Charles, M.D., a botanical and medical writer, was born in the west of Scotland in the year 1683. He began his studies at the university of Glasgow; and on the death of his father, the Duchess of Hamilton, to whom he was related, took him under her patronage, and thus afforded him an opportunity of pursuing the bent of his inclination for the study of physic. About the age of 33, along with his friend and companion the celebrated Alexander Monro, he went to Leyden, and studied three years under Boerhaave. On their return to their native country, they, in conjunction with Rutherford, Sinclair, and Plummer, undertook departments in the college of Edinburgh, and by their abilities and industry laid the foundation of that school of physic. The branches of botany and materia medica were long the favourite studies of his life; consequently he undertook that department, and continued to lecture on them with increasing reputation until his death, which happened in November 1760, at the age of 77 years. His talents, which appear to have been naturally great, were improved and strengthened by his great assiduity and industry, and employed successfully in the service of science. In the year 1753, his dissertation on the sexes of plants, in which he combats the doctrine of Linnæus, was published in the first volume of the *Edinburgh Physical and Literary Essays*. In the fifth volume of the *Edinburgh Medical Essays*, there is a short paper of his on the efficacy of the powder of tin to destroy or expel worms from the bowels. Dr Alston also engaged in a chemical controversy respecting quicklime with Dr Whytt. But the most valuable of all his works are his lectures on the *Materia Medica*, which were published in the year 1770, in two volumes 4to.

**ALSTON-MOOR.** See ALDSTON-MOOR.