99 



brother Joseph, who had engaged in the study of chemistry 

 under Professor Penny, of Glasgow, and with whom he 

 corresponded. He accordingly ]n-oceeded to Giessen, where 

 he worked in Liebig's laboratory during the years 1840-41, 

 and where before leaving he took the degree of Ph.D. 

 During his stav at Giessen he extended his knowledge of 

 the German language and literature, and also paid much 

 attention to German systems of philosophy, a subject that 

 at all times interested him greatly. 



It may perhaps be considered a matter for regret that Dr. 

 Smith's early training in science was not more extensive, and 

 that it continued for so short a time. On the other hand it is 

 possible that a more rigorous training in natural science and 

 mathematics might have detracted fi-om the catholicity of 

 mind and wide culture which were prominent characteristics 

 of his. He afforded indeed a conspicuous example of what 

 the conservatives in education always insist on, viz., that a 

 thorough classical training affords a basis on which a super- 

 structure consisting of any kind of specialt}^ may be confi- 

 dently erected, though on the other hand it is hardly a safe 

 proceeding to found general rules on such exceptional cases 

 as his. Soon after leaving Giessen, Dr. Smith published a 

 translation of Liebig's work " On the azotized nutritive 

 principles of plants." After his return to England at the 

 end of 1841, Dr. Smith was engaged in various capacities 

 with families of distinction, and at this time the early 

 inclination for a theological career seems to have revived, 

 and was probably only given up when it was found that 

 circumstances, such as the necessity? for a preliminary 

 education at an English University, placed an insuperable 

 barrier in the way. In the year 1843 we find him working 

 as assistant to Dr. Lyon Playfair, with whom he had become 

 acquainted at Giessen, and who was then engaged as Pro- 

 fessor of Chemistry to the Manchester Royal Institution. 

 At Manchester Dr. Smith finally settled down, here with 



