Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – June 1, 1698
Item info
Date: June 1, 1698
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 78-79
Original Page
Transcription
Ray is returning the last sections of Sloane’s book, which he praises. His wife is well.
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 -
John Evelyn to Hans Sloane – May 13, 1698
Item info
Date: May 13, 1698
Author: John Evelyn
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 69-70
Original Page
Transcription
Evelyn asks Sloane to include the enclosed paper in the next Philosophical Transactions.
John Evelyn was a diarist and writer who demonstrated a remarkable knowledge of horticulture. He was one of the founding members of the Royal Society (Douglas D. C. Chambers, Evelyn, John (16201706), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8996, accessed 18 June 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – April 27, 1698
Item info
Date: April 27, 1698
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: f. 62
Original Page
Transcription
Ray apologizes for not being done with the two specimens Sloane sent him. He discusses Tournefort’s criticism of Ray’s new book and how people expect him to be offended. Ray assures Sloane that Tournefort has treated him no worse than he deserves. Ray only laments that some of the errors Tournefort criticizes are ones that Ray himself has already recognized and attempted to correct in other works. He thanks Sloane for his generous gift of sugar, which has brightened the mood in his house considerably.
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 -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – April 17, 1698
Item info
Date: April 17, 1698
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: f. 61
-
Language
English
-
Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Library, Patronage, Royal Society, Social
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Subjects
Books, Correspondence, Paris, Recommendation, Social Status, University of Oxford
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Date (as written)
April 17, 1698
-
Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Univ. Coll. [Oxford]
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Others mentioned
Mr Hatton Henry Aldrich Humfrey Wanley Thomas Isted
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Charlett recommends Mr Wanly, the bearer, to Sloane. Wanley wants to see Sloane’s personal library and that of the Royal Society. Charlett informs Sloane that he is a adoringly conversed of by himself and the other professors at Oxford. He apologizes for Mr Isted’s presumption that it would be appropriate to write Sloane from Paris [Sloane MS 4037, fol. 38].
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 Ray to Hans Sloane – April 13, 1698
Item info
Date: April 13, 1698
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 59-60
Original Page
Transcription
Ray thanks Sloane for sending him plant specimens and Tournefort’s book. He explains that his Supplement was ready to go to press and is already in Mr. Smith’s hands. He apologizes for failing to instruct Smith to not show it to anyone, having forgot there are ‘ill natured’ folk who do not wish Sloane well and might use the transcript to capitalize on his work. He has since instructed Smith to only show the Supplement to Dr. Robinson.
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 -
Samuel Dale to Hans Sloane – April 12, 1698
Item info
Date: April 12, 1698
Author: Samuel Dale
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 57-58
Original Page
Transcription
Dale thanks Sloane for sending him a number of specimens and a book of miscellaneous tracts, but laments that the explanatory letter Sloane usually includes with specimens appears to have gone missing. The package was open when Dale received it. Dale asks about the specimens in light of the missing letter and for additional Jamaican plant specimens for an upcoming paper he hopes to deliver.
Samuel Dale was an apothecary, botanist, and physician who contributed several articles to the Philosophical Transactions. He was John Ray’s executor and good friend, and from Dale’s letters to Sloane we learn many details of Ray’s final moments (G. S. Boulger, Dale, Samuel (bap. 1659, d. 1739), rev. Juanita Burnby, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7016, accessed 5 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
William Derham to Hans Sloane – April 5, 1698
Item info
Date: April 5, 1698
Author: William Derham
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 46-47
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 47]
Sr Apr 5 1698
I give you my hearty thanks for the Trans-
actions you ordered me, wch I have recd. The first hath
no other Errata, but my own. What else are in the
latter I have not time to see, having but just taken
it at Mr Smiths. I intend to write this evening
to Mr Fennley for his Observations, which will be
more worthy of the Press than mine. And if in any
thing else I could, I should be glad to shew my
self
Sr
Your much obliged & most humble servant
Wm Derham
Derham thanks to Sloane for providing him with issues of the Philosophical Transactions.
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 (1657-1735)”, 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 -
William Molyneux to Hans Sloane – March 17, 1698
Item info
Date: March 17, 1698
Author: William Molyneux
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 42-43
Original Page
Transcription
Molyneux thanks Sloane for lending him a text which he apologizes for keeping so long. He writes that he believes ‘Mnsr Le Montre will certaintly be found in the right’, suggesting Molyneux was researching an intellectual dispute. He also thanks Sloane for putting his ‘trifles’ into the Transactions, saying it is a great honour, and that he is even more flattered when Sloane himself refers to them.
Molyneux was a philosopher and constitutional writer who became deeply involved in Irish affairs (James G. O’Hara, Molyneux, William (16561698), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18929, accessed 4 July 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – March 16, 1698
Item info
Date: March 16, 1698
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 40-41
Original Page
Transcription
Ray outlines his work with a number of different plant samples as of late and relates a story of a group of Irish boys collecting a certain kind of root after mistaking it for another while fishing. One of the boys became violently ill upon ingesting it. Ray also relates an anecdote of a Dutchman poisoned by ingesting these plants.
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 -
John Ray to Hans Sloane – March 2, 1697/8
Item info
Date: March 2, 1697/8
Author: John Ray
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4037
Folio: ff. 35-36
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 35]
Sr
I have this morning sent back by Carrier the Section
I last received from You, & intreat you to send me
the remainder of the Copy or as much as is ready
for I intend to apply my self wholly to it, till I have
finished it, being desirous to get the Work off of my
hands. For upon this sad Accident & by reason of my
growing infirmities I am well mortified as to naturall
studies & enquiries, though I shall not so long as life
& strength last wholly desert them, but make them some
part of my parergon & diversion, as I should only have
done before. I should be glad to hear of your health and
welfare: my wife is full of grief having not yet been
been able fully to concoct her passion, she tenders her humble
service & thanks for all your favours, with whom joyns
Sr
Your affectionate friend &
humble servant John Ray
B.N. March 2.
1697.
John Ray informs Sloane that he has finished reading over and critiquing the latest section of Sloane’s work, and encourages Sloane to send the next part as quickly as possible, for Ray is not sure how long his health will hold out and he will be unable to continue his intellectual pursuits. He states that the recent passing of his daughter has made him more sensitive to his mortality.
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]).