[Horace Smith, poet and friend of Shelley, author with his brother Joseph of the 'Rejected Addresses'.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Horatio Smith'), playfully thanking Joseph Blunt for making him 'a present of a pair of horns'.

2pp, 12mo. On bifolium. Twenty lines of text. In fair condition, aged and worn, with chipping and short closed tears to extremities. Folded twice. Addressed on reverse of second leaf to 'Joseph Blunt Esqre.' Signature underlined with a flourish. The letter begins: 'Here I am again installed in my Study, & as I am sending a parcel to town I beg to thank you for your hospitality, & to tell you that they are all here quite delighted with your little remembrances, except that my wife says she does not quite like your making me a present of a pair of horns!' For his part he feels that the gift 'affords a good handle', and looks upon it 'as an assistance to boot'. He concludes 'I shall tell every body that you shot the Chamois & indeed I understand from Hill that you shot 34, & wounded 19 - he happens to know it.' It is not to be thought that Smith is actually thanking Blunt for cuckolding him: the joke is that Blunt has been hunting and has sent Smith a trophy. 'Hill' is Thomas Hill 'the Drysalter', owner of the Monthly Mirror, around whom a literary circle, including Theodore Hook and Thomas Campbell, assembled.