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3 unusual facts about James Moore Smythe


James Moore Smythe

He was appointed by the King to the Office of, Co-Paymaster of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.

In the context of The Dunciad, Moore stands not just for the generally degraded fop, nor for the imprudent heir of a fortune, but for the avarice and stupidity of book sellers (exemplified by Edmund Curll) who would publish anything at all, regardless of value, if it looked like it would sell.

In 1727, he wrote his only play, The Rival Modes, and the Drury Lane company under the direction of Colley Cibber and Robert Wilks acted it.



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