42 
MEMOIR OF 
to Jamaica, which rendered it peculiarly suc- 
cessful to Natural History. He was the first man 
of learning whom the love of science alone had 
led from England to that distant part of the globe, 
and consequently the field was wholly open to 
him. He was already well acquainted with the 
discoveries of the age : he had an enthusiasm for 
his object, and was at an age when both activity 
of body and vivacity of mind concur to vanquish 
difficulties.” His reputation was now so great 
that, on the 30th November, 1693, he was elected 
secretary of the Royal Society ; and, in accord- 
ance with his active character and ardent zeal for 
the interests of science, he immediately revived 
the publication of the “ Philosophical Transac- 
tions,” which had been interrupted from the year 
1687. He continued in this office till 1712, when 
he was succeeded by Dr Halley, who, we have 
seen, had been the successful competitor with 
Sloane for the office of assistant secretary in the 
year 1685, and who, subsequent to the voyage of 
the latter to Jamaica, had also crossed the 
Atlantic to visit the British settlements in 
America for astronomical purposes, returning in 
September, 1700. 
Dr Sloane’s professional fame now rapidly 
extended. In October, 1694, he was chosen 
physician to Christ’s Hospital ; and his circum- 
stances appear to have been in so flourishing a 
condition as to justify his refusal to receive the 
