DR WILLIAM TURNBULL was born in 1729, at Hawick, in Roxburghshire, and was the reprefentative of the ancient family of Be drule, who were bereaved of confiderable domains and harraffed by the perfecuting fpirit of the hierarchy of Scotland. He received the rudiments of his education at the grammar-school at Harwick, and after wards removed to the University of Edinburgh, where he ftudied the feveral branches of philofophy and medicine under the different profeffors, but left the Univerfity with out taking a degree. He fettled at Wooler, in Northumberland, where he practifed phyfic, furgery, and pharmacy, for many years, with great reputation. He married Mifs Tudhope, of Hawick, fifter of the late Mr Tudhope, merchant in Glasgow; a woman of diftinguished understanding, prudence, and piety. In 1771, hrough the kinduels of the late amiable and truly benevolent Dr John Sharp, Archdeacon of Northumberland, and one of the trustees of the Jate Lord Crewe's charitable inftitution, he was appointed furgeon to the General Difpenfary for the Poor, at Bamborough Castle (which is fo defervedly celebrated for the ha mane affiftance afforded by the worthy trustees of Lord Crewe's charity to fhips in diftrefs, and perfons shipwrecked on that coaft) but he continued to refide at Wooler. In 1777, he removed to London; and, having previously obtained the degree of Doctor of Phyfic from the University of Glafgow he was chofen phyfician to the Eaftern Difpenfary, (a ftation which, fince his decease, has been fupplied by Dr Haighton, a gentleman justly celebrated for his anatomical and phyfiological skill) where the phi lanthropy and the knowledge of Therapeutics, which Dr Turnbull displayed, will be long held in grateful rememberance. In 1983, by the death of his brother-in-law, Mr Tudhope, he received an acceffion of fortune, amounting to L. 5000. His probity and piety had been fo confpicuous in the North of England, that the Diffenters in Northumberland, appointed him their delegate, to act with other gentlemen, nominated by their general body, to petition Parliament to put an end to the prostitution of the Lord's Supper, which is countenanced by the Teft and Corporation Acts. Dr Turnbull, who had been fome years a wi do wer dower, had by his lady two fons and two daughters; the latter, and one fon, (William Turnbull, M. A. furgeon to the Eastern Difpenfary, and author of an ingenious" Effay on the Hiftory of the Venereal Difeafe") only furvive him. Dr Turnbull fuffered a lofs that touched his heart with the most poignant grief, by the illnefs and premature death of his fon, Mr John Turnbull, a young man of excellent parts, and of very elegant and amiable manners. He was born, 21ft January 1754; and after ftudying four years at the University of Glasgow, and attending the medical claffes at Edinburgh, for three years, he engaged in trade, and was admitted into partnership with Mr Sharp, wholesale grocer in Southwark, who had married his eldeft fifter; but having been put into a damp bed at Tunbridge, was feized with a paralytic diforder, of which he languished three years, dying the the 4th of August 1789. Dr Turn bull furnished the medical and anatomical articles for a "Dictionary of Arts and Sciences," by the Rev. Erafmus Middleton and others, in 3 vols. folio. 1779. The subject of this memoir, was a gentleman fo emi. nently zealous for the best interests of mankind, that, befides the funeral fermon, preached, and fince publifhed by the Rev. Mr. Knight, at the Meeting houfe in Nightingale-lane, where the Doctor conducted himself honourably for feveral years, in the character of a deacon; his death was alfo announced from the pulpit, as a public lofs, by the Rev. Mr Rut. ledge, at Old Gravel-lane, and by Dr Hunter, at the Scots church, London wall. Dr Turnbull's fiucere belief of the great truths of Chrifti anity, was evinced not only in the general tenor of his life, but during the fhort and fevere illness which occafioned his death. To baffle the rapid approaches of the king of terrors, Mr Cline, Dr Saunders, Dr Lettfome, and other fkilful practitioners, exerted their utmost efforts in vain, while their patient, ferenely refigned to his destiny, declared his confidence in the merits of his Divine Redeemer. Religion," faid he, "is now more amiable than ever—it is my only fupport-it is my only glory." He died at his houfe, in Wellclose-square, after an illness of thirtyfix hours, May 29. 1796, in the 67th year of his age. Since his death, a volunteer mufe has penned the following deserved tribute to his memory: DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEW. THE HE caftle of Bothwell is a very ancient and noble structure. In its decayed ftate it exhibits fome ftrik. ing remains of its former fplendor, and The Caftle of Bothwell and the Provoftry once made a confpicuous figure in the parish and in the hiftory of Scotland. The firft is ftill vifited by the curious, and and is, perhaps, the most magnificent ruin in Scotland. The work is all done with polished ftone, of a red colour; the apartments very lofty. What of it remains occupies a space in length 234 feet, and in breadth 99 feet over the walls. The lodgings are confined to the east and west ends, and many of them fufficiently diftinguished. The chapel is marked with a number of fmall windows, and like a chamber of state off it, with two large windows to the fouth. The old well in the corner of one of the towers, penetrating through the rock to a good fpring, was difcovered a few years fince. The ftair of one of the highest towers is almost entire to the top, which prefents an immenfe height above the river. The court in the middle was probably defigned to contain their cattle and provifions in cafe of an affault, an arrangement peculiar to many ancient castles. The entry is on the north, about the middle of the wall. Veftiges of the foffe are yet vifible. It appears to have been built and enlarged at different times, and by the feveral proprietors who occupied it. The following is a concife ftatement of the various lords or mafters it had received in the viciffitudes of fortune: "It was anciently poffeffed by the Murrays. But in the time of King Edward I. it was given to Aymer de Valance + Earl Pembroke, Governor for him of the fouth part of Scotland. Upon his forfei ture, it was given by King Robert Bruce to Andrew Murray, Lord. Bothwell, who married Chriftian, fifter to that King. With his granddaughter it came to Archibald the Grim, Earl of Douglas, by marriage, and continued in their family till their forfeiture by King James II. 1455. After the forfeiture of the family of Douglas, the bulk of the lordship of Bothwell was given to Lord Crighton, fon to Chancellor Crighton; and Bothwell foreft, or Bothwell moor, was given to Lord Hamilton, in exchange of the lands of Kingfwell. Crighton was forfeited in 1485. for joining with Alexander Duke of Albany against King James III. It was then given by King James III. to the Lord Monipenny, from whom it was foon retaken, as having been given by the King in his minority; and was thereafter given by him to John Ramfay his favourite, who enjoyed it till the 1488, when he was forfeited for counterfeiting a commiffion under the great feal to the Earl of Northumberland; then the lordship of Crighton was gifted by King James IV. to Adam Hepburn Lord Hailles, whom he created Earl of Bothwell. It continued in his line till November 1567, when James Earl of Bothwell was forfeited for the murder of Henry, father to King James VI. Thereafter it was given by that King to Francis Stewart, fon of John Abbot of Kelfo, who was natural fon to King James V.; and he being and admired in its ruins. As there is nothing published respecting them, these few hints have been procured with fome pains. * M.S. Mr Hamilton of Wifhaw, Advocates Library. †1306. Earl Pembroke having the command of the English army, challenged Bruce to fight him at the bottom of Loudon Hill. He accepted, and defeated him. The Earl retreated to Bothwell Caftle. Guth. 1336. Edward III. published writs, dated from the Caftle of Bothwell, ordering his Parliament to affemble, and concert the proper means of defending his kingdom against the Scots, and commanding his admirals to oppole the French fleet; putting them in mind that his progenitors were always mafters at fea. These papers, written at Bothwell, are copied in Rymer's Foed. vol. 4. p. 722. 1337. 6th March, Scots befiege Bothwell Caftle, took it by ftorm from the Enggif, and level it to the ground. Ruth. |