,ET. 70-71.] HENRY SMITH AND SPOTTISWOODE. 317 



obtain permission to dig the Gravel, you will be most likely to 

 find both flint implements and mammalian remains at or near 

 the base of the Gravel. 



An event occurred early in the following year that 

 affected him deeply, and which threw all Oxford into 

 mourning. This was the death of Professor Henry 

 Smith, one of the first mathematicians of his time, who 

 in debate swayed the destinies of the University, and 

 was to so many the beloved friend. His sister, Eleanor 

 E. Smith, who was considerably his senior, shared his 

 home and watched over him in his last illness. She was 

 quite as remarkable among women as " Henry Smith " 

 was among his fellow-men. With masculine powers of 

 mind she had great tenderness of heart, and was the 

 guiding spirit of almost all the large charities in the 

 place. Both brother and sister possessed a delightful 

 touch of Irish humour, with not a little originality. It 

 was a privilege to count them both as dear friends. 



J. Prestwich to J. Evans. OXFORD, January 1883. 



MY DEAK EVANS, We are all dreadfully upset here. We 

 have lost our dear and valued friend Henry Smith. Our party 

 to-morrow is consequently postponed. . . . The loss will throw a 

 gloom over the place. I hope your visit will be postponed, and 

 that we may have the pleasure of receiving you and Mrs Evans 

 as we could wish. . . . 



The same year Professor Prestwich sustained an- 

 other great loss. Mr William Spottiswoode, who had 

 so recently filled the office of President of the Royal 

 Society, succumbed after a rather lingering illness. 

 He and Mrs Spottiswoode were the kindest of neigh- 

 bours, and the blank caused by his death has never 



