1816. Dr. John Robison. 257 
state of health always delicate, and subject to be deranged by slight 
accidents, was probably the cause of this indifference. Hence the 
small number of his writings, and his sudden stop in that career of 
discovery on which he had entered with such brilliancy and success. 
Of much that he had done, the world had never heard any thing, 
but from verbal communication to his pupils; and on the subject 
of latent heat, no written document remained to ascertain to him 
the property of that great discovery. The only means of repairing 
this loss, and counteracting the injustice of the world, was the 
publication which Professor Robison now undertook with so much 
zeal, and executed with so much ability. Dr. Black had used to 
read his lectures from notes, and these often but very imperfect, 
and ranged in order by marks or signs only known to himself. The 
task of editing them was therefore difficult, and required a great 
deal both of time and labour, but was at last accomplished in a 
manner to give great satisfaction. The truth, however, is, that 
the time was past when this work would have met in the world with 
the reception which it deserved. Chemical theories had of late 
undergone great changes, and the language of the science was 
entirely altered. Dr. Black, on the subject of these changes, had 
corresponded with Lavoisier, and the mutual respect of two great 
men for one another was strongly marked in the letters which 
passed between them. The Doctor had acceded to the changes 
proposed by the French chemist, and had even adopted the new 
nomenclature; but his notes had not undergone the alterations 
which were necessary to introduce it throughout. It would now 
have been difficult to make those alterations; and Mr. Robison, 
who was not favourable to the new chemistry, did not conceive 
that by making them he was permanently serving the interest of his 
friend. He conceived, indeed, that there was unfairness in the 
means employed by Lavoisier, for bringing Dr. Black to adopt the 
new system of chemistry; and has thrown out some severe re- 
flections on the conduct of the former, which appear to me to rest 
on a very slight foundation. 
It was quite natural for a man, convinced, like Lavoisier, of 
the importance of the improvements which he had made in che- 
mistry, to be desirous that they should be received by the most 
celebrated Professor of that time,—by the very man, too, whose 
discoveries had opened the way to those improvements. His letters 
to Dr. Black, contain expressions of respect and esteem, which, I 
confess, appear to me perfectly natural, and without any thing 
like exaggeration or deceit. Indeed it is not probable that M. 
Lavoisier, even if he could himself have submitted to flatter or 
cajole, could conceive that any good effect was to arise from doing 
80, or that there was any other way of inducing a grave, cautious, 
and profound philosopher, to adopt a certain system of opinions, 
but by convincing him of their truth. He had, with those who 
knew him, the character of a sincere man, very remote from any 
thing like art or affectation, We must therefore ascribe the view 
