Letter 4250

Cruden writes to Sloane about his affair relating to him being “Her Magesty’s Bookseller”. He made his application after Mr. Matthew’s death (the previous bookseller) and had the recommendation of Lord Mayor, a Whig Alderman, and some citizens known to Sir Robert Walpole. He asks Sloane for a favour, he would like him to tell Sir Robert of the affair. He met his friend Dr. Shecort in the Grecuan Coffeehouse and wanted Cruden to introduce Sloane to Dr. Mortimer and to present the enclosed recommendation (a copy of the original) and would like Sloane’s recommendation also. P.S. Sir Robert Monro is speaking this day to Sir Robert Walpole before Tuesday. Alexander Cruden (1699-1770), biblical scholar and bookseller. He began as a proof-corrector and bookseller at the Royal Exchange in London before becoming bookseller to the Queen. In 1730 he was committed to a private madhouse in Bethnal Green after his mental deterioration, though he escaped after 9 weeks and published against the people who had incarcerated him. He returned to proof-correcting and lived a quiet life. (Lionel Alexander Ritchie, ‘Cruden, Alexander (1699–1770)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6841, accessed 18 Aug 2015]).