340 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
acquirements and his own-natural talents. Of this we need no better proof
than is afforded by his text-book, (‘ Conspectus Medicinae Theoreticse ad usurn
Academicum,” which he published a few years after obtaining the professorship,
and which procured for its author a high professional character throughout
Europe.
In 1790, on the death of Dr. Cullen, Dr. Gregory was elected Professor of
the Practice of Physic, and successfully maintained the reputation acquired by
his predecessor. His success as a teacher was great ; and his class was, during
the long period he filled the chair, numerously attended by students from all
parts of the world. He also held the appointment of first Physician to his
Majesty for Scotland.
Dr. Gregory was distinguished for his classical attainments, and especially for
proficiency in the Latin language, to which his thesis, (‘ De Morbis Coeli Mutatione
Medendis,” in 1774, bore ample testimony. His talents for literature
and general philosophy were of a high order ; and that he did not prosecute
these to a greater extent was no doubt owing to the pressure of his professional
duties, which scarcely left him an hour to himself.’ In 1792 he published two
volumes Svo, entitled “ Philosophical and Literav Essays,” in which he combated
the doctrine of fatalism maintained by Dr. Priestley in a work previously
published by that author under the title of “ Philosophical Necessity.” He
forwarded the manuscripts of his essays to Dr. Priestley for perusal prior to
publication, but the Doctor declined the honour, on the ‘ground that his mind
was made up, and that he had ceased to think of the subject.
Dr. Gregory was likewise the author of a “ Dissertation on the Theory of
the Moods of Verbs ”-a paper read to the Royal Society, of which he was a
member ; and he published an edition of Cullen’s ‘( First Lines of the Practice
of Physic,” two vols. 8vo.
We have now to allude to a series of publications, commenced in 1793,
which, but for the extraordinary degree of local excitement created by them at
the time, we should willingly have passed over without comment. The fist of
these was a pamphlet by Dr. Gregory, in which he endeavoured, by internal
evichnce, to fix the authorship of a book, entitled “A Guide for Gentlemen
studying Medicine at the University of Edinburgh,” upon the two Doctors
Hamilton, father and son. The author of the (‘Guide” had been somewhat
severe in his strictures in regard to some of the professorships of the University
; while, in the opinion of Dr, Gregory and his friends, an undue degree of
praise had been bestowed upon the midwifery classes taught by Drs. Hamilton.
To this Dr. James Hamilton junior replied in a well-written pamphlet, in which
1 Respecting Dr. Qregory’s extensive practice, and the numerous patienta who, attracted by his
fame, came from great dmtances to consult him, several anecdotes have found their way into books
of light readiig. The scene in his study with a guzzling, punch-drinking citizen of Glasgow, is
amusing, and must be familiar to almost every reader. No man possessed more gentlemanly mannera
than Dr. Gregory ; yet, in such case8 as that of the Glasgow merchant, or of the lady who came
from London to csnsult him against the infirmities of age, he expressed himself with a brevity
and blnntnesa the reverse of gratifying.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 341
he calmly, yet with spirit, urged the groundlessness of the accusation, and the
unprovoked asperity of his opponent. In the meantime law proceedings had
been instituted against the publisher of the ‘‘ Guide,” in order to discover the
author, while Dr. Hamilton commenced counter-proceedings against Dr. Gregory,
for the injuries his character had sustained by the manner in which he had
been traduced.
In 1800, another paper warfare occurred, in consequence of a memorial
addressed by Dr. Gregory to the managers of the Royal Infirmary, complaining
of the younger members of the College of Surgeons being there allowed to
perform operations. This was replied to by Mr. John Bell, surgeon; and a
controversy ensued, which for some time engrossed the whole attention of the
Edinburgh medical profession.
Again, in 1806, the Doctor.entered into a warm controversy with the College
of Physicians, owing to some proceedings on the part of that body which he
considered derogatory to the profession.
In 1808, he printed, for private circulation, a small volume in 8170, entitled
“ Lucubrations on an Epigram ;” also, in 18 10, “ There is Wisdom in Silence ”
-an imitation from the Anthologia; and “The Viper and the l?ile”-an
imitation of the well-known fable of Phiedrus, “Vipera et Lima.” As a specimen
of his epigrammatic talents, we give the following-
“ ‘ 0 give me, dear angel, one lock of your hair’-
A bashful young lover took courage aud sighed ;
‘ You shall hare my whole wig,’ the dear angel replied.”
’Twas a sin to refuse so modest a pray’r-
Dr. Gregory was of an athletic figure, and naturally of a strong constitution.
He had enjoyed good health; and from his abstemious mode of life, might
have been expected to live to extreme old age. The overturn of his carriage,
whilst returning from visiting a patient, by which accident his arm was broken,
proved injurious to his constitution. He was afterwards repeatedly attacked
with inflammation of the lungs, which iiltimately caused his death. He died
at his house in St. Andrew Square, on the 2d April 1821, in the sixty-eighth
year of his age.
By his second wife-a daughter of Donald
Macleod, Esq. of Geanies, and who survived him-he left a numerous family.
His eldest son was educated for the bar, and was admitted a member of the
Baculty of Advocates in 1820. A younger son, Donald, who died in October
1836, in the prime of life, was for several years Secretary to the Society of
Antiquaries of Scotland ; and in this situation he highly distinguished himself
by his zeal, assiduity, and agreeable manners. In his late work entitled the
, “ History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland,” brought down to
the year 1625, he has fortunately left us a permanent memorial of his learning
and accurate research-not the less valuable that it is in fact one of the first
attempts to investigate the history of that portion of the British Empire, not
by reference to vague traditions and idle reveries, but by the most careful
Dr. Gregory was twice married.
