34 Memoir of Sir Andrew Smith, by Alex. Michie. 



Lilliesleaf , where, under more favourable auspices than at Stobs, 

 lie made most satisfactory progress with bis education. 



The medical profession having been chosen as his future sphere" 

 of action, he was placed under the care of Mr Walter Graham, of 

 Hawick, a surgeon of extensive practice in the town and sur- 

 rounding district. 



In 1813, he proceeded to Edinburgh, where he pursued, with 

 diligence, ardour, and success, his studies in the University. 

 Being desirous of entering the Medical Department of the Army, 

 and having fully qualified himself for the service, in the summer 

 of 1815, he made application, and repaired to London, to under- 

 go the preliminary examinations ; his hopes of a favourable issue, 

 however, being slight, owing to the reduction of the strength of 

 the army, consequent on the return of peace, after the decisive 

 victory of Waterloo. He passed the necessary examinations with 

 credit to himself, and satisfaction to all the members of the Board ; 

 a treatise on the eye having especially produced a most favour- 

 able impression on the mind of Sir James M'Gregor, the Director 

 General. On the 15th August, he was greatly gratified by being 

 gazetted an Hospital Assistant ; and there is good reason to be- 

 lieve, that he was the youngest officer ever admitted to the De- 

 partment. For three years he did temporary duty at various 

 home stations, and had medical charge of troops going to, or re- 

 turning from Malta, Nova Scotia, and Canada. In 1818, and 

 following year, he was quartered at Edinburgh, and while there, 

 embraced the opportunity of attending all the classes in the Uni- 

 versity and Surgeon's Hall, which he had not been able to over- 

 take formerly. At the conclusion; on the 2nd August, 1819, he 

 graduated as M.D. The subject of his inaugural dissertation was 

 " De Yaiiolis Secondares." During this period he was an occa- 

 sional contributor to the Edinburgh Medical Journal. 



In 1820, Dr Smith was ordered to the Cape of Good Hope, 

 where he remained till 1837. Eor short periods, he had medical 

 charge there of the 49th and 98th Eegiments and Cape Mounted 

 Eifle Corps ; and was also frequently employed by successive 

 Governors in confidential missions to the Kaffir and other tribes 

 beyond the frontier. As South Africa has ever presented an attrac- 

 tive field to the naturalist, his leisure hours were spent in the en- 

 thusiastic pursuit of his favourite study ; and he entered into the 

 work with all the ardour of his nature. In a few years his 



