Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Richard Middleton Massey to Hans Sloane – January 9, 1725/26
Item info
Date: January 9, 1725/26
Author: Richard Middleton Massey
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4048
Folio: ff. 122-123
Original Page
Transcription
Massey’s neighbour requests Sloane’s medical advice.
Richard Middleton Massey (1678-1743) attended Brasenose College, Oxford but left before obtaining a degree. In 1706 he was admitted Extra-Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and settled in Wisbech where he practiced medicine. Massey was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712. He compiled the catalogue of the library of the Royal College of Physicians in 1727 (http://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/2969).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Richard Middleton Massey to Hans Sloane – November 23, 1717
Item info
Date: November 23, 1717
Author: Richard Middleton Massey
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: ff. 72-73
Original Page
Transcription
Massey thanks Sloane for advising him on patenting his mustard oil. He wants ‘an Approbation from the Physitians and members of the Royall Society made publick’. Massey left a bottle of the mustard oil with Alban Thomas should the Royal Society wish to examine it. He asks for contacts in foreign countries to send his ‘latine epistle’ to.
Richard Middleton Massey (1678-1743) attended Brasenose College, Oxford but left before obtaining a degree. In 1706 he was admitted Extra-Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and settled in Wisbech where he practiced medicine. Massey was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712. He compiled the catalogue of the library of the Royal College of Physicians in 1727 (http://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/2969).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Richard Middleton Massey to Hans Sloane – August 22, 1721
Item info
Date: August 22, 1721
Author: Richard Middleton Massey
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4046
Folio: ff. 122-123
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Library, Material Culture, Philosophical Transactions, Royal College of Physicians, Trade or Commodities
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Subjects
Apothecaries, Art, Books, Botany, Coins, Paintings
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Date (as written)
August 22, 1721
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Wisbech
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Others mentioned
Mr Innys Joseph Pitton de Tournefort
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Massey thanks Sloane for sending the Philosophical Transactions with Mr Innys. He has been ‘drawing after my fashion the flowers of seeds and plants in water colours […] I partly copy after Tournefort’. Massey occupies his time with painting and examining his ‘small collection of Roman Coins’. He ‘laid out fifty guinneas in books being the conjoyn librarys of a french and English Clergyman at Thorney abbey’. The postscript reads: ‘Some Apothecarys in my neighborhood have a notion they may easily for a little mony be admitted by the colledge ad Practicanda. I hope through yr means to prevent those who have no just qualification’. Massey includes a list of books, indicating the title, location of its publication, and date.
Richard Middleton Massey (1678-1743) attended Brasenose College, Oxford but left before obtaining a degree. In 1706 he was admitted Extra-Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and settled in Wisbech where he practiced medicine. Massey was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712. He compiled the catalogue of the library of the Royal College of Physicians in 1727 (http://munksroll.rcplondon.ac.uk/Biography/Details/2969).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Henry Newman to Hans Sloane – September 1, 1731
Item info
Date: September 1, 1731
Author: Henry Newman
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4052
Folio: f. 4
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Charity, Scholarship, Trade or Commodities, Travel
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Subjects
Arabia, Arabic, Books, Christianity, East Indies, India, Missionaries, Near East, Printing, Protestantism, Religion, Schools
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Date (as written)
September 1, 1731
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Bartlet's Buildings
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Others mentioned
-
Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 4] Bartlet’s Buildings
1. Septr. 1731.
Honoured Sir
A continual hurry has oblig’d me with regret to delay obedience to you comands for some account of the Designs of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
The printed Letters herewith sent will give the Reader some Account of them, but to give a general Idea of them, I am humbly to acquaint you that as they are a Voluntary Society, they are not confin’d to my part of the World, but wherever the Interest of Religion and Virtue can be sew’d by their good offices, they have readily concurr’d in the use of such means as were in their power to advance them.
In Great Britain their cheif cares have been to encourage the erecting Charity Schools & Workhouses, and to disperse good Books among those who are not able to buy them. In the East Indies they have for severall years past given what assistance they could to the Protestant Missionaries Missionaries [sic] at Fort St. George and Tranquebar on the Cost of Coromandel by furnishing them with Money, Books, a Printing Press, 2. Fonts of Types, all manner of Utensils for Painting and Bookbinding, with other necessaries which might enable the Missionaries more effectually to answer the Ends of the Mission, which not being within the limits of the Charter of the Society for the propagation of the Gospel could not be an Object of their care though several Members of that Body have been liberal Benefactors to it.
For the Poor Christians in Palestine, Arabia &ca. the Society have printed 6250. Psalters in Arabick, a New Font of Types having been cast in London on purpose for that service: And sure that they have caus’d an impression to be made of 10. Thousand New Testamets [sic] in the same Language to be dispersed gratis among the Christians at Aleppo, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Countries adjacent, at the discretion of their Correspondents at Aleppo.
The particulars of their proceedings and their success in these several Branches of their designs would be a subject too large for a letter but as any accounts are printed beside those herewith sent you may always freely Command their of Sir yr most Obedient servant Henry Newman
Henry Newman (1670-1743) was Secretary for The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. He graduated BA and MA from Harvard, worked as a librarian, and entered the commercial fishing industry in Newfoundland until 1703 when he settled in England to work for the Society (Leonard W. Cowie, ‘Newman, Henry (1670–1743)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/39693, accessed 14 Aug 2015]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – April 12, 1697
Item info
Date: April 12, 1697
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4036
Folio: f. 301
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 301] Sir I have receaved so many Presents from Dr Sloane, that should have long since been acknowledged. I have here inclosed a short account of a Learned book lately published, with great ease and Paine, of such other that Published here, the like Advertisements you shall receive. I desired Dr Gregory to wait upon you, both He and Dr Wallis promise to send you Papers frequently. I cannot meet with Dr Hannes, so as to discourse him fully about this matter. Your Edition of Malpighius is very fair and elegant, and must be very acceptable to all curious persons. You have very honourably done justice to the memory of that excellent Person, who had so particular an Esteem for the Royal Society of England. It is great pity that your Society, the two Universitys, and the Learned part of the City, cannot come to so good an understanding as to enter into some common measures, about taking of Books of Learning, that we might be freed from, depending on the men of Trade, who seldom agree with men of Letters in the same opinion of books. I think you & I did discourse something about a Project of this nature. I should be glad to receave your farther Thoughts at leisure, which upon this or any other subject, shall be extremely welcome to… Your obliged Humble Servant. [ps.] My very humble service to Captain Hutton.
Charlett thanks Sloane for his many presents and discusses a further exchange of books. Charlett laments that the Royal Society and the universities cannot work out some common book exchange that would the best for all.
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]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Thomas Dereham to Hans Sloane – ye 17 February 1734
Item info
Date: ye 17 February 1734
Author: Thomas Dereham
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4054
Folio: f. 5
Original Page
Transcription
ye 17 February 1734
Sir
I am desired by Sig.e Eusachio Manfredi a most worthy member of our R. Society, to present unto you the enclosed packet containing three copies of his “Questions de recta Parchae Indictione,” whereof I gave you a hint sometime ago, entreating you to give one of the said papers for the perusall of the Astronomers of the R. Society, & then send one of the other two, unto each of the universities of Oxford, & Cambridge, whence in due time you must be pleased to require their wise opinion, & no less of the Astronomers of out R. Society, whilst Sig.e Manfredi has sent unto all the other most renowned universities, & Academies in Europe this paper of his to gett there approbation, or admonition, & it would be glorious for our society that one of our members could make the world easie for 5000 years upon a point that hitherto has caused so many disputes, & inconveniences, wherefore in expectation of your kind concurrence, & meditation to so usefull an effect, I hope it will not be log before you return to me a gratefull answer, & that you will do me the justice to believe that I have nothing so much at heart as to promote the honour, 7 renown of our Society, & to prove my self with great respect
Sir
your most Obedient, & most humble servant
Thomas Dereham
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
George Stead to Hans Sloane – April 26, 1720
Item info
Date: April 26, 1720
Author: George Stead
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: ff. 324-325
Original Page
Transcription
Thomas Franklin left his entire estate to his wife Esther. Mr Witherington was supposed to be their attorney, but he was in Dublin when Franklin died. Stead took his place. He took great care to execute the will ‘to the best of [his] Skill’. There was some difficulty executing the will of Esther when she died. Mr Hitchins has been obstructing Stead’s duties. The case is explained in great detail. Stead’s wife Millicent was Thomas Franklin’s sister, as was Jane Darby, who asked Stead to be her attorney and executor. Stead is deaf and has sent his son to answer any questions.
George Stead was an attorney, of Hammersmith.
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Étienne François Geoffroy to Hans Sloane – April 18, 1709
Item info
Date: April 18, 1709
Author: Étienne François Geoffroy
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4041
Folio: ff. 315-316
Original Page
Transcription
Geoffroy congratulates Sloane on his election to the Academie des sciences. He hopes for peace so that he can send the books set aside for Sloane. Geoffroy announces that he has been given Tournefort’s chair at the ‘College Royal’. He relates a question on the nature of cataracts and the Academie’s findings. He mentions the upcoming publication of his book, which questions the Lenten diet.
Etienne Francois Geoffroy (1672-1731) was an apothecary and physician who studied at Montpellier, like Sloane, and worked at the Jardin du Roi and College Royal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etienne_Francois_Geoffroy).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Étienne François Geoffroy to Hans Sloane – September 7, 1700
Item info
Date: September 7, 1700
Author: Étienne François Geoffroy
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 63-64
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Language
French
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Library, Royal Society, Scientific, Travel
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Subjects
Botany, Geography, Meridian, Printing, Shells, Weather
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Date (as written)
September 7, 1700
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Paris
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Others mentioned
Edmond Halley Joseph Pitton de Tournefort Pierre Bonnet Bourdelot Abbe Louvois
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Geoffroy consulted Bourdelot to answer Sloane’s questions. He believes Sloane’s catalogue should be annotated and bound with a copy of Vanderlinden’s Scriptis Medicis. Geoffroy will ask Dr Lefevre to do this for him. He was surprised by Halley’s meteorological reportage from the south. MM. Cassini, mathematicians Jean-Dominique Cassini and his son Jaccques Cassini, have left to measure the meridian from Paris to the Pyrenees. They send their best wishes. The shells that Sloane sent from England are surprising. This and other evidence suggest the earth was once covered in water. Geoffroy contemplates what would be covered should water levels rise again. He is preparing to leave for Italy with the Abbe de Louvois. He offers his services to Sloane and the Royal Society. Geoffroy promises to inform Sloane of any interesting observations. They have recently heard from Tournefort, who has sent drawings and descriptions of plants which Geoffroy will try to send before leaving.
Etienne Francois Geoffroy (1672-1731) was an apothecary and physician who studied at Montpellier, like Sloane, and worked at the Jardin du Roi and College Royal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etienne_Francois_Geoffroy).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Orlando Humfreys to Hans Sloane – March 27, 1736
Item info
Date: March 27, 1736
Author: Orlando Humfreys
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4075
Folio: f. 282
Original Page
Transcription
Patient Details
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Patient info
Name: N/A Orlando Humfreys
Gender:
Age:
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Description
Constant pains in toes and legs. No gout in head or stomach, nor fever. Little appetite and frequent vomiting. Spit blood and other matter.
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Diagnosis
Sloane's prescription: pulv.hert.cum.fl.sulph.&lait.asinin.infus.anato.cum.sp.v.&aq.lacto.ung.emoll.
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Treatment
Previous Treatment:
Ongoing Treatment:
Response: Asked a series of questions about how to manage his health.
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More information
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Medical problem reference
Stomach, Blood, Gout, Inflammations, Pain