Letter 0539

Molyneux thanks Sloane for his letter of condolences in which Sloane wrote that all lovers of learning will mourn the passing of Molyneux’s brother. Molyneux writes that receiving this made him contemplate the fragility of human life. He thanks Sloane for responding to his inquiry regarding the cost of the Philosophical Transactions and decides he cannot afford to purchase them. He will borrow them instead. Molyneux cannot say more because dealing with his brother’s affairs takes up most of his time. He asks Sloane to let him know is anything noteworthy happens. Thomas Molyneux was a physician and natural philosopher who corresponded with Sloane, Edward Lhuyd, and John Locke (J. B. Lyons, Molyneux, Sir Thomas, first baronet (16611733), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2010 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18927, accessed 4 July 2011]).