BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 95
might have ranked with the first names in the British Senate. He retired from
the business of the Church Courts in 1780, but still continued his pastoral duties,
preaching when his health permitted, till within a few months of his death,
which took place at Grange House, near Edinburgh, on the 11th June 1793.
His colleague Dr, John Erskine, in a sermon preached after his death, said,
“ Few minds were naturally so large and capacious as Dr, Robertson’s, or stored
by study, experience, and observation, with so rich furniture. His imagination
was correct, his judgment sound, his memory tenacious, his temper agreeable,
his knowledge extensive, and his acquaintance with the world and the heart of
man very remarkable.”
Dr. Robertson is said to have excited the enmity of Dr. Gilbert Stuart, in
consequence of his assumed opposition to the appointment of that clever, but
vindictive personage, to one of the Law chairs in the University. Whether the
Principal really interfered is not certain, but Stuart believed he had done so,
and that was quite sufficient to induce him to take every means in his power to
annoy his imagined enemy. The “View of Society in Europe,” is in direct
opposition to the luminous introduction to Dr. Robertson’s ‘‘ History of Charles
V.,” and the ‘‘ History of Scotland, from the Reformation to the Death of Queen
Mary,” is an undisguised and virulent hypercritical attack on the “History
of Scotland ” by the same eminent writer, and does no great credit to the talents
of Dr. Stuart. The Empress Catherine of Russia was so delighted with Dr.
Robertson’s works, that she presented him with a handsome gold enamelled snuffbox,
richly set with diamonds, through Dr. Rogerson, which is still in possession
of the family.
The eldest son, a Lord
of Session, retired some years ago from the Bench ; he lived in Charlotte Square,
and died only last year (1836). The next son, Lieutenant-General James, who
distinguished himself under Lord Conmallis, still lives at Canaan Bank, near
Edinburgh. The third son was also in the army, but, having ’married the
heiress of Kinloch-Moidart, now (1837) resides almost entirely on his eshte.
The eldest daughter married Patrick Brydone, Esq. of Lennel House, author of’
a “ Tour through Sicily and Malta,” one of whose daughters became Countess
of Minto; and another, the wife of Admiral Sir Charles Adam, K.B. The
youngest daughter married John Russell, Esq., Writer to the Signet.
Dr. Robertson left three sons and two daughters.
No. XIlIII.
QUARTERMASTER TAYLOR.
THIS gentleman was an officer in the 7th Regiment of Foot, and served under
General Elliot, afterwards Lord Heathfield, during the memorable siege of Gibraltar
by the Spaniards. While in Edinburgh, during the year 1788, his
extreme corpulency rendered him very conspicuous, and induced Mr. Kay to
make him the subject of the present etching. It is said that the night before
his death he was offered €400 for his commission, which he refused
