Letter 2179

[fol. 55] Worthy Sr if there be any thing in the Catalogue Worth your Acceptance Pray make your Choice I Wish I had any thing of more Value. to present you with all: for I think No Curiosity [word erased] ought to be hid or withheld from one that is so Curious and Exqu=isite after the Search of Natural things, Especially by me who hath Received so many Signal Favours and now give me leave to take a little Fredom in Acquai=nting you with a little of my Juvinal Transactions for to make my self to you, better than I was or am Now; would be a Just Reason to have but an Indifferent Opinion of me Hereafter: I think I once told you that my Father Was a Physician: and it Pleased Go to take Him away (who was always designed to give me Univers=ity Education) before I was fiveteen years of age my mother unfortunately Married in a short time after, who was soon Renderd by it, incapable to Perform that wch shee well knew was my Fathers earnest desire: This misfortune Obliged me to goe under the Care of A Surgeon and after sometime spent in the Practice and Experience in that I was sent as A mate to a Surgeon in the Vangard a 2d Rate man of Warr: I was not Long there: before I was made a master Surgeon (after many strickt Examinations) of one of His Majestys Shipps of Warr: it was not long before I quitted that Post and Went into Spain: from thence to Madras and from thence to Jamaica: where I Red many Books especially Physicall my bones being always inclined that Way: and had my share in Practice many years with Good Success: and after Some years the Goverment [sic] thought fitt to make me Surgeon Major over all the Regiments of Horse and foot threwout ye Island Giveing me A Commission and Power to Putt in what Surgeons I thought fitt and Qualifyed to Serve in any of the Regiments and to give them Warrents for the Same: and now Since I am come to England The Company of Surgeons have made me First of their Company and Obliged me to take a Govend [?]: wch I hope Will not Impede or Obstruct my admittance of a Lycence for I should be Proud to be one of the meanest of that Honourable and Learned Society of Physicians: This is a Short Narative of my Curcumstances wch I freely Impart to you as not only as a friend but as a Father to advise me: (because you mentioned something of Oxford as if you understood I was Educated there) I hope you Pardon the Fredom I have made up of wch you Lay A Perpetual Injunction and Obligation Upon mee to serve you to the utmost of my mean Capacity being always your Humble Servant to Command Henry Barham October 21: 1717 Great Carter Lane if you Please to Lett me know when I shall Wait on you I will give my Attendance