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



remove all doubt about the matter. This was agreed to, 

 and the sequel was that the boys completely failed in work- 

 ing the question, and even did not seem to know anything 

 at all about it. The master was very much perplexed at 

 the result, and told them that they had got much more 

 difficult questions than this one, and they had always an- 

 swered them correctly. The matter seemed very strange ; 

 however, on pressing them closely, they admitted that 

 Abraham the errand lad had done all the previous questions 

 for them. The gentlemen were little inclined to give credit 

 to the statement of the boys, that a lad in his humble posi- 

 tion should have such an education as to be able to solve 

 such questions ; but that they could easily ascertain. So 

 Abraham was called, and admitted that he had assisted the 

 boys with their tasks ; stating at the same time that he 

 occupied his leisure hours with that kind of questions. To 

 make sure that this really was the case, a problem of some 

 difficulty was given him, and he was told he might retire 

 and bring it in when finished. Abraham looked at it, and 

 told them that he would do it in a corner of the room in 

 their presence, which he did, very much to their surprise. 

 His employer said it was out of question that a lad of such 

 genius and acquirements should be allowed to continue in 

 his present humble employment ; and very generously offer- 

 ed to defray the expense of making his education more 

 complete in those branches in which he was not so proficient 

 as in mathematics ; only stipulating that he should continue 

 to assist his sons in their studies. When they were fit to go 

 to the University, he engaged Abraham to go along with 

 them to Oxford, as their private tutor, and by this means 

 he got introduced to the University. He also acted as tutor 

 to others, and from time to time so distinguished himself, 

 that at length he received the appointment of Savilian 

 Professor of Astronomy. He was afterwards appointed a 

 member of the Board of Longitude. Thus from a very 

 humble beginning he acquired a Professorial Chair, which 

 had been filled by not a few eminent men. The duties of 

 his appointment Dr. Robertson continued to discharge for 

 many years, deriving from them a yearly income of £900. 



Dr. Robertson is described by his friend, Mr. Simon Gray, 

 who visited him at Oxford in 1819, as "in person rather 

 below the middle stature, and thin, with a countenance 

 which expressed thought and meekness." He was amiable, 



