Account of 

 Dr Roebuck. 



(74) HISrORT of the SOCIETT, 



Sm EATON, the befl method of effedlng that end, that celebra- 

 ted engineer foon gave the plan of a blaft by three or four cy- 

 linders, which was afterwards tried, and fucceeded even beyond 

 expe(5lation. 



When the bufinefs at Carron funk by degrees into a matter 

 of ordinary detail, and afforded lefs fcope for the Dodlor's pe- 

 culiar talents, he was unfortunately tempted to engage in a new 

 and different undertaking ; from the failure of which he fuffer- 

 ed a reverfe of fortune, was deprived of the advantages refult- 

 ing from his other works, and, during the remainder of his life, 

 became fubjecfled to much anxiety and difappointment. 



The eftablifliment of the Carron works, and the interefl Dr 

 Roebuck had in their fuccefs, had naturally turned his atten- 

 tion to the flate of coal in the neighbourhood of that place, and 

 to the means of procuring the extraordinary fupplies of it which 

 the ironworks might in future require. With the view, there- 

 fore, of increafing the quantity of coal worked in that neighbour- 

 hood, by an adventure which he thought would alfo turn out to 

 his own emolument, he was induced to become lefTee of the Duke 

 of Hamilton's exteniive coal and fait works at Borrowllounnefs. 

 The coal there was reprefented to exill in great abundance, and 

 underflood to be of fuperior quality ; and as Dr Roebuck had 

 made himfelf acquainted with the moil: improved methods of 

 working coal in England, and then not pracflifed in Scotland, 

 he had little doubt of this adventure turning out beneficial and 

 highly lucrative. In this, however, he was cruelly difap- 

 pointed. The opening of the principal Jiratiim of coal required 

 much longer time, and much greater expence, than had been 

 calculated ; and, after it was opened, the perpetual fuccefTion of 

 difficulties and obftacles which occurred in the working and rai- 

 fing of the coal, was fuch as has been feldom experienced in 

 any work of that kind. The refult was, that after many years 



of 



