Chapter I: Preface

It is now nearly forty years since the death of my grandfather, Dr Southwood Smith, and with this distance of time lying between him and us, it may not be uninteresting to this generation to look back upon the origin of some of the great social reforms which have now reached such wide proportions, and to see these reforms as gathered round the life of a man who was in the forefront of the noble army which promoted them.

He, one of the first to seize a truth, one of the most indomitable to persevere in the promulgation of it when perceived, went straight forward until it prevailed, and thus became instrumental in conferring some of the widest benefits which have come to us in this century.

From his great grief in early manhood he but emerged the stronger. The force of his condensed sorrow produced an energy which carried all before it, and resulted in the strength of his middle age and the serenity of his latter years. In order that such a life--crowned by its humility--might not pass away without some permanent record of its nobleness, the following memoir has been written.

I must apologise for the frequent allusion, in the midst of grave public questions, to my own recollections; but since all the early years of my life were passed at my grandfather's side, it has been difficult to avoid this.

Moreover, I have hoped that something picturesque and touching would be found in the relation of the strong man and little child, who worked together at various public causes, playing together in the bright intervals, and that something of the reverent enthusiasm he inspired in that child might pass, through her, to those who read these pages.

GERTRUDE LEWES.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

RECOLLECTIONS OF MY GRANDFATHER 1

CHAPTER I.

EARLY LIFE, 1788-1820.

Education. Marriage. Death of his wife. Edinburgh University. Publication of the 'Illustrations of the Divine Government.' Yeovil 7

CHAPTER II.

FIRST YEARS IN LONDON--DAWN OF THE SCIENCE OF MODERN HYGIENE, 1820-1834.

Appointment to Fever Hospital. 'Westminster Review' articles in 1825. Laws of Epidemics. Principles laid the foundation of Sanitary Reform. Its practical importance. Devotion of himself to the cause. Parliamentary attention attracted to articles. Publication of the 'Treatise on Fever,' 1830. Its phenomena, treatment, and causes. Causes the most important. Contagious and epidemic diseases. Universal origin of epidemics stated to be bad sanitary conditions 16

CHAPTER III.

LONDON CONTINUED--LITERARY AND OTHER WORK, 1820-1834.

'Penny Encyclopedia.' The Medical Schools and dissection. Body-snatching. Lectures--physiological, forensic, and popular. Lecture over the remains of Bentham. Publication of the 'Philosophy of Health' 35

CHAPTER IV.

WORK ON THE FACTORY COMMISSION, 1833.

History of Factories. Laws previous to 1833. Apprenticeship system. Appointed Commissioner. Description of state of factories in 1833. Passing of the Factory Act. Subsequent additions to Act. Visits to see result of its working 49

CHAPTER V.

RISE OF THE SANITARY MOVEMENT, 1837.

Outbreak of fever in London. Personal inspection of Bethnal Green and Whitechapel. First Report to Poor Law Commissioners. Ventilation in crowded districts. Overcrowding of children in workhouses. Second Report of Poor Law Commissioners, 1839. Takes the Marquis of Normanby (Home Secretary) to see spots reported on at Bethnal Green. Takes also Lord Ashley. Press and public men take up the cause 60

CHAPTER VI.

PHILANTHROPIC AND MEDICAL WORK, 1840-1848.

Children's Employment Commission, Mines and Collieries. Improvement in the condition of women working therein. Report on Trades and Manufactures. Homes of eastern dispensary patients. "Sanatorium" founded. Letters from Charles Dickens. First model dwellings founded. Life at Highgate. My recollections of first "Health of Towns Association" Meeting. Feeling of public men 72

CHAPTER VII.

THE TEN YEARS' STRUGGLE FOR SANITARY REFORM, 1838-1848.

Causes of delay. History of the sanitary movement at this time a series of inquiries and defeated bills. "Health of Towns Association" founded to spread knowledge and guide legislation. Address to the working classes calling upon them to petition Parliament. Final passing of the Public Health Act 102

CHAPTER VIII.

OFFICIAL LIFE--GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH, 1848-1854.

Appointment to the General Board of Health. Letter to Lord Morpeth. Work at Whitehall with Lord Ashley and Mr Chadwick. Cholera epidemic of 1848-49. System of "house-to-house visitation." Lord Brougham's comments on it. Cholera Report. Quarantine Report. Interment Report. Attacks on the Board in Parliament. Fear of centralisation. Triumph of the sanitary principle, but to be carried out by local authorities. Lord Palmerston's letter of thanks 127

CHAPTER IX.

RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC LIFE--ST GEORGE'S HILL, WEYBRIDGE, 1854-1860.

"The Pines," Weybridge. Happiness in its beauty. Need of rest. Study of modern physiology for new edition of the 'Philosophy of Health.' Publication of 'Results of Sanitary Improvement.' Lectures in Edinburgh on "Epidemics." Visit to Alnwick. Happiness in the work of his granddaughters Miranda and Octavia Hill. Appreciation of former fellow-labourers. "Recognition." His words of thanks. Joy in the success of his great cause 139

CHAPTER X.

THE SUNSET OF LIFE--ITALY, 1861.

Visit to Milan. Death of his second wife at "The Pines." Florence. Sunset from Ponte Vecchio. Last illness. Death. Porta Pinti. "A Knight-Errant" 147

CHAPTER XI.

THE AFTERGLOW.

Spread of the social reforms Dr Southwood Smith originated. Improvement in the public health and saving of life. Memorial bust in the National Portrait Gallery. Lines upon it. A people's gratitude 153

APPENDICES.

I. LETTER FROM MR TAYLOR, ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICER OF THE WHITECHAPEL UNION 159

II. RECOGNITION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES OF DR SOUTHWOOD SMITH 164

INDEX 167

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PORTRAIT OF DR SOUTHWOOD SMITH _Frontispiece_

(_From a chalk drawing by Miss Margaret Gillies._)

DR SOUTHWOOD SMITH AND HIS GRANDCHILD GERTRUDE 2

OLD WOMAN CARRYING COAL 72

CHILDREN AT WORK 74

WOMAN DRAWING TRUCK 74

CHARLES DICKENS'S LETTER _Facsimile_ 84

FIRST MEETING OF THE HEALTH OF TOWNS ASSOCIATION 106

(_From an old print._)

VIEW FROM PORTA PINTI, FLORENCE, 1861 152