Murray — The Diary of Bonnivert, 1690. ^38 



'Here he suffered from gout, " and the last blood that was taken away from 

 -me had no. serum at all, and" was in a' manner burnt to ashes." Many of 

 his letters are written to the famous Hans Sloane, and there is one letter, 

 dated October 15th, 1696, from the latter to Bonnivert. Sloane's botanical 

 zeal wag not disinterested, for he begs his correspondent to remember " where 

 this (plant) was found by you, for it was a true truffle such as makes the 

 dehcious dishes."' On- the 23rd — no month is given — 1696, Bonnivert tells 

 -Sloane, " I found^ here in a bog at the left-hand, going to Kate Sutton, a 

 plant I never saw before, and I cannot find it described in Mr. Eay's 

 synopsis " ; and then follows a careful description.^ From a letter of 

 September 4th, 1702, it is evident that his regiment had been suddenly 

 ordered to Dublin. It goes on to speak of some money he owes Dr. Sloane, 

 then describes his journey across the channel, telling how they were driven 

 in to the Isle of Man. He speaks of a creeper growing on the walls of the 

 houses in Eamsey.* 



A letter of June 24, 1703, records his transfer to Cork.^ In it he urges 

 his friend Dr. Sloane to " be so kind as to go to my Lord Dorset to whom I 

 write to-night about this matter, and press him to go immediately to the 

 Queen and get that post for me, for fear' any other goes before. Nobody 

 hardly knows of it but I and another. Don't mention nothing to my 

 Coll. of it by reason he hath so many hangers about him it would spoil 

 all. I leave to your discretion and often-tried friendship to manage the 

 matter." On August 3, 1703, he again writes from Cork to Sloane, but there 

 is no reference to the post he sought.^ He mentions the fact that the Duke of 

 Ormonde was very civil to him. He observes a curious piece of architecture 

 in Limerick, speaks of the silver mines there, and finds a pretty geranium 

 growing on the walls of that city. He also talks of the Giant's Steps about 

 six miles from Cork,' and alludes to his probable departure for Portugal. 

 From his letter to Sloane on September 29, 1703, his destination was changed 

 to Limerick, and in it he discusses his father-in-law's business affairs." 



One point in the diary calls for comment. According to Bonnivert the 

 bad weather caused the raising of the first siege of Limerick. On the other 

 hand, the Duke of Berwick writes, " I can affirm that not a single drop of rain 

 fell for above a month before or for three weeks after."" Thus, according to 



' 4068, f. 14. On February 16th, 169J, Bonnivert received a lieutenant's commission in Colonel 

 Edward Lee's regiment of dragoons : it -was disbanded in 1697. 

 - The name is illegible. 

 ■ 3 4036, f. 264. ^ 4039, f. 21. 



^4039, f. 153. " 4039, f. 167. 



' The Giant's Stairs are at Monkstown, six miles from Cork. * 4039, f. 192. 

 ' Memoires, p. 331 (1839 edition). It is amazing to find that Mr. Boulger, in " The Battle of the 

 Boyne," pp. 196-7, supports Berwick. 



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