Account of 

 Dr Roebuck, 



(58) HISTORT of the SOCIETK 



The firfl efforts of his genius and induflry, thus direcfled, 

 led him to the difcovery of certain improved methods of refi- 

 ning gold and filver, and particularly to an ingenious method 

 of colle6ling the fmaller particles of thefe precious metals, which 

 had been formerly loft in the practical operations of many of 

 the manufa(fturers. By other chemical procefTes, carried on 

 about the fame time in his little laboratory, he difcovered alfo 

 improved methods of making fublimate, hartfhorn, and fundry 

 other articles of equal importance. After having received full 

 fatisfa(flion from the experiments upon which fuch difcoveries 

 and improvements were founded, he next digefted a plan for 

 rendering them beneficial to himfelf, and ufeful to the public. 

 A great part of his time being ftill employed in the duties of 

 his profeflion, he found it neceffary to connedl himfelf with 

 fome perfon in whom he could repofe confidence, and who 

 might be, in other refpe(5ls, qualified to give him fupport and 

 afTiftance in carrying on his intended eftablifhments. With 

 this view, he chofe as his affociate Mr Samuel Garbet of 

 Birmingham, a gentlemen well qualified by his abilities, acti- 

 vity, and enterprifing fpirit, for bearing his part in their future 

 undertakings. Their firft projedl was the eftablifliment of an 

 extenfive laboratory at Birmingham, for the purpofes above 

 mentioned, which, conduded by Dr Roebuck's chemical know- 

 ledge, and Mr Gar bet's able and judicious management, was 

 produdive of many advantages to the rqanufadurers of that 

 place, and of fuch emolument to themfelves, as contributed 

 greatly to the boldnefs of their future projeds. That laboratory 

 has, ever fince that time, continued at Birmingham, and is ftill 

 conduded by Mr Garbet. Dr Roebuck, long before his 

 death, had given iip his intereft in it. 



About this time, in 1747, the Dodor married Mifs Ann 

 Roe of Sheffield, a lady of a great and generous fpirit, whofe 

 temper and difpofition equally fitted her for enjoying the pro- 



fperous 



