Volume 2

The original works of William King ... Now first collected ... with historical notes, and memoirs of the author [by J. Nichols] / [William King].

  • William King
Date:
1776
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The original works of William King ... Now first collected ... with historical notes, and memoirs of the author [by J. Nichols] / [William King]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Sania eel Oar CA! 5G Y the following Dialogues it is apparent, that by in- duftry alone a man may get fo much reputation, almoft in any profeffion, as fhall be fufficient to amufe the world, though he has neither parts nor learning to fupport it. The perfon who makes the chief figure in them has cer- tainly nothing but a buftling temper to recommend him ; and yet has gained fo much upon many people, that they will fcarce believe the evidence of their own fenfes ; but it -as probable that thofe who are not pa{ft cure may now be undeceived. I have treated him under two characters: as an Author and an Editor *, Ia the former I have confidered his own perfonai a Dr. Hans Sloane was the Editor of the “ Philofophical <¢ Tranfactions,” from Nov. 30, 1693, when he entered on the office of Secretary, to Nov. 30, 1712, when he was fucceeded by Dr. Halley; and the volumes which were publifhed in that period {though fome particular treatifes’ might juftly furnith a fund of ridicule to a Humourift) are monuments of his induftry and ingenuity; many of the pieces being written by himfelf. In the fame period he publifhed his famous “ Catalogus Plantarum,” which proved another fource of pleafantry in the hands of Dr. King.—Dr. Sloane, it is univerfally allowed, was a great Phy- fician and Naturalift, and poffefied many amiable qualities ; it is on the fcore only of credulity and vanity, that our Author has leveled his attack.—He was born, April 16, 1660, at Killi- leagh in Ireland: but a defire of perfeGting himfelf in Phyfick led’ him early to ae where he ftudied Botany at the famous: garden at Cheifea, and clofely attended the sable leétures of Anatomy and Phyfick. After four years hard itudy, he went to Paris, and fpent a confiderable time in the fame laudable purfuits. He returned to London in 1684, to fettle in his profeffion ; and was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Society in ape fol- lowing, and of the College of Phyficiansin 1687. ‘Fhe’ fame year he geteridéd the duke of Albemarle to Jamaica, where he made his moft aftonifhing colle€tion in the fhort fpace of fifteen months. He Ba was
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