Rejected Addresses; Or, The New Theatrum Poetarum

Transcribed from the 1879 John Murray edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
OR,
THE NEW THEATRUM POETARUM
By JAMES SMITH & HORACE SMITH.
“Fired that the House reject him! ’Sdeath, I’ll print it, And shame the Fools!” Pope.
NEW EDITION .
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1879
“I think the ‘Rejected Addresses’ by far the best thing of the kind since ‘The Rolliad,’ and wish you had published them. Tell the author ‘I forgive him, were he twenty times over our satirist;’ and think his imitations not at all inferior to the famous ones of Hawkins Browne.” Lord Byron to Mr. Murray, Oct. 19, 1812. “I like the volume of ‘Rejected Addresses’ better and better.” Lord Byron to Mr. Murray, Oct. 19, 1812. “I take the ‘Rejected Addresses’ to be the very best imitations (and often of difficult originals) that ever were made; and considering their great extent and variety, to indicate a talent to which I do not know where to look for a parallel. Some few of them descend to the level of parodies; but by far the greater part are of a much higher description.” Lord Jeffrey ( in 1843), Note in Essays , iv. 470
James Smith and Horace Smith, authors of the Rejected Addresses ; or, The New Theatrum Poetarum , were the sons of Robert Smith, solicitor to the Board of Ordnance. James was born at No. 36, Basinghall Street, London, on the 10th of February, 1775; and Horace in the same house on the 31st of December, 1779.
James was educated under the Rev. Mr. Burford at Chigwell in Essex; articled to his father on leaving school, subsequently taken into partnership with him, and eventually succeeded to his father’s business, as well as his appointment of solicitor to the Ordnance. Horace received the same education as his brother, became a member of the Stock Exchange in London, acquired a fortune, and retired with his wife and family to Brighton. James, who lived and died single, was the author of several small copies of verses, since collected by his brother; and Horace was the author of “Brambletye House,” a novel in three volumes, well received at the time of its publication.