Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
William Sherard to Hans Sloane – September 17, 1719
Item info
Date: September 17, 1719
Author: William Sherard
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: ff. 242-243
Original Page
Transcription
Sherard was going to wait on Sloane with Mr Lufanius, but his plans got in the way. Lufanius is staying on ‘great suffolk street’ if Sloane wants to contact him. He is going to wait on Sloane tomorrow regardless.
Sherard was a botanist and cataloguer. He worked for the Turkish Company at Smyrna where he collected botanical specimens and antiques (D. E. Allen, Sherard, William (16591728), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/25355, accessed 24 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Mark Catesby to Hans Sloane – January 5, 1725
Item info
Date: January 5, 1725
Author: Mark Catesby
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4047
Folio: ff. 307-308
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Material Culture, Patronage, Travel
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Subjects
America, Animals, Botany, Indian Apron, Mexico, Plants, Specimens, Subscriptions, West Indies
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Date (as written)
January 5, 1725
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Carolina
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Others mentioned
Capt. Easton Capt. Martin
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 307]
Carolina Jan 5th 1724/5
Honble Sr
By Capt Martin in the Blandford Man of War who saild from hence 20 August last I sent you a Box of dryed plants. Nov: 27th Capt Easton in the Neptune I sent another Box with dryed plants an Indian Apron made of Bark &c with letters of advice. I am Sr preparing to goe to the Bahama Islands to make a further progress in what I am about. This will add another year to my continuance in America. And tho’ I doe not expect a continuance of my full subscriptions yet I hope partly by you interest and continuance of your Favours, I may expect the greater part of it. This will protract my proposed Mexico expedition, which I some time since wrote to you concerning, for your advice and approbation I promise my self great variety of shells and and [sic] animals not to be found here.
Whatever commands Sr you’l plans to Honour me with, please to direct to Carolina and I shall have them conveyed to me our Governor (from whome I have received all imaginable kindness in returning home in about 6 weeks. I have now nothing more to add than that I am
Sr with the greatest respect
your most faithful Humble servt
M Catesby
Mark Catesby was a naturalist, influenced by John Ray and Samuel Dale. In 1712 he went to Virginia and collected botanical specimens, gaining the attention of Dr Sherard and Sloane upon his return in 1719. In 1725 he explored the Bahamas and published his ‘The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands’ a year later (F. Nigel Hepper, Catesby, Mark (16831749), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2012 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/4882, accessed 23 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Abraham Meure to Hans Sloane – December 10, 1719
Item info
Date: December 10, 1719
Author: Abraham Meure
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: f. 273
Original Page
Transcription
Abraham Meure was the son of a Huguenot schoolmaster and married Elizabeth Newdigate in 1707. Sir Hans Sloane served as physician to several members of the Newdigate family. Elizabeth died in 1710 two weeks after giving birth to their son John (http://sloaneletters.com/an-eighteenth-century-love-story/).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Salusbury Cade to Hans Sloane – March 11, 1719/20
Item info
Date: March 11, 1719/20
Author: Salusbury Cade
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: f. 296
Original Page
Transcription
Cade informs Sloane that Mr Bernard, a clerk to the Surgeon’s Company, billed the organization for several plants. There was supposed to have been an agreement that the plants were not to be billed to it. Cade thinks it his duty to inform Sloane of the situation.
Salusbury Cade (c. 1660-1720) was a physician. He worked in the Old Bailey (Norman Moore, ‘Cade, Salusbury (c.1660–1720)’, rev. Patrick Wallis, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/4295, accessed 11 July 2014]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
William Derham to Hans Sloane – February 13, 1721/22
Item info
Date: February 13, 1721/22
Author: William Derham
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4046
Folio: ff. 200-201
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 201] Windsor Castle Feb: 13 1721/2
Hond Sr
I have just now recd Lrs from Mr Robie
in New England, who hath for some years favoured
us wth divers very curious Observations, accepta-
ble to your self & the R.S. He tells me the Small
Pox is epidemicall at Boston in N.E. & yt there are
great controversies pro & con about Inoculation, &
desires to be resolved in these 3 things (1) What cre-
dit the Operation hath in London? (2) Wt Effects & Con-
sequents it produceth, & whether Perons inoculated were
ever known to have the S. Pox again in the common way?
(3) Whether it is practiced in England? Or in short,
Whether it be a safe & justifiable practice?
These Queries as no man is better able to answer
than your self, so I know of no Friend I can better
address them to. And by reason of my long absence in
this place from the R.S. & men of intelligence in these
matters, I beg the favour of you to send me an Answer
to these Queries. Or if it will be too great a trouble, I
desire you will request it of Mr— the Apothecary,
that did the Operation on the Criminals, whose name
I have forgotten, & place of abode. I am wth great respect
& deference
Dear Sr Your much obliged humble servt
W Derham
Derham was a Church of England clergyman and a natural philosopher, interested in nature, mathematics, and philosophy. He frequently requested medical advice from Sloane, and likely served as a physician to his family and parishioners (Marja Smolenaars, Derham, William (16571735), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7528, accessed 7 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Anstis to Hans Sloane – February 15, 1721/22
Item info
Date: February 15, 1721/22
Author: John Anstis
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4046
Folio: ff. 209-210
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 209] Heralds Office ffebr 15 1721/2 S.r I return your book with many thanks, in p. 78 is the account of the ffeaver & Asthma, when of Sr John Hastolf dyed after 148 days illnesse at the age of 80 years. The year is omitted but his death certainly happened on St. Leonards day 1459. which if you please, you may add in the bottome of that page. In p. 115 is a verse in some Glasse window Virgo decus mundi. Hastolf miseriri Johanni. I do not in the least doubt but the greatest part of this MS was compiled by W.m of Wircestri or Bolaner, who lived with our Sr John as his Secretary, some say his Officer of Arms for several years, and our writers tell us this Worcestri was a great Physitian Astronomer and Antiquary. I am with the greatest respect Yr most Obedt humble Servt John Anstis
John Anstis was a herald, antiquary, and MP (Stuart Handley, Anstis, John (16691744), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/584, accessed 28 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
William Sherard to Hans Sloane – November 12, 1719
Item info
Date: November 12, 1719
Author: William Sherard
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: f. 265
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Library, Scholarship, Scientific
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Subjects
Books, Botany, Catalogues, Fossils, Italy, Plants, Specimens
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Date (as written)
November 12, 1719
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
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Others mentioned
Johann Philipp Breyne
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Sherard forwards a packet of books from Breyne and some fossils from Tuscany with a catalogue. He requests figures of two plants, which he suspects are the same. They are: ‘Matricariae Acheocan dicta similis, Erysimitalys, Absinthis-sapora, Jamaicansis Pluk. Tab. 43. fig. 3.’ and the ‘Absinthium Indianum, fol. mardinatra Caumatis fl. albis, parvuis, umballatis… Amath. Tab. 352. fig. 2’.
Sherard was a botanist and cataloguer. He worked for the Turkish Company at Smyrna where he collected botanical specimens and antiques (D. E. Allen, Sherard, William (16591728), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/25355, accessed 24 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
James Bruce to Hans Sloane – December 15, 1704
Item info
Date: December 15, 1704
Author: James Bruce
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: f. 405
Original Page
Transcription
Bruce believes he is troubling Sloane with his letter. He discusses the residents of Killyleagh.
James Bruce was the Minister of the Presbyterian General Synod of Ulster. He was ordained at Killyleagh around 1684/85 and was a tour de force within the Synod of Ulster, serving on several committees and influencing its other members (Alexander Gordon, Bruce, James (1660/611730), rev. W. D. Bailie, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/3733, accessed 13 Aug 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Thomas Hyde to Hans Sloane – April 22, 1699
Item info
Date: April 22, 1699
Author: Thomas Hyde
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 254-255
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Patronage, Scholarship, Trade or Commodities
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Subjects
Arabic, Books, Coins, Post, Publishing, Subscriptions
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Date (as written)
April 22, 1699
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Oxon.
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Others mentioned
Jacob Bobart Humfrey Wanley
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Hyde, Bobart, and Wanley have been discussing an Arabic coin that is so battered it cannot be read. He will return the French book Sloane sent him as soon as he finds a reliable carrier. He mourns the loss of some draughts, which had ‘an exactness not observed by others’. Hyde cannot understand how carriers can lose what is entrusted to them. He asks for a copy of a work he struggling to get hold of and for financial help so he can complete his book. He is currently raising money through subscription but fears it will not be enough. Hyde asks Sloane where to leave the papers.
Hyde was the librarian of the Bodleian Library from 1665 to 1701. He possessed excellent linguistic skills in eastern languages, especially ancient Persian and Arabic (P. J. Marshall, Hyde, Thomas (16361703), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/14336, accessed 19 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Charles Preston to Hans Sloane – May 25, 1699
Item info
Date: May 25, 1699
Author: Charles Preston
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 272-273
Original Page
Transcription
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]).