Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – May 22, 1717
Item info
Date: May 22, 1717
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 287-288
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Collections, Library, Medical, Patronage, Royal Society, Social, Trade or Commodities
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Subjects
Bodleian Library, Books, Cabinet, Curiosities, Recommendations
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Date (as written)
May 22, 1717
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Univ. College Oxon
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Others mentioned
Dr Radcliffe Mr Hansted Mr Badger Mr Whiteside
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Patients mentioned
Arthur Charlett
Original Page
Transcription
Charlett lists the books he wants to acquire for the Bodleian Library. He relays some minor occurrences at the University of Oxford. Mr Hansted, the bearer, was recommended to him by Mr Bagford. Charlett requests that Sloane show the man his collection of curiosities.
Charlett asks Sloane to edit Mr Whiteside’s course of experiments which was to be printed. 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 -
John Woodward to Hans Sloane – March 26, 1717
Item info
Date: March 26, 1717
Author: John Woodward
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: f. 277
Original Page
Transcription
Woodward received a letter from Scheuchzer, who dedicated his book to Sloane.
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 (1665/16681728), 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 -
James Yonge to Hans Sloane – March 23, 1717
Item info
Date: March 23, 1717
Author: James Yonge
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 275-276
Original Page
Transcription
Yonge wants to know how Lady Copley is doing. He thanks Sloane for a book and the ‘kind present of Cyprianus Epistlei’. He sends his regards to the Royal Society.
James Yonge was a surgeon and physician of Plymouth with experience as a ship’s surgeon. He was a prominent citizen in his native Plymouth and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1702 (Ian Lyle, Yonge, James (16471721), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/30225, accessed 20 May 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – February 22, 1716/17
Item info
Date: February 22, 1716/17
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 272-273
Original Page
Transcription
Charlett reviewed the catalogue Sloane sent him and lists the books the Bodleian Library already possesses, one of which is in Hebrew. He thanks Sloane for wanting to donate those books not in the Library’s collection.
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 -
Simon Ockley to Hans Sloane – February 6, 1716
Item info
Date: February 6, 1716
Author: Simon Ockley
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 266-267
Original Page
Transcription
Ockley waited on Sloane to view his manuscript collection, but to no avail. He is particularly interested in Oriental scholarship. The bearer, Mr Barret, is an honourable man looking for a place to stay in London.
Ockley was an orientalist who studied Arabic and Hebrew as well as publishing books on the history of the Near East (P. M. Holt, Ockley, Simon (bap. 1679, d. 1720), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/20494, accessed 4 July 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Robert Uvedale to Hans Sloane – February 2, 1716/17
Item info
Date: February 2, 1716/17
Author: Robert Uvedale
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 262-263
Original Page
Transcription
Robert Uvedale (1642-1722) was a botanist and schoolteacher. Though he was involved in the Royal Society he never became a member. Uvedale collected specimens for his personal herbarium, which was eventually acquired by Sir Hans Sloane (G. S. Boulger, Uvedale, Robert (16421722), rev. Anita McConnell, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/28042, accessed 9 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Covel to Hans Sloane – December 26, 1716
Item info
Date: December 26, 1716
Author: John Covel
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 255-256
Original Page
Transcription
Covel belatedly congratulates Sloane on his Baronetcy. He writes
that Sloane’s nephew, William, is being considered for a Fellowship at Christ’s Church.
John Covel (Colvill, Covell) (1638-1722) attended Christ’s College Cambridge, obtaining a BA in 1658 and MA in 1659. He studied medicine and then served in office at Constantinople beginning in 1672. During this time, Covel collected paintings, coins, medals, books, curiosities, and manuscripts while studying the Greek Church. He returned to England and eventually became the master of Christ’s College and keeping up correspondence with may English scholars. ((Elisabeth Leedham-Green, Covel , John (16381722), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/6471, accessed 4 July 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Myles Davies to Hans Sloane – December 15, 1716
Item info
Date: December 15, 1716
Author: Myles Davies
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: f. 254
Original Page
Transcription
Davies informs Sloane of a recently published essay.
Davies was a bibliographer who published some works, most prominently Athenae Britannicae, which were ridiculed by his peers (R. Julian Roberts, Davies, Myles (b. 1662, d. in or after 1719), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/7253, accessed 4 July 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Patrick Blair to Hans Sloane – October 1, 1716
Item info
Date: October 1, 1716
Author: Patrick Blair
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 225-226
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 225] Honoured SR I render you my most Hearty thanks for the assistance you have been pleasd to afford me in this my so great necessity by the two Guinea’s I receiv’d in your name from Mr AlexR Geeky My aversion to be cargeable to any I doubt not is so well known to you that I need not insist on it But if youl consider what hardships I am brought under by ten Months Imprisonement and the Charges of Jaylors fees Necessary maintenance Two Reprieves when Remittances from home have been stop’t some time ago and when all my Goods and effects are seiz’d you’l soon see what grounds there are for being charitably assisted by my ffriends And although this my Humble Representation be as far contrary to my inclinations as below the Character of a Physician yet its too sutable to my present circumstances and therefore hope it will purchase an excuse at your Hands I need not repeat my gratefull thoughts for the many obligations I owe you I shall only beg in the Continuance of your ffavour and countenance To Honoured SR Your most Humble most obedient and most obliged servt Pa Blair Newgate Octobr 1 1716
Patrick Blair was a botanist and surgeon whose papers were published in the Transactions. In 1715 Blair joined the Jacobite rebellion as a battle surgeon but was captured and condemned to death. He was visited by Sloane in prison in the hopes the latter might secure a pardon. Sloane was successful and the pardon arrived shortly before Blair’s scheduled execution (Anita Guerrini, Blair, Patrick (c.16801728), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/2568, accessed 31 May 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
William Derham to Hans Sloane – November 13, 1717
Item info
Date: November 13, 1717
Author: William Derham
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4045
Folio: ff. 66-67
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Language
English
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Library
British Library, London
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Categories
Material Culture, Royal Society, Scholarship, Scientific, Social
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Subjects
Astronomy, Eclipses, Geology, Meeting, Scientific Instruments, Soil, Telescopes
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Date (as written)
November 13, 1717
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Standardised date
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Origin (as written)
Windsor Castle
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Others mentioned
John Ray Mr Innys Edmond Halley
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Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 67]
Hond Sr Windsor Castle Nov 13 1717
I sent you by Mr Innys your Lr to Mr Ray
about the Hockssdon earth, & have it now before
me in print, but wthout these Remarks you pro-
mise to annex to itl wch I think necessary to
advertise you of, yt I because I should be glad
to have them to insert in an Appendix, I find I
must of necessity make. I have forgotten what
was the manifest cause of yt Bituminous earth,
whether it was a place in wch they distilled Tur-
pentine (as I think I was informed) & I beg
the favour of you to tell me, as well as to
add your other Notes.
I am so tied here by being Treasurer this
year, yt I fear I shall not be able to get to the
Society on St Andrew: but I have some Ob-
servations, wch shall be at their service, when I can
to my Papers at Upmr.
When you see Dr Halley, I desire the favour of
(wth my humble service) to tell him I never yet
received his Catalogue of ye circumjovial Eclipses
he promised me, & yt I desire him to leave them
for me at Mr Innyss. to be sent hither by t[…]
I have found out a good Wall standing in the Merid[…]
all this Castle) against wch I can fix one of my Glas[…]
haps 20 foot Focus, moroer to experiment the P[…]
Pole-Star: but I am afraid the Court will think […]
their sight, & yt I shall want great interest to get […]
you or your friends can procure for
Dear Sr Your much obliged h[…]
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]).