xt7qjq0stw34_5069 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474.dao.xml unknown archival material 1997ms474 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. W. Hugh Peal manuscript collection James Smith letters, with clipping text 43.94 Cubic Feet 86 boxes, 4 oversize boxes, 22 items Poor-Good Peal accession no. 11453. James Smith letters, with clipping 2017 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7qjq0stw34/data/1997ms474/Box_59/Folder_11/Multipage27183.pdf undated section false xt7qjq0stw34_5069 xt7qjq0stw34 9

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 JAMES SMITH, ESQ.

AV E there’s the end of it! “'0 all know what Dr. ltadclitl'e said to Queen Anne,
when she asked him what brought on the gout. There sits James Smith, with his
foot pressingr a soft cushion, his elbows propped by the arms ofan easy chair,
his hand resting on a crutch, his hair departed from his head, his nose tinged
with the colours of the dawn, and his whole man in a state of that repose which
indicates that he has had much work in his way while sojourning in this world,
and that, like Falstaff, he is taking his case in his own inn, the (:E‘arrick—a club
of gentlemen which in a great measure would answer the description given by
that worthy knight of his companions in arms, as being principally composed of
“ gentlemen ofcompanics, slaves as ragged as Lazarus—discarded unjust serving—
men, younger sons ofyounger brothers, revoltcd tapsters, and 0stlers trade-fallen.”
Among them sits James Smith, regaling them with jokes, which, if they are not
quite as good as those of‘t’alstall’, have at least the merit ofbcing at it ast as old.

The name which he hears has excited some rather elaborate wit in Don Juan——

“ ’Mong‘st these were several Englishmen ofpith~

Sixteen called Thomson, and nineteen named Smith ,7’

and so forth. It is, in spite of this and many other jokes of the same kind,
one of the most honourable names in the world. It is derived directly from
Tubal Cain. As old \erstegan sings, after some far older authorityh
” From whence comes Smith, all be he knight; or squire,
But from the smith who worked in the tire 7."

And what descent can be more noble? The Smith has, however, not been espe—
cially famous in our literature ; and in the present case is distinguished only by
some Cleverly hammered outjokes. Whether James or lloracc were the principal
hamn'ierman, is a question in doubt among" the critics who employ themselves in
discussing matters of such moment. \Ve incline to those who think that any
thing of value in the Rejected zit/dresses is to be attributed to the pen ofJames.
But as Horace (L‘laccus, not Smith) remarks, “grunnnuliri rcr!cnl"——we shall not
dogmatise on the subject. It is certain that James lays no claim to the novel-
writing honours of his brother. With respect to the Adi/1305.903, he is content to
“ partake the triumph ;” but he has no notion that he is called upon to “ pursue
the (1(1!0"—-1i0, nor the Reuben, nor the Bremen/ye, nor any thing that is his—
Viz. IIorace’s.

James Smith was an attorney, and is a pleasant, twaddling, pun—making,
Cpigram—manufacturing, extempore—grinding, and painstaking elderly joker. 110
made one hit, and that was a good one; on the strength of which he has lived
ever since, as indeed he deserved to live. We cannot recollec; that he wrote
any thing in the book line except his contributions to the J9 93-..! 4'!tI'(!/'(I.S‘NC.»',
unless he had a hand in such stull'as Julia/1y, or Horace in Zomba. l'lis magazine
papers in the tV’zo flJOILt/Ily were rather monotonous; and his continually quotingr
ol'them for years afterwards has contributed in a great. measure towards getting him,
so generally as he is, considered to be a bore. But let him have his praise. His
single talent was a good talent, and there is no reason why he should wrap it up
in a napkin. We have already alluded to the uninlrsal diffusion ofhis name
among us English folk, and its trite and ordinary sound in our ears. .th is
perhaps more congruous on that account with the station which he has chosen to
hold in our literature. Ilis place there is of the Smiths, Smithish. In his own
magazine essays, it was a favourite pastime to represent 7dr. Deputy .lliggs of
Kermit l’algate aping the great, and very much disparaged for the parody.
To Scott, to Southey, to VtOl'ClSWOl‘li), to Byron, Smith is what this Norton—
1’alg‘atian is to the gentlemen of\Vhite’s. lie is, therefore, we named; and
let him not repine at his “ compellation,” as in former days, when, walking in
Oxford Street with \Vilson Crokcr, he observed over a shop door “ Mortimer
Percy, tailor,”—“ .[s it not too hard,” said James, then fresh from all the honours
of the Rejected Addresses- about him, “ that two such grand and aristocratic names
should be the lot of a tailor, while two wits and gentleincn are’nmving about the
streets afflicted with the names of ('rokcr and Smith .’”

No —- the name is right——

And may the (iarrick hall with loud actiaiins,
For many a year, the 11'0”} v iolces of James.