Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – September 29, 1702
Item info
Date: September 29, 1702
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 32-33
Original Page
Transcription
Charlett discusses his travels, the great oaks he saw while riding, and relates a meeting he had with an aged mother of many children. He is going to travel to see the manuscript collections of Lord Longuebill and Lord Henry Hyde of Clarendon, which are to be sold at auction.
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 -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – October 5, 1705
Item info
Date: October 5, 1705
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4040
Folio: f. 70
Original Page
Transcription
The bearers have just spent one or two months at Oxford. They are heading to Holland. Charlett asks Sloane to show them his museum.
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 -
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 Ray to Hans Sloane – November 18, 1702
Item info
Date: November 18, 1702
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 45-46
Original Page
Transcription
Ray returns Sloane’s books. He could not do much with the Magellan plants, which were imperfect specimens. He asks if he can borrow the Chinese plants that Sloane had lately received. He updates Sloane on the status of his book.
Ray was a theologian and naturalist who collected and catalogued his botanical findings in the much lauded Historia plantarum (1686, 1688) (Scott Mandelbrote, Ray , John (16271705), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2005 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23203, accessed 18 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Charles Preston to Hans Sloane – March 3, 1702/03
Item info
Date: March 3, 1702/03
Author: Charles Preston
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: f. 93
Original Page
Transcription
Preston sends natural curiosities and books on behalf of Mr Paterson. He discusses works of natural history.
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 1 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Edward Hulse to Hans Sloane – February 11, 1702/03
Item info
Date: February 11, 1702/03
Author: Edward Hulse
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 83-84
Original Page
Transcription
Hulse writes on behalf of Dr Hutchinson’s son, hoping Sloane can use his influence to get him a post serving the Duke of Ormond.
Sir Edward Hulse was a physician who gained a reputation as one of the best doctors in London. He became a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1717 and was censor in 1720, 1750, 1751, and 1753 (Charles Creighton, Hulse, Sir Edward, first baronet (16821759), rev. Patrick Wallis, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/14122, accessed 4 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
James Cuninghame to Hans Sloane – February 3, 1702/03
Item info
Date: February 3, 1702/03
Author: James Cuninghame
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 81-82
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Government, Legal, Scholarship, Scientific, Trade or Commodities, Travel
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Subjects
Almanacs, Butterflies, China, Chinese Language, Colonialism, Seeds, Shells, Specimens, Weather
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Date (as written)
February 3, 1702/03
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Chusan
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Others mentioned
James Petiver Mr Oliphant
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 81]
Sr
The shortness of time will not permitt me to give you
a particular account of our affairs, therefor I must referr you
to my good friend Mr Oliphant Surgeon to the Eaton Frigat. Ever
since we came here we have been in suspense about our Settlement
& now the Chinese stuborness has forcd the factory away at once;
my circumstances being such as I could not leave this place without
considerable disadvantage as others have done; I have procurd liberty
from the Government to stay behind, designing to return home in
the Sarah-Galley, which will not be dispatched this season. I have
sent you by Mr Oliphant the Draught of Chusan & the adhacent
Islands which I formerlie promisd you, as exact as any of that
kind; also a Register of the Weather here for 14 Months; a Chinese
Almanack & a small Chinese book of Characters with their
Hieroglyphical Significations; And because I cannot have time to
write to Mr Petiver, I have sent betwixt you & him a few
seeds, a few shells & a few Butterflies, which you must accept from
a willing mind to serve you, till we meet with more favourable
opportunities. My most humble service to all the Gentlemen of
your Societie, to serve whom shall always be the ambition
Sir
Your most obliged &
most Humble Sert
Ja: Cuninghame
Chuson Febrie 3. 1702.
James Cuninghame (fl. 1698-1709) became a member of the Royal Society in 1699. He traveled the world as a trader and collected information, plant specimens, and curiosities until his death in 1709 (Gordon Goodwin, Cuninghame , James (fl. 16981709), rev. D. J. Mabberley, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 2010 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6922, accessed 24 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Humfrey Wanley to Hans Sloane – February 2, 1702/03
Item info
Date: February 2, 1702/03
Author: Humfrey Wanley
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 79-80
Original Page
Transcription
Humfrey Wanley was an Old English scholar and librarian at Oxford. He was appointed assistant at the Bodleian Library in 1695 (Peter Heyworth, Wanley, Humfrey (16721726), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/28664, accessed 4 July 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 -
Edmund Curll to Hans Sloane – January 18, 1702/03
Item info
Date: January 18, 1702/03
Author: Edmund Curll
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4039
Folio: ff. 69-70
Original Page
Transcription
Curll relays a curious account of a dog in Scotland. It had two whelps: one alive, one dead. Hours later, a ‘little creature’ was also born to it, which lived for ten hours and is now preserved in wine. The ‘creature’ may be produced upon Sloane’s request.
Edmund Curll (d. 1747) was a bookseller. He published several books and had a contentious relationship with Alexander Pope (Raymond N. MacKenzie, ‘Curll, Edmund (d. 1747)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6948, accessed 23 July 2014]).