PREFACE, 



After the death of Mr. Assheton Smith, his Widow 

 entertained a strong desire to rescue his character from the 

 reflections which had been cast upon it by one of the 

 leading journals. Feeling that justice had not been done 

 him, she requested the author, who may rather be called 

 the compiler, of the following narrative, to draw up a 

 Memoir. 



For this purpose, she authorized him to ask permission 

 of the Editor of the Field to make use of the able and 

 interesting articles which from time to time appeared 

 in that publication, descriptive of the life and pursuits of 

 Mr. Assheton Smith, and which she considered gave the 

 •best and most accurate representation of the character and 

 qualities of her husband. This being willingly accorded, 

 the author promised his assistance, and had many conver- 

 sations with her on the subject of the Memoir, in which 

 she evinced the deepest interest. In fact, it appeared 

 almost wholly to occupy her thoughts during the few 

 months she lived after the death of Mr. Smith. 



Only a short time before she died, but when as yet her 

 illness had not assumed an alarming aspect, the author went 

 expressly to Torquay by her desire, to receive her instruc- 



