[Thomas William Wrighte to Sir Samuel Egerton Brydges.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Thos. Wm. Wrighte') to Brydges, discussing Terrick Hamilton's 'Antar', Arabia, and the difficulties of his own son, Henry Wrighte.

3pp., 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with slight damage to a corner of the second leaf. Pencil note in another hand at foot of last page. Hamilton (1781-1876), Oriental Secretary to the British Embassy at Constantinople, published 'Antar: A Bedoueen Romance' with the London publisher John Murray in 1819. The present letter therefore relates to a pre-publicity copy of the book, which Wrighte has read with 'great pleasure'. Readers are, he considers, 'much obliged to Mr. Terrick Hamilton for presenting it to the Public in such an elegant English dress'. He complains that the book 'contains but little information with respect to the domestic habits of the Arabians' and no allusion to the Red Sea (despite the fact that it 'relates to the different Tribes of Arabs in Arabia Felix, bordering on the Coasts of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf'), but finds that it has 'every mark of genuineness'. He also discusses 'the Arabic names for the Constellations' and 'the pasturing of Cattle'. The latter part of the letter concerns his son Henry. He explains that he feels 'anxiety to get him into some situation within the Church or in some civil capacity at Home or abroad', and suggests that the reason why he has not replied to Brydges's 'kind Letter concerning him', may be that he 'has been improvident and I hope is now fully sensible of it, and is perhaps ashamed to write to you'. The Gentleman's Magazine, November 1854, carries a short obituary for Wrighte.