Letter 0466

Charlett explains how he and Dr Gregory went to see ‘Mercury in the sun’, but the weather did not permit it. He relates that the auctioning of the late Bernard Edward’s book collection had commenced on October 25, 1697. Edward was a mathematician and Arabist with a large collection of ‘Oriental’ manuscripts (Hugh de Quehen, ‘Bernard, Edward (1638–1697)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/2240, accessed 24 June 2014]). Charlett asks Sloane if he is interested in purchasing any instruments through Dr Gregory. He has enclosed a ‘Specimen of Euclisis Opera omnia’ to be published under Dr Aldrich’s supervision with the assistance of Mr Hudson. Charlett was elected Master of University College at Oxford in 1692 and held that post until his death in 1722. Charlett used the mastership to gain influence, especially through persistent letter-writing to numerous correspondents, sharing the latest literary, political, and scholarly gossip (R. H. Darwall-Smith, Charlett, Arthur (16551722), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5158, accessed 1 June 2011]).