Two major efforts as an essayist or writer were performed by Benjamin Robins in the period of about 1746-1749 and these we consider as Parts I and II of this paper. In the first, we describe the background to Robins' writing of a preface to a Court of Enquiry set up to examine the conduct of General Sir John Cope at the battle of Preston-pans in 1745, when he lost, in curious circumstances, the opening battle of the Second Jacobite Rebellion. Secondly, we review Robins' writing in whole or part, of Volume I of Lord Anson's A Voyage Round the World [1]-a fact mostly known only to the eruditi. This volume describes a very arduous and governmentally sanctioned or official, piratical, naval voyage around the world. On completion, it drew for its leader as much acclamation from the public at large as did the defeat incur obloquy for the army leader at Preston-pans. These literary efforts, among other minor ones, occupied Robins soon after the completion of his New Principles of Gunnery [2], and during a period when he seemed ever in doubt about the future direction of his career. The two literary ventures are described below in some detail, it being the author's expectation that for the reader they will throw light on the life and career of this 18th century military engineer-scientist, now principally known for his work on ballistics, at a time when, typically for his age and class, his future appeared tenuous and uncertain.
