William Hamilton — Poems on Several Occasions

Edinburgh, W. Gordon, 1760 . Leather. A mid-seventeenth century volume of poems written by William Hamilton, a poet and officer in the Jacobite uprisings. With a preface from Adam Smith, who edited the work early in his career. Illustrated with a portrait frontispiece.First published in 1748, this is the work of Scottish poet William Hamilton, a figure closely associated with the Jacobite movement. After serving as an officer in the Jacobite uprisings, he was exiled to France.A group of Hamilton's friends, including Adam Smith's patron Lord Kames, decided it was necessary to prepare a collection of his work, as his poem 'Ode to the Battle of Gladsmuir' has become a popular Jacobite ballad. Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith, then twenty-five years old, was entrusted with its editorship. When Hamilton was pardoned and returned to Scotland in 1750, he and Smith became intimate friends.The anonymous preface is actually the work of Adam Smith, and is dedication to the poet's great friend, the Glasgow merchant William Crawford.ESTC T11528.With the bookplate of the Sandeman Public Library of Perth to the front pastedown, with ink inscription to back strip tail and library markings to title page verso of recto of following leaf. 1865 former owner's inscription to front free endpaper. In a full calf binding. Lacking spine label. Ink library number to back strip tail. Significant rubbing to board perimeters. Fading to board perimeters. Joints starting, with boards firmly held. Library bookplate to front pastedown. Ink inscription to front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Ink library markings to title page verso of recto of following leaf. Pages lightly age toned due to paper type, with only the odd light handling mark. Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Good .