1816.]} Dr. John Robison. 179 
that office. His nautical and mathematical knowledge qualified 
him singularly for the duties of it, and his proficiency in the Rus- 
sian. language removed the only objection that could possibly be 
proposed. When he accepted of the appointment the salary of his 
predecessor was doubled, and the rank of Colonel was given him. 
Besides delivering his lectures as Professor, he officiated also as 
inspector of the above corps, in the room of Gen. Politika, who 
had retired, or been sent to his estates in the Ukraine. 
The lectures which he gave were very much admired, and could 
not fail to be of the greatest use to his pupils. “ Few men under- 
stood so well the theory and the practice of the arts they profess to 
teach ; few had enjoyed the same opportunities of seeing the mathe- 
matical rules of artillery and navigation carried into effect on so 
great a scale. To his own countrymen resident at St. Petersburgh 
Mr. Robison was an object of no less affection than admiration. 
In 1773 the death of Dr. Russell produced a vacancy in the 
Natural Philosophy Chair of the University of Edinburgh. Prin- 
cipal Robertson, who was ever so attentive to the welfare of the 
University over which he presided, though not personally acquainted 
with Mr. Robison, yet knowing his character, had no doubt of re- 
commending him to the Patrons of the University, who, on their 
part, with no less disinterestedness, listened to his recommendation, 
and Mr. Robison was accordingly elected. It is said that when the 
news of this appointment reached him, he at first hesitated about 
the acceptance of it, principally from the fear of appearing insen- 
sible to the kindness and favour which he had experienced from the 
Russian Government. ‘The moment, too, when it was known that 
this invitation had been given him, further offers of emolument and 
preferment were made him by that Government, of such a kind as 
it was supposed he could not possibly resist. At length he deter- 
mined, and no doubt wisely, however splendid the prospects held 
out to him might be, to accept of a situation that would fix him 
permanently in his native country. He therefore declined the offers 
of the Empress of Russia, and in June, 1774, sailed from Cron- 
stadt for Leith, followed, as one of those friends he left behind in 
Russia has expressed it, by the regrets, and accompanied by the 
warmest good wishes, not only of all who had shared in his friend- 
ship, but of all to whom he was known. The Empress was so far 
from being offended with his determination, however much she 
wished to prevent it, that she settled a pension on him, accompanied 
with a request that he would receive under his care two or three of 
the young cadets who were to be selected in succession. 
Mr. Robison was admitted at Edinburgh on Sept. 16, 1774, and 
gave his first course of lectures in the winter following. The 
person to whom he succeeded had been very eminent and very 
useful in his profession. He possessed a great deal of ingenuity, 
and much knowledge, in all the branches of physical science. 
Without perhaps being very deeply versed in the higher parts of the 
mathematics, he had much more knowledge of them than is re- 
