MEMOIR.

N recording the reminiscences which are here collated, it will be obvious that the Editor is impelled by no personal desire to obtrude his ideas, or to present himself before the public. He is not perhaps convinced of the necessity of publishing what is here offered, but he enjoys the satisfaction of having attempted what he conceived to be a useful object. His sole purpose is, to produce a faithful epitome of a useful man's career, and to preserve from oblivion the memory of some few of the incidents of a life earnestly and uniformly devoted to Literature and Art.

.

It is generally understood that a full Memoir of Mr. Woodward will be given to the world,* and the scraps here collected may serve as a feeble

Already there have been several rather hastily written accounts of him.

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a feeble guide for future biographers. "Little "rivulets become large rivers which swell the ocean-atoms and grains of sand form high "hills-and small seeds grow into mighty "forests;" and those who search for materials with which to construct a memorial of the departed, will consider that many trifles which appear insignificant, and seem to be obscure, may yet possess considerable importance and prove to be valuable acquisitions.

Mr. Woodward's letters will clearly show the feelings which he entertained for the Editor of this brief memoir, as much, or perhaps more than any laboured statement which might be offered as evidence of the friendly intimacy that existed between them. His observations on his own bodily sufferings, demonstrate the great inconvenience that he endured from a disordered heart, and that he was subject to unusual physical distress.

In pursuing the task of collecting the information contained in this memoir, it is to be hoped that there is not one word which can cause displeasure. In the few incidents recorded, the

Editor has been scrupulously desirous of securing the highest and best authenticated testimony.

It is not only an act of justice to the deceased, but a favour to those who survive, when the life from youth to manhood is honestly traced out and presented for public inspection, because we then feel that we are conversing with a person of well-founded experience; and it is the duty of him who collects notes for a memoir, to be careful in his choice, and to receive and transmit nothing which cannot be authenticated. To render Biography usefully attractive, its basis must be TRUTH. To depict character with fidelity, there must be neither the secret influence of antipathy, nor a misleading bias of partiality.

The extremes of familiarity and of formality are equally to be avoided. Nothing but an honest statement of facts is needed to do justice to the fame, and to perpetuate the honourable memory of one who, while he lived was respected, and now that he is dead, is deeply regretted.

In the following pages the object aimed at, has been to record the few particulars which

are

are registered in plain language and perfect integrity, and if the publication does no other good, it is hoped that it will serve to excite laudable curiosity, and to call forth more extended enquiries; so that by and by an adequate biography of Mr. Woodward may be written on a scale calculated to do justice to the subject.

Sometimes great literary success in early days. leads to carelessness in the prime of life, but he who improves his condition by honourable means, merits exemption from oblivion, and it is the privilege of literature to transmit a renowned name to posterity, so as to induce others entering on the career of life to imitate those excellent qualities which all right-minded persons must admire.

Bernard Bolingbroke Woodward, late LIBRARIAN to the QUEEN, will henceforth, not only occupy a prominent place in the roll of distinquished men, whose character and achievements have shed a lustre over the City of Norwich which was his birth-place, but will long be remembered in the wide world of letters.

If this biographical sketch does not present

many

many striking incidents, yet it has some claim to be cherished as a useful lesson and an encourageing stimulus to men of genius, who may, like Mr. Woodward, be called upon in early life to struggle with perplexing difficulties, and to surmount appalling obstacles. His numerous letters and papers would doubtless afford fine materials for a narrative both useful and interesting, for he was known to be persevering in whatever he had once set his heart upon, and in the accomplishment of his purpose no pains wearied him; but this privilege has been denied to the Editor.

His sudden and unexpected decease on the 12th of October, 1869, at his residence in the Royal Mews in London, occasioned by a complaint of the heart, from which he had suffered for a long period, is felt as a loss, not only by a numerous circle of private friends, but also by many admirers of literary and artistic excellence, both in this country and abroad. Indeed it would not be easy to depict the depth and extent of sincere regret which was called forth by the loss of one who by intellectual superiority and moral excellence, won the affection, and still

retains