Letter 3365

Steigertahl was consoled by Sloane’s letter, which lamented the death of George I. He writes that Sloane must be pleased to be so close to the new King, George II. Steigertahl believes his health will prevent him from returning to England, making it impossible to serve George II. For this reason he has withdrawn his service to the Crown. Steigertahl sends his regards to Sloane and thanks him for sending the Philosophical Transactions. Messieurs De Gort and De Mausberg send their compliments. A gentleman by the name of ‘Bapteme[?]’ is to be put on the Royal Society’s list. Sloane is to send regards to Dr Scheuchzer and Mr Matheson of Hamburg, the latter being responsible for the German edition of the late Engelbert Kaempfer’s ‘Histoire du Japan’. Mr Zollman mentioned the book to Steigertahl in his letter. Mr Schlüter is to deliver books to Sloane from Hattorf’s library in Steigertahl’s absence. Johann Georg Steigertahl (1666-1740) was the personal physician to George I of England. He was a member of the Royal Society and secured the purchase of Engelbert Kaempfer’s collection of East Asian curiosities for Sir Hans Sloane in 1723 (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Georg_Steigerthal).