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.
