Letter 4131

Browne writes to Sloane about Mr. Taylor’s eye operations, he wishes to recommend him as worthy of Sloane’s notice. He describes Taylor as entertaining and praises his dexterity. Although Browne only saw Taylor for the one day he was in London, his brother saw him for an extended period and also had good things to say about Taylor. Browne speaks on behalf of Taylor stating that he would like Sloane’s Judgement on his performances. He closes with a P.S. asking Sloane to recommend Taylor to some of Sloane’s correspondents in France as that is where he is headed next, to the Academie des Sciences. Sir William Browne gained his MD from Cambridge in 1725 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1726. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1739 and knighted in 1748. Browne published books on a wide range of topics and served the Royal College of Physicians in a number of capacities (Leslie Stephen, Browne, Sir William (16921774), rev. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2007 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/3708, accessed 13 Aug 2013]).