SAMUEL DALE AND THE DALE FAMILY. 53
Catesby12], besides specimens of plants [both dried and growing],
I sent some few observations on the country, which he com-
municated to the late William Sherrard, LL.D., one of the most
celebrated botanists of this age, who favoured me with his
friendship on my return to England in 1719." Evidently this
Francis Dale was the favourite nephew of his uncle Samuel;
for the latter, on his death in 1739 (all his own sons being then
dead), left to him several valuable legacies, whilst the other
nephew, Thomas (the younger brother of Francis), was practically
"cut off with a shilling."13 In June 1751, we find him writing
to Birch from "Hoxton Town,"14 where he probably spent
the rest of his life.
The younger son, Thomas Dale, was born (probably in
Hoxton or Bishopsgate), in 1699 or 1700.15 He became a
physician, taking his degree at Leyden 23rd September 1723,
when he submitted as his thesis a discourse entitled Dissertatio
Medico-Botanica Inauguralis de Partita Brava et Serapia
Officinalis], &c., &c..16 On his title-page, he describes him-
self as "Anglo-Britannus." At the beginning are addresses
to his patrons or introducers—six medical men and botanists,
some of them the most eminent to be found in Europe at that
day:—namely, Francis Dale,17 Samuel Dale,18 William
Sherard,19 Hermann Boerhaave,20 J. J. Dilennins,21 and
John Martyn.22
For eight or ten years after taking his degree, this Dr. Thomas
Dale lived, apparently, in Bishopsgate, London,23 where he
practised medicine. Further, being an expert linguist, he
devoted much time to the translation of important medical
works out of Latin and French into English. Thus, in 1729, he
translated out of Latin Emmenologia,24 by the eminent Dr.
12 Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands (two vols., fol., 1731-43),
p. v. This is a very sumptuous production, handsomely illustrated by Catesby himself. The
name of "Mr. Samuel Dale, M.L. appears in the Appendix, among the "Encouragers of this
Work."
13 See post, p. 67.
14 See Sloane MS. 4304, fo. 2.
15 He was described as "aged 50" when he died in Sept. 1750.
16 It was printed at Leyden, by Henricus Mulhovius, as a pott-quarto booklet of 20pp. There
are two copies in the British Museum.
17 His own brother (see above).
18 His uncle; of Braintree (see post).
19 Born 1659; botanist, traveller and F.R.S.; died 1728.
20 Born 1668; a very eminent Dutch physician, practising at Leyden, and a learned botanist;
died 1738.
21 Born at Darmstadt, 1687; came to England in 1721, on the advice of Sherard; M.D.
and Professor of Botany at Oxford; a personal friend of Linneus; died at Oxford, 1747.
22 Born 1699; botanist; died 1768.
23 See the will of his uncle, Samuel Dale, noticed hereafter (p. 67).
24 Published by T. Cox, at the sign of tho Lamb, under the Royal Exchange, London, 1729.