Letter 2701

Preston states that he often writes to Sloane, sometimes by the common post and sometimes via the Secretary’s office, and has sent all manner of papers but has never received an answer. He remarks that in his letter of 13th April he sent Sloane via Dr Wallace an account of Sir James Balfour’s catalogue along with some plant specimens. Therein he asked if there were any Sloane was thinking of buying. He asks if this arrived and entreats Sloane to respond as he is ‘mightily concerned’. Preston was a physician and botanist who established a lengthy correspondence with Sloane, exchanging plants, seeds, books and information. His main interest was in botany, and was well-known by his contemporaries for his botanical knowledge (Anita Guerrini, Preston, Charles (16601711), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/47084, accessed 18 June 2013]).