262 ROBERTSON. 



presentation to a living or Kirk. Two years after, he 

 was appointed minister of Gladsmuir, a country parish 

 in East Lothian ; and this event happened fortunately 

 on the eve of the irreparable loss sustained by the 

 family in the death of both their parents, which left his 

 brother and his sisters wholly without provision. He 

 immediately took the care of them upon himself, and 

 would form no connexion in marriage until he had seen 

 them placed in situations of independence. He thus 

 remained single for eight years, during which his eldest 

 and favourite sister superintended his family. In her 

 sound judgment he always placed the greatest con- 

 fidence ; for he knew that to great beauty she added a 

 calm and a firm temper, inherited from their mother, 

 but with greater sweetness of disposition. An instance 

 of her fortitude and presence of mind was sometimes 

 mentioned by him, though never alluded to by herself, 

 that a swarm of bees having settled on her head and 

 shoulders while sitting in the garden, she remained 

 motionless until they took wing, thus saving her life, 

 which was in imminent jeopardy. She was married in 

 1750, and the year after he married his cousin, Miss 

 Nesbit. 



While at Gladsmuir, where he remained fifteen 

 years, his life was passed in constant study, and in the 

 duties of his sacred profession. He rose very early, 

 and devoted the whole morning to his books. Later 

 in the day he had ample time for visiting the sick and 

 the poor generally ; and he gave great attention to the 

 important duty of examining and catechising the young 

 people under his care. But nothing can be more 

 absurd than the statement in some of the lives which 



