552 SLOANE. he accompanied the learned Dr. Tancred Robinson and another student, on a visit to France; and during his stay at Paris, attended the lectures of Du Werney and Tourne fort, by whose means he became acquainted with the celebrated botanist of Montpelier, Magnol, whom he is said constantly to have attended in his botanical excur sions. With so strong an attachment to the science, aided by the instructions of men of such acknowledged talent, it is no wonder that, on his return to England at the latter end of 1684, he had it in his power to commu nicate much useful information, and many rare and valua ble seeds and plants to his friend Ray, whose Historia Plantarum contains, in i t s numerous acknowledgments t o Dr. Sloane, (for h e had taken the degree o f M.D . while on the Continent,) a grateful memorial o f his early talents. The abilities which were thus made known t o the world, soon found i n the illustrious Sydenham a friend and pro tector, who took him into his house, and zealously promoted his interest i n the way o f practice. On the 21st January, 1685, h e was elected a fellow o f the Royal Society; and i n April 1687, entered into the College o f Physicians. But, however gratifying t o h i s feelings were these tes timonials, and however flattering the prospects which h e might fairly have entertained, the love o f science induced him t o abandon a l l these advantages b y embarking for the island o f Jamaica, a s physician t o the Duke o f Albemarle. He left England o n the 12th o f September, 1687, and i n his passage touched a t Madeira, Barbadoes, Nevis, and St. Kitt's, a t each o f which places, h e made the best use o f the little time h e remained there, constantly making some addition t o his collection, and t o his stock o f know ledge. During his stay i n Jamaica, which did not exceed fifteen months, being cut short b y the death o f the Duke o f Albemarle, h e set about collecting the objects o f natu ral history, which that island affords, with such unremitted diligence, that, had h e not, t o use the words o f his French eulogist, converted, a s i t were, his minutes into hours, h e could not have made those numerous acquisitions which
