Title:
Johan Frederik Gronovius to Carl Linnaeus
Type:
Image
Licence:
Contact [email protected]
Repository:
The Linnean Society of London
Collection:
Linnaean Correspondence
Reference number:
LC/5/187
Archival level:
Item
Date:
1 September 1735
Placement:
Volume 5: 363-364
Extent:
363-364
Language:
la
Description:
Johan Frederik Gronovius has written a letter to George Clifford in order to recommend Linnaeus to him: he has drawn his attention to the fact that Linnaeus could serve him well by putting his herbarium and other natural collections in order, as well as by describing the plants of the “Hortus Hartecampensis”. Clifford has accepted his proposal, as Gronovius readily deduces from a letter which he has received from Linnaeus today. In it Linnaeus reports that he will be staying with Clifford henceforth until the end of the winter. Gronovius is expecting the proof of the first part of the “Regnum vegetabile” in two hours’ time. Although the table will be proofread by Gronovius, some problems should be discussed and solved in the presence of Linnaeus. Therefore, Gronovius invites him to come to Leiden by boat on Friday night 2 September, urging Linnaeus to stay with him and no one else. When they are together, they will also be able to discuss the dedication of Linnaeus’s books. Since Isaac Lawson and Gronovius are duly acknowledged in the preface to Systema naturae as the very authors who incited Linnaeus to have the work published, it would be inappropriate to dedicate it to any other person. Bibliotheca botanica, on the other hand, is to be dedicated to Johannes Burman, whereas Linnaeus’s new patron George Clifford is bound to become the dedicatee of the catalogue of rare plants growing in the “Hortus Hartecampensis” which Linnaeus will undoubtedly compose in the near future. Isaac Lawson and Gerhard van Swieten send Linnaeus their regards and congratulate him upon his good fortune. Gronovius does not agree with Linnaeus’s decision to include Man (Homo) under the quadrupeds, which constitute the first class of the “Tabula zoologica”. For although Man ranks first among the animals, he should in fact be considered to excell all other living beings which were created by God to Man’s delight and benefit. To conclude with, Gronovius reminds Linnaeus of the specimens of plants from the Amsterdam Botanical Garden. Among other things, Linnaeus should see whether some of the specimens which Gronovius has given to Burman from his own herbarium are depicted.
Sender:
Gronovius, Johan Frederik
Recipient:
Linnaeus, Carl
Sent to location:
[Amsterdam, Netherlands]
Transcription:
Vir Doctissime Quamprimum jucundissimas vestras literas praecedenti hebdomate [sic] acceperam, illico ad D[ominum] Clifford scripsi, eumque sincere et candide monui quantopere Illi posses inservire in redigendis plantis siccis in ordinem et reliquis naturalibus quae possidet, ac in conscribendo Horto Hartekampensi. Officia proinde mea Ipsi obtuleram, ut mentem tuam experire[r]; quippe omnia dubitanter scripsi. Nunc tanto magis mihi gaudeo, quod propositum meum Ipsi non displicuerit, cum hodie ex litteris vestris cognoverim, Te ab hoc tempore ad ultimam hyemem in Ejus conversaturum familia, quam sortem Tibi gratulor ex animo, fortunamque indies meliorem precor et spero, si in Hollandia vitam transigere velles. Sed de hoc proposito plura cum una sumus. Interim hoc a Te desidero ut quando placet Leydam petere, hospitium apud nullum nisi apud Me capias. Post duas horas expecto primam partem Tabulae Sexualis, cuius vitia typographica lubenter corrigam; sed cum necessarium sit ut ipse praesens sis, oro et obsecro, vellem die veneris cum navibus nocturnis huc venias, ut ad nitidiorem correctionem die Saturni praesens sis; sub conditione ut Me Tibi hospitem reddas. De Dedicationibus parum respondeo, et melius de his loquemur quum una sumus; quum enim in praefatione ad Tabulas fatearis, D[ominum] Lawsonium et me Auctores esse qui Te ad istas imprimendas instigaverunt, minus decens fore censeo, si adhuc alteri inscriberentur. Si cum Domino Burmanno de dedicatione Bibliothecae locutus fueris, necessario Ei debet inscribi; si vero non, alteri dedicare indecorum foret, cum per tot dies ipsius hospitio frui contigerit. Non dubito quin maximam partem temporis futuri in suburbano D[omin]i Clifford sis consumpturus, ubi procul dubio Catalogum plantarum rariorum Horti Hartekampiani conscribes, quem Patrono inscribere gratissimum et honestissimum erit. Dom[inus] Lawson te quamplurimum salutat et fortunam hanc Tibi gratulatur. Idem quoque agit Dom[inus] van Swieten. In prima Classe Tabulae Zoologicae ponis Quadrupedia, et inter ea primo ponis Hominem; quomodo hoc procedat non concipio. Est quidem Homo inter Zoologica animal primum, sed si recte consideremus est Zoologicum supra omnia Zoologica quae in ipsius delectamentum et usum a Deo O[mnium] M[agistro] sunt creata. Quaeso de speciminibus ex horto Amstelodamensi reminiscaris, ut et si quaedam ex speciminibus quas D[ominus] Burman ex Herbario meo habet, sint depictae. Vale Vir Doctissime et Tuis annumera Ioannem Fredericum Gronovium. Lugd[uni] Bat[avorum] 1735 Septemb[ris] 1. [address] Mijn Heer De Heer Carol[us] Linnaeus Med[icinae] D[octo]r ten huyse de Heer Burman Med[icinae] Doct[or] en professor in de Botanie / te Amsterdam.
Previous reference number:
L0044
Condition note:
364 partly torn
