Letter 4149

Folkes writes to Sloane that Sir Thomas Dereham showed him a letter from Sloane where Sloane happily passed on a recommendation Folkes had made. He mentions his brother as well who was pleased to be recommended to the Society. He takes this opportunity to mention a Monsignor Leprotti, first physician to the pope, a man of great learning who is particularly acquainted with the works of the society and respects all the members. Folkes says he has never met a gentleman of greater merit or curiosity. He has a noble library of philosophical books and, like Sloane, likes communicating them to the use of all. Folkes concludes that he believes Leprotti to be very valuable and useful correspondent. The second man he mentions is the R. father Ravillas, Prior of St. Alexius upon Mount Clementine, and Professor of Philosophy. A very qualified gentleman skilled in natural knowledge and experimental philosophy. Both these men are also recommended by fellows Signor Mamfredi and Father Grandi. Folkes closes by mentioning that a Cardinal had just sold his collection of marbles and offers his service to Sloane. Martin Folkes was an antiquary and natural philosopher. He was educated at Clare College, Cambridge and inherited a large estate from his father. Folkes was appointed Vice-President of the Royal Society in 1723 and contributed articles to the Philosophical Transactions. After the death of Royal Society President Sir Isaac Newton in 1727 Folkes and Sloane, both vice-presidents, petitioned to succeed him. Sloane won the election and Folkes only returned to the Royal Society Council in 1733. He succeeded Sloane as President from 1741 to 1752 (David Boyd Haycock, Folkes, Martin (16901754), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/9795, accessed 16 Aug 2013]).