WILD OATS

AND

DEAD LEAVES.

BY

ALBERT SMITH.

LONDON:

CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY.

MDCCCLX.

249. H. 590.

NOTE.-The following pages were all in type at the time of the death of my late brother, and, with the exception of three or four articles at the end of the book, had all been corrected by him for the press.

I have received communications from several friends, kindly expressing their desire to add a preface and a memoir to this volume. I have declined these proposals, for the reason that I wished it to be presented to the public exactly as it would have been presented by my brother himself. Fortunately, I found the preface here printed (in his handwriting) only a few days ago. As it bears date in May, it must have been written but a very little while before he died.

I look forward, at a future time when I may feel equal to the task (I am very far from feeling equal to it now), to write some little memoir of my brother. Meanwhile, I trust it may not be considered out of place if I here offer my heartfelt thanks to the very many unknown friends who have expressed deep sympathy with me and those others who were dearest to him.