Title:
Albrecht von Haller to Carl Linnaeus
Type:
Image
Licence:
Contact [email protected]
Repository:
The Linnean Society of London
Collection:
Linnaean Correspondence
Reference number:
LC/6/99
Archival level:
Item
Date:
27 October 1747
Placement:
Volume 6: 192
Extent:
192
Language:
la
Description:
Albrecht von Haller thanks Linnaeus for his Flora Zeylanica and the seeds from Arbutus. He subjoins a list of desiderata from Linnaeus’s Flora Svecica. Many nice things are expected from Pehr Kalm. Christian Gottlieb Ludwig gives Linnaeus a lot of credit, but he dares not abandon August Quirinus Rivinus’s theories entirely. Johann Georg Gmelin has shown Haller his Flora Sibirica, which is an excellent work with new species and even genera. Engelbert Kämpfer has something on Agallochum, the Skimmi and Anisum serratum. The observations of Mark Catesby have dispelled Haller’s doubts about Elemi. Lignum rhodium appears to be a Cytisus or a related plant. Kämpfer says Bdellium is a kind of palm. Haller knows nothing of Sagapenum, Thus, Myrrh, Balsamum, Balsamum Peruvianum or Caranna. Haller knows nothing certain regarding Belvedere, now destroyed by the cold. He has a Persian plant similar to it. He has also a new Persian Astragalus with incurved siliquae. The winter will be devoted to dissections. He is involved in a work on the practice of medicine, “Methodus medendi”.
Sender:
Haller, Albrecht von
Recipient:
Linnaeus, Carl
Transcription:
Linnaeo Celeberrimo s[alutem]. Accepi nuperas Tuas has mansissimas cum semine Arbuti, quod equidem vereor, ut educem. Accepi etiam pulcherrimam Tuam Floram Ceylanicam. Tibique novum gratulor honorem. Stirpium ex flora Suecica desidero specimina, quae subjeci. Ego vicissim Germanica mittam, quando ab Anatome respirabo. Pulchra sunt quae nobis nos promittimus a Kalmo & reliquis in schola Tua educatis botanicis, quos Tu omnes novo reples ardore. Ego diu non potui botanices ullum amorem apud juvenes excitare. A quarto tamen anno melius successit suntque plusculi, qui, dum per Germaniam sparguntur, promittunt mihi ex variis Regionibus sua symbola. Ludwigius plurimum Tibi tribuit, etsi non ausus sit Lipsiae Rivinum penitus deserere. Gmelini flora Tibi plurima bona aperiet. Est labor pulcherrimus. Nuper hac transiit auctor optimus. Ostendit elegantissimas icones Tomorum sequentium; species novae plurimae, etiam genera nova. Valde modestus est Gmelinus [et] raro aliquid innovat. Parum a me potes exspectare in exoticis, quae nunquam ausus sum adgredi in tanto variorum laborum tumultu. De Agallocho tamen nosti Kaempferum aliqua habere tum de Skimmi s[ive] Aniso serrato. De Elemi putabam nullum dubium superesse post Observationes D[omini] Catesby, quo si contra meam opinionem careres, describam Tibi descriptionem plantae Elemiferae. De Ligno Rhodio veteres habent aliqua; videtur esse Cytisus aut adfinis planta. Clusius habet et alii Creticarum scriptores. Bdellium ex Palmae specie est, ni fallor, etiam Kaempfero auctore. De Sagapeno, Thure, Myrrha, Balsamo, Balsamo Peruviano, Caranna [sic], nihil novi alicujus momenti. In Belvedaire nihil satis tuto in meis adversariis reperio. Nunc frigore exstincta est. Habeo plantam Persicam, simillimam, sed glabro folio et glauco, similem facientem arbusculam. Novum etiam Astragalum Persicum habeo siliquis incurvis et alia, quae inseram horti mei descriptioni, quo comprehendentur praeterea omnes indigenae Germaniae. Nunc maxime sculpuntur tabulae. Sed hyems debitur dissectionibus. Scripsi nuper physiologiam. Nunc sum in absolvenda Medendi methodo. Vale, Vir indefesse, et me ama! D[abam] 27 Oct[obris] 1747. [address] Celeberrimo / Linnaeo S. / A. Haller
Previous reference number:
L0839
Condition note:
seal tear
