Memoirs of Dr. Richard Gilpin, of Scaleby castle in Cumberland : and of his posterity in the two succeeding generations / written in the year 1791, by William Gilpin ... together with an account of the author, by himself: and a pedigree of the Gilpin family ; edited by William Jackson.

  • William Gilpin
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoirs of Dr. Richard Gilpin, of Scaleby castle in Cumberland : and of his posterity in the two succeeding generations / written in the year 1791, by William Gilpin ... together with an account of the author, by himself: and a pedigree of the Gilpin family ; edited by William Jackson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    As he was correct in his life, he was cautious in his con- versation. One reason for this caution was to avoid any pretence for quarrel. Duelling was against his principles. Tho’ no man had more true courage he would have trembled at drawing his sword in a private quarrel. When he had to do therefore with irritable tempers, he was exceedingly on his guard ; & as he was a very sober man, & had a variety of little innocent arts to avoid drinking, which he detested, he found it an easy thing to avoid quarrelling. Indeed I never heard, that in his whole life he was engaged in any personal contest. His disposition was so remarkably sweet & gentle that it is on record he was once in a passion. The story indeed came only from himself. He had caught a soldier in some piece of wanton cruelty ; & the thing coming suddenly upon him, he flew into a violent passion. I never heard that he struck the man ; but he used always to end his story with saying, that no man ever behaved so like a puppy, as he did on that occasion. He always thought great caution was necessary, where an antagonist durst not reply. His reproofs therefore to his soldiers, on few occasions were severe. They were generally addressed with gentleness to the feelings of the offender. All people however have not the happy talent of making reproof palatable. In him it eminently resided. The following story is an instance. As he was sitting in his tent, he overheard a soldier frequently swear. He marked down the number of oaths he swore in a quarter of an hour ; and then made a calculation what they would amount to in a twelve-month, at 6? each. He then called in the soldier, talked to him of the wickedness & folly of swearing, & giving him the calculation, told him, his colonel's pay would not suffice him for the expences of a year’s swearing. “ God bless your honour, said the soldier, I did not think it would have come to so much ; but I shall never forget your honour’s calculation.” He was a man of great generosity. To indulge generosity