A Hoax. 13 



circumstances afterwards prevented Ms accept- 

 ance of it. 



About tlie close of tlie war, Mr. Smith 

 built himself a new residence, called Shaldon 

 Lodge, and let the old Manor-house, which he 

 had formerly occupied, to Sir Lawrence Hal- 

 sted, who resided in it whilst building the 

 mansion now called Theddon Grange, but 

 which he styled Phoenix Lodge, after the ship 

 that he had commanded. Sir Lawrence was 

 often visited by his father-in-law, Sir Edward 

 Pellew, and others of the Pellew family, and 

 an intimacy between them and the Smiths also 

 sprang up. Captain PownoU Pellew (after- 

 wards the second Lord Exmouth) was a par- 

 ticularly bad shot, but yet was fond of blazing 

 away at the birds ; and this gave occasion to 

 Tom Smith to indulge his natui-al love of fun 

 by hoaxing liim. They were out together in 

 Theddon Wood, when a Avoodcock rose close 

 to the gallant captain, who drew the trigger, 

 and it fell dead. Half frantic with delight, 



