Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Arthur Charlett to Hans Sloane – November 30, 1714
Item info
Date: November 30, 1714
Author: Arthur Charlett
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4043
Folio: f. 312
Original Page
Transcription
Charlett informs Sloane that a young student of his wishes to publish an edition of Aristotle’s Ethics. He asks Sloane to allow the young man to use his library.
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 – December 17, 1714
Item info
Date: December 17, 1714
Author: John Woodward
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: f. 1
Original Page
Transcription
Woodward asks how the collection of fossils should be sent to Dr Breyne in Danzig.
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 -
Patrick Blair to Hans Sloane – March 15, 1716
Item info
Date: March 15, 1716
Author: Patrick Blair
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 138-139
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 138] ffrom the masters side Newgate March 15 1716 Honoured Sr I am Loath to trouble any of my worthy friends or acquaintances here unless upon very necessary and pressing occasions and much less you who have been so instrumental in procuring to me those Late advantages I enjoy’d but now that I am again brought under worse circumstances that ever I get Leave again to write to you The reason of my misfortune is now so fully known to those concernd in the Government that I need not repeat them and wherein I have served the Government is so fresh in every ones mind that I shall not trouble you with the account of it I had reason to hope that not only my crime might have been extenuated by what I have done but I might have procured at Least my pardon especially since at first my innocence was such as of itself might have procured favour (but this with all due submission) And now dear SR to write seriously to you may I beg youl take unto your sorrows consideration the sad condition whereinto I am now reduc’d my Imployment ruined at home (by the confusions which hapned in my Country which was the true reason of my betaking my self to this course) my wife and family for what I know in a starving condition my self oblig’d to such charges as though things were in a prosperous condition I am not able to bear and oblig’d to undergo such hardship as must needs bring me into a most pityous condition unless you (upon whom I chiefly rely) shall be pleasd to be such moyen as I may be thereby relievd from it. May I therefore most humbly beg and crave to use your utmost interest to relieve me from those difficulty’s and procure my pardon and I shall be most willing to pay that most humble and due Submission they shall be pleasd to Demand of me I expect your most speedy return for untll that I shall remain here in a most miserable condition being ( in whatever state and circumstances) always as ever Your most devoted humble servt Pa: Blair
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 -
Thomas Hearne to Hans Sloane – November 1, 1715
Item info
Date: November 1, 1715
Author: Thomas Hearne
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 104-105
Original Page
Transcription
Hearne sends 3 copies of ‘the Acts, and 12s. for the 1st. Payment of Rowse’. He and John Rowse thank Sloane for sending the curiosities. Mr Brome offers ‘his humble service and most hearty thanks for your great Civilities to him’.
Thomas Hearne (bap. 1678, d. 1735) was an antiquary and diarist. He began working at the Bodleian Library in 1701. A nonjuror, his refusal to take an oath of allegiance to King George I led to his dismissal from the Bodleian in 1716. Hearne published the works of several English chroniclers (Theodor Harmsen, Hearne, Thomas (bap. 1678, d. 1735), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/12827, accessed 2 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Fuller Sr. to Hans Sloane – March 7, 1715/16
Item info
Date: March 7, 1715/16
Author: John Fuller Sr.
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 136-137
Original Page
Transcription
Fuller describes a celestial event he witnessed. He found the colour and brightness extraordinary. His neighbours saw it too.
John Fuller, Senior married Elizabeth Rose, daughter of Fulke and Elizabeth Rose of Jamaica, in 1703. He managed the family sugar plantations in Jamaica and in 1705 took control of the family furnace where he became an ironmaster and gunfounder. His wife’s mother later married Sir Hans Sloane, making Sloane Fuller’s stepfather-in-law (J. S. Hodgkinson, Fuller family (per. c.16501803), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2005 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/47494, accessed 2 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Patrick Blair to Hans Sloane – February 29, 1716
Item info
Date: February 29, 1716
Author: Patrick Blair
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: f. 135
Original Page
Transcription
Blair received the plants Sloane sent him and had them planted. He offers to send a translation of John Ray’s ‘Synops’.
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 -
Thomas Hearne to Hans Sloane – February 24, 1715/16
Item info
Date: February 24, 1715/16
Author: Thomas Hearne
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 133-134
Original Page
Transcription
Mr Clements paid for his books. Hearne sends a copy of an advertisement for John Rowse’s new book.
Thomas Hearne (bap. 1678, d. 1735) was an antiquary and diarist. He began working at the Bodleian Library in 1701. A nonjuror, his refusal to take an oath of allegiance to King George I led to his dismissal from the Bodleian in 1716. Hearne published the works of several English chroniclers (Theodor Harmsen, Hearne, Thomas (bap. 1678, d. 1735), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/12827, accessed 2 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Morton to Hans Sloane – February 4, 1715/16
Item info
Date: February 4, 1715/16
Author: John Morton
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 129-130
Original Page
Transcription
Morton is going to send some ‘land-shells’. He knows of a man that would like to buy specimens from Sloane.
John Morton was a naturalist who was in correspondence with Sloane from roughly 1703 to 1716. Morton contributed nearly one thousand specimens (fossils, shells, bones, teeth, minerals, rocks, man-made artifacts, etc.) to Sloane’s collection (Yolanda Foote, Morton, John (16711726), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2010 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/19364, accessed 2 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Morton to Hans Sloane – January 16, 1715/16
Item info
Date: January 16, 1715/16
Author: John Morton
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 127-128
Original Page
Transcription
John Morton was a naturalist who was in correspondence with Sloane from roughly 1703 to 1716. Morton contributed nearly one thousand specimens (fossils, shells, bones, teeth, minerals, rocks, man-made artifacts, etc.) to Sloane’s collection (Yolanda Foote, Morton, John (16711726), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2010 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/19364, accessed 2 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Woodward to Hans Sloane – January 5, 1715/16
Item info
Date: January 5, 1715/16
Author: John Woodward
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4044
Folio: ff. 123-124
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 124] Sr. The Bearer, Mr. Lacey, is a very learned good Man. He proposes to teach School in that Neighbourhood. If you please to recommend him among your Acquaintance, twill be a service both to them & Him. I flatter my Self you will not be wanting in so good a Work: & I shall be forward to Serve any Friend of Yours, on like Occasion. I am Sr. Your Most obedient humble Servant Woodward Gr. Coll. 5 Jun 1715
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]).