330 Biographical Sketch of 



The same cause renders it necessary to omit all minute ac- 

 counts ol gene'iiogical or family alliances, and not that they 

 are unimponant in themselves, as most men owe much of 

 the best part of their characters to their ancestors. If any, 

 indeed, despise such things, it must be that their names 

 have never been known, and that they" are still nnworthy of 

 being known. Against' Scots family pride the shafts of 

 licentious satire have often been directed ; but till reason 

 finds a better auxiliary to human virtue, cool judgement 

 must acknowledge its expediency, and sanction its tempered 

 existence. While man continues to be influenced by ex- 

 ample, " the virtuous son of a virtuous sire" shall always be 

 the glory and the benefactor of his species. Of this truth 

 the deceased was perfectly sensible, but not vain-glorious : 

 its mention, therefore, in this place is rather to illustrate the 

 nature and principle of human action than to indulge in any 

 laudatory reilections on family dignity. The name of Garth- 

 shore, it is believed, is now extinct, although it was once 

 known and distinguished in the North. A few years ago 

 the Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries (iVlr. Brand) 

 read a curious grant of an estate by an Earl of Buchan to a 

 Mr. Garlhshore of Garthshore, a parent of the subject of 

 this memoir. Some of the particulars are recorded among 

 the transactions of learned societies in the Philosophical 

 Magazine. 



The education of Dr. G. was marked by that. practical 

 solidity which characterizes the Scottish schools. His 

 knowledge of the classic and modern languages was ge- 

 neral and comprehensive; and he could read, write, or even 

 speak them with considerable ease and perspicuity. His 

 medical studies were directed by the once celebrated 

 Culien ; but unlike the modern fry of M. D.'s, he did not 

 graduate before learning to reduce his theory to practice 

 with safety, before he had acquired more real knowledge from 

 his own observation than falls to the lot of the majority of 

 London physicians. His reputation for .skill, assiduity and 

 humanity had extended over several of the northern coun- 

 ties of England prior to 176i, when his inaugural disserta- 

 tion* " De Papaveris Usu, tarn noxia quam salutari, in 

 Parturientibus ac Puerperis," procured him the Edinburgh 

 academic honours of a doctor of physic. This dissertation 



* Several German writers on opium have quoted this tliesis with appro- 

 bation, Hnti it may be observed that it appeared long beforo the Brunonian 

 theory had any existence. Tl>e satutaiy eflects of laudanum in certain stages 

 or ciiiid-bed are now universally admitted. Professor J.C.Starke, of Jena, 

 in 1781 noticed Dr. G.'s opinions of the use of opium, as a respectable au- 

 thority, in his medical dissertation on this subject. 



is 



