1803. A short Account of Dr Haiyhur ton, 5^5^ 



the grcatefl part of your f .ders. It is not with much of the 

 Dodor's life that I am acqii.u .red j but the following particulars 

 are communicated on the auiliority of Tome friends vvlio were in 

 habits of hitimacy witli him from his youth. J only lament my 

 inabilit-y ,0 pr^ient a tuUer account of this gentleman, as he cer- 

 tainly poiiclTed a Cvjnfiderable degree of learning and genius, and 

 enjoyed fuperioi opportu:i:ties of acquiring a knowledge of fo- 

 ciety both in Britain an-1 America, than many of his cotempo- 



ries. 



Dr William Halyburton was born at HoUandfide, in the 

 parilli of Preftonhaugh, and county of Eaft Lothian, about the 

 year 1720, his father being tenant of thai firm, and of which hii 

 nephew is tenant at this day. He was connefted with a number 

 of the moll refpectable tenants in that opulent county, which 

 circumllai-ce probably gave his mind a bias to agricultural re- 

 fearch, and influenced him to write a volume of Georgical Let- 

 ters, at an advanced period of life. Be thefe things as they may, 

 he received a fuitable education for ilie church, and for a time 

 a£led as tutor to the family of Sir James Dalrymple Bart, of 

 Hales, through whofe interell he v/as appointed chaplain to the 

 firft batalion of the Royal Scotch Regiment of foot, then com- 

 manded by Lieutenant General St Clair. When rebellion raged 

 tlirougli the land in 1745, Dr Halyburton (then in Sir James 

 Ijalrymple's family) connecled himfelf with a volunteer coQipa- 

 ny at Muilelburgh, and on that occafion preached a fermon de- 

 fervedly admired, and afterwards printed. As a pulpit orator^ 

 the Do6lor poffeired numerous qualiiications. His figure was 

 comely ; his language bold and animated; and his ftyle pure and 

 corre6h His fubiequent appointment in the Royal Scotch, how- 

 ever, removed him to diftant lands ; and prevented a fettlement 

 at home, which undoubtedly he would foon have obtained. 



It is believed he accompanied General St Clair in the unfuc- 

 pefsful expedition againft Port le Orient in 1746, and it is certain 

 that he embarked with the Royal Scotch at Cork in 1757, for 

 America, with whom he ferved during the whole of that war. 

 When the regiment landed at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the chief 

 pommand was held by the late Earl of Loudon, better known in 

 tliis country by the name of Lord Loudon Campbell, of whom 

 the Do61:or was in ufe to recapitulate many characleriftical anec- 

 dotes. During the time he ferved with the Royal Scotcli, the 

 Doctor was the intimate compauion and favourite of the cele- 

 brated Lieut. Col. Foriler ; indeed molt of the officers were par- 

 ticularly attaclicd to him. Perhaps both before and after, as brave 

 or even braver officers may have lield commiffions in that an- 

 cient and refpcftable corps ; but at no time did it contain officers 

 poflelTed of greater wit, and more polifiied manners, than at the 



period 



