66 NATURAL HISTORY. 



of adding to his knowledge of natural history and botany, 

 and unhesitatingly accepted it. Accordingly, in September 

 1687, he set sail for the West Indies, and, after various 

 halts at different stopping-places, finally reached Jamaica 

 on the i Qth of December of the same year. Shortly after 

 his arrival in Jamaica, the Duke of Albemarle died, this 

 untoward event bringing Sloane's official duties to an end 

 before they had well begun ; but he remained in the island 

 for rather more than a year, till the arrival of a new 

 governor from England. During this interval, he devoted 

 himself to an examination of the natural productions of 

 Jamaica ; and he not only kept a record of his observa- 

 tions, but brought back large and interesting collections. 

 Most of the observations which he made were subse- 

 quently given to the world in two extensive treatises 

 namely, the 'Catalogue of Jamaica Plants' (1696), and 

 the ' Natural History of Jamaica ;' the latter being a large 

 and costly folio work, of which the second volume did 

 not appear till as late as 1725. 



In the early part of 1689, Sloane returned to London, 

 and again settled down to practice, with the result that he 

 rapidly became one of the most successful physicians of 

 the metropolis. During his long professional career, he 

 held numerous valuable and honourable appointments, 

 amongst which may be mentioned the presidency, for 

 fifteen years, of the College of Physicians. He was also 

 Physician-General to the Army, and he enjoyed the 

 distinction of being the first English medical man upon 

 whom a baronetcy had been conferred (by George I. in 

 1716). 



Not only did Sir Hans Sloane attain great professional 



