John Robertson

“ But there was no comfort in that for Robin. “It is like betraying him, mother,” said he. And when it was one night made known in the house that his father was going to Aberdeen, and that his chief reason for going was to see how it was with John Beaton, Robin’s eyes sought those of his mother in doubtful appeal. His mother only smiled. “Cannot you trust your father, Robin?” said she. “I canna trust myself, it seems,” said Robin. “There’s no harm done yet, my lad. You need not fear that ill will come from speaking your secret thoughts to your mother.”
“But other folk’s secret thoughts?” ”

“ A critical organ, the [old] ‘Edinburgh Review,’ started by this society in 1755, was conducted with a causticity which proved fatal to its existence. In another fashion, during the following year (1756–7) , Robertson showed himself a champion of liberalism. He supported his friend John Home [q. v.] when the general assembly condemned Home for having written and produced a stage-play. Home had already supported Robertson in advocating the rights of the lay patrons. ”

“ With a cry she turned to clasp the hand of John Nesbitt. Poor little Christie! She was so glad, so very glad! It was almost like seeing Effie herself, she told him, amid a great burst of tears that startled the grave John considerably. For a moment her sobs came fast. The open streets and the wondering passers-by were quite forgotten.
“Whisht, Christie, my woman,” said John, soothingly, “that’s no’ the way we show our gladness in Glengarry.” ”

“ But it was not the wind which silenced his song, for Allison Bain was no “haughty hizzie” of the sort, “Who frown to lead a lover on,” but a sad and solitary woman, who might have a sorrowful life before her.
“To whom may the Lord be kind!” said John, with a softened heart. “I love her, and it is no sin to love her, since I may never see her face again.” ”

“ He entertains very decided opinions on public questions and is never afraid to have them known.
Robertson, Wm. John (St. Catharines, Ont.) , son of John and Emma (Rudsdale) Robertson. Father, a Scotch Canadian; mother, a native of Yorkshire, England. Born Westmeath, County Renfrew, Ontario, Sept. 12, 1846; educated Perth High School, Toronto University (B.A. with gold medal in metaphysics, ethics and civil polity; silver medal in mathematics; 1st honors in history and Prince of Wales prize for highest standing in 1873) ; and Victoria University (LL.B., 1883) . ”

“ In 1891 Robertson succeeded John Inglis [q. v.] as lord president of the Court of Session, and in 1899, on the death of William Watson, Baron Watson [q. v. Suppl. I] , he became a life peer, as Baron Robertson of Forteviot (14 Nov.) , with a seat on the judicial committee of the privy council. He was elected an honorary bencher of the Middle Temple (24 Nov. 1899-18 Jan. 1900) . As a judge in Scotland, Robertson had often shown that he found his position there uncongenial ”

“ Robertson had all along advocated fighting fire with fire; employing French wood-runners instead of timorous Orkneymen, and forcing the proud Nor’Westers to sue for union by invading the richest field of furs—Athabasca, far beyond the limits of Red River. And here was Robertson carrying out his aggressive policy, with “fighting John Clarke” of Astor’s old company as second in command. ”

“ Major Robertson, a woman of slight make, great beauty, and remarkable energy, courage, and sense (she told me the story herself) , on going up to her bedroom at night—there being no one in the house but a servant-girl, in the ground floor—saw a portion of a man's foot projecting from under the bed. She gave no cry of alarm, but shut the door as usual, set down her candle, and began as if to undress, when she said aloud to herself, with an impatient tone and gesture, "I've forgotten that key again, I declare;" ”

“ And there is no fear but I shall see my work when I am ready for it.”
“And yet there is many a man in Scotland with a store o’ book learning who has done little work, or only ill work, for God and man. And even with a good-will the opportunity doesna ay come.”
“Well, never mind, mother. There is no pressing need to decide now, at least till summer is over. We will wait to see what may happen.” He did not speak cheerfully, however.
“John,” said his mother earnestly, “are ye sure that your heart is set on this? What has come to you? Has anything happened to unsettle you, lad? ”

“ He had proved himself, as a workman, worthy of the confidence of those who had employed him, and as a man, he had won the esteem of many a one besides. That he worked with his hands, did not in that country, at that time, necessarily exclude him from such society as the town of Barstow offered. But it made him shy of responding to the advances of some of the people who lived in the big white houses among the trees along the street, and who went to the same church in which, after a few weeks of wandering, here and there, John settled down. ”

“ James Robertson was strongly recommended by Captain Conn to Lord Nelson, who most kindly received him on board the Victory, in which ship he had the honor of serving as forecastle-mate at the glorious battle of Trafalgar. On her being put out of commission he obtained a warm recommendation from Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy to Captain Brydges W. Taylor, who immediately consented to his joining the Thames 32, a new frigate, then fitting out at Chatham. ”

“ Robertson had the mortification to find that several real death vacancies had occurred, and been given to others, during his absence; the rear-admiral, of course, considering him already provided for. He was, however, immediately appointed acting lieutenant of the Fawn sloop, captain the Hon. George Alfred Crofton; and, on the 28th May following, he commanded two of her boats at the capture of a large Spanish privateer schooner and three merchant vessels, one of the latter armed, under two batteries at the N.E. end of Porto Rico ”

“ Lieutenant Robertson, after consulting with his brother officer, resolved to return on board and suggest to Captain Cameron, that if both sloops stood in sufficiently close to silence the battery and cover the attacking party, it might be practicable either to bring out or destroy the schooner during day-light. A signal was immediately made to the Pelorus to this effect, and the boats dashed on direct to their object, the commanding officer, in the Hazard’s pinnace, leading. When again within pistol-shot of the enemy, this boat once more grounded ”

“ The greater risks he was willing to take in person, for it was he who made trips to Boonesborough and Harrodsburg for a share of the powder and lead which John Sevier was sending into Kentucky from time to time. In the stress of conflict Robertson bore his full share of grief, for his two elder sons and his brother fell. He himself was often near to death. One day he was cut off in the fields and was shot in the foot as he ran, yet he managed to reach shelter. There is a story that, in an attack during one of his absences, the Indians forced the outer gate of the fort and Mrs. ”

“ Pole and Madden, midshipmen, fifteen seamen, and four marines, the whole having volunteered their services. The enterprise set out successfully, the boat being enabled to gain an eligible situation before the weather cleared up.
“When the convoy anchored, the enemy’s armed boats did the same, under the batteries of Rodby, as did also close to them Lieutenant Robertson, with the intention of attacking them, so soon as it should be dark. At 5 p.m., he observed a large armed schooner three miles distant, having a lugger-rigged boat towing astern. ”

“ Lieutenant Robertson and his intrepid crew entered pell mell along with them; and in a few minutes, with irresistible impetuosity, drove every man below. She proved.to be the Danish privateer schooner Eleanor, fitted for sixteen guns, but having only one long 9-pounder (on a pivot) , two short 18-pounders, and two swivels mounted, with a quantity of small-arms, and a complement of thirty-seven men, twenty-two of whom had been selected from the King’s boats. ”

“ Pole and Madden, James Black (coxswain) , and every individual of the boat’s crew. Mr. Pole has passed his examination; Mr. Madden, who was the first on the enemy’s deck, has a few months of his time to serve; and James Black, to whose coolness and steadiness in steering and managing the boat in the various critical situations in which they were placed. Lieutenant Robertson, in a considerable degree, attributes his success, has been upwards of thirty years in H.M. service, and is a most exemplary and meritorious character. ”

“ Sir Alexander Cochrane, who had been a distant observer of this action, was likewise pleased to approve of Lieutenant Robertson’s conduct, and to give him an order to command the Hazard, until the arrival of Captain Cameron’s intended successor, who was then at Halifax, refitting the brig he commanded, and not expected to return from thence for some months: at the same time, the vice-admiral kindly said, he would request Lord Mulgrave to give him rank as lieutenant from the date of his first acting appointment. ”

“ These are to certify the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that Lieutenant James Robertson, being senior officer of H.M. sloop Hazard on the 18th Dec. 1809, when in action with the French frigates la Seine and la Loire, which were moored in Ance la Barque, Guadaloupe, and strongly protected by two batteries, notwithstanding which they were both destroyed by the squadron under my orders, and the Hazard bearing a conspicuous part, her commander, Hugh Cameron, was slain, and the command devolving on Lieutenant Robertson, his conduct appeared to me that of a gallant and experienced officer. ”

“ It was much easier years ago, when all that are now cities were only towns and villages, and many cities now well known were simply prairie with waving grass and flowers, roamed over by bands of Indians and trampled by the hoofs of countless bison. ”

“ Then a quartermaster entered with the same report of the forecastles.
"Very well," said the captain, rising; "one by one come into my office — watchmen first, then petty officers, then the men. Quartermasters will watch the door — that no man goes out until I have seen him." He passed into another room, followed by a watchman, who presently emerged and went on deck with a more pleasant expression of face. Another entered and came out; then another, and another, until every man but Rowland had been within the sacred precincts, all to wear the same pleased, or satisfied, look on reappearing. ”

“ Write to me, care o' Lloyds, if you want the berth, and I'll send you advance money to get back with."
"Thank you, captain," said Rowland, as he took the other's hand and then glanced at his empty sleeve; "but my going to sea is ended. Even a mate needs two hands."
"Well, suit yourself, Rowland; I'll take you mate without any hands at all while you had your brains. It's done me good to meet a man like you; and — say, old man, you won't take it wrong from me, will you? It's none o' my business, but you're too all-fired good a man to drink. ”

“ Could you fill a position on my bridge? "
"I can fill a higher; and your company is not rich enough to buy me."
"You seem to be a man without ambition; but you must have wants."
"Food, clothing, shelter-and whisky," said Rowland with a bitter, self-contemptuous laugh. The captain reached down a decanter and two glasses from a swinging tray and said as he placed them before him:
"Here is one of your wants; fill up." Rowland's eyes glistened as he poured out a glassful, and the captain followed.
"I will drink with you, Rowland," he said; "here is to our better understanding." ”

“ In 1848 he was elected by the students lord rector of Marischal College and university of Aberdeen, and received the degree of LL.D. He died suddenly, from a stroke of apoplexy, at his house in Drummond Place, Edinburgh, on 10 Jan. 1855, aged 60. He was buried in West Church burying-ground, Edinburgh, on the 15th of the same month. A marble tablet was erected to his memory in St. Giles's Church. Robertson was an able and energetic advocate, of strong natural abilities and vigorous common-sense. ”

“ I do not love her soul, if she has one. I do not want it. I want her — I need her." He stopped in his walk and leaned against the bridge railing, with eyes fixed on the fog ahead. He was speaking his thoughts aloud now, and the first officer drew within bearing, listened a moment, and went back. "Working on him," he whispered to the third officer. Then he pushed the button which called the captain, blew a short blast of the steam whistle as a call to the boatswain, and resumed his watch on the drugged lookout, while the third officer conned the ship. ”

“ Men that pull ropes for a living may pinch hard.
Captain Jackson looked his first mate in the eyes.
“What do you think of this, Mr. Becker?” he added.
“I think, sir,” answered the mate, a vicious expression coming to his hairy face, “that there's but one thing to do. Get Mr. Brown, and the three of us jump down together with shotguns.”
“One of us would be shot surely; they have Mr. Peck's pistol. But that would not deter me if my ship were in danger, or his life. But they will do no more than misuse him. ”

“ Bill again cleared the bridge stairs at a jump, and met him.
"Dying, captain," gasped the steward. "Dying from loss of blood."
Bill went aft—he never remembered whether he walked or ran—and bolted down the stairs, shoving aside the small Arsdale, the big Muggins, the athletic Parsons, and even the gentlemanly Elkins, all of them white in the face, as they hovered near the stateroom door, and burst into the room, where the grief-stricken father, the anxious doctor, and the weeping Mrs. Calkins hovered over the quiet, unconscious form on the bed. ”