ROBES
50
ROBINSON
points, and no careless beauties. Of grandeur or dig- nity there is no deticieney ; and when tlie sul)ject awak- ens a train of lofty or |)hilosopliical ideas, the manner of the historian is in fine accordance with his matter. When he sums up the character of a sovereign, or traces the progress of society and the influence of laws and government, we recognise the mind and language of a master of historical composition. There have been, liowever. various criticisms as to his accuracy in details of fact — the research and imjiort of his iiistories. We quote from a single critic: "In plain terms. Dr. Robert- son appears to liave studied grace and dignity more than usefulness. He has chosen those features of every figure which he could best paint, rather than those wiiich were most worthy of the pencil. The charms of Robertson's style, and the full tlow of his narration, which is always sufficiently minute for ordinary read- ers, will render liis works immortal in the hands of the bulk of mankind. But the scientific reader requires something more than periods which fill his ear, and general statements which gratify by amusing; he even requires more than a general text-book — a happy ar- rangement of intricate subjects, which may enable him to pursue them in their details. When we repair to the works of Robertson for the purpose of finding facts, we are instantly carried away by the stream of his narra- tive, and forget the purpose of our errand to the foun- tain. As soon as we can stop ourselves, we discover that our search has been vain, and that we must apply to those sources from which he drew and culled his sup- plies" (Dr. Thomas BrovvMi, in the Ediiih. Rev. April, 1803, p. 240. 241). See Brougham, Lives of ]\[en of Letters, etc. (ed. 1855), p. 20(5, 280-283 ; Dugald Stew- art, A ccount of the TAfe aiul Writings of Robertson (1801 and 1802); Cockburn, Memoi-'tals of his Time; Suard, Notice sur la Vie et les Ecrits de Dr. Robertson; Hfemoirs of Adam Smith, W. Robertson, and Thomas Reid (1811); Chambers, ilioi]i. Diet, of Eminent Scots- men; Allibone, Diet, of Brit, and Amer. Authors; Mackintosh, Journal, July 13 and 16, 1811; id. Life, vol. i, ell. ii; vol. v; Chalmers, Biog. Diet.; Macaulay, Life of Johnson, in the Encyc. Britan. (8th ed.) ; En- rope durinr/ the Middle Ages; LardHer\'! Ci/clop. \, 278, 280; Gentleman's Mag. 1836, ii, 19; 1846, i, 227, n. ; 1847, ii, 3, 4, n. ; Maitland, Dark Ages, p. 10, 13, 25, 52 ; Gibbon, Decline and Fall, ch. xiii, n. ; ch. xxxi, xlix, Iviii, Ixi ; also Miscell. Works (ed. 1837), p. 373 ; Green, Diary of a Lover of Literature (1810, 4to), p. 18, 19; Alison, Blackwood's Mag. Dec. 1844; Sm\'th. Lectures on Modem History, lect. i-iv, vii-ix, xi; Humboldt, Researches in A merica, ii, 248 ; Southey, Hist, of Bra- zil, i, 639 ; For. Quar. Rev. No. xvii, p. 108-1 10 ; "irving, Life and Voyages of Columbus (ed. 1850), iii, 364, 419; Prescott, Conquest of Afexico, vol. i. pref. vi, p. 37, 103, 320, 333, 335, 348, 365, 376 ; ii, 64, 95, 112, 203, 204, 222 ; iii, 304, n., 379; id. Conquest of Peru, vol. i, pref. xii, p. 17,338, 423; id. Ferdinand aiul hubella, iii, 409; Lond. Quar. Rev. Dec. 1843, p. 187, 188; Sept. 1847, p. 317, 318; xii, 369, 370; Ixxvi, 91-97; Lond. Athenceum, 1843, p. 973, 1005; English Cyclop, s. v.; lYorth Amer. Rev. Oct. 1847, p. 370, '371; Ixi, 40.5-410; Ixxxvi, 347; Walpolc, Letter to the Countess of Ossory, Nov. 23, 1791 ; id. Letters (ed. 1861), ix, 361; Schlegel, Lectures on the Hist, of Literature (Engl, transl.), lect. xiv; Schloss- er, lllit. of the IH/h Century, p. 6(54, 917, supra; Shaw, Outlines of English Literature, ch. xv; Edinb. Rev. ii, 245; Ivi, 220; M<;n»c\m%, Bibliotheca Historica; Beau- ties of Dr. Robertson (N. Y. 1810, 8vo) ; De Chastellux, Essajjs (Lond. 1700, 2 vols. 8vo); Illustrious Biog. (Ed- inb. 1H08, 12mo); Croker, BosireU's Life of Johnson, years 1756, 1767, 1768, 1772-74, 1777-79, 1781, 1784; Disraeli, Miscell. of Literature (ed. 1855), p. 466. (J. L. S.) Robes, a term denoting, in general, the ecclesiasti- cal garments woru by the clergy when performing the offices of tlie (Jhurch. Jlore strictly it applies to the black gown and the dress worn by a l)ishop. In early times this badge was so essential that writers often use
the robe to denote both the person and the office of the bishop. It was at first worn by all bishops, but after- wards became the distinctive badge of archbishops, metro- politans, and patriarchs. Tradition narrates that Mark the evangelist, as bishop of Alexandria, first assumed the robe and left it for his followers. Nothing is known of the form and quality of the robe in the first centuries, save that it was a seamless garment made of white lin- en, and hung loosely from the shoulders. It was made afterwards of woollen. In the 12th century it was made of white woollen, having a circular gathering on the shoulders and two scarfs hanging over it behind and before. On the left side it was double, and single on the right. Previous to the 8th century it had also four purple crosses upon it, one before and behind, and one on either side. It was fastened by three golden pins. The robe itself was styled iroXvaTavpiov. See Cole- man, Christ. Anliq. p. 83.