Minerals. 355 



CHRONOLOGICAL LIST (1753-1903) REFERRING TO 

 SERIES A. MINERALS. 



1753. 



Of the four collections which in 1753 were brought together 

 to form the British Museum, only one, that of Sir Hans Sloane, 

 Bart., F.R.S. [1660-1753], of London, contained natural history 

 specimens. In the year 1687, Sir Hans (then Dr.) Sloane had 

 sailed to the West Indies as physician to the Governor of 

 Jamaica (the Duke of Albemarle), and during his fifteen months' 

 stay there had collected natural history specimens, more especially 

 plants. Evelyn's Diary records a visit made to this collection on 

 April 16, 1691. Later, in 1702, he inherited the miscellaneous 

 collections which had been gathered together by his friend, 

 Mr. William Courten [1642-1702], of London, long known as 

 Mr. Charlton (or Charleton). During his long residence and 

 travels on the Continent, Mr. Courten, a grandson of the first 

 Earl of Bridgewater, had availed himself of his opportunities for 

 obtaining remarkable specimens ; according to Evelyn's Diary, 

 the collection was, in 1686, so extensive as to occupy ten rooms 

 of the Middle Temple, and the museum was then a place of 

 frequent and fashionable resort. Sir Hans Sloane was Secretary 

 of the Royal Society for nineteen years [1693-1712], and 

 President for fourteen years [1727-1741]; like Mr. Courten, 

 he had many opportunities of becoming acquainted with, and 

 acquiring, natural products of special interest. In 1718, on the 

 death of Mr. James Petiver [1658-1718], of London, Sir Hans 

 Sloane purchased the extensive natural history collections which 

 had been formed by that indefatigable naturalist. In 1748, the 

 Sloane Museum, at that time in the Manor House, Chelsea, was 

 of such importance that it was honoured by a visit from the 

 Prince and Princess of Wales ; the Prince, on leaving, is reported 

 to have expressed to Sir Hans Sloane the opinion that it would 

 conduce to the benefit of Learning, and redound to the great 

 honour of Britain, if the grand collection could be established 

 for public use. 



The Sloane mineral specimens, however good they may have 



2 A 2 



