Account of 

 lit Roebuck. 



{70) HlSrORV of the SOCIETT. 



feat their plan, by taking out a patent for Scotland, in addition 

 to the one he had formerly obtained. In this attempt he failed. 

 Dr Roebuck's difcovery was found not to come within the 

 fpecification of Dr Ward's patent. 



The Preftonpans Company, convinced that patents are of 

 little avail in preferving the property of new inventions or dif- 

 coveries, in condu(fling their vitriol works refolved to have re- 

 courfe to the more effedlual methods of concealment and fecrecy. 

 Bv that method they were enabled to preferve the advantages of 

 their ingenuity and induflry for a long period of years, and not 

 only ferved the public at a much cheaper rate than had ever 

 been done formerly, but, it is believed, they realized, in that 

 manufacflure, a greater annual profit from a fmaller capital than 

 had been done in any fimilar undertakng. The vitriol work is 

 ftill carried on at Preftonpans ; but, long before Dr Roebuck's 

 death, he was obliged to withdraw his capital from it. 



About this time Dr Roebuck was urged, by fome of his 

 friends, to leave Birmingham, and to fettle as a phyfician in 

 London, where his abilities might have had a more extenfive 

 field of exertion. He had been early honoured with the ac- 

 qviaintance of the late Marquis of Rockingham, who, as a 

 lover of arts, had frequently engaged him in chemical experi- 

 ments at Rockingham-houfe. It was there, alfo, he became ac- 

 quainted with the late Sir George Seville, and with feveral 

 other perfons of rank and influence. His old friend and fchool- 

 fellow, Mr Dyson, too, by this time, had acquired confider- 

 able name and influence, and prefled him much to take that 

 ftep. Under fvich patronage, and with the energy of fuch ta- 

 lents as Dr Roebuck poflefl'ed, there could be little doubt of his 

 foon arriving at an eminent rank, as a phyfician in London. 

 But the chemical concerns, with which he was at that time 

 deeply occupied, held out to him a profpedl of a richer harveft, 

 determined him to give up the pracflice of medicine altogether, 



and 



