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It is now nearly forty years since the death ofmy grandfather, Dr Southwood Smith, and withthis distance of time lying between him and us,it may not be uninteresting to this generation tolook back upon the origin of some of the greatsocial reforms which have now reached such wideproportions, and to see these reforms as gatheredround the life of a man who was in the forefrontof the noble army which promoted them.

He, one of the first to seize a truth, one of themost indomitable to persevere in the promulgationof it when perceived, went straight forwarduntil it prevailed, and thus became instrumentalin conferring some of the widest benefits whichhave come to us in this century.

From his great grief in early manhood he butemerged the stronger. The force of his condensedsorrow produced an energy which carriedall before it, and resulted in the strength of hismiddle age and the serenity of his latter years.In order that such a life—crowned by its humility—mightnot pass away without some permanentrecord of its nobleness, the following memoir hasbeen written.

I must apologise for the frequent allusion, inthe midst of grave public questions, to my ownrecollections; but since all the early years of mylife were passed at my grandfather's side, it hasbeen difficult to avoid this.

Moreover, I have hoped that something picturesqueand touching would be found in therelation of the strong man and little child, whoworked together at various public causes, playingtogether in the bright intervals, and that somethingof the reverent enthusiasm he inspired inthat child might pass, through her, to thosewho read these pages.

GERTRUDE LEWES.

INTRODUCTION.

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