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/6/82
Archival level:
Item
Date:
7 April 1738
Placement:
Volume 6: 167-168
Extent:
167-168
Language:
la
Description:
Albrecht von Haller wishes Linnaeus, who has recovered from his fever, a prosperous journey to Paris. Haller would like Linnaeus to consult Joseph Pitton de Tournefort’s herbarium labels on many points. Haller has now got seeds and a letter from Adriaan van Royen. Linnaeus should not worry about Johann Georg Siegesbeck. The Uva ursi of Caspar Bauhin, like Haller’s, has crowded points, not just wrinkles on every leaf. Haller never offered 50 florins for Francisco Hernandez, but for Fabio Colonna. He has Andrea Cesalpino as well as Joannes à Turre. If Linnaeus discovers some books in Paris, he should tell Louis Philip Guerin where they can be bought. Guerin can send them on to Gachet at Berne, who has a list of the books Haller wants. Regarding Hortus Cliffortianus he will do justice to Linnaeus as well as to George Clifford. Herman Boerhaave’s illness is sad news. Haller will prepare some illustrations for Conrad Wishoff. Benedikt Stähelin has very fine illustrations of Trifolium capite folioso and Lenticula aquatica quadrifolia. Haller will have illustrations made of the new species of Pedicularis, Astragalus, etc. Haller is now working on ferns. He would like to have Ramosa mollior and non ramosa mollior. He wonders what all the Dryopterides and Filiculae Fontanae are; he fears that they are only vain distinctions. After these he will proceed to the Orchides. Haller’s health is weak. He has illustrations of about 200 plants, which will eventually increase to more than 400. He has however no method. He has had Johann Jacob Scheuchzer’s herbarium bought after the death of Johann Scheuchzer, which will enrich his “Synopsis”. He wishes that he had Johann Bauhin’s herbarium or that of Caspar Bauhin. Johannes Jacobus Huber will go to the Rhaetian Alps and the Valteline to augment Haller’s catalogue.
Sender:
Haller, Albrecht von
Recipient:
Linnaeus, Carl
Sent to location:
[Leiden, Netherlands]
Transcription:
Viro Celeberrimo, Carolo Linnaeo D[octori], Summo Botanico, s[alutem] p[lurimam] d[icit] Haller. Gratus fuit nuncius, quo significasti febrem, quae Te aliquamdiu detinuit, recedere paulatim. Eam vereor nimius Tuus in pulcerrimum studium ardor adcersivit. Parce, quaeso, Tibi. Fructus, etsi paulo seriores, dulciores erunt. Iter Parisinum felix adprecor. Quod ibi efficias pro me, vix possum his paginis conprehendere. Innumera certe sunt, de quibus consultas vellem Tournefortii schedas, neque facile ex eo cumulo aliqua excerpere licet. Tu, dum in Tuas Laponicas inquiris, in meas simul inquires. Tuis observatis, dum hic moraberis, fiam ditior. Semina reddita sunt literaeque a Royeno, quem amicum Tu mihi conciliasti. Siegesbekium, qui et contra Ludwigium dicitur scripsisse, quid Tu vero curaveris? An defuerunt unquam aut deerunt obtrectatores omnibus illis, qui novum aliquid & masculum moliuntur? An desunt Tibi, qui justiores sint in Tua merita? An omnibus ipsis etiam Siegesbekiis Te placiturum unquam sperasti? Tu vero perge audacter et studia, in quibus verae gloriae plurimum meruisti, perge ornare. Uva Ursi C[aspari] B[auhini] & mea habet puncta confertissima per omne folium non solas rugas, sed ea conponemus praesentes. Nunquam pro Hernandez, sed pro Columna 50 fl[orenos] obtuli. Caesalpinum mecum habeo & Turrium, quem Tu dixisti rariss[imum] esse, spissum in folio volumen vili pretio redemtum. Si Parisiis libros aliquos detegas, mone de loco, ubi haberi possunt, precor, Ludov[igium] Phil[ippum] Guerin[um] Librarium. Is ad D[omi]num Gachet Bernensem poterit mittere. Schedam librorum, quos quaero, dudum habet. Expectatiss[imus] erit hortus Clifforti & in eo recensendo Tibi magnoque Tuo Maecenati aequus ero. Boerhaavii morbus tristis nuncius est. Meruit certe non eruditione sed suavissimo animo Vir iste, ut non discipuli tantum, sed mortales omnes ejus commodis laetentur, ejus infortunia plangant. Icones ad nutum Wischoffii parabo. Staehelinius pulcherrimas habet icones Trifolii capite folioso, Lenticulae aquaticae quadrifoliae cum omni vegetatione, &c. Ego vero novas pediculares, Astragalos, &c. depingi curabo, ad siccas equidem, sed ita ut characteres Huberus in Alpibus, quas adit, delineet addendos tabulis. Ego sum in filicibus. Paucas habeo et ex Helveticis aliquae desunt, Ramosa mollior, non ramosa mollior. Quid omnes illae Dryopterides, filiculae fontanae? Vereor, ne plurimae vanae sint diversitates. Deinde in Orchidibus ero. Valetudo mea labilis est. Puer ex meis graviter etiam laborat. Sic res meae ad studia non nimis conpositae sunt. Melius spero se habitaturas, quando nobiscum eris. Tuncque plantarum mearum dimidia fere pars disposita erit, ut brevissime eas possis perspicere. Icones etiam fungor ad 200, quae ubi omnes erunt ultra CD. Hortus nondum muro cinctus neque ad usum paratus est. In eo Domus mihi exstruitur, ut in mediis plantis habitans quod superest vitae solari queam innocentissimo hoc studio. Methodus mea nulla est. Laboro tantum in determinandis stirpibus singulis. Characteres nimis multae exoticae & centenae observationum requiruntur. Herbarium Scheuchzeri, quod coemi jussi post mortem Joh[annis] Scheuchzeri, quae nuper accidit, non parum ornabit meam synopsin. Multa ipse vidit; multa habuit a discipulis. Gramina frater collegit innumera. Utinam instaret illud J[ohannis] B[auhini] aut illo C[aspari] B[auhini], potuissem majori cum ocio frui! Adibit etiam Huberus Alpes Rhaeticas & Vallem Tellinam, ubi ditio Helvetica est, coelum Italum, et inde magnum adcedet augmentum catalogo. Haec corpore et animo aeger breviter. Tu vero vale & citius adesto exoptatus hospes! Ex Georgia Augusta die 7 Apr[ilis] 1738. [address] A Monsieur / Monsieur Linnaeus recommande à / Monsieur Van Royen Professeur / en Botanique de l’Université / de Leyde / A Leyde.
Previous reference number:
L0251
Condition note:
seal tear, prominent seal
