Towards the close of 1684 Dr. SLOANE returned to England, whither the reputation of his increased acquirements had preceded him. In January, 1685, he was chosen a Fellow of the Royal Society, and exactly one year afterwards he was proposed for election as Assistant-Secretary. Among the other candidates were Denis PAPIN and Edmund HALLEY. On the first scrutiny, SLOANE had ten votes; HALLEY sixteen. The majority was not enough, but on a second ballot HALLEY was chosen. Early in 1687 he became a Fellow of the College of Physicians. He had thus early laid some foundation for a London practice that would lead him to social eminence, as well as to fortune. And for the good gifts of fortune he had a very keen relish. Loving wealth well, he loved science still better. But he had already good reason to hope that both might be won, in company. He had become known to Christopher MONK, second Duke of ALBEMARLE, and when that nobleman received, in 1687, the office of Governor-General of the West India Colonies, SLOANE received an invitation to sail with him, as the Duke’s physician and as Chief Physician to the fleet; and he was desired to name his own conditions, if disposed to accept the appointment. He did not take any long time to think over the offer. If it presented no very brilliant prospect of monetary profit, it opened a large field for scientific research. [Sidenote: THE VOYAGE TO JAMAICA.] And, in the main, the field was new. [Sidenote: 1687.] No Englishman had ever yet been tempted to take so long a journey in the interests of science. He knew that he had excellent personal qualifications for turning to good account the large opportunities of discovery that such a voyage was sure to bring. Nor was it less certain that it would bring innumerable occasions for enlarging his strictly professional knowledge. And he had on his side the vigour of youth, as well as its curiosity and its enthusiasm. In annexing to his reply the conditions of his acceptance he wrote thus: ‘If it be thought fit that Dr. SLOANE go physician to the West Indian Fleet, the surgeons of all the ships must be ordered to observe his directions.... He proposes that six hundred pounds, _per annum_, shall be paid to him quarterly, with a previous payment of three hundred pounds, in order to his preparation for this service; and also that if the Fleet shall be called home he shall have leave to stay in the West Indies if he pleases.’ The proposed terms were approved. [Sidenote: _Corresp._ in MS. Sloane, 4069, ff. 86, 87.] The Doctor embarked at Portsmouth, in the Duke’s frigate _Assistance_, on the 12th of September.