54 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
John Freind,25 adding "an Epistle Dedicatory" addressed
to Dr. James Douglas, another eminent physician of the day.26
Again, in 1730, he translated out of Latin another learned
medical work by Dr. Freind, which he entitled Nine Commen-
taries on Fevers, and two Epistles concerning the Small Pox addressed
to Dr. Richard Mead.27 Further, in 1731, he translated, from
the French, a work by Father Regnault, S.J., which he entitled
Philosophical Conversations, or a new System of Physics [&c.]28
To it, Dale added notes and a dedication to Sir Hans Sloane,
Bart., another extremely-eminent physician.29 Evidently, even
thus early, Dr. Thomas Dale had taken a good position in medical
circles in London.
Shortly after, he removed to Charles Town, in the Province
of South Carolina, where, for thirty years, he continued to
practise medicine.30 The circumstances which led to this
removal and the results of it may be inferred from a series of
eleven interesting letters (some of them in Latin) from him to
Birch, which are preserved in the British Museum.31 In one,
dated 23rd March 1731-2, we find him on board ship off Deal
and outward bound. After farewell messages to various friends,
he continues:—
I can only add my hearty wishes for your health and prosperity, and
[that] our friendship, contracted in our younger days, may continue to the
last period of our lives; and that, however we may be distant in respect
to place, we may not be so in affection.
Later letters show that he had left England under some sort
of cloud, and in debt; also that he had given offence to his
father and other relatives, apparently through marrying some
lady of whom they disapproved. Among others whom he
had offended was his well-to-do uncle Samuel Dale, of Braintiee,
under whose will, as we shall see,32 he received practically
nothing, while his elder brother Francis benefited substantially.
25 John Freind (1675-1728) was yet another eminent physician and writer on medical topics;
F.R.S. (1712); physician to the Princess of Wales; and author of a History of Physic.
26 Dr. James Douglas (1675-1742) was highly distinguished as an anatomist; also as a
naturalist, especially a botanist; F.R.S. (1706).
27 Dr. Mead (1673-1754), yet another leading physician of the day, wrote on the plague.
He was a great collector of books, MSS., coins, gems, and the like. Same publisher, 1730.
28 Three vols., 80, 1731.
29 Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), a friend and correspondent of Ray, as of most of the scien-
tific men of that day, became F.R.S. in 1685 and was Sec. R.S. from 1693 to 1712; his collections
were acquired by the Government and formed the nucleus of the British Museum.
30 I am much indebted to Miss Mabel L. Webber, of the S. Carolina Historical and Genealogical
Soc. for information as to his life and standing there.
31 Sloane MS. 4304, ff. 46-66.
32 See post, pp. 66 and 67.