Black, having been introduced to him before he left Glasgow; but at that time he had not studied chemistry, to which, however, he was now bending his attention. He had the advantage of being initiated in it by the author of the discovery just mentioned; and the new views struck out by his master, did not fail to interest him in a study, which, from that time, came to occupy a new place in physical

science.

Mechanics had always been his favourite pursuit, and his turn to whatsoever was connected with it, had brought him to be acquainted with Mr Watt before 1758, when he left the University. Mr Watt, who, at that time, exercised the profession of a mathematical instrument maker, was employed in fitting up the astronomical instruments bequeathed to the Observatory by the late Dr Macfarlane of Jamaica. Mr Robison, on his return, found him still residing in Glasgow, and exercising the same profession, and their former intimacy was naturally renewed. In 1764, an occurrence such as to an ordinary man would have been of no value, gave rise to the improvement of the steam-engine. A model of the common engine, Newcomen's, which belonged to the Natural Philosophy Class, was put into Mr Watt's hands in order to be repaired. As the model worked faster than the large engines, it was found impossible to supply it with steam, and it was in the at

tempt to obviate this difficulty, and in trying to produce a more perfect vacuum, that the idea of condensing the steam in a separate vessel first occurred to him. At the same time, by a curious coincidence, his experiments led him to conclusions concerning the great quantity of heat contained in steam, that were only to be explained on the principle of latent heat. Mr Robison lived in a state of great intimacy with Mr Watt, and was so much acquainted with the first steps of this invention, that his evidence on the subject of the originality of it was afterwards of great use in ascertaining the justness of his claim.

There could not be a better school for philosophical invention than Mr Robison enjoyed at this time, and, accordingly, he used always to say, that it was not till his second residence at Glasgow that he applied to study with his whole mind.

Dr Black was elected Professor of Chemistry in the University of Edinburgh in the summer of 1766; and, on leaving Glasgow, recommended Mr Robison as his successor. He was accordingly made choice of, and began his first course of chemical lectures in October 1766. He was appointed for one year only, but his success assured his continuance without any other limit than such as depended on himself.

He had also the charge of the education of the late Mr Macdowal of Garthland, and of Mr

Charles Knowles, a son of the Admiral. But of the particulars, during four years, about this time, I have been able to obtain little information.

The friendship of Admiral Knowles had been all along exerted toward Mr Robison, with an extraordinary degree of zeal and assiduity, and was now the means of procuring for him a very unlooked-for preferment, which removed him from his academical duties at Glasgow. The Empress of Russia, convinced of the importance of placing her marine on the best footing, made an application to the Government of this country, for permission to engage in her service some of the most able and experienced of our naval officers, to whom she might entrust both the contrivance and the execution of the intended reformation. The request was agreed to, and the person recommended was Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, who had long applied, with great diligence, to the study of nával architecture, as well as to that of every branch of his profession; and who, about fifty years before, had been sent to Portugal on a similar mission. A proceeding so free from that jealousy which often marks the conduct of great nations no less than the dealings of the most obscure corporations, is particularly deserving of praise. From the first moment that this offer was made to the Admiral, he communicated it to Mr Robison, whom he wished to engage as his Secretary, and to whom, as he says in his let

ters, he looked for much assistance in the duty he was about to undertake. A A very handsome appointment was made for Mr Robison, and in the end of December 1770, he set out with Sir Charles and his family on the journey to St Petersburgh, over land.

Admiral Knowles held the office of President of the Board of Admiralty; and his intention was, that Mr Robison should have the place of Secretary. The Russian Board, however, being constituted more on the plan of the French than the English, there was no place corresponding to that of our Secretary of the Admiralty. Mr Robison continued, therefore, in the character of Private Secretary to the Admiral.

During the first year of the Admiral's residence in Russia, and for the greater part of the second, Mr Robison remained with him, employed in forming and digesting a plan for improving the methods of building, rigging, and navigating the Russian ships of war, and for reforming, of consequence, the whole detail of the operations in the naval arsenals of that empire.

These innovations, however, met with more resistance than either the admiral or his secretary had permitted themselves to suppose. The work of reform, conducted by a foreigner, even when he is supported by despotic power, must proceed but slowly; jealousy, pride, and self-interest, will conti

nually counteract the plans of improvement, and, by their vigilance and unceasing activity, will never wholly fail of success. All this was experienced by Admiral Knowles; yet there is no doubt that material advantages were derived, by the Russian navy, from the new system which he was enabled, partially, to introduce.

Mr Robison, from his first arrival at St Petersburgh, had applied with great diligence to the study of the Russian language, and had made himself so much master of it, as to speak and write it with considerable facility. In summer 1772, a vacancy happening in the mathematical chair attached to the Imperial Sea Cadet Corps of Nobles, at Cronstadt, Mr Robison was solicited to accept of that office. His nautical and mathematical knowledge qualified him singularly for the duties of it, and his proficiency in the Russian language removed the only objection that could possibly be proposed. When he accepted of the appointment the salary of his predecessor was doubled, and the rank of colonel was given him. Besides delivering his lectures as professor, he officiated also as inspector of the above corps, in the room of General Politika, who had retired, or been sent to his estates in the Ukraine.

The lectures which he gave were very much admired, and could not fail to be of the greatest use to his pupils. Few men understood so well the