Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Abraham de la Pryme to Hans Sloane – September 18, 1700
Item info
Date: September 18, 1700
Author: Abraham de la Pryme
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 68-69
Original Page
Transcription
De la Pryme thanks Sloane for sending the Philosophical Transactions. He sends Sloane a box of petrified shellfish along with what he knows about them. He writes that he will send more information if the account is worthy of the Transactions. De la Pryme promises to forward an odd letter from the East Indies.
De la Pryme was an antiquary, who established extensive correspondence with other antiquaries such as Nathaniel Johnston, Thomas Gale, Ralph Thoresby, and Sloane. In 1702, on Sloanes proposal, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society (C. E. A. Cheesman, Pryme, Abraham (16711704), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/22852, accessed 25 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – December 20, 1700
Item info
Date: December 20, 1700
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 111-112
Original Page
Transcription
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 18 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Stephen Gray to Hans Sloane – September 13, 1700
Item info
Date: September 13, 1700
Author: Stephen Gray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 66-67
Original Page
Transcription
Gray informs Sloane that he knows nothing about the pork sent to the Royal Society. Sloane had asked for a more particular account of its fat. Gray claims that someone must share his name or is impersonating him. He adds: ‘I knew not that the salt I gave you an account of had been observed by any one before[,] but by yours am well satisfied it has’.
Gray was an experimental philosopher who established a rapport with the Royal Society and Royal Greenwich Observatory, published articles in the Transactions, and experimented with electricity (Michael Ben-Chaim, Gray, Stephen (bap. 1666, d. 1736), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/11354, accessed 26 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – August 21, 1700
Item info
Date: August 21, 1700
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 53-54
Original Page
Transcription
Ray discusses the acquisition of books.
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 -
Thomas Hyde to Hans Sloane – August 5, 1700
Item info
Date: August 5, 1700
Author: Thomas Hyde
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 43-44
Original Page
Transcription
Hyde reminds Sloane that he had asked him to subscribe to his book on the ‘Religion of the Old Persians’. Sloane said he would help once it was printed and Hyde is informing him that this is now the case. As such, he wants to know how many copies Sloane would like to purchase.
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 -
James Cuninghame to Hans Sloane – July 29, 1700
Item info
Date: July 29, 1700
Author: James Cuninghame
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 35-36
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 35]
From on Board the Eaton-Frigatt
at anchor near Banjar on Borneo
Worthy Sr July 19. 1700
I wrote to you in April last, one account
of our late arrival at the Cape of Good-Hope, where I
made some small Collection for you, which I refer to a
convenient opportunitie; I have likewise undergone the toil
to ascend the Table-Land (although I had been there before)
partlie to satisfie Dr Woodwards Curiositie of finding
shells either in or out of the Rocks, but without any success
yet had the fortune to meet with a fair specimen of the
Cinaroides frutex, which Ill take care to send you when
I transmit other things. I told you then that I had kept
a register of the Thermometer, whose greatest altitude was
within 2 Divisions of Extream Hot (and since has been at
2 Div.) & that the greatest Inclination of the Needles
South Point was 48 Degr. at the Cape, but since has
augmented to 75 Degr. off of the Island St Pauls a
particular account whereof with the variation Latitude
& Longitude Winds & Weather I thought to have sent
you now, but could not have it in readiness, therefore
shall not fail to send it with the first occasion. From
the Cape of Good Hope we touchd no where till our
arrivall here, & the Pinnace being sent to Banjar,
where the English Factory is 60 miles from hence, I
have had no opportunitie of making any Collections
ashore, having stayd here but 3 days, were now proceeding
in our voyage for Nang-po China, from whence
I hope to give some satisfaction to your Longing Ex-
pectations, from whom I have received so many singular
marks of favour, that cannot be expressd in few Words
& therefor Im willing to continue in the sense of them
Sr, should you give yourself the trouble to remember me
with all respect to Mr Gilbert & Mr Samuel Heathcote,
& also to all the Worthy Gentlemen of your Societie, I
shall not be wanting still to acknowledge myself more
indebted to your kindness while I am
Sr Your most Humble Servant
Cuninghame
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 – June 25, 1700
Item info
Date: June 25, 1700
Author: Humfrey Wanley
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 24-25
Original Page
Transcription
Wanley attempted to meet with Sloane yesterday, but chased after him in vain, always just missing him. He did not get Sloane’s message from Mr Chamberlayne until it was too late.
Wanley was an Old English scholar and a librarian. He contributed four catalogues to Bernards Catalogue, a collection of manuscripts published in 1697. 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 19 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – June 11, 1700
Item info
Date: June 11, 1700
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4038
Folio: ff. 18-19
-
Language
English
-
Library
British Library, London
-
Categories
Library, Philosophical Transactions, Scholarship, Trade or Commodities
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Subjects
Auctions, Birth Records, Books, Death Records, Germany, University of Oxford
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Date (as written)
June 11, 1700
-
Standardised date
-
Origin (as written)
Univ. Coll. [Oxford]
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Others mentioned
John Wallis David Gregory
-
Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Charlett has enclosed a catalogue of foreign books to be auctioned at the College. He thanks Sloane for the Philosophical Transactions. Dr Wallis is particularly glad to have them. Charlett discusses birth and death records in Germany.
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 18 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Woodward to Hans Sloane – March 2, 1700
Item info
Date: March 2, 1700
Author: John Woodward
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: f. 374
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 374] 2. Mar/y 99 Doctor I was yesterday to wait upon Sr John Hoskyns to know what ye Council had done in Relation to ye Letter I wrote them. He referred me for satisfaction to several Votes of ye Council about ye Transactioneer: & directed me to send to yu for a Copy of them; wch I now do, & desire I may have it as soon as may be. Your Servant J Woodward
Woodward was a physician, natural historian and antiquary who expounded a theory of the earth in which fossils were creatures destroyed by the biblical flood. This embroiled him in a controversy in which he was opposed by John Ray, Edward Llwyd, Martin Lister, and Tancred Robinson (J. M. Levine, “Woodward, John (1665/1668-1728)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29946, accessed 17 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – December 16, 1699
Item info
Date: December 16, 1699
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: f. 361
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Curiosity Reports, Royal Society, Scholarship, Scientific
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Subjects
America, Bones, Burials, Elephants, Maryland, Plants, Specimens, Subscriptions
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Date (as written)
December 16, 1699
-
Standardised date
-
Origin (as written)
Black Notley
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Others mentioned
Tentzelius
-
Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Ray will return the last of Sloane’s Maryland plants soon. He asks Sloane to make corrections for him. Ray does not understand why he is not attracting subscribers for his Supplement. He has received a letter from Tentzelius, who wants to know the Royal Society’s feelings about the bones dug up at Tonna. There appears to be some dispute regarding the matter.
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]).