The subject of this Memoir was little known outside the world of scholars; and his published work could give but a partial view of the man, while in him the man was more even than the scholar. A scholar's life contains little of outward incident, and it has been my endeavour to tell the story of my father's life so far as possible in his own words. In all that he wrote his real self is shown, and nowhere more than in his letters. Hence this book may perhaps justify itself, if it enables the voice of a man who was interested in such a variety of subjects, and who spoke always with such 'singular sincerity,' to reach beyond the limited circle of those who were privileged to know him in life.