letter; when I also shall write at large about Lawson, who is now at Saxony. Burmann, at Amsterdam, hath printed a Thesaurus Plantarum Ceylonensium, with very good plates, and four Decades Plantarum Africanarum, in quarto; but the Thesaurus is extravagant, viz. sixteen gilders. If there is any more at your orders, you may send me a letter by poste, before I send the roots to you. I am, dear SIR, Your most obedient servant, J. F. GRONOVIUS. LETTER CXLVII. Dr. Gronovius to Dr. Richardson. DEAR SIR, LEYDEN, July 29th, 1738. IN my last letter I promised to write to you about Lawson, and to answer to the rest of your desires. When the second Table of the Systema was printed, viz. about plants, we went to examine all flowers which we could get, finding it a very easy way, by the "numerus staminum," to find out the 6 About twenty-six shillings. classes. This way charmed us so much, that we were desirous by such a way to know the characters of stones; and then we came to the animals. It was not enough to have these names, but we endeavoured to have the specimens herself, and examine them by the fire. For that reason, our club turn in the regnum of Vulcanus, where we went through all the "processûs Docimasticos," continuing a whole winter round. This finished, our Docimasta was so kind to cheer us, giving my own writings to Professor Gaubius, who went on finely to print them, without I did know any thing of it. But, however, I stopt it: nothing the less, our Docimasta went to work, and is still continuing with printing it. I assure you this will be one of the best books in that nature.-Lawson was so taking up with these exercises, that he resolved to left. his Colleges, took his degree, and took a master to learn the High Dutch language, in which he became a great master, and spoke it as a German. Last March he went from Norden to Osnabrugge, where he hath an only companion in the coach, who, he discovered, was a servant of the Hangman at Haerlem. Then he went to Clausthal, the Sylva Hercynica, and Berlyn; having got a fourthnight ago his last letter from Fryberg in Saxony, when he was not sure if he would go to England or not.-It is now fifteen years ago, that I have given a commission to a merchant at Paris to send me the portrait of Mr. Tournefort, with his Grecian habit and Order of St. Louis. He, and many other friends, to whom I have given the same commission, could never find it; but discover'd that the copper-plate was in hands of his relations, to whom I writ myself for half a dozen plates, which I get at last; but the price is extravagant, viz. two-and-twenty stuyvers a-piece. I have inquired again about the CamphireTree. There are five young ones, but still adhering to the old tree, which the gardiner shall cut off at September; and then it will appear, after eight days, if they have made good roots. The 28th of August I must go to Seeland at Middleburg, whence I come bak about the 20th of September; when I shall send you a good tree, except you send me contrary orders. About the copper-plate of Boerhaave, you must know that Wandelaar desired the Doctor he would be at leasure to spend half a day with him, that he may correct the old plate, which he did so well, that Wandelaar hath got a great reputation by it; and the Doctor took the plate for himself, being every one obliged to get the print of it at his own house, except two or three booksellers. But, besides, the painter, de Groot, hath made another effigies of the Doctor, which doth not answer att all; wherefore I send only one of them. Few weeks ago Dr. Linnæus hath printed his Classes Plantarum, which I think you have not yet, as just come from the press. I have added three copyes of the Systema Naturæ, besides four plates of the Classes of Linnæus, which is of a great use, to have an idea of all his classes. I don't doubt you will find friends enough to dispose of it. I forgot, in my foregoing letter, to tell you that, besides the books I mentioned, the Doctor hath printed a Bibliotheca and Fundamenta Botanica: the price of it is about one gylder, eight stuyvers. Amongst the books of Albinus you will see a new one, De Colore Ethiopum, which I have added: if this, or other books which I send you, doth not like you, send them freely bak. In the new garden are two new green-houses; and foundations are made for a third one.-You may be sure I shall take care that, when there are Catalogues of good books, you shall have them in time.-Professor Fabricius' dyed yesterday. No doubt he left a fine library: as soon the Catalogue is printed, you may depend you shall see them. Dr. Van Swieten giveth his humble service to you; and he is obliged for Miller's Appendix. He hath still a great deal of practice. My brother and Dr. Van Royen giveth all their humble service. 1 Francis Fabricius, Professor of Divinity, and author of many Theological works. A year ago I got a letter from Dr. Johnston at New York, who seems to be curious about plants, and desired I should send him Plukenet's works. This moment I got a letter from Dr. Lawson, who is inclined to go to Schneeberg, then to Thermas-Carolinenses, Praguam, Viennam, Angliam. Boerhaave is not so well as he was that time when I writ my first letter to you: however, he rides every day. I am obliged to you for your kindness about my Hortus Siccus: there are some of the Musci which I want. Another time I shall take the liberty to write to you about them. Van Hasen hath collected all the roots which you want. At the end of his account you see a N.B., which words I interpret here. All what is packed in sand or muscus, must be immediately planted. The Tulips and Hyacinths in September. Anemonæ and Ranunculi in the latter end of Januario. I hope you will find all these things may well come over. Mr. Hudig writ to me that, in eight days, a ship will be ready; wherefore I made haste. I am, dear SIR, Your most obedient servant, J. F. GRONOVIUS. |