Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
William Sherard to Hans Sloane – February 21, 1695
Item info
Date: February 21, 1695
Author: William Sherard
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4036
Folio: f. 229
Original Page
Transcription
Sherard recommends the bearer, Dr Connor, to Sloane. He asks Sloane to acquaint Connor with members of the Royal College of Physician and the Royal Society. Connor ‘came from Poland to Brussells [and was] physitian to ye Electresse of Bavaria & designs to return again to Poland, of wch country he will give you very good memoires’. Connor wants to see ‘Mr Coopers preparations’ particular.
Sherard was a botanist and cataloguer. He worked for the Turkish Company at Smyrna where he collected botanical specimens and antiques (D. E. Allen, ‘Sherard, William (1659–1728)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/25355, accessed 24 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Chamberlayne to Hans Sloane – January 19, 1709/10
Item info
Date: January 19, 1709/10
Author: John Chamberlayne
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4042
Folio: f. 87
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 87] Petty France 19 Jan: 1709/10 Sr
If you had laid your comands upon me in a much greater matter than what I writ to you lately ab’t I mean the Election of Signor Bianchi, a copy of the Transactions preceding the last &c, I should not have fail’d in a punctual obedience of them, but I may repeat my humbly Requests never so often, & I hear no more of the success thereof, unless a Dutch letter intervenes, wch if I take in a little unkindly, I expect to be Pardon’d, because I am always more sensible of Favors, than Contempts put upon Sr Your most humble servant John Chamberlayne
John Chamberlayne was a translator and editor specializing in modern languages which he studied at the University of Leiden. He translated works on many topics, was a fellow of the Royal Society, and published three works in the Philsophical Transactions (Reavley Gair, ‘Chamberlayne, John (1668/9-1723)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5060, accessed 30 May 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Alexander Stuart to Hans Sloane – January 4, 1710
Item info
Date: January 4, 1710
Author: Alexander Stuart
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4042
Folio: f. 83
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 83]
Much Honoured Sir
Being sensible of the many obligations I ow you, I should have pay’d you my Respects per first after my Arrival; but that I was unwilling to give you the trouble of a Letter, untill I cou’d satisfie you of the delivery of the Last twelve Months Philosophical Transactions sent by me to Mr Leeuvenhoeck: which indeed I could not deliver till Thursday Last, without Looseing some Colledges, which I could not easily retrive. Mr Leeuvenhoeck was extremely pleased with them and expressed a very great Respect for you, of which he gave me a very sensible proof by a kinde deception: and, which I esteemed most, he favoured me with a sight of some of his Microscopes, and of some several Objects by them.- Besides that his Microscopes are excellent, the manner of setting them and the Objects to them, seem’d to me a little uncommon and very advantagious; tho that may be owing to my want of Experience in any considerable variety of that kinde: therefor I do not writ you any particulars about them. Your Letter to Mr Boerhaave in my favours had also ane extraordinary good Effect, for which I return you my humble thanks.- I have taken a Colledge of Institutions, one of practice and one of Chymie with him, and attend his publick Colledge of the Mechanicks. He appears to be a man of great Ingenuity, Learning and Candor, which have gott him more Scholars than all the professors of the University besides. I am now so sensible of the advantages of this place, that I extremly regret I had not paper Last year here. I shou’d be glad to hear that the Black Boy behaves himself to your Satisfaction, that being what I proposed to my self in makeing you such a present: If otherwayes, I intreat youd dispose of him as you mentioned, according to his Deserts. I shall esteem the honour of a Line from you, with your Commands, if I can serve you in any thing here: mean time, Let me presume to give my humble Respects to your Honoured Lady and Family, and Subcrib Much Honoured Sir Your most humble and obliged serv’t Alexander Stuart
Stuart was a physician and natural philosopher. He served as a ship’s surgeon from 1701-1707 and corresponded with Sloane while at sea, sending him natural history specimens. Stuart contributed articles to the Philosophical Transactions from the 1720s, mostly on physiology (Anita Guerrini, Stuart, Alexander (1673?1742), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/47081, accessed 3 July 2013]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Patrick Blair to Hans Sloane – February 10, 1723/24
Item info
Date: February 10, 1723/24
Author: Patrick Blair
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4047
Folio: ff. 128-129
-
Language
English
-
Library
British Library, London
-
Categories
Collections, Patronage, Royal Society, Scholarship
-
Subjects
Books, Chelsea Physic Garden, Natural History, Recommendations, Seeds, Specimens
-
Date (as written)
February 10, 1723/24
-
Standardised date
-
Origin (as written)
Boston
-
Others mentioned
John Martyn Mr Rand
-
Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
Blair is glad Sloane was pleased with the dedication for his new book. He offers a treatise on natural history and asks that Sloane send him rare seeds from abroad. He will communicate his observations on seeds to the Royal Society. Blair will take any specimens that can be spared from the Chelsea Physic Garden. He recommends the bearer, Mr Martyn.
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 -
Henry Barham Sr. to Hans Sloane – January 3, 1722
Item info
Date: January 3, 1722
Author: Henry Barham Sr.
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4046
Folio: ff. 325-326
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 325] Worthy Sr
I hope you Recd the Several letters
I have Sent to you & the Last I Sent by the Bershea
Giving an account of the Great & Terrable Storme
Wee had 28th of August Last I am now in Daily Expectation
of Hearing from you with a Sight of your 2nd Volume
of Jamaica; I am Sorry I am Obliged to Lett you know
that I Cannot Get my Salary & that the undertaking is Laid
a Side by the Patenters Agents Here by Orders from England
as they Say but not for Want of mines one wch I had Just
Discoverd in a Round Sugar Loaf Hill at the Head of
Golden River wch Runs into Rio Pedro wch Runs into
Rio Cobra that Runs by the Town of St Iago dela Vega
this Hill is full of Copper Veins wch I Question not Would
have Led the miners to a Course or Load of Oar if they
had been Continued I Could Extract fine Copper out of
the Superficial Oars & they had Dugg but 6 foot into it before
they were Called off & Since they have Given Over the Work
it is but Just I should be Paid & Discharged & I begg
the Favour if you or Some friend of yours that have any
Influence Upon Col Long to use their Endeavours to persuade
Col Long to pay me there or Here & I Shall be bound
ever to pray for you I have a years salary due to me the
first of November Last wch is five Hundred pound & I had
better have Given a Thousand pound than have ever been
Concerned in it & I Must Now follow my Old Way of
Selling Medecines to the Planters as I used to Doe & if you
know of any Apothycary that Will Adventure that Way &
Will Let me know His proposals: as to Risk & Returns I Will
Send an Invoy’s of what is Demanded Here wch nobody
knows better than my Self having Delt that Way above
20 years & I Shall Endeavour to Gett from the Main Contenant
what American Druggs is to be had there &c[.]
His Grace the Duke of Portland Arrived in Good Health
with His Dutches & 2 Daughters December 20th: D: 4: 1722
& hath made Major Ayscough Chief Justice The Kings
House not being quite Repaired Cine the Storme
Major Rose Gave the Duke an Invitation to take His House
wch He Accepted off & He is made one of the Council but He
Lays He & His Mother Will goe for England in the Spring &
if I Can be any Ways Servicable to you Mr. Fuller
Mr. Istead or any of your Family I Should be proud to
Serve them this is all at Present I can Inform you
a Line or two Would be very Acceptable to your
most Huble [sic] Servant to Command
Henry Barham
Jamaica January
3d 1722
Dr Winter hath been with me
but brought no Letter from you as I was
in hopes of He Seems to be a young Man
if not a young Physitian
Henry Barham (1670?-1726) was a botanist. He lived in Jamaica and corresponded with Sloane on the plant and animal life of the island. Parts of Barham’s letters to Sloane appeared in the latter’s Natural History of Jamaica (T. F. Henderson, Barham, Henry (1670?1726), rev. Anita McConnell, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/1374, accessed 13 June 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Merrick to Hans Sloane – August 1, 1717
Item info
Date: August 1, 1717
Author: John Merrick
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: ff. 74-75
Original Page
Transcription
Fols. 75-76
I was sent for last night to Mr Fanshaw who was seiz’d on the road yesterday on his journey from London to Sergeant Stevens house at … near Henly on Thames with a kind of Apoplectick fitt, which deprived him for some hours of all sense. He was blooded but a small quantity by reason he had lost about … the day before; he has also vesicatorys applyd and pidgeons to his feet which brought him to his senses and speech about 3 o’clock this morning. But I find somewhat of a faltering in ye accent of his words, which I fear may portend a paralytick disorder on ye return of another paroxysm unless it should be relieved speedily. I have prescribed beside ye aforementioned means cephalick and nervous powders in pulvis de gutteta, native cinnaber with a julep of waters of black cherries, rue, peony compound, bryony compound, tincture of castor, spirit of lavender compound. But this Gentleman as I am informed having been relieved by your successful prescriptions in a fitt of ye like nature lately and begg the favour of yr sentiments…
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Fisher to James Pettiver – Fryday Evening
Item info
Date: Fryday Evening
Author: Fisher
Recipient: James Pettiver
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: MS 4066
Folio: f. 343
Original Page
Transcription
Just now I come from High gate and have hire[d?]
there a lodging commanded by a friend to Mr
Chapmann living near the Chappel, but this Gentle
mann not having a room empty for me commended
me to one Mrs Baskevile living behind his ho[use?]
where I am intended to take possession tomorrow in the evening.
Therefore I give this notice to You, and begg to answer,
[…] at what a clok you have a mind to go there to morrow
because I may then perhaps have the honour to go thither
[…] whitin within your companie, else your business hindring
[..]his, you will find to morrow night in the fore said house
Sir Your very humble S. Fisher.
Fyday Evening.
Fischer informs James Petiver that he made arrangements for lodgings in High gate. Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach (died April 5, 1723, Vienna) was an Austrian sculptor, architect and architectural historian. Fischer’s Baroque architectural style played an important role in shaping the architectural tastes of the Habsburd Empire. (Hans Aurenhammer. “Johann Berhard Fischer von Erlach.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed June 8, 2015. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/ topic/208444/Johann-Bernhard-Fischer-von-Erlach).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
William Derham to Hans Sloane – February 9, 1711
Item info
Date: February 9, 1711
Author: William Derham
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4042
Folio: ff. 245-246
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 246]
Dear Sr Upmr Feb:9 1710/1
At my return home yesterday, I met a
Lr from the famous Mr Towneleys son to acquaint
me he had, according to my request, sent me
his Fathers papers. When I wrote to him, I de-
sired him, if he was minded to give them to ye
R. Soc. to direct them to you. But he is pleased
to entrust them only with me, & enjoyns me
to return them again to him. I desire the favr
of you, if they come to your hands, to receive
them for me, & in my behalf pay what charge
the carriage may come to, wch I will thankfully
pay you. I suppose they will come by the Man-
chester-carrier, but where he inns I know not.
If you know, I should be glad if you would send
your servant to enquire after such papers, as I
may be or great use to the Society; wch I shall
endeavr to make so. If you hear any thing, or have
my commands relating to Orset, you know who is
Your much obliged & affectionate humble servt.
Wm Derham
My Wife
Be pleased to keep the papers, till I see you, or send
You have them.
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]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
Richard Richardson to Hans Sloane – June 3, 1725
Item info
Date: June 3, 1725
Author: Richard Richardson
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4047
Folio: ff. 348-349
-
Language
English
-
Library
British Library, London
-
Categories
Collections, Scholarship, Social, Travel
-
Subjects
Books, Botany, Jamaica, Natural History, Plants, Specimens
-
Date (as written)
June 3, 1725
-
Standardised date
-
Origin (as written)
North Bierley
-
Others mentioned
Johann Philipp Breyne
-
Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 349]
Hond Sr
The begining of last weeke I received yr letter & on saterday last yr glatrouse [?] & obliging present of Lob: Jeones [?] & yr 2d vol: of yr Nat: Hist: of Jamaca for which I now return yu my hearty thankes; by the litle spare time I have had to inspect it since it came, I find it to be a very elaborate & lumiouse performance & worthy of so great an Author. when I am a litle more at liberty I wil carefully & with much pleasure read it over. & I do not doubt but it wil fully answer my expectation. I am very sorry you have been so uncivilly used by my old friend the Consul; I heartily wish yu had acquainted me with your desire of seing Breynius’s collection before it was returned or any thing the Consul was master of for as I was in intrested in desiring the favoure of you to communicate to him severall curiouse collections of plants in yr possession in order to crry on more effectually his edition of Barkinus’s Priax [?] which yu very headily & freely complyed with; & indeed common justice ought to have obliged him to promote yr designe with the same zeal & friendship yu did his & I can not forbear taking it ill from him if he weather continue to be fair I thinke of taking a Tour into the north next weeke & if I meet with any thing worth communicating to yu, yu may be assured to hear from
your most obliged servant
Ric: Richardson
North Bierley
June 3d 1725
Richardson was a physician and botanist who traveled widely in England, Wales, and Scotland in search of rare specimens. He corresponded and exchanged plants with many well-known botanists and naturalists (W. P. Courtney, Richardson, Richard (16631741), rev. Peter Davis, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2010 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/23576, accessed 31 May 2011]).
Posted on August 2, 2016 by -
John Burnet to Hans Sloane – April 6, 1722
Item info
Date: April 6, 1722
Author: John Burnet
Recipient: Hans Sloane
Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4046
Folio: ff. 227-228
-
Language
English
-
Library
British Library, London
-
Categories
Collections, Medical, Scientific, Social, Trade or Commodities, Travel
-
Subjects
Astronomy, Botany, Eclipses, Medicines, Natural History, Plants, Slavery, South America, South Sea Company, Specimens
-
Date (as written)
April 6, 1722
-
Standardised date
-
Origin (as written)
Carthagena
-
Others mentioned
Dr Haley Mr Rigly Mr Pratter Mr Westcomb
-
Patients mentioned
Original Page
Transcription
[fol. 227]
Sr
I take this opportunity by way
of Jamaica of acquainting you of my safe
arrival at Carthagen, where I should be very
glad to execute your Commands if in any thing
I could be serviceable.
I have not been long enough here as yett to
pretend to write any thing Concerning the
Naturall history of the Countrey but shall
in a short time in the best Manner I can.
In the mean time I have sent two
sorts of earth which this Countrey produces
viz: the terra Macomachi which is a Cure
for Ringworms outwardly apply’d, and the
terra Cucuta which has the Virtues follow:
ing ascribed to it 1.st it is said to stop
a flux of blood 2ly to dissolve Coagulated
blood internally from any bruise or fall
being given, to the Quantity of as much as two
ryalls or two sixpence’s weight; and Externally
being laid on wounds it stops bleeding.
I send you also the piedra Iguana or
Guana Stone mention’d in Piso’s naturall
history of Brasil, it is here Esteemed a
wonderfull remedy for the Gravel being
given to the Quantity of T1 or 3B. it works
powerfully by Urine.
P.S. Please to deliver the inclosed to Dr Haley it is from
the Gentleman Mathematician Mentioned within.
I had got what the Spainards call periu=
liqere, Piso, Ignaous & the English a sloth;
the Mother with her young one, but could not
keep either of them alive, therefore I send you
the old ones skin stuffed & the young one in
spirits that you may see I did not forgett
what you encharged me with.
I send you also a shell of Balsam Coloso
which is here esteemed before the Balsam Colu
& indeed is much finer. I should be glad
to know if any of these things be Esteemed
in England for my Government here, or if
there be any other things you would have me
enquire for; & whither a quantity of the
Earths or Balsam would sell?
There is a very Ingenious Gentleman a
Spainard in this town who is a Mathemati:
cian & Engeneer to the King, he has
lived in Chili, Lima & most places of
the Indies & taken Observations in all places;
he wrote to Mr Haley from Panama &
sent him some observations about the Eclypses
in these parts, but whither ever the letter
came to hand he knows not, for he never
had any answer; however he has been so
kind to promise me a Collection of all
the observations he has made in the
Indies & is now Copying them out fair
in Latin which I shall send you as
soon as possible, he desires I would send
for an astronomical Quarto: Circulo or
Quadrant with a pendulum And its
Spy Glasses for observing the sun & starrs
which if you please to send by the first
opportunity Directed to Mess:rs Rigby & Pratter
[fol. 228]
the South sea Companys Agents at Jamaica,
who will forward it to me at Carthagen,
whatever it’s Cost is, shall be pay’d to you
in London, by my order.
I have settled a Correspondence at st:a fec
with the Padre Guardian of the francis:
cans a very ingenious man & somewhats
of a Virtuoso who has promised me every
thing Curious wch that Countrey affords
& which I shall transmit to you as soon
as come to hand.
I beg you would use your Interest,
with the Court of Directors for the
enlargeing my sallary or my advancement
in their service, for it is throughing away
my time to serve for my present sallary,
Indeed I am deceived in the Place as well
as they, I did imagine there might be
Considerably to be gott by my practice;
but there is no such thing, for this
Town has never gott over the losses
it sustain’d when the french took it
25 year ago & ever since has gone to
decay; so that at present it seems to
be the ruins of a Good City; there is
not ten men in the town worth 10000 p 8/8
a man, it cheifly Consisting of Mulattos
Negros & Indians all the Substantiall
Merchants haveing forsaken the place.
The Consideration of the Court of
Directors at the first Establishment, of
the ffactory’s in giveing their surgeon
the least sallary’s was because they did
Imagine they might gett a great deal
of money by their Practice, which is
quite otherways; & if they would please
Consider that the trouble of a surgeon
or Physitian in Looking after their
Negros faithfully is much Greater
than any of the other ffactors here,
& if they would Consider further; that
the diligent discharge of a Physitians
duty may save the life of seven or
eight slaves in each Cargo which
otherways might die, & that being
saved or lost farr exceeds his
sallary, However I beg pardon for
giveing you this trouble & leave it
to your prudent discretion the
representing it in a proper manner
to such of the Court as you are
acquainted with. I beg the favour
of hearing from you by all occasion
of Jamaica vessells Directed for me
to the Care of Mr Pratter Mercht
in Jamaica who will forward them
to him who is
Sr
your much obliged &
Most obed:t Servt
Jo:n Burnet
Carthagena April 6th
1722
N:B: The things for you will come directed to Mr Westcomb
Secretary to the South sea Company
John Burnet worked for the South Sea Company in the West Indies and later served as the Physician to King Philip V of Spain.