Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/505

 RUTTY. 501 eighteenth year he was “at various mixed schools, and among aliens.” In his twentieth year he was again placed in a family of friends; and such were the religious in pressions of his youth, that he seems at various times to have considered the acquisition of human learning as a crime. He pursued i t , however, and began a course o f medical studies i n Ireland, which h e continued i n London, and finished i n Holland, probably a t Leyden, then the chief medical school i n Europe. Even here h e cannot help telling us, that “the object was a l l nature and physic, n o grace.” I n 1723, having returned t o his native coun try, h e began practice, i n what place h e does not mention; but i n the following year h e “was transplanted t o Dublin b y a singular providence,” and attained much reputation. Soon after, h e began a scheme for the improvement o f the Materia Medica, i n which h e persevered for upwards o f forty years, and which produced a work which we shall shortly notice. I n 1733, h e began h i s “History o f the Rise and Progress o f the People called Quakers i n Ireland, from 1653 t o 1750,” which was printed a t Dublin i n 1751, 4to. I n 1787, h e published a n “Essay o n Women's Preaching”.” From 1740 t o 1745, h e was engaged o n the “Natural History o f the County o f Dublin.” The first publication b y which h e was known i n his professional character i n this country, was his Treatise o n Mineral Waters, 4to. He also published a n “Essay towards a Natural History o f Dublin,” i n two vols. 8vo. Dr. Rutty died April 27, 1775, and one o r two trivial publications made their appearance after his decease; a s did also his “Spiritual Diary and Soliloquies,” i n two vols. 8vo. one o f the most extraordinary o f those books which have been published under the title o f “Confes I f this was against female preaching, Dr. Rutty afterwards changed his mind, for, i n his Diary for 1768, h e says, that “the natural volubility o f the sex, beyond all comparison superior i n effect t o what i s delivered b y some o f u s dull reasoners, renders them far better speakers, and fitter instruments for a superior power t o animate and direct; a mystery o f grace discovered, and amply displayed t o public view i n our society alone!"