APPENDIX. (85) 



numerous avocations did not permit him to follow them out ^r R""buck. 

 by experiinental procefles of his own. Upon that, and indeed 

 almoll upon every fubjedl, his mind readily grafped the mod 

 ufeful and fubftantial points, and enabled him to throw out 

 fuch hints, and hypotliefes, as marked him the man of genius. 



During the courfe of a regular education, both at Edin- 

 burgh and at Leyden, Dr Roebuck fludied the claffic authors 

 with great attention, particularly the hiftorical and political 

 parts of their works. Upon thefe fubjedls he had read much, 

 feledled with judgment, and was well acquainted with the fadls 

 and philofophy of ancient governments. This tafle he carried 

 with him, and improved in every period of his life, and in every 

 fituation. It abundantly rewarded him for the earneftnefs and 

 diligence with which it had been acquired. It became his fa- 

 voiTrite refource, and indeed one of the chief enjoyments of his 

 life. Poffeffing the happy talent of turning his mind from fe- 

 rious and fatiguing, to elegant and recreating purfuits, it was 

 no uncommon thing with him to retvirn from the laboratory 

 or the coalpit, and draw relaxation or relief from fome one or 

 other of the various {lores of claffical learning. 



No man was better acquainted with the hiftory of his coun- 

 try than Dr Roebuck, or more admired and revered the con- 

 flitution of its Government. By temper and education he was 

 a Whig, and at all times entered, with great warmth, into the 

 political difputes and controverfies which agitated parties, in the 

 different periods of his hfe. If the natural warmth of his tem- 

 per, and his enthuliafm on thefe fubjedls, led him, on fome 

 occafions, beyond the bounds of candid argumentation, his 

 quick fenfe of decorum, and his perfedl habits of good man- 

 ners, produced an immediate atonement, and reftored the rights 

 of elegant and poliflied converfation. 



The general acquaintance which Dr Roebuck had acquired 

 with natural and experimental philofophy, together with his 



clafUcal 



