1825.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 113 



very closely on the heels of his celebrated 

 namesake the Squire of Tedworth, and if he 

 had been equally furnished with the sinews 

 of war the resemblance would have been still 

 more striking. 



One hunted the Quorn, the other the 

 Pytchley — the two best countries in Eng- 

 land — then both hunted adjacent countries: 

 Thomas Assheton Smith the Tedworth, and 

 Tom Smith the Craven; and what is still 

 more curious each had a whip named John 

 Sharp, so that from there being two Tom 

 Smiths, and two John Sharps, there was con- 

 stant confusion in conversation. Both pos- 

 sessed an inventive genius. Mr. Assheton 

 Smith built several steam yachts, and claimed 

 to be the practical originator of the "Wave 

 Line." Mr. Thomas Smith invented a loco- 

 motive battery capable of resisting artillery, and 

 movable with facility along common roads, 

 which attracted the attention of the Secretary 

 of State for War, and the staff at the Horse 

 Guards. 



The Hambledon Tom Smith, though a bold 

 and good horseman, was, perhaps, not so fear- 

 less and reckless a rider as Mr. Assheton Smith, 

 but probably excelled him in knowledge of 

 hunting and woodcraft, for Mr. Codrington of 



I 



