RUT 
RUT 
496 
He died in October, 1771, having nearly completed his 59th 
year. He was author of a thin quarto in Latin, entitled 
“ Ordo Institutionum Physicarum in privatis Lectionibus,” 
of which the second edition was published at Cambridge in 
1756; also of “ A System of Natural Philosophy,” in 2 vols. 
4to., which for many years was held in high estimation ; 
“ Institutes of Natural and Political Law,” being the sub¬ 
stance of a course of lectures on Grotius, read in St, John's 
College, in Cambridge, in 2 vols. 8vo., 1756; “ A Letter to 
Dr. Middleton, in defence of Bishop Sherlock’s Discourse on 
Prophecy,” and divers other theological works. Dr. Ruther- 
forth .communicated to a philosophical society at Spalding, 
a curious correction of Plutarch’s description of the instru¬ 
ment used to renew the vestal fire, as relating to the triangle 
with which the instrument was formed. It was nothing else, 
it seems, than a concave speculum, the principal focus of 
which, that collected the rays, was not. in the centre of con¬ 
cavity, but at the distance of half a diameter from its surface. 
That some of the ancients thought otherwise, appears from 
prop. 31. of Euclid’s “ Catoptrics.” Gen. Biog. 
RUTHERGLEN, a parish of Scotland, in the county of 
Lanark, bounded on the north by the Clyde, on the east by 
Cambuslang, on the south by Kilbride and Carmunnock, and 
on the west by Govan and Gorbals. It extends on the 
south bank of the Clyde, 3 miles in length, and 1 in 
breadth. The surface is level, the soil fertile, and the whole 
is inclosed and well cultivated. Population of the town 
and parish 3625. 
RUTHERGLEN, by contraction Ruglen, a royal burgh 
of Scotland, in the county of Lanark, in an elevated situation 
near the Clyde; 2f miles above Glasgow. Few towns in 
Scotland can lay claim to greater antiquity than this place. 
It was erected into a royal burgh by king David I. in 1126. 
The territory was extensive, and tire inhabitants enjoyed 
many privileges, which were, however, gradually wrested 
from it by the influence of Glasgow, which, in later times, 
rose into greater consequence, from its trade and manufac¬ 
tures. Formerly small craft came up the Clyde to Ruther- 
glen quay, as the tide flows this length; but the Broomielaw 
is the farthest they come at present. The ancient size of 
Rutherglen is now unknown; but in the fields towards the 
east, the foundation of houses and streets have been frequently 
dug up. It now consists of one principal street, nearly 
half a mile in length, and upwards of 100 feet in breadth. 
The ancient castle or fortress is celebrated for the sieges 
which it sustained during the turbulent reign of Robert 
Bruce. It was demolished by the regent’s party after the 
battle of Langside. The church of Rutherglen, an ancient 
Gothic building, was pulled down in 1794, and a new one 
built in its stead. Rutherglen was anciently under the 
direction of a self-elected magistracy, many of whom lived 
at a distance, and continued in office without interruption. 
Negligence, and an undue influence of power, had brought 
the affairs of the burgh into a state of disorder, so that the 
inhabitants were excited to apply a remedy to the evil. The 
community, by the charters, were empowered to elect 
their magistracy; but, through lapse of time, the right had 
become obsolete, which it was the object of the burgesses to 
restore. Great opposition was made to the plan adopted by 
the burgesses, which was prosecuted with unremitting assi¬ 
duity, and at length crowned with success. They formed a 
new set of the burgh upon liberal principles, which in 1671, 
was approved of by all the inhabitants of the town, and 
by the convention of royal burghs. It is governed by a 
provost, 2 baillies, a treasurer, and 15 councillors, and unites 
with Glasgow, Renfrew, and Dumbarton, in sending a mem¬ 
ber to Parliament. It gives the title of Earl to the Marquis 
of Queensberry. The fairs of this town have long been fa¬ 
mous for a great show of horses of the Lanarkshire breed, 
which are esteemed the best draught horses in Scotland. 
Population 1630; 9 miles west of Hamilton. 
RUTHFUL, adj. Merciful; compassionate.—He [God] 
ruthful is to man. Turbcnille —Rueful; woful; sorrowful. 
What sad and ruthful faces! Beaum. 
RUTHFULLY, ndv. Woful; sadly.—The flower of 
horse and foot, lost by the valour of the enemy, ruthfully 
perished. Knolles. —Sorrowfully; mournfully. 
Help me, ye baneful birds, whose shrieking sound 
Is sign of dreary death, my deadly cries 
Most ruthfully to tune. Spenser. 
Wofully. In irony. 
By this Minerva’s friend bereft 
Oileades of that rich bowl, and left his lips, nose, eyes, 
Ruthfully smear’d. Chapman. 
RUTHIN, a market town of North Wales, in the county 
of Denbigh, pleasantly situated on the summit and slope of a 
considerable hill, which rises in the centre of the delightful 
vale of Clywd, near the river Clywd, which is here an incon¬ 
siderable stream. The town derives its name from a castle 
called Rhyddin, or Red Fortress, from the colour of the 
stone, and which was probably erected by Edward I. Dur¬ 
ing the civil wars it was garrisoned by the royalists, till about 
the middle of April, 1646, when it was compelled to surrender, 
after sustaining a siege of two months. After this it was 
demolished by order of parliament, and a few fragments of 
walls only remain to denote its site and its large dimensions. 
The town is described as being formerly populous, and 
having the largest market in the vale. It is still a respectable 
and flourishing place. It extends about a mile in length, 
consisting chiefly of one long street. The church, though 
only a chapel to Llanrudd, is a large building, of considerable 
antiquity. It was originally conventual, and belonged to 
the religious house of monks called Bon-hommes. In 1310, 
it was made collegiate by John de Gray. The interior of 
the church is much admired, particularly the roof, which is 
of curious workmanship. In the town is a free school, of 
equal, if not greater note than any other in North Wales. It 
was founded and endowed by Gabriel Goodman, D. D. a 
native of Ruthin, and who was dean of Westminister in the 
reign of Elizabeth. From this school young men are some¬ 
times admitted into orders, without having graduated at any 
university. It has two masterships, the head one of which 
is in the gift of Jesus college, Oxford. Near the market place 
stands the town-hall, which, though not a very elegant 
building contains tolerable apartments for the administration 
of justice, the great sessions being held here instead of Den¬ 
bigh, on account of the more central situation. The new 
jail is a handsome and commodious building, erected from 
designs of Mr. Joseph Turner. The debtors’ apartments are 
divided from those of the felons by a lofty wall, and both 
have spacious yards and baths attached to them. Ruthin is a 
borough, both by prescription and by charter. It contri¬ 
butes with Denbigh in sending a member to Parliament. It 
is governed by 2 aldermen and 16 common councilmen, 
chosen annually in the lord’s court. The number of burgesses 
is unlimited. Markets well supplied, on Monday and Satur¬ 
day. Population 1292. Houses 271; 15 miles south-west 
of Holly well, and 206 north-west of London. Lat. 53.7. N. 
long. 3. 17. W. 
RUTHLESS, adj. Cruel; pitiless; uncompassionate; 
barbarous. 
What is Edward but a ruthless sea ? 
What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit ? Shakspeare. 
The ruthless flint doth cut my tender feet; 
And when I start, the cruel people laugh. Shakspeare. 
RU'THLESSNESS,Want of pity 
RUTHLESSLY, adv. Without pity; cruelly; barba¬ 
rously. 
RUTHVEN, a parish of Scotland, in Forfarshire, plea¬ 
santly situated on the north side of the valley of Strathmore, 
near the foot of the Grampian mountains. It is of small 
extent, containing only 1700 acres. Population 240. 
RUTHVEN, a small river of Scotland, in Perthshire, 
which falls into the Erne, nearly a mile east of the village of 
Auchterarder. 
RUTHWELL, a parish of Scotland, in Dumfries-shire, 
extending about 9 miles in length along the Solway frith, 
and 
