A SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND LABOURS OF DR. ROBB. 11 



Robb have in every particular been confirmed by the results of later 

 investigation. The very recent discovery of Albertite veins penetra- 

 ting the pure white gypsum or alabaster deposits of Hillsborough, is a 

 singular commentary upon the views that the mineral in question 

 is a coal. 



It has been said that Dr. Robb's published observations are but 

 few. But important as these are, we should form a very inadequate 

 idea of the man and of his work if we restricted our estimate to these 

 only. Tn reality his researches took many different directions, and, 

 had his manuscript notes, after his death, not unfortunately gone 

 astray, their publication would have been a source of much valuable 

 information. This is especially true of researches made by him in 

 regard to the early occupation of the country by the French, as well 

 as regards the language and traditions of the still earlier Indian 

 tribes. 



In referring to these manuscripts Rev. W. O. Raymond, in whose 

 keeping they now are, says in a letter to the writer : 



After the attempt by Peter Fisher in 1825, of Alex. Wedderburn in 1836 

 Moses Perley in 1841, Calvin Hatheway in 1846, and Abraham Gesner in 1847, 

 to give something of the history of the Province, Dr. Robb seems to have 

 formed the design of writing a history of a more elaborate kind, embracing the 

 Acadian period as well as the history of the Pre-Loyalist English settlements 

 and the later history. To this end he compiled, from time to time, such 

 materials as he could glean from Champlain, Charlevoix and other French 

 writers, and also from certain documentary materials in Halifax and Massa- 

 chusetts. The manuscript books in which the result of his researches are to be 

 found are interesting. They contain many corrections, interliniations, and on 

 the pages opposite to the ink-written narrative, many supplementary notes in 

 pencil, and observations which go to show that the work was regarded by him 

 as of a tentative nature. 



There is also among the Robb papers a lot of Indian words with observa- 

 tions on the same, and rude attempts at classification. In nearly all the papers 

 one is struck with the industry that. Dr. Robb displayed, and although he did 

 not live to complete his historical work sufficiently for publication, he was 

 following the right path, and really, with the time and opportunities afforded, 

 he accomplished a good deal. Modern students of provincial history have 

 fuller and better sources of information than had he, and I do not know that 

 his manuscript contains much that is original, which is to be regretted. 



The museum which Dr. Robb founded in connection with King's 

 College (now the University of New Brunswick) is well worthy of 

 notice. It has been already said that during his European tour Dr. 

 Robb embraced every opportunity to make collections of minerals, 

 rocks, fossils and plants. From the nature of the collections now in 



