utmost respect in this country, in which are contained the following.

"I consider your work among the most valuable additions to judicial
literature which have appeared for many years. The 'Notes' are
excellent, and set forth the leading principles of the various cases in
the most satisfactory form, with an accuracy and nicety of
discrimination equally honourable to yourself and to our common
profession. I know not, indeed, if any work can be found which more
perfectly accomplishes the purpose of the author.... I hope that your
life may long be spared, so that you may be able to devote yourself to
similar labours for the advancement of the learning and honour of the
profession." Alas! both Mr. Justice Story and Mr. Smith, each a great
ornament to his country, died within a few months of each other. When I
congratulated my friend on this encomium, from so competent and eminent
a judge, he replied modestly--"_Laudari à laudato viro_ is certainly
pleasing."

So great was the demand for this work, that Mr. Smith's publisher urged
him to proceed as quickly as possible with the second volume, which he
had, in his preface to the former one, announced his intention of doing,
in the event of the first portion of his labours meeting with the
approbation of the profession. He accordingly at once set to work upon
the second volume; and although he was beginning to have serious calls
upon his time, owing principally to his having accepted the appointment,
in November 1837, of Common Law Lecturer to the Law Institution, such
were his energy and industry, that by the 12th of May, 1838, he had
succeeded in bringing out the first part of the second volume, which was
fully equal in execution to the first. While, however, he was receiving
with his usual modesty the congratulations of his friends on this solid
addition to his reputation, he received a sort of _checkmate_, which