94 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
appeared his “History of Scotland during the reigns of Queen Mary and
James VI.” The effect this work produced was instantaneous and extraordinary-
congratulatory letters of praise, from the most eminent men of the
time, poured in upon him ; and it is said that the emoluments derived from it
exceeded 2600. Preferment immediately followed, which changed at once
the whole aspect of his fortunes; for in the same year he was appointed
Chaplain to the Garrison of Stirling Castle, in the room of Mr. William Campbell
; next year he was nominated one of his Majesty’s Chaplains for Scotland ;
in the year following (1761), on the death of Principal Goldie, he was elected
Principal of the University of Edinburgh, and translated to the Greyfriars’
Church. Two years afterwards he was appointed by the King Historiographer
for Scotland, with a salary of 3200 a year.
In 1779 Dr. Robertson published, in three volumes quarto, a “History of
the Reign of Charles V.,” which still farther increased the reputation of its
author. For the copyright he received no less than 24500, the largest sum
then known to have been paid for a single work; and which, according to the
calculation of the Rev. Dr Nisbet of Montrose,’ amounted exactly to twopencehalfpenny
for each word in the work.
Dr. Robertson, in 1778, gave to the world his “History of America,” in two
volumes quarto, a work which was well received at the time, and which still
continues to be popular. On this occasion he was elected an honorary member
of the Royal Academy of History in Madrid, who appointed one of their
members to translate the work into Spanish; but after it was considerably
advanced, the Spanish Government interfered and prevented it.
In the year 1781, he was elected one of the Foreign Members of the Academy
of Sciences at Padua, and, in 1783, one of the foreign Members of the
Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburgh.
In 1791 appeared his last work, also in quarto, entitled, “Historical Disquisitions
concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients had of India, and the Progress
of Trade with that country, prior to the Discovery of the Cape of Good Hope.”
No. XLII.
DR. WILLIAM ROBERTSON, D.D.,
IN HIS FULL CLERICAL DRESS.^
THE Doctor’s powerful and persuasive eloquence had gained him an influence
in the General Assembly which intimately and conspicuously associated his
name with the Ecclesiastical affairs of Scotland. He was a long time leader of
the Court party in our Ecclesiastical Parliament, and as a speaker, it is said, he
Some time the Principal of the College of Carlisle in Pennsylvania, and a frequent opponent of
Dr. Robertson in the General Assembly.
It waa remarked that Dr. Robertson always appeared to greatest advantage in this attire.
