32 CHAPTER 2g. 
ter the Trade scants, who made any 
confiderable colleffion in natural hiftory. 
Pe T I VER engaged the captains, and furgeons 
of fliips, to bring home fpecimens, and feeds 
of plants, birds, fluffed animals, and infedl's ^ 
and he direfiied their choice, and enabled 
them to judge, in fome nieafure, of proper 
objedis, by diflributing printed lifts and di- 
redions among them. He was not lefs 
anxious to procure, what his native country 
afforded, and was fo fuccefsful in his efforts, 
that Sir Hans Sloane, who afterwards 
purcliafed it, offered Petiver four thou- 
land pounds for Mufewn, fome time be- 
fore his dec'lh : which offer, although it 
may be confidered as a proof of the opu- 
lence of Sir Hans^ is equally lb of the ex- . 
tent of the colledion. 
The allurement of fuch uncommon cu- 
riofities as Mr. Petiver exhibited, foon 
obtained him confiderable diftinclion, arid, 
his name became well known, both at home 
and abroad. He was eleded into the Royal 
^$:kty 5 and as his particular attachment 
was to plants, he became early the corre- 
fpondent of Mr. Ray, who acknowledges- 
