1816.) Dr. John Robison. 259 
his place. Against such a continuance of illhealth, with so little 
hopes of recovery as could be entertained for a. long time past, 
hardly any mind could be expected to remain in full possession of 
activity and vigour. his is the more difficult, as the valuable 
medicine which alone in such cases can assuage pain, contributes 
itself at length to weaken the mind, and to destroy its energy. 
The combat which Mr. Robison had maintained against these com- 
lieated evils, had indeed been wonderfully vigorous and successful, 
and the last of his works is quite worthy of his days of most perfect 
health and enjoyment. 
The body could not resist so wellas the mind. In the end of 
January 1805, he was suddenly seized with a severe illness, which 
put an end to his life in the course of 48 hours. ‘There was a 
general disturbance of the system, which, without having the cha- 
racter of any defined disease, exhibited those symptoms of uni- 
versal disorder which denote a breaking up of the constitution, and 
never fail to terminate fatally. 
On reviewing the whole of his character, and the circumstances 
of his life, it is impossible not to see in him a man of extraordinary 
powers, who had enjoyed great opportunities for improvement, and 
had never failed to turn them to the best account. He possessed 
mauy accomplishments rarely to be met with in a scholar, or a man 
of science. He had great skill and taste in music, and was a_per- 
former on several instruments. He was an excellent draughtsman, 
and could make his pencil a valuable instrument either of record 
or invention. When a young man, he was gay, convivial, and 
facetious, and his vers de société flowed, I have been told, easily 
and with great effect. His appearance and manner were in a high 
degree fayourable and imposing ; his figure handsome, and his face 
expressive of talent, thought, gentleness, and good temper. When 
I had first the pleasure to become acquainted with him, the youthful 
turn of his countenance and manners was beginning to give place 
to the grave and serious cast, which he early assumed; and cer 
tainly 1 have never met with any one whose appearance and con- 
versation were more impressive than his were at that period. 
Indeed his powers of conversation were very extraordinary, and: 
when exerted, never failed of producing a great effect. An ex- 
tensive and accurate information of particular facts, and a facility 
of combining them into general and original views, were united in 
a degree of which | am persuaded there have been few examples. 
Accordingly, he would go over the most difficult subjects, and 
bring out the most profound remarks, with an ease and readiness 
which was quite singular. ‘The depth of his observations seemed to 
cost him nothing; and when he said any thing particularly striking, 
you never could discover any appearance of the self-satisfaction so 
common on such occasions. He was disposed to pass quite readily 
from one subject to another; the transition was a matter of course, 
and he had perfectly, and apparently without seeking after it, that 
light and easy turn of conversation, even on scientific and profound 
