BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 383
Dictionary of Decision8 of the Court of Session,
vols. iii and iv. 1778. Folio.
Plan and Outlines of a Course of Lectures on'Universa1
History, Ancient and Modern, illustrated
with Maps of Ancient and Modern Geography,
and a Chronological Table. 1782. Afterwards
much enlarged, and published under the title of
Elements of Qeneral History.
Nos. 17, 37, 59, 79, of the Mirror, first publishad in
1779 and 1780; also Nos. 7, 19. 24, 44, 63, 70, 79,
of the Lounger, tirst published in 1785 aud 1786.
Account of the Life and Writings of Dr. John Grego~y,
pretixed to an edition of his works, published at
Edinburgh in 1787.
History of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, making
the First Part of the First Volume of the Transactions
of the Royal Society, printed in 1787.
Biographical Account of Lord President Dundas,
printed in the Second Volume of the Transactions
of the Royal Society.
Account of some extraordinary Structures on the
tops of Hills in the Highlands, with Remarks on
the Progress of the Arts among the Ancient Inhabitanta
of Scotland. Printed in the Second
Volume of the Tnrnsnctions of the Royal Society.
Essay on the Principles of Translation, 8vo. Pablished
by Cadell, London Second edition, with
additions, 1797. 8vo.
Critical Examination of Yr. Whitaker's Course of
Hmnibal over the Alps.
New edition of Derham's Physic+Theology, with
large Notes and an Account of the Life and
Writings of the Author. Published, January
1789.
Ireland ProUting by Example, or the Question whether
Scotland haa Gained or Lpst by a Union, ilnally
discussed, 1799.
Remnrks on the Writings and Qenius of Allan
Rameay. Prefixed to a new edition of his works,
in 2 vols. 8v0, edited by the lata George Chalmers,
Eaq. 1800. 8vo.
An Essay on Military Law, and the Practice of C o d -
Martial. Edinburgh, 1800. 8vo.
Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Henry Home,
Lord games. 1807. 2 vols. 4h. Republished
in three vols. 8vo.
Historical and Critical Essay on the Life and Character
of Petmch Crown 8vo.
Published, 1798.
WILLIAM ROBERTSON (LORDR OBERTSONth),e figure next to Lord
Woodhouselee, was the eldest son of Dr. Robertson, the eminent Historian
and Principal of the University of Edinburgh. He was born in December
1754; and became a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1775. In 1779
he was chosen Procurator of the Church of Scotland, after a keen contest, in
which he was opposed by the Hon. Henry Erskine, whose professional eminence
is so well known.
In 1805, after thirty years' successful practice at the bar, Lord Robertson
was promoted to the bench, on the death of David Ross (Lord Ankerville),
where he was distinguished not more for his legal talents than for his sagacity
and good sense. His appearance is thus described by the author of Peter's
Letters to his Kinsfolk :-
" In his [the Lord Justice Clerk's] Division of the Civil Court, one of his most respected
aqsessors is Lord Robertmn, son to the great historian ; nor could I see, without a very peculiar
interest, the son of such a man occupying and adorning such a situation, in the midst of a people
in whose minds his name must be associated with so niany feelings of gratitude and admiration.
" The son of such a man as the Historian of Scotland is well entitled to share in these
honourable feelings of hereditary attachment among the people of Scotland ; and he does share
in them. Even to me, I must confess, it afforded a very genuine delight, to be allowed to
contemplate the features of the father, aq reflected and preserved in the living features of his son.
A more careless observer would not, perhaps, be able to trace any very striking resemblance between
the face of Lord Robertson and the common portraits of the Historian ; but I could easily do so.
In those of the prints which represent him at an early period of hie life, the physiognomy of
Robertson is not seen to its best advantage. There is, indeed, an air of calmness and tastefuluess
even in them which cannot be overlooked or mistaken ; but it ie in those later portraits,
which give the features after they had been divested of their fulness and smoothnesa of outline,
and filled with the deeper lines of age and comparative extenuation, that one traces, with most
ease and satisfaction, the image of genius, and the impress of reflection. And it is to these lnst
portraits that I could perceive the strongest likeness in the general aspect of the Judge, but most
of all in his grey and overhanging eye-brows, and eyes, eloquent equally of sagacity of intellect
and gentleness of temper."
384 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Lord Robertson retired from the bench in 1826, in consequence of the infirmity
of deafness, which prevented him from discharging his important duties in
such an efficient manner as he had hitherto done ; and he spent the remainder of
his days in a dignified retirement, enjoying the pleasures afforded by that taste
for literature for which he was distinguished amongst those who were best
qualified to form an opinion of his merits. Professor Dugald Stewart, in his
Life of Principal Robertson, says-" His [the Principal's] eldest son, an eminent
lawyer at the Scottish bar, has been only prevented by the engagement of an
active profession from sustaining his father's literary name."
Lord Robertson died on the 20th of November 1835. He was twice
married, but left no children by either of his wives.
In the jeu d'esprit called the " Diamond Beetle Case," attributed to George
Cranstoun, Esq. (Lord Corehouse), the manner and professional peculiarities of
several of the Senators composing the " last sitting " are happily imitated.
The involved phraseology of Lord Bannatyne-the predilection for Latin
quotation of Lord Meadowbank - the brisk manner of Lord Hermand - the
anti-Gallic feeling of Lord Craig -the broad dialect of Lords Polkemmet
and Balmuto-and the hesitating manner of Lord Methven-are admirably
caricatured. This effusion, humorous without rancour, was much appreciated
at the time, and is so characteristic, that we need not apologise for giving it a
place here :-
'' N 0 TE S
TAKEN AT ADVISING THE ACTION OF DEFAMATION AND DAMAGES,
ALEXANDECRU NNINGHAMJ,'e weller in Edinburgh,
AGAINST
JAMERSU SSELLS,*u rgeon there.
'' LORDP RESIDENT(S, IRI LAYC A&rPBELL).-Yoiir Lordships have the petition of Alexander
Cunningham against Lord Bannatyne's interlocutor. It is a case of defamat,ion and damages
for calling the petitioner's Diamond Bdle an Epjptian Louse. You have the Lord Ordinary's
distinct interlocutor on pages 29 and 30 of this petition :--'Having considered the Condescendence
Mr. Cunningham was a gentleman, who, notwithstanding the aristocratic dislike of the Modern
Athenians to persons in trade, was received into the best society. He was understood to be of the
Glencairn family, and to have a claim to that dormant earldom. Re was a great friend of Burns,
and became possessor, by donation from the Poet's brother, of his punch bowl, of black or Inverary
marble, elegantly mounted with silver. Upon his death, in 1814, this interesting relic was offered for
sale by private bargain ; but not finding a purchaser, it was sold by auction, on the 20th of January
1816, bythe late John Ballantyne,for eighty guineas, The Ayrshire Club,it is said, were the purchasers.
a Afterwards Professor of Clinical Surgery in the University of Edinburgh.