SIR HANS SLOANE. 31 



successful candidate, being elected by a majority 

 of sixteen, the numbers being twenty-five and 

 nine. On the 12th of April, 1687, he was chosen 

 a Fellow of the College of Physicians. 



Flattering as were his prospects at home at 

 this period, he did not hesitate to accept an 

 appointment abroad, which promised to afford 

 him the means of enlarging his knowledge of 

 Natural History and Medicine. The Duke of 

 Albemarle having been appointed governor of 

 Jamaica, applied to his physician, Doctor Bar- 

 wick, to recommend him a proper person to 

 accompany him to the colony in a professional 

 capacity, who consulted Sloane on the occasion. 

 This appeared to the latter too tempting an oppor- 

 tunity for self-improvement to neglect, and having 

 asked a short time to consider the matter, offered 

 himself, and was accepted. In a letter to Ray, 

 Sloane thus mentions the subject : " I have talked 

 a long while of going to Jamaica with the Duke 

 of Albemarle as his physician ; which, if I do, 

 next to the serving his grace and family in my 

 profession, my business is to see what I can meet 

 withal that's extraordinary in nature in these 

 places. I hope to be able to send you some 

 observations from thence, God Almighty granting 

 life and strength to do what I design,"* to which 



* Ray's Philosophical Letters, page 206. 



