But his hoaxes were far more famous than his collection of curiosities, and quite as much to the purpose; and the imprudence he displayed in them was only equalled by the quaintness of the humour which suggested them.  Who else would have ever thought, for instance, of covering a white horse with black wafers, and driving it in a gig along a Welsh high-road, merely for the satisfaction of being stared at?  It was almost worthy of Barnum.  Or who, with less assurance, could have played so admirably on the credulity of a lady and daughters fresh from the country as he did, at the trial of Lord Melville?  The lady, who stood next to him, was, naturally, anxious to understand the proceedings, and betrayed her ignorance at once by a remark which she made to her daughter about the procession of the Lords into the House.  When the bishops entered in full episcopal costume, she applied to Hook to know who were ‘those gentlemen?’ ‘Gentlemen,’ quoth Hook, with charming simplicity; ’ladies, I think you mean; at any rate, those are the dowager peeresses in their own right.’  Question followed question as the procession came on, and Theodore indulged his fancy more and more.  At length the Speaker, in full robes, became the subject of inquiry.  ’And pray, sir, who is that fine looking person?’—­’That, ma’am, is Cardinal Wolsey,’ was the calm and audacious reply.  This was too much even for Sussex; and the lady drew herself up in majestic indignation.  ’We know better than that, sir,’ she replied:  ’Cardinal Wolsey has been dead many a good year.’  Theodore was unmoved.  ‘No such thing, my dear madam,’ he answered, without the slightest sign of perturbation:  ’I know it has been generally reported so in the country, but without the slightest foundation; the newspapers, you know, will say anything.’

But the hoax of hoaxes, the one which filled the papers of the time for several days, and which, eventually, made its author the very prince of hoaxsters, if such a term can be admitted, was that of Berners Street.  Never, perhaps, was so much trouble expended, or so much attention devoted, to so frivolous an object.  In Berners Street there lived an elderly lady, who, for no reason that can be ascertained, had excited the animosity of the young Theodore Hook, who was then just of age.  Six weeks were spent in preparation, and three persons engaged in the affair.  Letters were sent off in every direction, and Theodore Hook’s autograph, if it could have any value, must have been somewhat low in the market at that period, from the number of applications which he wrote.  On the day in question he and his accomplices seated themselves at a window in Berners Street, opposite to that unfortunate Mrs. Tottenham, of No 54, and there enjoyed the fun.  Advertisements, announcements, letters, circulars, and what not, had been most freely issued, and were as freely responded to.  A score of sweeps, all ’invited to attend professionally,’ opened the ball at a very early hour, and claimed admittance,