396 



Notice of the Life of the Rev. Abraham Robertson, D.D., 

 F.R.S., Savilian Professor of Geometry, and afterwards 

 of Astronomy, Oxford. 



Some particulars of the early life of Dr. Abraham Rob- 

 ertson, a native of Berwickshire, were introduced to the 

 knowledge of the Club, by one of its members, very many 

 years ago ; but a request that they should be formed into a 

 memoir, was never complied with. See Club's " History," 

 vol. i. p. 183. (July, 1839). It appears from this, as well 

 as from notices in the Botany of the Eastern Borders, that 

 the founders of the Club contemplated at one time or other, 

 to put on record the lives and merits of some memorable 

 individuals of the district, when these had been neglected, 

 or when it might be possible to represent their characters 

 in a more becoming manner by the production of fresh 

 evidence. Hearing that some anecdotes of Dr. Robertson 

 had been committed to writing by the late Mr. Thomas 

 Thomson, of Dunse, I applied to his brother Mr. James 

 Thomson, who kindly furnished the following memorial. 



It is very desirable that other worthy and distinguished 

 inhabitants of the Borders should have justice done to them. 

 We are sadly deficient in this duty. The Borderers being 

 a migratory race, many leave their native place in youth, 

 and unless attached to it by some domestic or territorial 

 ties, which may induce them to return and settle at home, 

 become almost expatriated. They require to be sought after, 

 and re-introduced to the scene of their early activities. Dr. 

 Robertson is only one of several, deserving of being favour- 

 ably replaced in the provincial estimate ; and of having the 

 good work which he has accomplished, refreshed in the 

 memories of his fellow-countrymen. 



Dr. Abraham Robertson, Savilian Professor of Astronomy 

 in the University of Oxford, was the son of Abraham Rob- 

 ertson, who was a tailor in Dunse, but who ultimately kept 

 a public house ; beer being the liquor generally used in 

 those days. He occupied a house at the west side of the 

 Market Place, now the site of the City of Glasgow Bank. 

 He was said to be a very judicious man, and much respected. 



Dr. Robertson was born sometime about the middle of 

 the last century ; and at the time he was fit to go to school, 

 there were two eminent teachers in the town ; Cruikshanks 



