3^6 Biographical Memoirs of 



As the object which pharmacopolifts propofed by preparing 

 thefe different extracts was to concentrate and prelerve in a 

 fmall volume the virtues and properties of vegetables, it is 

 neceflfary that we (hnuld give a view of the means they em- 

 ployed to accomphfli this object, fuch as the extraction of 

 the juices of green plants ; maceration, infufion, or the de- 

 coction of dried plants 5 and evaporation. 



[To be continual.] 



— 



LXV. Biographical Memoirs of Dr. Rob I son, of Edin- 

 burgh. 



s 



OME time ago we gave a head of Dr. Robifon, with a 

 very brief account of his life collected from fuch imperfect 

 materials as we could at that time obtain. As we have fincc 

 learnt that this (ketch was incorrect in feveral particulars, and 

 as it always gives us pleafure to rectify any errors into which 

 we may inadvertently fall, we are happy to have it in our 

 power to lay before our readers a more correct life, written 

 by a gentleman of diftinguifhed literary abilities, and who, 

 from his intimacy with the profeflbr, mult be perfectly ac- 

 quainted with the fubject. Dr. Gleig, the gentleman alluded 

 to, in a letter to the editor of the Anti-jacobin Review, to 

 whom this life was firft communicated, exprefles himfelf in 

 the following candid manner: 



In the tenth volume of the Philosophical Magazine are 

 Memoirs of the Life of John Robifon, LL.D. &c, Profeflbr 

 of Natural Philofophy in the Univerfity of Edinburgh; the 

 author of which has, indeed, done jufiice to the profeflbr's 

 general character as a man of fcience and of virtue, whilft 

 lie has ftated Inaccurately almoit every incident of his life. 

 To point out the numerous miftakes into which he has fallen, 

 and correct them in a table of errata, would ferve no pur- 

 pofe, becaufe to fuch tables attention is fcldom paid ; and 

 being an abfolute ftrangcr to the conductor of that publica- 

 0tion, I cannot requeft him to fill, with a fecond life of my 

 friend, pages profefledly devoted to the improvement of ufeful 

 arts and phyfical fcience. Perhaps it may gratify curiofity 

 to infttm the public, that the engraved portrait of Dr. Robi- 

 fon, which accompanied the Memoirs in queftion, appears 

 to me a ilrong, though perhaps not flattering, likenefs. 



I am, Sir, your molt refpe&ful humble fervant, 



Stirling, GfiQRGE GlEIG. 



Dec. Z4, 1801. 



jQHtf 



