28 EARLY LIFE. 



among the judge's papers, after a long and fruitless 

 search, I am now possessed of it, written in his own 

 hand, and can see the places where he added passages 

 on the inspiration of the moment, particularly that 

 above cited, my recollection of which is distinct, and 

 is confirmed both by the conversation upon it I have 

 often had with his sister, and by the judge's appre- 

 hensions, who was of the strong alarmist party. 



It is fit that some mention should be made of Dr 

 Kobertson's family, and of his private life as con- 

 nected with these memoirs. His father, a Robertson 

 of Struan, was settled for some years as minister of 

 the Scotch Church in London Wall ; and I recollect 

 when the affairs of that establishment came before 

 me in the Court of Chancery, and one of the counsel 

 connected with Scotland was beginning to explain its 

 nature, I told him that my great-grandfather, the 

 historian's father, had been its pastor, so that I might 

 be excused for taking an unusual interest in its con- 

 cerns, reminding him of the Scotch saying that blood 

 is thicker than water. He returned to Scotland in 

 1718, and was settled at Borthwick, in the county of 

 Edinburgh, having married Miss Pitcairn of Dreg- 

 horn; and it was always remembered in the family 

 that Sir Richard Steele, with whom he had become 

 acquainted in London, showed his respect for him by 

 being present at the marriage. The historian was 

 born at Borthwick, 19th September 1721. 



I have been curious to ascertain the kind of genius 

 which distinguished his father, besides his talent for 

 drawing, of which I possess a specimen showing some 



