384 A SKETCH OF THE PROGRESS OF 



was probably Petirer's cousin. He tried to get a fellowship, Mr. Elborowe 

 using his influence with the warden, Dr. Marlin, in his behalf, but without 

 success, and so he was ' forced to leave beloved Oxford for good and all.' * 

 He died about 1713, as appears from a letter from his brother Henry, 

 written in that year.f 



Petiver's sister, Jane, married before 1707 Mr. Thomas Woodcock, and 

 lived in Leicestershire ; their son, Thomas Woodcock, is often mentioned 

 by Petiver, and after the latter' s death was in correspondence with Sir 

 Hans Sloane about the purchase of his uncle's collections. | Thomas Wood- 

 cock and his wife were both dead in 1727. 



Before going to Holland, in 1711, Petiver wrote the following letter to Sir 

 Hans Sloane: — 



Hond. Sir,— In case I should dy before my return from Holland, I make you sole pos- 

 sessor of aU my collections of natural! things whatsoever, as weU duplicates as single 

 samples, and of all my manuscripts relating thereto, excluding my printed books, on 

 consideration of your cancelling my bond, and paying 500 pounds to be disposed of as 

 follows, viz., 200 pounds to my brother Mr. Edward Woodcock, for ye use of his son 

 Edward when he comes to age. — 100 pounds to cbarity, viz., 50 pounds to be put out to 

 interest to buy the schoolboyes of Mr. Elborow's Charity at Rugby, Psalters, Testaments, 

 or other books they may have occasion for, the whole and overpluss to be disposed of as 

 my brother Mr. Edward "Woodcocke, and at his decease who he shaU appoint, may think 

 fit. The other 60 pounds to be paid after ye expiration of one year, for ye use of ye aged 

 poor of ye parish of St. Botolph, Aldersgate, London, at ye discretion of ye said Mr. 

 Edward Woodcock and Mr. Will. Litler of the aforesaid parish as they shaU see fitt.— 100 

 pounds for ye discovery and collecting naturall productions, to be reposited in ye Museum 

 of ye Royall Society ; the President, Dr. Sloane, and 2 others they shall nominate, to be 

 Trustees and Cvu-ators for ye improvement of ye same. — Lastly, 100 pounds for ye benefitt 

 and improvement of ye Physick Garden at Chebea, in stocking it annually with such 

 exotics, and uncommon plants and goods as they shall want, and to incourage and pro- 

 mote ye monthly Botanick Herbarizings and Lectures of Botany. This last donation to 

 be managed by four such skilfuU meuibers of ye Company of Apothecaries as shall be 

 approved of by the four persons in trust for that of the RoyaU Society. Both these last 

 legacies to be maintained out and from ye interest that such of the hundred pounds shall 

 annually produce. This is my vill . 



James Petiver. 



It is evident that at this time, then (1711), Petiver had nothing to be- 

 queath but his collections. These were no doubt of great value ; Pulteney 

 states that ' Sir Hans Sloane .... oifered Petiver 4,000 pounds for his 

 museum some time before his death ; ' but the above letter shows that at 

 this time the latter was willing to let Sloane have it for 500^., on condition 

 that a certain bond was cancelled. 



Petiver lived seven years after the above was written, and seems to have 

 always spent fully up to his income, if not beyond it. Shortly after this 

 he began to have bad health (see his letters, passim), and early in 1717 

 was beyond any active exertion (J. Sherard in Richardson Corresp. 127). 

 According to Pulteney (ii. 42) he died at his house in Aldersgate Street, 

 April 20, 1718. ' His body was carried to Cooke Hall,§ where, agreeably to 

 the custom of the time, it lay in state. The pall was supported by Sir 



* Sloane MSS. 4045, f . 179. t Ibid. 3340. f. 17. J Ibid. 40G6, fols. 61-63. 



§ Probably Cook's Hall, then in Aldersgate Street, opposite St. Botolph's Church. 



