A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Contents
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Birth and Family.—Father.—Profession.—Marriage of Father—Mother.—Sir
Isaac Newton.—School.—Early
Peculiarities.—Talleyrand.—College.—Goes to
Normandy.—Profession.—Curate in Salisbury Plain.—Marries his Brother.—Becomes Tutor to
Mr. Beach.—Goes to Edinburgh
1
CHAPTER II.
Arrives at Edinburgh.—State of Society.—Manners of Scotch—Anecdote of
Mr. Jeffrey.—Acquaintance with Mr.
Horner.—Marriage.—Early difficulties and poverty.—Generosity.—Birth of
Daughter.—Introduces Mr. Allen to Lord
Holland.—Originates Review.—State of Society.—State of Church.—Character of his
writings in youth.—Sketch of opinions at the time.—Letter by Lord
Monteagle.—Short sketch of Articles in Review
13
CHAPTER III.
Extracts from Lectures.—Preface to Sermons.—Analysis of Sermons.—Sermon for the
Blind.—Returns to Edinburgh.—Takes Pupils.—Illness of Daughter.—Moral courage.—Studies
Medicine and Moral Philosophy
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CHAPTER IV.
PAGE
Quits Edinburgh for London.—Settles in Doughty-street.—Makes legal and other
friends.—Obtains Preachership of Foundling Hospital.—Refusal of Dr. —— to enable him to
lease a Chapel.— Sermon to Volunteers.—Friendship with Lord
Holland.—Introduction to Holland House.—Holland House, and Society
there.—Obtains Preachership of St. John’s Chapel, Bedford-square.—Gives Lectures at
Royal Institution.—Descriptions of their effect.—Poverty.—Society at his House, and
Suppers.—Anecdote of Sir J. Mackintosh and cousin.—Elected to the
Johnson Literary Club.—The King reads his Review, and says he will
never be a Bishop.—Preaches on Toleration at the Temple Church.—Increase of reputation and
friends.—Natural Spirits; their effects.—Some anecdotes
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CHAPTER V.
1806. Political changes.—Obtains preferment.—1807. Goes to Sunning in the
Autumn.—Writes Peter Plymley.—Its effect.—Makes the acquaintance
of Lord Stowell.—Revisits Edinburgh.—Goes to Howick.—No house on
Living.—Non-residence permitted.—Residence Bill passed.—Goes down to see
Living.—Difficulties.—Returns to London.—Publishes Sermons.—Removes Family to
Yorkshire.—Tries to negotiate exchange of Living.—Difficulties of exchange.—Necessity of
building.—Settles at Heslington
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CHAPTER VI.
Establishment in Yorkshire.—Habits; mode of life.—Reading.—Attention to
children.—Power of abstracting thoughts.—Farmers’ dinner.—Medical
anecdotes.—Experiments.—Extracts from Diary.—Practical Essays.—Metaphysical Essays.—Hints
for History.—Mr. Macaulay’s letter.—Sir S.
Romilly’s visit.—Sermon on his death.—Anecdote of roasted
Quaker.—Dining out in the country.—Brother and Sir J.
Mackintosh’s return from India.—Madame de
Staël’s visit to England.—Typhus fever.—Verses on Mr.
Jeffrey
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CHAPTER VII.
PAGE
Builds house.—Removes to Foston.—Description of establishment.—Visit of
Sir James Mackintosh.—Becomes a Magistrate.—Visit to Newgate with
Mrs. Fry, and Sermon.—Visit to Sir G. Philips
in Immortal.—Forms the acquaintance of the Earl of Carlisle.—Death of
only Sister.—Last Visit from Mr. Horner.—Bad harvest and
fever.—Exertions amongst the poor.—Visit from Lord and Lady
Holland.—Leaves off riding.—Description of Calamity.—Shopping and
anecdotes.—Sends Son to school.—Visits Lord Grey.—Account of
Travels.—Visit from Dr. Marcet.—Conversation, and Bunch.—Anecdote of
Lord ——’s Son.—Assizes.—Hunt’s Trial.—Danger of bad
harvest.—Death of Grattan
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CHAPTER VIII.
Legacy.—Visit to Edinburgh.—Visits London: popularity there.—Letters to home,
and care of parish.—Takes Son to Charterhouse.—Visits Mr.
Rogers.—Appointed Chaplain to High Sheriff.—Preaches in Cathedral.—Anecdote at
Spencer House.—Meeting of Clergy, East Riding.—His Petition.—Speech.—Living of
Londesborough.—Goes to Paris.—Letter on receiving irreligious book.—Death of
Father.—Description of house by friend.—Love of chess and singing.—Marriage of youngest
Daughter.—Becomes Canon of Bristol.—Effect produced at Bristol.—History of Apologue, by
Mr. Everett
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CHAPTER IX.
Happiness increased by his promotion—Death of eldest Son.—Removal to Combe
Florey.—Rebuilding of house.—Lord Jeffrey’s last
visit.—Increased popularity at Bristol.—Collects contributions to Review.—French
Revolution.—Riots at Bristol.—Speech on Reform.—Letters on Preferment.—Appointed Canon of
St. Paul’s.—Death of Sir James Mackintosh in 1832.—Marriage of
eldest Daughter in 1834.—Village anecdotes.—Christens Grandchild.—Buys house in
Charles-street.—Rectitude of Stewardship at St. Paul’s.—Tour to Holland in
1837.—Talleyrand.—Conversation in
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London, and anecdotes.—Begins Controversy about Church.—Petitions to House of
Lords.—Inscription for Statue of Lord Grey
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CHAPTER X.
Visit to Combe Florey.—Kindness to Grandchildren.—Sudden wealth.—Recollections
of his Parishioners at Foston.—Death of Lord Holland.—His
Portrait.—Letter to Mr. Webster.—Sketch of ‘Revue des Deux Mondes.’—Letter of
Mr. Grenville.—Visit from Mr. Moore, and
Verses.—Bestows the Living of Edmonton on Mr. Tate’s son.—Letter
to Mrs. Sydney Smith.—Address of Parishioners, and Answer.—Letter of
Mrs. Marcet.—Receipt for making every day happy.—Definition of
happiness.—Petition to the American Congress in 1843.—Effects.—Speech from Mr.
Ticknor.—Letter from Mr. Wainwright.—Abuse and gifts
from America.—Effect of preaching in old-age.—Letter of Miss
Edgeworth.—Correspondence with Sir R. Peel.—Extract from
Journal, with anecdotes
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CHAPTER XI.
Pamphlet on Ballot.—Fragment on Irish Church.—Letter from Lord
Murray.—Lines written on receiving garden-chair.—Lines by Lady
Carlisle.—Christens child.—Sketch of life and conversation at Combe
Florey.—Advice to Parishioners.—Conversation.—Medicines for the poor.—Saves servant’s
life.—Fallacies.—Studies.—Recipe for salad.—Letter of Marion de
Lonne.—Imitation of Sir James Mackintosh.—Close of the day
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CHAPTER XII.
Extract from Lady ——’s Journal.—Last Illness.—Comes to town.—Dr.
Chambers called in.—Anxiety of friends for his recovery.—Meeting of
Brothers.—Living to poor clergyman.—Death of Sydney Smith.—Death of
his eldest Brother.—Lord Jeffrey’s Letters.—Hints on Female
Education
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