500 
self. Committees meet and questions are discussed, and faults are 
found, and measures proposed and adopted, and a great deal of acute- 
ness and eloquence are displayed,— sometimes, perhaps, a little temper 
and vituperation. The committee separate, the matter sleeps, and, 
except some one takes it up vigorously to work it out in detail, the 
committee, at next meeting, find matters much in the same posi- 
tion as they were when they last parted. Now, all this intermediate 
labour was supplied by Dr Robertson ; he set himself to the work, — 
he would not permit the matter to sleep, — he pushed forward the 
scheme, — and to the last moment of his being able to hold the 
plough, did not look back from his good work. He determined that 
his countrymen should support his scheme; and the call of the Roman 
poet to the Roman people in many ways typified the call of the 
Scottish divine to the Scottish landowner, or wealthy merchant, 
<£ Delicta majorum immeritus lues, donee templa reficerisy 
Such was Dr Robertson. A man of the best intellectual and 
active habits, who brought his understanding and his activity to bear 
successfully on a great and noble scheme of national benefit. He 
was cut off at a comparatively early age, at least whilst still capable 
of much useful labour ; but he was followed to the grave with the 
respect and honour of all his countrymen, whatever were their po- 
litical opinions, whatever were their religious creed. 
One name only remains on our list of deceased members, that of 
Erskine Douglas Sandford, advocate, and Sheriff of the Stewartry of 
Kirkcudbright and County of Galloway. He was born in 1793. He 
was eldest son of Dr Daniel Sandford in the Scottish Episcopal Church, 
Bishop of Edinburgh. Bishop Sandford was from an old family of 
Shropshire. But he formed a Scottish connection by marriage. 
Erskine Sandford was born in Edinburgh. He had become completely 
in feeling and connections a Scotchman, and at one time was in good 
practice and high reputation as an advocate, and a writer upon law* 
It encroaches, perhaps, too much on the offices of private friendship 
for me to say much upon the character of this our late Fellow. But I 
may appeal to the general feeling that pervaded the circle of Edin- 
burgh society when the unexpected intelligence came of his death ; 
every testimony was given to his character, as a man and as a Chris- 
tian, and every sympathy shown to his family in the loss which by 
his death they had sustained. 
