SIR HANS SLOANE. 29 



Upon his recovery, he resorted to London for 

 the purpose of attending his professional studies. 

 The Botanic Garden at Chelsea had at that time 

 very recently been established by the Company of 

 Apothecaries.* Here he became an indefatigable 

 student, attending also lectures on chemistry* 

 anatomy, and physic. At this period, he formed 

 an acquaintance with the two eminent philosophers, 

 Boyle and Ray, with whom he ever after lived 

 on the most friendly terms. After four years of 

 severe application in London, for his farther 

 improvement he determined to visit the Conti- 

 nent ; and in company with two fellow students, 

 one of whom was Mr (afterwards Sir Tancred) 

 Robinson, crossed over to Dieppe, and from 

 thence to Paris, where he attended the botanical 

 lectures of the celebrated Tournefort, and those 

 of Du Verney for anatomy ; at the conclusion of 

 which, he visited Montpelier, taking with him 

 letters of recommendation from Tournefort to 

 Monsieur Chirac, then chancellor and professor of 



* In 1673, they obtained a lease of a piece of ground, 

 containing three acres one rood, for sixty-one years, at a 

 ground rent of 5 per annum, of which Sir Hans Sloane, 

 in 1721, granted them the freehold. In 1732, a spacious 

 greenhouse was erected, and the grounds laid out anew, and 

 systematically arranged. It is now said to be suffering 

 materially from the confined situation and smoky air 

 consequent upon the vast increase of London. 



