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 ABBUCKLE AND THE MOLESWORTH-SHAFTESBURY SCHOOL. 201 " Wit-upon-crutches ". l It would 110 doubt have been no small satisfaction to Swift's sardonic spirit to have known that this nickname is the only record of Arbuckle's personal deformity. Owing, too, to the loss of his patron, Molesworth, he was dependent upon his profession, and this may have placed difficulties in his way which may have prevented him from continuing his philosophical work. As a medical man he seems to have enjoyed a considerable popularity, and it is pleasant to record the judgment of a contemporary, that "his charity to the poor in his attendance upon them, was conspicuous to all. And it is known to such as were inti- mately acquainted with him that he was industrious in finding out ways, of serving persons in concealed distress of circumstances." 2 For the remainder of his life his literary work is to be found in second-rate verses dealing with the literary and personal controversies of the day. Some of these are pre- served in Swift's works, others in rare pamphlets and probably many more are lost amongst the mass of anonymous productions of this kind or at least are difficult to trace. 3 Although Hutcheson was several times in Dublin after his removal to Glasgow, he seems to have been unable to recall Arbuckle to his early devotion to Philosophy. In the MS. correspondence of Hutcheson with Dr. Drennan of Belfast there are frequent references to the philosophical opinions of almost all his other Irish friends, but Arbuckle's name only occurs twice once in reference to a remittance of money for the use of an Irish student at Glasgow and again in connexion with a sample of Glasgow weaving, 4 which becomes intelligible when one remembers Swift's 1 Swiff 8 Works, Faulkiner's Edition, vol. xvii., p. 1, note. 2 A Sermon from Ecc. vii. 4, on the Death of Dr. Arbuckle, a Physician and Member of Wood St. Congregation, preached Jan. 4, 1747. Dublin, 1747. 3 During the latter half of the year 1727 Arbuckle still continued to contribute articles to the Dublin Journal signed by Hibernicus. Nearly half of these are verses, and most of the remainder deal with popular subjects. The only one of a philosophical nature is that published in No. 127, on 2nd Sept., 1727, exposing scholastic quibbling. After 30th Jan., 1728, there do not appear to be any more Hibernicus letters, though it is quite possible that Arbuckle may have changed his nom-de-plume and contributed some of the economic articles. 4 " My wife has troubled you with a little bundle of thread, which she sent by one Clerk, a lad who deals in Linen cloath, the Thread must be sent to Dr. Arbuckle by the first safe opportunity." MS. Letter of Hutcheson to Dr. Drennan dated 81st Jan., 1737 (in possession of Miss Drennan, Belfast).