PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION THESE Memoirs were written by Sir James Paget in the years 1880-1885. They tell chiefly of his early life six chapters are given to the years 1814-1851, and only one to the years after them. It seemed best, therefore, to divide this book into two parts. The first part contains the whole of the Memoirs, with a commentary on each of the six chapters that are concerned with his early life. The second part gives an account of his later life; and is thus a sort of commentary on the last chapter of the Memoirs. This arrangement involved some repetition of facts; but it is hard to see what else could have been done without breaking-up the text of the Memoirs. His work in pathology, and his private practice, have been put in outline only: there are many things in medicine and surgery that are not to be treated without The preponderance of letters to his brother, and of home-letters, if it be a fault, is one that could hardly have been avoided: for, except these, very few of his letters have been kept; and he did not keep letters. reserve. Among those who have generously given help, and have corrected many faults, are his son the Bishop of Oxford, his nephew Mr. G. E. Paget, and his friend Sir Thomas Smith. Other friends have contributed accounts of him as they best knew him. But, for all the good help that has been given, the book is not worthy of his memory. September, 1901. SIR JAMES PAGET From a portrait by Sir John Millais, 1872. signature, written in 1891. With a Frontispiece MEMOIRS AND LETTERS OF SIR JAMES PAGET PART I. (1814-1851.) I CHILDHOOD AND BOYHOOD, YARMOUTH, 1814-1830. I HAVE only the most vague and useless recollections of events in my childhood. I remember the roasting of a whole ox in the market-place when George IV. was crowned, and the throwing of pieces of the half-cooked beef among the crowd: and a procession to my father's house in 1817, when he was Mayor, and the Aldermen in crimson damask-silk gowns came with music to a 'whet': and I remember some private theatricals at which, between the pieces, I sang a hunting song-being then between five and six, and deemed rather a prodigy in singing. I vaguely remember the events of nursery life-my old nurse, and some of the other servants-but nothing useful to others or myself. My father, Samuel Paget, who was born in 1774, was a rather small, active, handsome man; and I remember him in my boyhood as a good B |