inweariable power *acteristic. of taking pains was his leading cha- BOOK I * Chap. VI. THE MUSEUM. EARLY LONDON; In his eighteenth year he came to London with the imnediate object of studying chemistry and botany, before SLOANE e entered on other studies more distinctively medical. He learned chemistry under STAPHORST," and of STUDIES IN botany he acquired a good deal of knowledge by fre- 1677-1682. [uenting, with much assiduity, the recently founded Botanical Garden at Chelsea. In the latter pursuit he met with assistance from the intelligent keeper of the garden, Mr. WATTS. And ere long he acquired the friendship of Ms. Corresp. ohn RAY, and of Robert BOYLE. After six years of steady educational labours, both scienfic and medical, he went to Paris, which possessed in 683-and long afterwards-facilities for medical educaon far superior to any that could then be found in London. His companions in the journey were Dr. Tancred ROBINSON nd Dr. WAKELEY. SLOANE had scarcely got farther into France than the own of Dieppe, before it was his good fortune to make e acquaintance of Nicholas LEMERY, and to find himself ole to communicate to that eminent chemist the results some novel experiments. They journeyed together from ieppe to Paris, and the acquaintance thus casually formed as productive of good to both of them. The studies egun in Ireland, and assiduously continued in London, ere now matured in Paris under men of European fame. nd the young botanist who heretofore could profit only y the infant garden established by the London apothearies at Chelsea, and by an occasional botanizing ramble * Staphorst was, by birth, a German. He is known in English literare as the translator of Rauwolf's Travels in Asia. This task he underok upon Sloane's recommendation. AND IN FRANCE. 1683.4. Eloge, in Mém. de Sciences MS. Corre spondence. (B. M.) BOOK I, Chap. VI. THE FOUNDERS OF THE SLOANE MUSEUM. into the country, could now expatiate at will in the magnificent Jardin des Plantes of the King of FRANCE. In that botanical university SLOANE, too, had TOURNEFORT— four years his senior-for his frequent companion and fellow-student. In July, 1683, he took his degree as Doctor of Medicine in the University of Orange. Thence he went to Montpelier, where he resided until nearly the end of May, 1684. After visiting Bordeaux, and some other parts of France, he returned to Paris. There were few towns, in which he made any stay, that had not given him some friend or other, in addition to a valuable accession of knowledge. And the friendships he had once formed were but rarely lost. Towards the close of 1684 Dr. SLOANE returned to England, whither the reputation of his increased acquirements had preceded him. In January, 1685, he was chosen a Fellow of the Royal Society, and exactly one year afterwards he was proposed for election as Assistant-Secretary. Among the other candidates were Denis PAPIN and Edmund HALLEY. On the first scrutiny, SLOANE had ten votes; HALLEY sixteen. The majority was not enough, but on a second ballot HALLEY was chosen. Early in 1687 he became a Fellow of the College of Physicians. He had thus early laid some foundation for a London practice that would lead him to social eminence, as well as to fortune. And for the good gifts of fortune he had a very keen relish. Loving wealth well, he loved science still better. But he had already good reason to hope that both might be won, in company. He had become known to Christopher MONK, Second Duke of ALBEMARLE, and when that nobleman received, in 1687, the office of Governor-General of the West India Colonies, SLOANE received an invitation Chap. VI. FOUNDERS OF THE MUSEUM. THE VOYAGE TO JAMAICA. sail with him, as the Duke's physician and as Chief BOOK I, hysician to the fleet; and he was desired to name his THE wn conditions, if disposed to accept the appointment. He did not take any long time to think over the offer. SLOANE it presented no very brilliant prospect of monetary ofit, it opened a large field for scientific research. And, the main, the field was new. No Englishman had 1087. er yet been tempted to take so long a journey in the terests of science. He knew that he had excellent peral qualifications for turning to good account the large portunities of discovery that such a voyage was sure to ng. Nor was it less certain that it would bring innurable occasions for enlarging his strictly professional owledge. And he had on his side the vigour of youth, well as its curiosity and its enthusiasm. In annexing to his reply the conditions of his acceptance wrote thus: If it be thought fit that Dr. SLOANE go sician to the West Indian Fleet, the surgeons of all ships must be ordered to observe his directions. He proposes that six hundred pounds, per um, shall be paid to him quarterly, with a previous payt of three hundred pounds, in order to his preparation this service; and also that if the Fleet shall be called e he shall have leave to stay in the West Indies if he ses.' The proposed terms were approved. The Doctor parked at Portsmouth, in the Duke's frigate Assistance, MS. Sloane, he 12th of September. To Corresp. in 4069, ff. 86, 87. MS. Slone, 3962, f. 310. [is work as a scientific collector began at Madeira. first place with him. What he achieved for science, throughout his life, was achieved in the intervals of more immediate duty. He reached Barbadoes in November. Thence he wrote to COURTEN: This is indeed a new world in all things. You may be sure the task I have is already delightful to me.' Then he continues: I am heartily sorry that I, being new landed here, cannot now send [what I have collected for you with this letter. What I had at Madeira cannot be come at. What is bere I have not, as yet, gathered. Bat you may assure yourself that what these parts of the West Indies afford is all your own, the best way send them." I can The collections begun thus favourably were continued at the beginning of December in the islands of Nevis, St. Christopher, and Hispaniola. The fleet reached Port Royal on the 19th of that month. Jamaica was explored with endous enthusiasm and with minutest care. Its animals and misorals, as well as its plants; its history, as well as its motomology, were thoroughly studied. And the medical der synes skill of the new-comer was par as heartily at the service of the toll-worn negro as at that of the wealthiest planter, or of the highest officer of the Crown. But presently SLOANE himself needed the care and skill ho so willingly bestowed. I had a great fever,' he says, though those about me called it a little seasoning.' He had scarcely recovered before his knowledge of the natural history of Jamaica was suddenly and unpleasantly in creased. Ever since the beginning of February,' I find him writing to the Lord Chief Justice HERBERT (who seems to have been one of the earliest of the many patients who became also friends); 'I dread earthquakes more than heat. Chap. VI. FOUNDERS OF THE MUSEUM. or then we had a very great one. Finding the house to BOOK I, Long before this letter was written the exploring studies Towards the close of the year, the Duke of ALBEMARLE denly died. The contingency for which SLOANE had I the foresight to make provision had arisen, but in a te unexpected way; so that his forecast failed to secure Sloane to Lord Chief Herbert; 4069, ff. 277, 278. |
