Horne Tooke and "Old Smith."

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 160, 28 August 1886, Page 4

Horne Tooke and "Old Smith."

When on his way from Devonshire to Lon~ don on an electioneering expedition, Home Tooke was riding in the inside of the mail with three other passengers, apparently strangers. One of them presently accosted one of /the others in these words :— " Do you happen to know Home Tooke ?'* f'No," said the other. " I am glad to hear it," he said, pursuingthe thread ot his discourse ; " for he is one of the greatest scoundrels alive. There is nothing he »vill not do to carry his point," At this moment the coach drew up at the waysido inn to change horses, and Home Tooke seized the opportuniny to get out and ask the guard if he could tell him who the person who had thus freely maligned him might be. '• Tell me," he said, " do you know who that old fat man is sitting opposite me facing the horses ?" "Oh, yes, sir," was the reply ; "it's old Smith, the lawyer of Exeter, who, is going up te London to vote against Home Tooke.!* " Oh indeed ; thanks, guard — thanks." After taking .his seat, and the journey' was resumed, Home Tooke immediately addressed tbe gentleman to whom , Smith had been speaking, and Baid .: — "Do you happen to know, sir, a person.' by the name of Smith, a pettifogging lawyer, who bails from Exeter ? He is a fat, low-bred looking fellow, and an awful scoundrel/* At this Smith's temper was uncontrollable, and. he replied in a sweltering rage :—: — "I am Smith, !" „ », , lv ; "And I," said the other,, "am Hornol Tooke 1", , . ,', „ \ / „! Strange to say, they , afterwards became friendly, and it ie said that Smith vote^, for instead of against the other. | ,' ?,,\

" Yes,, I want a man : bUt'the work- Is 5 heavy, and he/muat be healthy and strong, T suppose you' enjoy 1 'gooa* health^ J ! 'do you t l|f •• Youbet I doea, bo 98 t u whenl has' it;" w * *■