Some true and generous remarks which conclude the memoir referred to, may fitly close this sketch :-"Notwithstanding, Dr. White was not a faultless character-and where did such an one exist?—his memory is entitled to a high degree of respect; and he may justly be considered an honour, not only to the neighbourhood of Stroud, but to the country in which he was born."

NOTE.

1.—The writer in the Repository is nameless, but the opinion as to his accuracy is confirmed by the following very interesting extract from a letter received from the Rev. Edgar W. Edwards, M.A., curate of Randwick, who, in answer to some enquiries, thus writes:-"I placed your letter before the Rev. John Elliott, the aged Rector of this parish, who has been here 67 years! and probably was applied to when the periodical was published. He asked me to say that your account of him quite agrees with what he used to hear from Mr. George Harmer, the old clerk of this parish, who was in office when he came, and for years afterwards." Mr. Elliott became Rector in 1819, and still continues to preach, although now in his ninety-sixth year.

CHARLES BRANDON TRYE, F.R.S.

[1757-1811.]

NDER the heading of "Doctors and Memorials," the manuscript note-book of a curious observer contains the following remarks:-"A good doctor is a public benefactor. Skilful and conscientious in the discharge of his professional duties, and upright in his private character, he is one of the most valuable members of society. Moreover, he is one who in most cases is appreciated. In not a few instances he has the gratitude of those whom his skill has benefited, and the confidence of those who have proved his worth as a friend in times of affliction: while the community generally will accord him the respect due to himself and his profession."

In illustration of these observations reference is made to various memorials erected as tributes to "beloved physicians," by private friendship or public respect; and among others are the following memoranda :

"Under a yew tree in the quiet little churchyard of Coln St. Dennis, on the green banks of the "Cleere Colne," is a tomb to the memory of William Van Hadwen, of Northleach, a young surgeon who died in 1835, at the early age of thirtyfour. It was his wish to be buried in this spot, and the monument which marks his grave was erected by friends in the district whose esteem his many excellent qualities had

won.

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'A noble monument, the erection of which was largely due to the affection and gratitude of working men, stands in the beautiful churchyard of Uley, and is and is thus

K

inscribed :- Beneath rest the remains of Rowland Charles, second son of the late Robert Compton Harding, Esquire, surgeon, who died of consumption, December 25th, 1865, aged 35 years. This monument has been erected by those who enjoyed his friendship while in health, sympathised with him in his affliction, and still regret his early death.'

"Note also the Jenner, Baron, and Trye memorials in Gloucester Cathedral."

The last mentioned name leads our thoughts to the west end of the north aisle of the Cathedral, where a handsomemural monument with a marble medallion portrait bears the following inscription:

"Sacred to the memory of CHARLES BRANDON TRYE, Esquire, F.R.S., surgeon to the Gloucester Infirmary; descended from the ancient family of Trye, of Hardwicke Court, in this county, who died on the seventh day of October, A.D., MDCCCXI., and lies buried in the Churchyard of St. Mary de Crypt. His extensive medical and anatomical knowledge; his eminent skill in the more hazardous operations of surgery; his attention and beneficence to the poor; his strict integrity and genuine piety founded on a firm belief in the truth of Christianity, gained him the general confidence and respect of an extensive district; and induced his friends to erect this monument as a grateful tribute to his memory.”

Old citizens can well remember the high respect in which the memory of this eminent medical man was held in their early days. Stories of his professional skill were then widely current, and admiration of the many virtues of his character was warmly expressed by those who had personally known him. His name is still in remembrance, and the record of a few facts, in addition to those contained in the inscriptlon given, may help to perpetuate the interest with which it has been ever regarded.

This brief account will be chiefly compiled from a Memoir of his Life and Character, written by his brother-in-law, the Rev. D. Lysons, M.A., Rector of Rodmarton, and published in 1812..

The De Tryes are said to be a family of Norman origin, the English branch of which may have descended from Sir James de Trye, who is mentioned among the French prisoners who were in England in the third year of Henry V. The first of the name who is known to have been resident in Gloucestershire was Reginald, or Rawlin de Trye, who married Mary, daughter and heiress of Thomas de Berkeley, in the 13th century. In 1449 their great grandson, John Trye, became by marriage the possessor of Hardwicke Court, which from that time was made the residence of the family. His eldest son William married Isabella, daughter of James, Lord Berkeley: his second son John was a representative of Gloucester in the reign of Edward IV., and was appointed as its first Mayor by Richard III., in 1483. Hardwicke Church contains some old monuments of the family, and also an ancient and interesting "Trye Chapel."

John, a grandson of the aforesaid William, married a niece of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and the Tryes inherited an eighth part of the Duke's large estates. The descendants of this John Trye continued to reside at Hardwicke Court in a state of opulence for five generations; but in the early part of last century Thomas Trye, who had been one of the representatives for Gloucester in three successive Parliaments, having wasted a great part of his inheritance, sold the family residence to Sir Philip Yorke, who when raised to the Peerage in 1730, took his title of Earl of Hardwicke from this manor. Few Gloucestershire readers need be told that Hardwicke Court has long been the property and residence of one who is an honour to our county, Thomas Barwick Lloyd Baker, Esq.1

Charles Brandon Trye was the elder son of the Rev. John Trye, Rector of Leckhampton, who was the second son of the Thomas before mentioned. He was born August 21, 1757. At the early age of seven he was sent to the popular Grammar School at Cirencester. He was distinguished as a boy of bright parts, and soon acquired the common elements of

education. When only nine years of age he had the misfortune to lose his father; and his mother, of whose pious care in instructing him from his earliest childhood he ever cherished the most grateful remembrance, died about two years afterwards, leaving him an orphan at the age of eleven. It is touching to find that in a brief memoir of himself, he laments that in his early youth, with an ardent thirst for knowledge and a desire to explore the higher walks of literature, he had no guide to direct his course. But he was diligent in his studies, and among his other acquirements was that of facility in writing Latin, which he retained through life and used in the composition of a medical work in that language which he left behind him.

As circumstances would not allow of his being sent to a University he was placed at the age of fifteen as an apprentice to Mr. Hallward, an apothecary at Worcester, whom he describes as a sagacious and worthy man. During the two last years of his apprenticeship he studied under a Mr. Russell, and was one of his pupils at the Worcester Infirmary. He was a hard-working and careful student in every branch of his profession.

In January, 1780, he was chosen Apothecary to the Infirmary at Gloucester; and with characteristic diligence applied himself most carefully to clinical studies and to the practice of surgery, using every opportunity of improving his knowledge of anatomy by dissection. He removed to London in 1782, and was for nearly twelvemonths housesurgeon at the Westminster Hospital. Here he attended the lectures of the celebrated John Hunter and other eminent men, particularly the anatomist, Mr. Sheldon, whom he assisted in his lectures at the Royal Academy. With this gentleman he was about to enter into partnership when circumstances occurred which induced him to return to his native county.

In July, 1784, being then only twenty-seven years of age, he was appointed senior surgeon of the Gloucester Infirmary