Letter 0316

Barwick received Sloane’s last letter, but ‘deferred my answer ’till now in hopes to have heard from ym again by Saturdayes post something of her Graces business… for saturday last was ye day for Hearing’. He wants to know how the Duchess’ business at court is doing. Barwick heard the Duchess was received by the Queen. He asks how the weather is treating the Duchess and if anything has moved forward with Mr Simpson’s matter. Barwick thanks Sloane for sending the powder, which his daughter will be taking. Peter Barwick (1619-1705) was a physician. He served Charles II in 1651 and was censor of the College of Physicians in 1674, 1684, and 1687. Sir Hans Sloane was one of the executors of Barwick’s will (Peter Elmer, ‘Barwick, Peter (1619–1705)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/1614, accessed 9 July 2014]).