SMITH, Horatio (always called HORACE), and James, English authors: b. London, 31 Dec. 1779 and London, 10 Feb, 1775; d. Tun bridge Wells, 12 July 1849, and London, 24 Dec. 1839. James Smith became solicitor to the board of ordnance, and Horace a stock-broker. Being both of a literary turn, the brothers be came contributors to the Pic Nic newspaper, founded in 1802, and from 1807 to 1810 con tributed numerous papers to the Monthly Mirror, among these the 'Imitations of Horace,' which were afterward published sep arately. In 1812 the competition offered by the mangement for the best address to be read at the opening of Drury Lane Theatre, when re built after the fire, suggested to the Smiths the idea of producing a collection of parodies of the most noted writers of the day, under the title 'Rejected Addresses.' The work on be ing issued was hailed with the most enthusiastic applause, and rapidly ran through numerous editions. Its popularity still continues great,
and deservedly, for few jeu.r d'esprit are more happy than the burlesques of the poetry of Wordsworth, Crabbe and Sir Walter Scott (un doubtedly the best; Scott said of it, °I certainly must have written this myself, although I for get upon what occasion"), the pompous prose of Johnson, or the bluntness of Cobbett. .Jet freys said he took the