APPENDIX, (75) 



of labour and induflry, there were funk in the coal and fait ^ccouv^toi 



■' ' Dr Roebuck. 



works at Borrowftounnefs, not only his own, and the confiderable 

 fortune brought him by his wife, but the regular profits of his 

 more fuccefsful works ; and, along therewith, what diflrefTed 

 him above every thing, great fums of money borrowed from 

 his relations and friends, which he was never able to repay: not 

 to mention, that, from the fame caufe, he was, during the laft 

 twenty years of his life, fubjedled to a conftant fucceflion of hopes 

 and difappointments, to a courfe of labour and drudgery ill fuited 

 to his tafte and turn of mind, to the irkfome and teafing buiinefs 

 of managing and lludying the humours of working colliers. But 

 all thefe difficulties his unconquerable and perfevering fpirit 

 would have overcome, if the never ceafing demands of his coal- 

 works, after having exhaufted the profits, had not alfo compell- 

 ed him to withdraw his capital from all his different works in 

 fucceflion ; from the refining work at Birmingham, the vitriol 

 work at Preflonpans, the ironworks at Carron, as well as to part 

 with his intereft in the project of improving the fleam engine, 

 in which he had become a partner with Mr Watt, the original 

 inventor, and from which he had reafon to hope for future 

 emolument. It would be painful to mention the unhappy con- 

 fequences of this ruinous adventure to his family and to him- 

 ielf. It cut off for ever the flattering profpe(5l which they had 

 of an independent fortune, fuited to their education and rank 

 in life. It made many cruel encroachments upon the time 

 and occupations of a man, whofe mind was equally fitted to en- 

 joy the high attainments of fcience, and the elegant amufements 

 of tafle. As the price of fo many facrifices, he was only ena- 

 bled to draw from his colliery, and that by the indulgence of 

 his creditors, a moderate annual maintenance for himfelf and 

 family during his life. At his death, his widow was left with- 

 out any provifion whatever for her immediate or future fupport, 



(K 2) and 



