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



Freed from the cares of office, he had ample time to bestow on 

 those studies which had ever been so congenial to his disposition, 

 and, for a few years, he devoted great attention to African ex- 

 ploration, but more especially to all that had reference to the 

 native tribes inhabiting the southern portion of that continent. 



All circumstances seemed to give promise of a serene old age, 

 when he would reap the fruits of a well-spent life of activity and 

 usefulness ; but in 1864, he was called to mourn the loss of her, 

 who for more than twenty years, had been the cheerful, warm- 

 hearted and faithful partner of his lot ; and the death of Lady 

 Smith, was followed the succeeding year, by that of a loving 

 gentle sister, to whom he was ardently attached, and whose 

 tender sympathy for him, in his great loss, had been as balm to 

 his wounded spirit. Lonely, stricken with grief, and the infirm- 

 ities of years gathering around him, he lost nearly all interest in 

 those pursuits which formerly had been his delight ; and, toward 

 the close of his life, most of his time was given to the perusal of 

 books of devotion, and the study of the Holy Scriptures. 



In the spring of 1872, the state of his health and other circum- 

 stances gave great anxiety to his friends. During the summer 

 he appeared to have rallied, and hopes were entertained that all 

 would be well, but on the 6th of August, when out for a drive, 

 he was suddenly seized with illness and taken home ; and, 

 notwithstanding the assiduous care of his ordinary medical 

 attendant, and of his friends, Sir William Jenner and Mr Quain, 

 he gradually sunk till the morning of the following Sunday, 

 when he peacefully passed away in the 75th year of his age. 



Sir Andrew Smith was a man of great force of character, of 

 untiring industry and perseverance, and of unbending integrity. 

 Doubtless his energy and decision would occasionally seem to 

 lead to impetuosity ; and his firmness of purpose, at times, ap- 

 proach to something like obstinacy ; yet these qualities enabled 

 him to overcome difficulties, which to men of less inflexible re- 

 solution, would have proved insurmountable. Though he ever 

 maintained strict discipline in the department over which he pre- 

 sided, he was always found to be the firm and constant friend of 

 the man, who faithfully sought to do his duty. 



In private life he was genial and kind-hearted, a man who 

 could never look on distress of any kind without doing his utmost 

 to relieve it. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, 

 but most by those who knew him best. 



