LIFE OF SIR HANS SLOANE. 5 



lections, and anticipated a rich harvest, now that he reached Jamaica; 

 when an unexpected event blighted all his prospects. The Duke of 

 Albemarle died almost as soon as he had landed, and the Duchess, 

 naturally anxious to return to England, only awaited instructions from 

 the Court at home, in reply to her notification of the Duke's decease. 

 During the necessary interval, the Doctor assiduously exerted himself, 

 and visited all parts of the island. He recorded in a journal a descrip- 

 tion of every natural curiosity ; he collected about eight hundred plants, 

 and employed an artist to make drawings of the birds, fishes, insects, 

 shells, aud fruits. 



Having remained only fifteen months in the island, Dr. Sloane re- 

 embarked on the 16th March, 1689, in the Assistance frigate, and 

 reached England on the 29th May, the same year. 



Immediately on his arrival he settled as a physician. The 

 collections he had brought home with him excited the curiosity and 

 admiration of the learned, and contributed to his public fame. His 

 reputation was now so great, that on the 30th November, 1693, he 

 was elected Secretary of the Royal Society, and, in accordance with 

 his active character and ardent zeal for the interests of science, he 

 immediately revived the publication of the " Philosophical Transac- 

 tions," which had been interrupted from the year 1687. He continued 

 in this office till 1712, when he was succeeded by Dr. Halley. 



Dr. Sloane's professional fame was rapidly extending. In October, 

 1694, he was chosen physician to Christ's Hospital ; and his circum- 

 stances appear to have been in so flourishing a condition as to justify 

 his refusal to receive the emoluments of that office ; but, because he 

 would not offer a precedent that might be injurious to his successors, he 

 punctually took the money, but constantly applied it to the relief of 

 those belonging to the hospital, who were in greatest need. This ap- 

 pointment he filled till 1730, when age and infirmities obliged him to 

 resign. As it is as a naturalist and patron of science he is connected 

 with this work, we shall merely enumerate his professional appoint- 

 ments and honours; and it is sufficient to mention, that in the College 

 of Physicians he warmly promoted the plan of a Dispensary for the 

 sick poor, which met with so much opposition from the apothecaries. 



Although the Doctor does not appear to have been in Her Majesty's 

 household, we are told that he was frequently consulted by Queen Anne, 

 and that iu her last illness she was blooded by him ; but soon after the 



