39° Biographical Memoirs of 



the Peregrine floop of war, Mr. Robifon accompanied him • 

 but thofe friends foon after parted, never to meet more. In 

 176a the fubject of this memoir was Tent, by the admiralty 

 board, to Jamaica, to make trial of Harrifon's time- keeper ; 

 and, on his return, he learned, with grid, thai the Peregrine 

 had foundered at lea, and that his beloved tnend and pupil, 

 with the whole crew, had peri (lied. 



His profpects were now not flattering. Admiral Knowles 

 had retired to the country in deep affliction, for his Ion ; lord 

 Anfon, on whofe promife of future preferment Mr. Robifon, 

 had gone to Jamaica, was dead ; in the friendfhip of Dr. Blair 

 he had little confidence; peace feemed to beat no great di fiance; 

 and his hones of advancement in the navy, were very fmall. 



He determ ned therefore to return to college, being a f fired 

 bv admiral (then fir Charles) Knowles, that he would feud 

 his remaining ion as loon as he (liould have pafTed through 

 the forms of Eton fchool, to complete his education under 

 his inflection. Next year Mr. Mac Dowell jun. of Cafile 

 Semple (now of Garthland, and M . P.) was placed under his 

 care; and foon afterwards he carried from London to Glafgow 

 Mr. Knowles, now fir Charles Knowles, and a rear admiral. 



It was when he returned to college from the navy, as I 

 have heard Dr. Robifon fay, that he ferioufly began to ttudv; 

 but his helps we r e gone. Dr. Simfon was dead, Dr. Smith 

 foon left Glafgow to travel with the duke of Buecleugh, and 

 Dr. Moore was greatly changed. He attended, however, the 

 lectures of Mr, Miller, the late celebrated profeflbr of civil 

 law in the univerfity of Glafgow, and thofe of the ftill more 

 celebrated Dr Black, on chemiftry ; and finding in Dr. 

 Reid, whofucceeded Dr. Smith, and in Dr. Alexander WiU 

 fon, profeflbr of aftr onomy, minds congenial with his own, 

 he foon formed with thefe two men. a very clofe intimacy. 

 He freaks likewife with great affection of Dr. Wight, pro- 

 feflbr of hifiorv, and of Dr. Stevenfon, profeflbr of medicine, 

 and in terms of high refpect, indeed, of ail the members of 

 that learned bodv. That the refpect between them and him 

 was mutual is apparent from many circumftances. 



When Dr. Black was called, in 1 767, to Edinburgh, the 

 fenatc of the univerfitv of Glafgow, on his recommendation, 

 appointed Mr. Robifon to fucceed him as lecturer on che- 

 miftry. He read lectures on that fcience for three years with 

 great applaufe, a id had among his pupils men who have 

 Jnce diftingui (lied themfelves among the moft eminent che- 

 niifts of the age. 



In 1770 fir Charles Knowles, being invited to St. Peters- 

 burgh by the emprefs Catharine 11. to~affift her in reforming 



her 



