Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Benjamin Holloway to Hans Sloane – September 19, 1730
Item info
Date: September 19, 1730
Author: Benjamin Holloway
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4051
Folio: ff. 105-106
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 105] Midleton-Stony Sep.19.1730 Honrd Sr Ever since I was last in London I have been engag’d in writing Critical Annotations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, which I design to make publick: but I desir’d first to have laid some chapters before you, particularly the first and the twelfth, in which there is a good deal that is Philosophical; in order here to, I intended to have finished those Chapters first, deferring to write full they were done: But I was diverted from my Course in carrying on the work, which increas’d upon my Hands, and I had some Hindrances, neither is it yet done: However I am asham’d, in waiting for it, to defer longer to make my Acknowledgments for the Favours I received from You when I was in Town; particularly for the sight of Your admirable Collection of Raritys, which I believe is the richest, as well as the largest and most curious, that is to be seen in any one Place; and speaks the universal knowledge, great Genius and spirit of its Collector. for myself, I think it a special Happiness to be known to you, and shall by all means endeavour to merit your good opinion. When I have finish’d the work I am upon I will take the Liberty to transmit those Parts of it to you. If you approve of them I shall have the more Assurance of succeeding with others in the rest. Indeed however well I execute my design, My Obscurity will make it stand in need of your Recommendation; which, of usefull Learning, if I desire, I trust, I shall not want. I am, with great Respect, Sr Your Obliged Humble servant B. Holloway.
Benjamin Holloway (1690/91-1759) was a Church of England Clergyman and religious controversialist. He provided evidence to support the geological theories of John Woodward, which were published in the Philosophical Transaction. In 1723, with Sir Hans Sloane’s support, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Holloway published many books on religious topics (Scott Mandelbrote, Holloway, Benjamin (1690/911759), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/13572, accessed 25 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
William Cockburn to Hans Sloane – March 8, 1702/03
Item info
Date: March 8, 1702/03
Author: William Cockburn
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 94-95
Original Page
Transcription
Cockburn thanks Sloane for his kindness toward Dr Cheyne, even though Cheyne used Cockburn’s acquaintance to get to Sloane without asking his permission first. Cockburn had initially been angry at Cheyne for acting so presumptuously.
William Cockburn was a physician who wrote works on the diseases of seamen and published in the Philosophical Transactions. He had a large medical practice and claimed to have a secret remedy for dysentery (Charles Creighton, Cockburn, William (16691739), rev. Anita Guerrini, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5777, accessed 5 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Chamberlayne to Hans Sloane – February 15, 1702/03
Item info
Date: February 15, 1702/03
Author: John Chamberlayne
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 87-88
Original Page
Transcription
Chamberlayne apologizes for his misunderstanding. He does not understand why Sloane’s schedule keeps him from returning Colonel Dudley’s letters. He has not received the Philosophical ‘Transactions from Mr Smith since July & August last inclusive’.
John Chamberlayne was a translator and editor specializing in modern languages which he studied at the University of Leiden. He translated works on many topics, was a fellow of the Royal Society, and published three works in the Philsophical Transactions (Reavley Gair, “Chamberlayne, John (1668/9-1723)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5060, accessed 30 May 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
James Sherard to Hans Sloane – Dec 1, 1732
Item info
Date: Dec 1, 1732
Author: James Sherard
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4052
Folio: f. 227
Original Page
Transcription
MS 4052 Fol. 227
Sr
I send herewith a copy of the Hortus Eltha-mensis which Mr Dillenius is now publishing, you will see that he has not studied to adorn wither his Book or my Garden, his Cheifcare having been to me prove and advance the knowledge of Botany, how-ever such as it is I beg you’l do me the Honour to accept it as a token of freindship and gratitude from
Sr your most obliged and very obedient serv
James Sherard
Eltham
Der 1.1732
I design to present one Book to the Colledge of Physitians and have desired Dr Monro to learn the proper time and manner of doing it.
James Sherard (1666-1738) apprenticed as an apothecary to Charles Watts. He practiced as an apothecary in Mark Lane, London and retired in 1720. Sherard was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1706. In his retirement he pursued the collection of rare plants and became a well known botanist, though not as well known as his brother William Sherard (FRS 1720). James Sherard spent the 1720s travelling and collecting specimens by 1730 was managing the Chelsea Gardens. (W. W. Webb, ‘Sherard, James (1666–1738)’, rev. Scott Mandelbrote, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2013 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/25354, accessed 16 June 2015]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Hudson to Hans Sloane – January 9, 1702/03
Item info
Date: January 9, 1702/03
Author: John Hudson
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 65-66
Original Page
Transcription
Hudson thanks Sloane for the box of books. He will have Mr Hartley make a catalogue of all the books Sloane has provided. Hudson is considering doing an edition of ‘Nicander’, but only if the Royal Society or the College of Physicians is interested.
John Hudson (1662-1719) was elected librarian of the Bodleian Library in 1701. He corresponded with numerous scholars and librarians, both in England and abroad (Theodor Harmsen, Hudson, John (16621719), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2013 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/14034, accessed 27 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Keill to Hans Sloane – February 18, 1702/03
Item info
Date: February 18, 1702/03
Author: John Keill
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: f. 78
Original Page
Transcription
Keill has drawn up an account of Dr Gregory’s ‘Astronomy’ for the Philosophical Transactions as per Sloane’s direction. He cannot possibly shorten it and asks that it be printed soon.
John Keill was a mathematician, astronomer, natural historian, and proponent of Newtonian physics. He was involved in a major dispute with G.W. Leibniz over who first conceptualized calculus (John Henry, Keill, John (16711721), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2010 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/15256, accessed 4 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Michael Maittaire to Hans Sloane – December 5, 1726
Item info
Date: December 5, 1726
Author: Michael Maittaire
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4048
Folio: ff. 229-230
Original Page
Transcription
Maittaire returns the books he borrowed from Sloane. He apologizes for keeping them so long.
Michael Maittaire was a classical scholar, typographer, and schoolmaster. He was educated at Westminster School and and Christ Church, Oxford. Mattaire was under-master at Westminster School from 1695 to 1699 before founding his own private school at Mile End. He published editions of Latin and Greek classics throughout his scholarly career and had an extensive library (Margaret Clunies Ross, Amanda J. Collins, Maittaire, Michael (16681747), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/17841, accessed 16 Aug 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Jean Théophile Desaguliers to Hans Sloane – March 4, 1730/31
Item info
Date: March 4, 1730/31
Author: Jean Théophile Desaguliers
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4051
Folio: ff. 200-201
Original Page
Transcription
Desaguliers assesses Mr Brown’s letter in detail, criticizing his theories. He suspects there is ‘subtile medium even finer than Light which serves in the Reflection, Refraction and Inflexion of Light’. Desaguliers discusses this hypothesis, citing Sir Isaac Newton’s ‘Opticks’ as an authority. He then relays his theory of gravity, thoughts on thermometers, and astronomical observations.
Desaguliers was the son of French Huguenots who quit France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). He was a natural philosopher and engineer, became Sir Isaac Newton’s pupil, was a proponent of Newtonianism, and performed lectures and experiments at the Royal Society (Patricia Fara, Desaguliers, John Theophilus (16831744), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7539, accessed 12 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Martin Folkes to Hans Sloane – March 12, 1730/31
Item info
Date: March 12, 1730/31
Author: Martin Folkes
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4051
Folio: f. 209
Original Page
Transcription
Folkes would like to borrow a book from Sloane’s library.
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]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Jno: Blesto to James Petiver – 8ber 12
Item info
Date: 8ber 12
Author: Jno: Blesto
Recipient: James Petiver
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4066
Folio: f. 268
Original Page
Transcription
Sr
When I recd: yr first I had a violent feaver which confined me 6 or 7 weeks but am glad the 600 plants are done & will order a Guiny to be pt you speedily & the hope I shall receive them: some Gentlemen think the subscriptions very high & say they shall buy it cheaper when publish’d but I suppose one [Do’lr?] Quinton a Gentleman of my acquaintance will be with you this week to subscribe & perhaps when I receive what you mention in yr last I may procure some more I expected to have seen you in the country in order to a journey into Darby shire but now the Season is past but I think to see you in a little time in London so shall say no more at presant only heartily wish you all imaginable success in yr undertakings who are Dear Sr
Yr most obliged humble servant
Jno: Blesto
8ber 12
Great Bowden [..igh] Markett Harborow Leicestershire
Gentlemen think halfe a crown a score very dear also for yr dried specimen
John Blesto writes James Petiver to inform him that “the 600 plants are done & will order a Guiny to be pt you [Petiver] speedily.” Blesto informs Petiver that he will see him soon, once he arrives in London. James Petiver (1665-1718) was a botanist and entomologist. Petiver was eventually elected to the Royal Society’s council and later attained the respected appointment of apothecary to the Chaterhouse. (D. E. Allen, ‘Petiver, James (c.1665–1718)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/22041, accessed 1 May 2015]).