editions; and is well known in some parts of the continent in the German translation of Mr. Ebeling.

At the age of near forty years, on the first of February 1759, appeared Dr. Robertson's History of Scotland, which was received by the world with such unbounded applause that, before the end of the month, he was desired by his bookseller to prepare for a second edition.

From this moment the complexion of his fortune was changed. After a long struggle, in an obscure though a happy and hospitable retreat, with a narrow income and an Increasing family, his prospects brightened at once. He saw independence and affluence within his reach; and flattered himself with the idea of giving a still bolder flight to his genius, when no longer depressed by those tender anxieties which so often fall to the lot of men, whose pursuits and habits, while they heighten the endear ment of domestic life, withdraw them from the paths of interest and ambition.

In venturing on a step, the success of which was to be so decisive, not only with respect to his fame, but to his future comfort, it is not surprising that he should have felt, in a more than common degree, "that anxiety and diffidence so natural to an author in delivering to the world his first performance." “The time" (he observes in his preface) which I have employed in attempting to render it worthy of the public approbation, it is perhaps prudent to conceal, till it shall be known whether that approbation is ever to be bestowed."

During the time that the History of Scotland was in the press, Dr. Robertson removed with his family

from Gladsmuir to Edinburgh, in consequence of a presentation which he had received to one of the churches of that city. His preferments now multiplied rapidly. In 1759 he was appointed chaplai of Stirling castle; in 1761, one of his majesty's chaplains in ordinary for Scotland; and in 1762 he was chosen principal of the university of Edinburgh. Two years afterwards, the office of king's historiographer for Scotland (with a salary of two hundred pounds a year) was revived in his favour.

The success of the History of Scotland, and the applause which followed its publication, determined Dr. Robertson to undertake another work, the subject of which gave occasion to a variety of opinions among his friends. By some be was recommended to write a series of lives in imitation of Plutarch, by others the history of learning; the history of Nerva, Trajan, Adrian, and the two Antonines, was also pointed out to his consideration ; and by the booksellers it was preposed, and terms were offered to him, to write the history of England. All these propositions he declined. and determined on the History et Charles V. which he completed and published in 1769.

After an interval of eight years, from the publication of Charles V. Dr. Robertson produced the History of America: a work which, by the variety of research and of speculation that it exhibits, enables us to form a sufficient idea of the manner in which he had employed the intervening period. This work also was received with the applause of the learned and best informed readers.

In consequence of the interruption

of

of Dr. Robertson's plans, produced by the American revolution, he was led to think of some other subject which might, in the mean time, give employment to his studious leisure. A letter, dated July 1778, to his friend the reverend Mr. Waddilove (now dean of Rippon), contains some important information with respect to his designs at this period.

"The state of our affairs in North America is not such as to invite me to go on with my history of the new world. I must wait for times of greater tranquillity, when I can write, and the public can read, with more impartiality and better information than the present. Every person with whom I conversed in London confirmed me in my resolution of making a pause for a little, until it shall be known in what manner the ferment will subside. But as it is neither my inclination nor interest to be altogether idle, many of my friends have suggested to me a new subject, the history of Great Britain, from the revolution to the accession of the house of Hanover. It will be some satisfaction to me to enter on a domestic subject, after being engaged so long in foreign ones, where one half of my time and labour was employed in teaching myself to understand manners, and laws and forms, which I was to explain to others. You know better than any body how much pains I bestowed in studying the constitution, the manners, and the commerce of Spanish America. The review contained in the first volu, of Charles V. was founded on researches still more laborious. I shall not be involved in the same painful inquiries, if I undertake the present work.

"I possess already as much knowledge of the British government and laws as usually is possessed by other persons who have been well educated, and have lived in good company. A minute investigation of facts will be the chief object of my attention. With respect to these, I shall be much aided by the original papers published by sir John Dalrymple and Macpherson, and lately by lord Hardwicke.

The memoirs of Noailles, concerning the French negociations in Spain, contain very curious information.

"I have got a very valuable collection of papers from the duke of Montague, which belonged to the duke of Shrewsbury; and I am promised the large collection of the duke of Marlborough, which were formerly in the hands of Mr. Mallet. From these, and other materials, I hope to write a history which may be both entertaining and instructive. I know that I shall get upon dangerous ground, and must relate events, concerning which our political factions entertain very different sentiments. But I am little alarmed with this. I flatter myself that I have temper enough to judge with impartiality; and if, after examining with candour, I do give offence, there is no man whose situation is more independent."

Whatever the motives were which induced him to relinquish this project, it is certain that they did not long occupy his thoughts. From a letter of Mr. Gibbon, it wou'd appear to have been abandoned before the endof the year 1779 The passage is interesting, not only as it serves to ascertain the fact, but as it suggests a valuable hint with respect to a different historical subject.

"I remem

"I remember a kind of engagement you nad contracted to repeat your visit to London every second year, and I look forwards with pleasure to next spring, when your bond will naturally become due. I should almost hope that you would bring with you some fruits of your labour, had I not been informed that you had totally relinquished your design of continuing Mr. Hume's History of England. Notwithstanding the just and deep sense which I must entertain (if the intelligence be true) of our public loss, I have scarcely courage enough to blame you. The want of materials, and the danger of offence, are two formidable obstacles for an historian who wishes to instruct, and who is determined not to betray his readers. But if you leave the narrow limits of our island, there still remain, without returning to the troubled scene of America, many subjects not unworthy of your genius, Will you give me leave, as a vague and indigested hint, to suggest the history of the protestants in France; the events are important in themselves, and intimately connected with the great revolutions of Europe; some of the boldest or most amiable characters of modern times, the admiral Coligny, Henry IV. &c. would be your peculiar heroes; the materials are copious, and authentic and accessible; and the objects appear to stand at that just distance which excites curiosity without inspiring passion. Excuse the freedom, and weigh the merits (if any) of this proposal."

From this period he seems to have abandoned all thoughts of writing any more for the public, and to have indulged the idea of prosecuting his studies in future for his pri

vate amusement. His circumstances were independent: he was approaching to the age of sixty, with a constitution considerably impaired by a sedentary life; and a long appli cation to the compositions he had prepared for the press had interfered (it is presumable) with much of the gratification he might have enjoyed, if he had been at liberty to follow the impulse of his own taste and cu riosity. Such a sacrifice must be more or less made by all who devote themselves to letters, whether with a view to emolument or fame; nor would it perhaps be easy to make it, were it not for the prospect (seldom, alas! realized) of earning, by their exertions, that learned and honourable leisure which he was so fortunate as to attain. He retired from the business of the ecclesiastical courts about the same time; and for seven or eight years divided the hours he could spare from his professional duties between the luxury of reading and the conversation of his friends. The activity of his mind, in the mean time, continued unimpaired; and the habits of study he had so long been accustomed to, gave a certain scope and connection even to his historical recreations. To one of these, which, from its accidental connection with some of his former works, engaged his attention more closely than his ordinary pursuits, the public is indebted for a valuable performance, of which the materials seem almost insensibly to have swelled to a volume long after his most intimate friends imagined that he had renounced all thoughts of e press. The disqui• sition concerning ancient India, which closed his historical labours, took its rise (as he himself informs us) "from the perusal of major Ren

nell's Memoir for illustrating his map of Indostan. This suggested to him the idea of examining more fully, than he had done in the introductory book to his History of America, into the knowledge which the ancients had of that country, and of considering what is certain, what is obscure, and what is fabulous, in the accounts of it which they have handed down to us.-In undertaking this inquiry (he adds), he had originally no other object than his own amusement and instruction; but in carrying it on, and consulting with care the authors of antiquity, some facts, hitherto unobserved, and many which had not been examined with proper attention, occurred; new views opened; his ideas gradually extended, and became more interesting; till at length he imagined that the result of his researches might prove amusing and instructive to others."

la consequence of the various connections with society, which arose from his professional duties, and from the interest which he was led to take, both by his official situation, and the activity of his public spirit, in the literary or the patriotic undertakings of others, a considerable portion of Dr. Robertson's leisure was devoted to conversation and company.

No man enjoyed these with more relish; and few have possessed the same talents to add to their attractions.

A rich stock of miscellaneous information, acquired from books and from an extensive intercourse with the world, together with a perfect acquaintance, at all times, with the topics of the day, and the soundest sagacity and good sense applied to the occurrences of common life,

He

rendered him the most agreeable and instructive of companions. He seldom aimed at wit; but, with his intimate friends, he often indulged a sportive and fanciful species of humour. He delighted in goodnatured, characteristical anecdotes of his acquaintance, and added powerfully to their effect by his own enjoyment in relating them. was in a remarkable degree suscep tible of the ludicrous; but on no occasion did he forget the dignity of his character, or the decorum of his profession; nor did he even lose sight of that classical taste which adorned his compositions. His turn of expression was correct and pure; sometimes, perhaps, inclining more than is expected to the carelessness of a social hour, to formal and artificial periods; but it was stamped with his own' manner, no less than his premeditated style: it was always the language of a superior and cultivated mind, and it embellished every subject on which he spoke. In the company of strang ers, he increased his exertions to amuse and to inform; and the splendid variety of his conversation was commonly the chief circumstance on which they dwelt in enumerating his talents: and yet, I must acknowledge (says his biographer), for my own part, that much as I always admired his powers when they were thus called forth, 1 enjoyed his society less than when 1 saw him in the circle of his intimates, or in the bosom of his family.

1

His health began apparently to decline in the end of the year 1791. Till then, it had been more uniformly good than might have been expected from his studious habits; but, about this period, he suddenly

discovered

discovered strong symptoms of jaundice, which gradually undermined his constitution, and terminated at length in a lingering and fatal illness. He had the prospect of death long before him; a prospect deeply afflicting to his family and his friends: but of which, without any visible abatement in his spirits, he happily availed himself, to adorn the doctrines which he had long taught, by an example of fortitude and of Christian resignation. In the concluding stage of his disorder, he removed from Edinburgh to Grange-house, in the neighbour hood, where he had the advantage of a freer air, and a more quiet situation, and (what he valued more than most men) the pleasure of rural objects, and of a beautiful landscape. While he was able to walk abroad, he commonly passed a part of the day in a small garden, enjoying the simple gratifications it afforded with all his wonted relish. Some who now hear me will long remember, among the trivial yet interesting incidents which marked these last weeks of his memorable life, his daily visits to the fruit trees (which were then in blosom), and the smile with which he, more than once, contrasted the interest he took in their progress, with the event which was to happen before their maturity. At his particular desire, I saw him (for the last time) on the 4th of June 1793, when his weakness confined him to his couch, and his articulation was already beginning to fail and it is in obedience to a request with which he then honoured me, that I have ventured, without consulting my own powers, to offer this tribute to his memory. He died on the 11th of the same month, in the 71st year of his age.

In point of stature, Dr. Robertson was rather above the middle size; and his form, though it did not convey the idea of much activity, announced vigour of body and a healthful constitution. His features were regular and manly; and his eye spoke at once good sense and good humour. He appeared to greatest advantage in his complete clerical dress; and was more remarkable for gravity and dignity in discharging the functions of his public stations, than for ease and grace in private society. His portrait by Reynolds, painted about twenty years ago, is an admirable likeness: and fortunately (for the colours are already much faded) all its spirit is preserved in an excellent mezzotinto. At the request of his colleagues in the university, who were anxious to have some memorial of him placed in the public library, he sat again, a few months before his death, to Mr. Raeburn ; at a time when his altered and sickly aspect rendered the task of the artist peculiarly difficult. The picture, however, is not only worthy, in every respect, of Mr. Reaburn's high and deserved reputation, but, to those who were accustomed to see Dr. Robertson at this interesting period, derives an additional value from an air of languor and feebleness which strongly marked his appearance during his long decline.