MR. URBAN,

THE

London, Aug. 18. HE following fhort account of the Life of the late Dr. WILLIAM ROBERTSON, of Wolverhampton, I tranfmit to you in his own hand-writing, as I received it from him upwards of feven years ago, and which he cam pofed and fent to me at my earneft folicitation. The chafm at the end [p. 750] I wish to leave open, as it affords a ftrong trait of the Chriftian character, and may be fupplied here:

"He died, of the gout in his ftomach, "at Wolverhampton, on May 20th, 1783 in the 79th year of his age; and was buried in the church-yard of the new 4 church there."

Mr. Lindsey has made deferved men tion of Dr. Robertson, and well obferved of him, that he "retained and "kept up that ferenity and chearful

trutt in the divine Providence, which "can only belong to the virtuous and innocent mind, that has always be"fore it thofe profpects which the

Gospel opens into a happy futurity, where the holy and the good will "meet again, never to part more." And as I enjoyed his friendthip the Laft fifteen years of his life, I with to add my teftimony to that of our common and excellent friend, and to give this tribute fo jufily due to his memory. -Dr. Robertfon, befides great learning and good judgement, poffeffed a fine imagination, and a temper regulated by the mild and amiable fpirit of Chrift. And in his addrefs and manners he was at all times eafy and clearful.

4

I have good reafon to think that Dr. Robertfon was the author of a Poem, published 1768, entitled, Eleftheria, infcribed to Mrs. Macaulay; and that while he was refident in London, before his removal to the fchool of Wolverhampton, he wrote fome few articles in the Monthly Review.

Dr. Robertfon's appointment to the Mafterthip of the Grammar-school of Wolverhampton, tho' highly honour able to his patrons, was not very lucrative to himfelf. His own account I will beft explain the nature of his new fituation. I am here," (writes he in a letter dated in September 1769,)

*Sec the Historical View, lately pub. ifhed, p. 478; and alfo bis Apology, P. 224.

GENT. MAG. Sept. 1783.

"in a very ftrange way. The falary is "70l. a year: but there is a penfion of "401. paid out of that to an old gen

66

any

theman who refigned the school upon "that condition, ten years ago, and is "now in as good a ftate of health as a "man of eighty can be; fo that there "remains but gel. for me, loaded with "the wages of fchool fervants, fchoolfiring, window-money, and other taxes, which in all come to about 71 a year, without any emolument of kind. So that my neceifary exas the falary." In a fubfequent let.. pences have been five times as much ter, dated May 1770, he kems to have recovered, in fome degree, the difa for therein he writes: Your concern grecable apprehenfions he had formed, "for me makes you imagine that I "have abandoned and loft a great deal "in this world. Indeed, according "to the common eftimation of Kings, your conjecture is right. But I affure you that I weighed the arter are of great fhew and confequence n "long ago; and many things whi the general opinion weighed very others which were to me of infinitely light in my fcale, when fet against greater moment.-For the last three "months, I have been much afflicted

66

with the gout; fo that pain and bufi"nefs have filled up all my time."However, I thank God, I go on "pretty well, and find my health im

prove as the weather grows warm,, "fo that I am in hopes I fhall have a

tolerable fummer. I make no apo"logy for troubling you with the re"cital of my little affairs, as I think "myfelf happy in having a friend to "whom I can fay any thing as to my "felf."

66

lishment, this worthy man was contentNotwithstanding this moderate efabs ed; and in proof thereof, I wish to make an extract from a letter received the following year, dated Aug. 25, 1771, and which needs neither note, nor comment." My own private af. fairs," fays he, are exactly in flatu 66 quo. The old incumbent is fil "alive and well, fo that his 401. de"ducted out of 70l. must be felt*. "But as my defires are very moderate, "I want for no neceflaries, and as for "the fuperfluities of life, perhaps I am "better without them. The other day

# The old incumbent died in Feb. 1773.

I

"I was reading Aufonius's Epigram upon Diogenes, which really made me afhamed of having the leaft incli"nation for the luxuries and delicacies "of life. Give me leave to tranfcribe "it here, and a tranflation I was "tempted to make of it.

Pera, polenta, tribon, baculus, fcyphus, areta fupellex,

Ifta fuit Cynici: fed putat hanc nimiam. Namque cavis manibus cernens potare bu bulcum,

Car, feyphe, te, dixit, gefta fupervacuum? A bag, meal, threadbaré cloak, ftaff, wooden dith,

Were all the goods, Diogenes could wish. But thefe he found too much, when on the brink, [drink. He faw Tim's hollow hand fcoop up his "Thus you fee I comfort myfelf "with tags of verfe, and fayings of "Philofophers. If I cannot enlarge "my poffeffions, I can contract my "defires."

The third edition of Dr. Robertfon's valuable little volume, intituled, "An "Attempt to explain the Words, Reafon, Subitance, &c." was published to early as 1767, (now fold by Mr. Johnfon, in St. Paul's Church-yard.) Much notice had been taken of this

work in the public papers, and periodical publications of the time, and in 1769, there was published in Ireland an answer, entitled "A Confutation of an Attempt to explain, &c. By the Rev. Smyth Loftus, M. A. Vicar of Coolock," in two volumes. Dr. Robertion's engagements and infirmities will fufficiently account for his not exeeuting the defign which he once entertained of replying to Mr. Loftus's book. However, it may be right to obferve here, that Dr. Robertfon was, in the latter years of his life, entirely

convinced of the truth of the doctrine of the divine unity, and of the proper humanity of Curift, and that he was finally fettled therein by the writings of Dr. Pricftley and Mr. Lindsey.

In March 1779, Dr. Robertfon concludes a letter to me, with an affecting recital of fome of his more fevere trials, not forgetting, however, his wonted fubmiffion, on all occafions to the will of God." I have lived," fays he, "almoft 74 years, and have enjoyed many, many comforts in this life,

+ Epigram LII. De Diogene Cynico Philofopho.

great afflictions, in my health and in

my family. In the year 77, I lost "my beloved daughter, whom you are "pleafed to lament. In the year 78, my eldeft fon, who was a Lieutenant, "fell at Rhode Island. And, already,

in 79, I have received an account of "the death of my other daughter in "Dublin. But I have been fo accuf"tomed to the death of my children, "that at laft I fee nothing strange in it. "I only wonder that I have ftayed fo "long behind them. I think my cafe "is extraordinary, that of twenty-one "children, which my wife brought me, "I have out-lived them all but onc. "So that I have often occafion to fay "with Job,-the Lord gave, and the "Lord hath taken away, bleffed be the "name of the Lord."-It was, however, the will of God, that his family afflic tions fhould not have their end even

here, for he lived to bury that one and only furviving child out of fo great a

number.

But, while he was tried in the loss of

his children, the benevolenes of others

The

was exerted to aflift him; and he found filial piety in the hearts of strangers. In 1773, Dr. Robertfon received, from an unknown hand, a moft acceptable and moft liberal prefent of gool. name of the donor it would only be a prefumptive conjecture in me to mention. Nor were others wanting generoully to affift him according to their eminently diftinguished character, who ability. The munificence of another

adminiftered to his neceflities to the borne to be mentioned at prefent, left laft hour of his life, muft alfo be foroffence should be given to that greatnefs and generofity of mind, which only, like itfeif, barely fuffers the left hand to know what the right hand doeth. JOHN DISNEY.

Some Account of the Life of Dr. W. R.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D. D. was born in Dublin, Oct. 16, 1705. His father was a Scotchman, who carried on the linen manufacture there; and his mother's name was Diana Allen, of a very reputable family in the Bish oprick of Durham, whom his father had married in England. From his childhood

him; of which fentence he demanded a copy, which was granted, and is in the following words:

fity of Glasgow. He went from Dr. Hutchefon to that University in 1722, where he remained till the year 1725, and took the degree of M. A. He had for his tutor Mr. John Lowdon, Profeffor of Philofophy; and attended the lectures of Mr. Rofs, Profeffor of Humanity; of Mr. Dunlop, Profeffor of Greek; of Mr. Morthland, Profeffor of the Oriental Languages; of Mr. Simpfon, Profeffor of Mathematics and of Dr. John Simpfon, Profeffor of Divinity. In the laft-mentioned year a difpute was revived, which had been often agitated before, between Mr. John Sterling the Principal, and the Students, about a right to chufe a Rector, whofe office and power is fomewhat like that of the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford or Cambridge. Mr. Robertfon took part with his fellow-ftudents, and was appointed by them, together with William Campbell, Efq. fon of Campbell of Marmore, whofe family has fince fucceeded to the eftates and titles of Argyle, to wait upon the Principal with a petition figned by more than threefcore matriculated Students, praying that he would, on the ift day of March, according to the ftatutes, fummon an Univerfity meeting for the election of a Rector; which petition he rejected with contempt. Whereupon the faid William Campbell, in his own name and in the name of all the petitioners, protefted against the Principal's refufal, and took inftruments in the hands of Cuthbert Stewart, Notary Public: And all the petitioners went to the houfe of Hugh Montgomery, Efq. the unlawful Rector, and there Mr. Robertfon read aloud the protest against him and his authority. Mr. Robertfon, by thefe proceedings, became the immediate object of indignation, and was the only one of all the fubfcribers to the petition that was proceeded against. He was cited before the Faculty, i. e. the Principal and the Profeffors of the University, of whom the Principal was fure of a majority, and, after a trial which lafted feveral days, had the fen tence of expulfion pronounced against

College of Glafgow, March 4, 1725. Mr. William Robertfon, Student of Divinity, having been accufed of feveral diforders, and having been called and examined upon the fecond and

culty found, by his own confeffion, that he was acceffary to a tumultuous infult upon the houfe of Hugh Montgomery, of Hartfield, prefent Rector of the University, upon the ift day of March inftant, at the reading of an injurious proteft against the said Rector, wherein are contained unjust and falfe reflections and afperfions upon the faid Rector, and upon the Princi'pal and Masters, thercin called his adherents, and tending to the manifeft defamation of him and other officebearers in the fociety. And found, by his own confeffion, that he had a hand in framing the faid protest, and that he agreed to it as it now ftands printed. And the Faculty found alfo by his confeffior, that he had, on the faid 21ft day of March inftant, been acceffary to a diforderly and tumultuous ringing of the great bell of the College. All which being 'contrary to the rules of good order and behaviour to be obferved by the Students of this Univerfity, efpecially Students of Divinity, the Faculty found him highly cenfureable for the fame, and therefore did, and hereby do, extrude the faid Mr. William Robertfon from this University.

Extracted from the minutes of the Univerfity of Glafgow by Charles Morthland, Clerk pro tempore.' By this fentence it appears that Mr. Robertfon was fo fully perfuaded of the juftice of his caufe, and the propriety of his proceedings, that he moft openly and ftrenuously acknowledged and adhered to what he had done. Upon this, Mr. Lowdon, his tutor, and Mr. Dunlop, Profeffor of Greek, wrote letters to Mr. Robertfon's father, acquainting him of what had happened, and affuring him that his fon had been expelled, not for any crime or immorality, but for appearing very zealous in a difpute about a matter of right between the Principal and the Students. Thefe letters Mr. Robertson fent inclofed in one from himself, relating his proceedings and fufferings in the caufe of what he thought juftice and right.

Upon

been paid for black cattle,wihch was certainly due by law. Several of the clergy of Ireland had, before him, fued for this herbage in the Court of Exchequer, and obtained decrees in their favour. Mr. Robertfon encouraged by the exhortations and examples of his brethren, commenced fome faits in the Exchequer for this herbage, and fucceeded in every one of them. But when he had, by this means, doubled the value of his benefices, the Houfe of Commons in Ireland paffed feveral fevere refolutions against the clergy who had fued or would fue for this new demand, as they called it, which encouraged the graziers to oppofe it fo obftinately as to put a period to that demand. This proceeding of the Commons provoked Dean Swift to write the famous poem, intituled, The Legion • Club.' Mr. Robertfon foon after published a pamphlet, intituled, A Scheme for utterly abolishing the prefent heavy and vexatious Tax of Tithe;' the purport of which was, to pay the clergy and impropriators a tax upon the land in lieu of all tithes. This went through feveral editions; but nothing further was done in it.

In the year 1739 the late Lord Cathcart, father to the prefent worthy nobleman of that name, (though Mr Robertfon's perfon was quite unknown to him,) fent him, by Captain Prefcott, a very kind meffage, with a proper qualification under his hand and feal, to be his chaplain.

Mr. Robertfon had, in the year 1728, married Elizabeth daughter of Major William Baxter, who in his younger years had been an officer in Ireland in the armies of King Charles II. and James II. but was cafhiered by the Earl of Tyrconnel, James's Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as a perfon not to be depended upon in carrying on his and his mafter's defigns. Captain Baxter upon this repaired to London, and complained of it to the Duke of Ormond. His father was at that time fteward to the Duke's cftate. His Grace, who was then joined with other English noblemen in a correfpondence with the Prince of Orange, recommended him to that Prince, who immediately gave him a company in his own forces. In this ftation he returned to England with the Prince at the Revolution, and acted his part vigorously in bringing about that great event. While the Captain was in Holland, he wrote that remarkable

letter to Dr. Burnet, afterwards Bishop of Salisbury, which is inferted in the Bishop's life at the end of the Hiftory of his own Times, folio, p. 694-5. By this lady, who was extremely beautiful in her perfon, but much more fo in her mind, Mr. Robertson had one and twenty children. There is a little poem written by him eight years after their marriage, and infcribed to her, upon her needle-work, inferted in the Gent. Mag. 1736. In the year 1743 Mr. Robertfon obtained the Bishop's leave to nominate a curate at Ravilly, and to refide for fome time in Dublin for the education of his children. Here he was immediately invited to the cure of St. Luke's parith; and in this he continued five years, and then returned to Ravilly in 1748, the town air not agreçing with him. While he was in the cure of St. Luke's, he, together with Mr. Kane Percival then Curate of St. Michans, formed a fcheme to raife a fund for the fupport of widows and children of clergymen of the Diocese of Dublin, which hath fince produced very happy effects. In the year 1758 his beloved wife, the moft worthy and agreeable companion that ever fell to the lot of man, changed this life for a bet

ter.

In the year 1759 Dr. Richard Robinfon was tranflated from the See of Killalla to that of Ferns; and in his vifitation that year, he took Mr. Robertfon afide, and told him, that the Primate, Dr. Stone, (who had been Bishop of Ferns, and had kept up a correfpondence with Mr. Robertfon) had recommended him to his care and protection, and that he might therefore expect every thing in his power. Accordingly, the firft benefice that became vacant in his Lordship's prefentation was offered to him, and he thankfully accepted it. But before he could be collated to it, he had the "Free and Candid Difquifitions" put into his hands which he had never feen before. This infpired him with fuch doubts as made him defer his attendance on the good Bishop, His Lordship wrote to him again to come immediately for inftitu tion. Upon this Mr. Robertfon wrote him the letter which is at the end of a little book that he published some years after, intituled, An Attempt to explain the words Reafon, Substance, Perfon, Creeds, Orthodoxy, Catholic Church, Subfcription, and Index Ex

† Spe vol. VI. p. 416,