96 MEMOIK OF ALFEED SMEE. [CHAP. IX. 



In 1867, Mr. Smee brought out another form of Accident 

 Sheet somewhat similar to, though in a more complete form than, 

 the one he published in 1847.* 



Up to the present time very little notice has been taken of 

 my father's professional career, beyond his being a surgeon of 

 no mean repute, and of his being more especially eminent as 

 an oculist. That part of his work which has hitherto been 

 given was performed mostly in his leisure, and was chiefly 

 the intellectual pastime of his prolific brain, but the greater 

 part of his time was taken up by his medical profession, and 

 by various companies, to some of which he was medical officer, 

 whilst of others he was a director. 



It has already been mentioned that the office of Surgeon 

 to the Bank of England was specially created for him when 

 he was only twenty-two years old. He was also elected at 

 an early age, and almost immediately on entering his profession, 

 Surgeon to the Koyal General Dispensary, in Aldersgate Street, 

 to the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital, and was besides 

 surgeon to several other important institutions. He was medical 

 officer to several Life Assurance Companies, amongst the more 

 important of which may be mentioned the Accident Company 

 and the Gresham, of both of which he was one of the founders. 

 But the latter company was materially assisted by my grand- 

 father, Mr. William Smee, Accountant-General of the Bank of 

 England, who was also one of the trustees of the Gresham, 

 in conjunction with the Chief Cashier of the Bank, Mr. Matthew 

 Marshall, and the banker Mr. Oldham. Without my grand- 

 father's assistance the Gresham would not have existed. As 

 it was, it was born in the dining-room of 7, Finsbury Circus, 

 during the autumn of 1847. 



One of the companies to which he belonged caused, for a 

 space of time stretching over several years, my father a great 

 deal of anxiety, and added many cares to his life. Fortunately 

 these anxieties came to a satisfactory termination. Through the 

 indomitable courage and high principle of Alfred Smee many 

 were saved from pressing cares and losses; but, unhappily, 

 the intense mental excitement and labour attending it, left an 

 indelible mark upon his bodily powers, and sowed the seed of the 

 disease which he succumbed to at the early age of fifty-eight. 



* This Accident Sheet can be either obtained in the form of a sheet or in a 

 small book, at the printers', Messrs. Collingridge, Long Lane, or at the office of 

 the Accident Company, 37, Old Jewry, E.G., for the small sum of one penny. 



