138. PAIMP 22
