11 ROSENGARTEN— ALBERT HENRY SMITH. 



[May 27. 



published in 1888; ''Philadelphia Magazines and Their Contribu- 

 tors," 1892; ''Bayard Taylor" in "American Men of Letters" 

 series, 1896; " Shakespeare's Pericles and Apollonius of Tyre," 1898. 

 He was the founder and editor of " Shakesperiana," and was 

 thoroughly imbued with knowledge and love of the great dramatist ; 

 he edited " Burke's Letter to a Noble Lord," 1898, and " Pope's 

 Homer's Iliad," 1899, ^^^ he was a frequent contributor to maga- 

 zines and newspapers. His papers were like his popular lectures, 

 for some years, notably about Shakespeare's country, with which 

 he was intimate from frequent pilgrimages, often in the companion- 

 ship of English men of letters . whose friendship and sympathy he 

 enjoyed to a degree rare indeed for a man of his age, — he was as 

 much at home among scholars abroad as at home. 



His greatest service to this Society, to the public, and to the fame 

 of our founder, was his ten volume edition of the " Works and 

 Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin," only recently completed. 

 It was a great task and it was carried through with characteristic 

 industry, devotion and critical ability. He was largely inspired to 

 this undertaking by his familiarity with the unrivalled collection of 

 Franklin Papers, over seventy folio volumes, long in the possession 

 of this Society. He atoned for the careless editing of Franklin's 

 Works by Wm. Temple Franklin, — he corrected the errors and 

 restored the real words of Franklin, so frequently altered in Sparks' 

 edition, and he made large and valuable additions to Bigelow's, and 

 that venerable and learned master of Franklin literature generously 

 and heartily commended his young successor's work. 



Professor Smyth had in contemplation at the time of his too 

 early death, a popular Life of Franklin, and a Life of Washington, 

 and historical students may well regret that his life was not spared 

 for the accomplishment of these tasks. 



Elected in 1886 Professor of English Language and Literature 

 in the Central High School of Philadelphia, he showed remarkable 

 gifts for his task, and won the affection and admiration alike of his 

 colleagues and his pupils. He was constantly helping the students 

 who showed ability, and encouraged them in securing admission to 

 Colleges and Universities, or positions, where many of them gained 

 marked distinction. His popularity with the large body of stu- 



