Alle de brieven. Deel 12: 1696-1699

[p. 160]

Brief No. 185
6 Juni 1697

Gericht aan: Antonio Magliabechi.

Manuscript: Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Firenze, Mss. Magl., Classe VIII, Codice 547, fol. 14^r-v en 17^r-v; octavo.

Gepubliceerd in:

[G. Targioni-Tozzetti] 1745: Clarorum Belgarum ad Ant. Magliabechium..., Dl. 2, blz. 352-353 (Florentiae:... Platea... ). - Latijnse tekst [TT].

Korte inhoud:

Over vondsten van mariene fossielen in het bergland. Bericht van verzending naar Florence van drie boeken, als geschenk.

Opmerkingen:

De tekst van de brief bevindt zich op fol. 14^r-v; de brief is door L. eigenhandig ondertekend.

[p. 161]

Letter No. 185
6 June 1697

Addressed to: Antonio Magliabechi.

Manuscript: Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale Firenze, Mss. Magl., Classe VIII, Codice 547, fol. 14^r-v and 17^r-v; octavo.

Published in:

[G. Targioni-Tozzetti] 1745: Clarorum Belgarum ad Ant. Magliabechium..., vol. 2, pp. 352-353 (Florentiae... Platea...). - Latin text [TT].

Summary:

About discoveries of marine fossils in the mountains. Information on dispatch to Florence of three books, as a present.

Remarks:

The text of the letter is to be found on fol. 14^r-v; the letter has been signed by L. himself.

[p. 162]

Nobilissime, Doctissime, Clarissime Domine¹⁾

Mense Septembri anni proxime elapsi Nob: Tuae litteris²⁾ indicavi quasdam denuo a me scriptas experimentorum epistolas, e Belgico in Latinum versas, sub praelo sudare, de qua re Nob: Tua mihi respondit, Te magnopere eas desiderantium^a).

Nuper vero accepi litteras tuas gratissimas, cum impressa epistola ad Tuam Nob: missa, per amplissimum Dom: Medicum Scaramucci³⁾: inquibus inter alia agitur de Sceleto elephantico petrificato, in Saxonia reperto.

Quicquid sit, sentio cum iis, qui credunt, nec ossa, nec conchas, nec pisces, sub terra nasci, verum orbem terrarum multis mutationibus fuisse obnoxium, inde factum est, ut montes, totaeque Regiones, in mare sint conversae, et contra alti Montes e mari fuerunt exorti, ideoque non est quod miremur viscera montium, piscium concharum etc.^b) in Lapides fuisse conversa⁴⁾.

Nuper ante tres hebdomadas Hagam misi quatuor volumina tradenda amplissimo N.A. Buegen^c), qui negotia Nobilissimi Domini magni Magistri Ord: Teut: Haga Comitis curat⁵⁾, complectentia meas nuper Typis impressas epistolas in latinum translatas, precatus, ut compactorum exemplorum fasciculus mittatur ad Serenissimum, principem Electorem Palatinum⁶⁾. Huic praeterea in Mandatis dedi, ut tres caetere collecti libelli Tuae Nob: donandi mittantur florentiam.

1) De brief is gericht aan Antonio Magliabechi (1633-1714), de bibliothecaris van de groothertog van Toscane, Cosimo III de' Medici. Zie het Biogr. Reg., Alle de Brieven, Dl. 6., blz. 390.

2) Zie Brief 175 van 7 september 1696, in dit deel.

a) in TT correct: desiderare

3) L. doelt hier op het door de arts Giambattista Scaramucci (ca. 1650-ca. 1710) geschreven Meditationes familiares ad... Antonium Magliabechium... de Sceleto Elephantino..., dat door Pieter Rabus besproken werd in zijn Boekzaal van Europe (Mey en Juny 1698), blz. 541-544. Zie voor Scaramucci ook het Biogr. Reg. in dit deel.

b) TT: concharumque

4) Hoewel in de Latijnse tekst de woorden piscum en concharum evenals montium in de genitief staan, moeten we de woordgroep piscium concharum waarschijnlijk toch opvatten als een toelichting op viscera montium. [Dam.]

c) TT: Biregen

5) Hier is bedoeld Mr. Victor van Beughem (†1715), die sedert 1696 raad en resident was van Franz-Ludwig, paltsgraaf van Neuburg (1664-1732). Deze broer van Johann Wilhelm (zie aant. 6) was sinds 1694 grootmeester van de Duitse orde. Van Beughem nam als vertegenwoordiger van de Duitse Orde deel aan de besprekingen rond de Vrede van Rijswijk in 1697, evenals de secretaris van de prins van Vaudemont (zie Brief 191 van 20 februari 1698, in dit deel; Actes et Mémoires, Dl. 3, blz. 495 en 499). Zie voor beiden ook het Biogr. Reg. in dit deel.

6) De keurvorst is Johann Wilhelm van Pfalz-Neuburg (1658-1716). Zie het Biogr. Reg., Alle de Brieven, Dl. 11, blz. 338. L. doelt hier op de in 1697 verschenen Continuatio Arcanorum Naturae detectorum...

[p. 163]

Most Noble, Most Learned, and Most Famous Sir¹⁾,

In September of last year I informed You in a letter that some letters²⁾ newly written by me about certain investigations, translated from Dutch into Latin, are in the press, on which You replied that You are very curious about those letters.

Recently I received your very welcome letter, with the printed letter addressed to You by the excellent Medical Doctor Scaramucci, which letter speaks, inter alia, about the petrified Skeleton of an elephant, found in Saxony³⁾.

However this may be, I agree with those who believe that neither bones, nor shells, nor fishes are formed under ground, but that the earth has been subject to many mutations, as a result of which mountains and whole Regions have been converted into sea and conversely high Mountains have arisen from the sea, and thus we do not have to wonder that the bowels of mountains, viz. fishes, shells, etc.⁴⁾, have been converted into Stones.

Three weeks ago I sent to The Hague four books, to be remitted to the excellent Mr N.A. Buegen⁵⁾, who at The Hague attends to the affairs of the Very Noble grand-Master of the Teutonic Order, which books contain my recently printed letters translated into Latin, with the request that a bundle of the collected examples be sent to the Most Serene Elector Palatine⁶⁾. Moreover I Charged him to send three collected booklets to Florence, to be presented to You.

1) The letter is addressed to Antonio Magliabechi (1633-1714), the librarian of the grand duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III de' Medici. See the Biogr. Reg., Collected Letters, vol. 6, p. 391.

2) See Letter 175 of 7 September 1696, in this volume.

3) Here L. refers to the Meditationes familiares ad... Antonium Magliabechium... de Sceleto Elephantino..., written by the medical practitioner Giambattista Scaramucci (about 1650-about 1710), which was discussed by Pieter Rabus in his Boekzaal van Europe (May and June 1698), pp. 541-544. For Scaramucci see also the Biogr. Reg. in this volume.

4) Although in the Latin text the words piscium and concharum, just like montium, are in the genitive, we must probably take the word group piscium concharum to be an elucidation of viscera montium. [Dam.]

5) The person meant here is Mr. Victor van Beughem (†1715), who had been councillor and resident since 1696 of Franz-Ludwig, count palatine of Neuburg (1664-1732). This brother of Johann Wilhelm (see note 6) had been grand-master of the Teutonic Order since 1694. As representative of the Teutonic Order, Van Beughem took part in the discussions round the Peace of Rijswijk in 1697, as did the secretary of the Prince of Vaudemont (see Letter 191 of 20 February 1698, in this volume; Actes et Mémoires, vol. 3, pp. 495 and 499). For both see also the Biogr. Reg. in this volume.

6) The Elector is Johann Wilhelm von Pfalz-Neuburg (1658-1716). See the Biogr. Reg., Collected Letters, vol. 11, p. 339. L. here refers to the Continuatio Arcanorum Naturae detectorum..., which appeared in 1697.

[p. 164]

Supplex autem rogo quaesoque, Tuam Nob: ut unam^a) e tribus libellis velit sibi servare, alterum vero mittere ad serenissimum principem Magnum Etruriae Ducem⁷⁾, tertium vero, ad illustrissimum Haereditarium Principem⁸⁾: spero, in iis feliciter eo perlatis, nonnulla repertum iri, quae Doctis in Italia grata sunt futura⁹⁾.

et interim

Delphis 6. junii
1697

Nobilissime, Doctiss^me, Clarissime Domine
Te valere jubeo
Tuus omni affectu, omni
conatu humilb. Cliens

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek.

a) TT: unnum

7) Cosimo III de' Medici (1642-1723). Zie het Biogr. Reg., Alle de Brieven, Dl. 11, blz. 338.

8) Ferdinand de' Medici (1663-1713). Zie het Biogr. Reg., Alle de Brieven, Dl. 11, blz. 338, onder Cosimo III de' Medici.

9) L.'s volgende brief aan Magliabechi is Brief 189 van 2 november 1697, in dit deel. Zie voor L.'s contacten met Magliabechi: Van Rijnberk, ‘Briefwisseling’ en Van der Saag, ‘Rabus’, blz. 361-366.

[p. 165]

I humbly beseech You to keep one of the three booklets for yourself, but to send the second to the Most Serene Prince, the Grand Duke of Tuscany⁷⁾, and the third to the most illustrious Hereditary Prince⁸⁾.

I hope that, when they have been delivered there in good order, some things will be found therein that will please the Learned in Italy, and meanwhile⁹⁾,

Delft, 6 June
1697

Most Noble, Most Learned, and Most Famous Sir,
I wish You good health.
With all devotion and affection,
your humble Servant

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek.

7) Cosimo III de' Medici (1642-1723). See the Biogr. Reg., Collected Letters, vol. 11, p. 339.

8) Ferdinand de' Medici (1663-1713). See the Biogr. Reg., Collected Letters, vol. 11, p. 339, sub Cosimo III de' Medici.

9) L. 's next letter to Magliabechi is Letter 189 of 2 November 1697, in this volume. For L. 's contacts with Magliabechi, see: Van Rijnberk, ‘Briefwisseling’ and Van der Saag, ‘Rabus’, pp. 361-366.