HO ROB 
as presenting a masterly survey of the gradations by which 
the social institutions of antiquity have passed, through the 
barbarism of‘he dark ages, into all that characterizes tne state 
of modern Europe. Though all this author's works were 
read with distinguished approbation abroad as well as at 
home, this was best calculated to excite interest on the conti¬ 
nent: accordingly, we are informed, that it was the particu¬ 
lar favourite of the enlightened Catharine of Russia, who 
conveyed her acknowledgments to the writer in the present of 
a rich snuff-box set with diamonds. 
Such encouragement was not likely to slacken the vigour 
of Dr. Robertson’s mind; and in 1777 he gave proof of the 
diligence with which he had employed his intervening lei¬ 
sure, by the publication of his “ History of America,” in 2 
vols. 4to. His first object in undertaking this work was only 
to complete the account of American affairs commenced in 
the History of Charles V.; but finding a splendid subject 
opened to his view,' well suited to his talents lor description, 
he extended his plan, and even purposed to dedicate a whole 
volume to the origin and progress of the British settlements 
in America; but the supervening disturbances in that quarter 
deterred him from entering upon this part of his task. ■ His 
American history, from the new view's of man and nature it 
presents, and the magnificence and variety of its scenery, is 
perhaps the most entertaining of his productions; and he 
studied to give it historical value by a diligent research into 
the most authentic sources of information, with respect to the 
transactions of the first European discoverers. Either grati¬ 
tude for the communications obtained from the liberality 
of the Spanish court, or natural candour carried to an ex¬ 
treme, led him to extenuate the cruelties committed by that 
nation in their conquests in the New World, to a degree that 
brought upon him some censure. Later writers have also 
found that he has neglected consulting some authorities which 
would have rendered his narrative more accurate. This 
work, how'ever, on the whole, is worthy of the reputation 
of its writer. It proved so acceptable to the Spanish 
nation, that he was unanimously elected a member of 
the Royal Academy of Madrid; and a translation of 
the history into Spanish was commenced, but was stopped 
in its progress by the order of a narrow and jealous govern¬ 
ment. 
Dr. Robertson was now advancing in years, with an easy 
fortune, and a constitution somewhat impaired by his literary 
labours. But though he thought proper to withdraw from 
the contentious scenes of ecclesiastical politics, he was by no 
means disposed to relinquish the historical field. It appears 
from a letter of his to a friend, that he seriously thought of 
composing a Lust or y of England from the Revolution to the 
accession of the house of Hanover; but the difficulty of steer¬ 
ing clear of party animosity, probably induced a man, in 
whose character prudence and caution were prominent fea¬ 
tures, to decline the arduous attempt. He finally fixed upon 
India as the object of his latest inquiries, and in 1791 pub¬ 
lished “ An Historical Disquisition concerning the Know¬ 
ledge which the Ancients had of India, and the Progress of 
Trade w'ith that Country prior to the Discovery of the Cape 
of Good Hope,” (me vol. 4to. This performance exhibits his 
characteristic excellences of composition undiminished; 
though the more critical nature of the subject, and the supe¬ 
rior lights in Indian history and antiquities since obtained by 
writers with greater local advantages, have rendered it less 
popular than his other publications. On a general conside¬ 
ration of Dr. Robertson’s qualities as a historian, it may be 
said that his style is pure, sweet, dignified without stiffness, 
singularly perspicuous, and often eloquent; that the arrange¬ 
ment of his materials is skilful and luminous, his mode of nar¬ 
ration distinct, and his descriptions highly graphical; and 
that he displays a sagacity in the developement of causes and 
effects, and in his judgment of public characters and transac¬ 
tions, which is very remarkable ill one who was brought up 
in obscurity and retirement. If there is less glow and ardour 
in his expression of moral and political feelings, than some 
eminent writers in a free country have manifested, there is, 
ROB 
on the other hand, all the candour and impartiality which 
belongs to a cool temper, when enlightened by knowledge 
and directed by principle. 
His health began visibly to decline towards the close of 
1791, and he removed from Edinburgh to Grange-house, a 
country situation in its neigbourhod. There, in the bosom 
of a most affectionate family, with whom he had enjoyed all 
the domestic happiness his own kind dispositions merited, he 
died in June 1793, at the age of 72. To his private and so¬ 
cial virtues the most liberal testimony has heen given even 
by those who were his opponents in church politics. Of his 
intellectual character and talents, an estimate has already 
been attempted; it may be added, that good sense was the 
quality by which he was most peculiarly marked. He was 
a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from its first 
foundation; and besides the honour he received from the 
Royal Academy of Madrid, he had that of being aggregated 
to the Academy of Sciences at Padua, and the imperial 
Academy of Sciences at Petersburg!!. Duga/d Stew¬ 
art's Account of the Life and Writings of Principal 
Bobertsori. 
ROBERTSON, a county of the United States, on the 
north side of West Tennessee. Population 7270, including 
1608 slaves. Chief town Springfield. 
ROBERTSON, a township oi the United States, in Alle¬ 
gany cOunty, Pennsylvania. Population 899. 
ROBERTV1LLE, a post village of the United States, in 
Beaufort district, South Carolina. 
ROBERVAL (Giles Personne de), an eminent French 
mathematician and philosopher in the 17th century, was 
born at Roberval, a seigniory belonging to his family, in 
the diocese of Beauvais, in the year 1602. While receiv¬ 
ing a liberal education, he discovered a predominant bias 
towards the study of philosophy and the mathematical 
sciences, with which he became intimately conversant. 
When he was 30 years of age, he obtained the professorship 
of mathematics in the college of Master Gervais at Paris; 
and afterwards he contested with other candidates the 
succession to the vacant chair of Ramus, which he gained 
by the decided superiority of his powers in disputation. He 
cultivated a friendly intercourse with many of the learned 
men at Paris, and particularly with Gassendi and John 
Morin, whose favourite studies corresponded with his own. 
When Morin was near his death, he requested that the Sieur 
de Roberval should be his successor in the mathematical 
chair at the college-royal. Accordingly, our author was 
nominated to that appointment, without being obliged to 
resign his professorship of philosophy, and he continued to 
fill it with great reputation as long as he lived. He was 
chosen a member ot the Royal Academy of Sciences in 1666. 
To this body he communicated some curious experiments on 
the torricellian vacuum, which he made in the years 1647 
and 1648. He invented two new kinds of balances, one of 
which was adapted to the weighing of air, and may be seen 
described in the “ Journal des Savans” for Feb. 1670, and 
in the “ Memoirs” of the Academy of Sciences for 
1666. A dispute in which he was involved with Des 
Cartes, by contesting with him the honour of his analytical 
inventions, and depreciating his skill in geometry, is said 
not to have terminated to the credit of our professor. He 
died in 1675, about the age of 73. He was the author 
of “ A Treatise on Mechanics,” inserted in Mersenne’s 
“ Universal Harmony;” “ On the Mundane System,” a 
treatise in Latin, attributed by him to Aristarchus of Samos,' 
but generally believed to be his own production; and the 
following pieces in the “ Memoirs” of the Academy of 
Sciences for 1666: “ Experiments concerning the Pressure of 
the Air;” “Observations on the Composition of Motion, 
and on the Tangents of curve Lines“ The Recognition of 
Equations;” “ The Geometrical Resolution of Plane and 
Cubic Equations;” “A Treatise on Indivisibles“ On the 
Troqhoid, or Cycloid;” and “ A Letter to Father Mersenne.” 
At the end of his “ Treatise on Indivisibles” he has explained 
a new method for the transformation of figures, to which 
Torricelli 
