Memoir of Sir Andrew Smith, by Alex. Michie. 43 



brought against the department in the Crimea, chiefly by the cor- 

 respondents of a leading metropolitan journal ; and then followed 

 a storm of obloquy, which burst around the head of the Director- 

 General at home. Attacks so violent in tone are fortunately rare 

 in the history of British journalism, and Dr Smith, again and 

 again, was urged by his friends to defend himself from the 

 charges brought against him, or allow those who were cognizant 

 of the facts to do so. His invariable reply was, " that the truth 

 would be known some day, and that he could afford to wait ; 

 meanwhile, he would, to the utmost of his power, seek to do his 

 duty." Into the merits of those charges it would be inexpedient 

 to enter, but in justice to the memory of a most efficient and 

 meritorious officer, it is necessary to say, that the tone of many 

 of the letters and articles seemed to indicate, that other and less 

 worthy motives were in operation, than an anxiety for the good 

 of the service, or a solicitude for the welfare of the troops. The 

 defeat of the ministry of the Earl of Aberdeen and the accession 

 to power of Lord Palmerston, led to the appointment of the Se- 

 bastopol Committee, before which Dr Smith gave evidence, and 

 put in papers thoroughly clearing himself from the charges ; and 

 proving to all unbiassed minds, that, whoever was to blame for 

 the disasters, assuredly it was not the Director-General. When 

 Lord Palmerston assumed the reins of Government, he promised 

 great changes in the constitution of the Medical Department ; 

 changes which Dr Smith considered would decidedly operate to 

 the injury of the service. Subsequently, the whole subject of- 

 the Administration of the Department and its future constitution, 

 was submitted for consideration to a Committee of the House of 

 Commons, and after much inquiry and patient deliberation, a re- 

 port was presented, which, on the leading points, supported fully 

 the views of Dr Smith. After these enquiries, the tide of opinion 

 turned decidedly in his favour, and, on every side, justice was 

 done to his merits. His medical brethren embraced the oppor- 

 tunity of bearing testimony to their appreciation of his services, 

 and he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Eoyal College of 

 Physicians, London ; of Surgeons, Edinburgh ; of the Faculty of 

 Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow ; and of the Medico Chirur- 

 gical Society of Aberdeen ; while the University of Edinburgh 

 conferred on him the degree of LL.D. ; and Trinity College, 

 Dublin, that of M.D. (Honoris Causa) ; these honours being 



F 



