66 REMINISCENCES, ETC. 



the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832. His politics were 

 of the old Tory school, and, in consequence of his strenuous 

 opposition to that measure, he lost his seat. While in the 

 House of Commons, he regularly attended the debates, and 

 never lost an opportunity of recording his vote for his party. 

 He subsequently represented Caernarvonshire in more than one 

 Parliament, but his name is seldom to be found in the debates. 

 He was always more a man of action than a man of speech, 

 and his example might well be followed by many of the 

 legislators of the present day, who discuss measures over 

 and over again, long after the nation has made up its mind 

 about them, and at the same time show no disposition to 

 deduce from their arguments any tangible and useful results. 

 Before railroads almost annihilated time and space, Mr. 

 Smith used frequently to hunt his hounds at Tedworth in 

 the morning, and then post in his light chariot with four 

 horses to Westminster in the evening, announcing to the 

 field that he must be allowed to meet at noon next day. 

 Having voted in the division, he did not fail to be at the 

 covert side at the hour appointed. 



It was at the time when he lost his seat for Andover, 

 viz., 1832, that, in consequence of the riots which took 

 l)lace in that year, he raised a corps of Yeomanry Cavalry 

 at his own expense. He was Captain, and the troopers 

 were chiefly his own tenant» or farmers of the neighbour- 

 hood. They were viewed on one occasion in Tedworth 

 Park by the late Duke of Wellington, who spoke in high 

 terms of their efficiency and soldierlike appearance. After 

 the inspection and review, the troops were entertained at 

 Tedworth House. These volunteers, who could well have 

 helped to defend Old England against invasion, if necessary, 

 were most of them good men over a country, and as such 

 much more likely to do service in the time of emergency 

 than a body of cavalry who are obliged to go round by the 

 road, because they can neither skim ridge and furrow, nor 

 clear a dark fence at the end of it. It is well known that 



