APPENDIX. (75) 



of laboiir and induftrv, there were fvink in the coal and fait Account oi 



^ ' _ Dr Roebuck, 



works at Borrowflounnefs, not only his own, and the confiderable 

 fortune brought him by his wife, but the regular profits of his 

 more fuccefsfiil works ; and, along therewith, what diftreffed 

 him above every thing, great funis of money borrowed from 

 his relations and friends, which he was never able to repay: not 

 to mention, that, from the fame caufe, he was, during the laft 

 twenty years of his life, fubjecfted to a conftant fucceflion of hopes 

 and difappointments, to a courfe of labour and drudgery ill fuited 

 to his tafle and turn of mind, to the irkfome and teafing bufinefs 

 of managing and ftudying the humours of working colliers. But 

 all thefe difficulties his unconquerable and perfevering fpirit 

 would have overcome, if the never ceafing demands of his coal- 

 works, after having exhaufted the profits, had not alfo compell- 

 ed him to withdraw his capital from all his different works in 

 fucceflion ; from the refining work at Birmingham, the vitriol - 

 work at Preftonpans, the ironworks at Carron, as well as to part 

 with his intereft in the projedt of improving the fteam engine, 

 in which he had become a partner with Mr Watt, the original 

 inventor, and from which he had reafon to hope for future 

 emolument. It would be painful to mention the unhappy con- 

 fequences of this ruinous adventure to his family and to him- 

 felf. It cut off for ever the flattering profpedl which they had 

 of an independent fortune, fuited to their education and rank 

 in life. It made many cruel encroachments upon the time 

 and occupations of a man, whofe mind was equally fitted to en- 

 joy the high attainments of fcience, and the elegant amufements 

 of tafte. As the price of fo many facrifices, he was only ena- 

 bled to draw from his colliery, and that by the indulgence of 

 his creditors, a moderate annual maintenance for himfelf and 

 family during his life. At his death, his widow was left with- 

 out any provifion whatever for her immediate or future fupport, 



(K. 2) and 



