Young Michael Beach, who had little taste for study, lived with
Sydney Smith as his tutor, and found him a wise guide and pleasant
friend. When Michael went to the University, his brother William
was placed under the same good care. Sydney Smith, about the same
time, went to London to be married. His wife's rich brother
quarrelled with her for marrying a man who said that his only
fortune consisted in six small silver teaspoons. One day after
their happy marriage he ran in to his wife and threw them in her
lap, saying, "There, Kate, you lucky girl, I give you all my
fortune!" The lucky girl had a small fortune of her own which her
husband had strictly secured to herself and her children. Mr. Beach
recognised the value of Sydney Smith's influence over his son by a
wedding gift of 750 pounds. In 1802 a daughter was born, and in the
same year Sydney Smith joined Francis Jeffrey and other friends, who
then maintained credit for Edinburgh as the Modern Athens, in the
founding of The Edinburgh Review, to which the papers in this
volume, added to the Peter Plymley Letters, were contributed. The
Rev. Sydney Smith preached sometimes in the Episcopal Church at
Edinburgh, and presently had, in addition to William Beach, a son of
Mr. Gordon, of Ellon Castle, placed under his care, receiving 400
pounds a year for each of the young men.

In 1803 Sydney Smith left Edinburgh for London, where he wrote
busily in The Edinburgh Review, but remained poor for many years.
His wit brought friends, and the marriage of his eldest brother with
Lord Holland's aunt quickened the growth of a strong friendship with
Lord Holland. Through the good offices of Lord Holland, Sydney
Smith obtained, in 1806, aged thirty-five, the living of Foston-le-
Clay, in Yorkshire. In the next year appeared the first letter of