THE WORKS OF MARCGRAV AND PISO. 163 
on the zoological labours of our travellers*; the more so, because it 
will be conducive to a better understanding of what we have to say 
concerning the vegetable productions. 
The Dutch having settled in the Brazils, and at Bahia since 1623, 
and at Pernambuco in 1630, they were threatened with the loss of the 
young colony, by the powerful aspirations of the crown of Spain, which 
had absorbed Portugal and its colonies, when Count Johan Moritz of 
Nassau-Siegen was deputed, towards the end of 1636, to maintain and 
organize the possessions of the former. Distinguished alike as the en- 
lightened friend and patron of science, and as a renowned captain, 
Count Moritz had the command of 2700 men, whom he landed at 
Pernambuco at the beginning of 1637, being accompanied by a me- 
dical man of science, Wilhelm Piso, who brought along with him two 
young learned Germans, George Maregrav] from Liebstadt in Misnia, 
and H. Cralitz. Piso has the following remark on this subject, in 
the preface to the edition of 1648: “ Invitatus quondam ab amplissimis 
Societatis Indie Occidentalis undeviginti viris, ut ill. Nassovize Comiti, 
ium quoque Brasilie, qua paret Belgis, in arte apollinari preeessem, 
publicze utilitatis fore mecum arbitrati sunt spect. viri D. Alb Coenradi 
Burg et D. Joan. de Laet, primi Musarum fautores, molestam hane 
provinciam mihi impositam naturz indagatione horis subcisivis lenire. 
Cui simul oneri publico et privato ut ferendo par essem, G. Maregra- 
vium et H. Cralitzium Germanos, medicine et matheseos candidatos, 
mihi adjungi visum est. Hic immatura morte suffocatus, ille sedulus 
per sexennium mediterraneorum locorum explorator, meis primum 
mox ill Comitis subsidiis suffultus, partes suas circa geographicas, 
astronomicas historieque naturalis observationes acriter tutatus est. 
Atque in Africam tandem transfretans succubuit,” etc. 
Placed in immediate contact with so enlightened and high-minded 
a prince, our naturalists experienced every possible encouragement. - 
Moritz of Nassau, being a man of great enterprise, and determined to 
establish himself in that beautiful and rich country, built the palace 
* c * ete. 
(The reda df Marne GET Pio oe the Natural History of Brazi, explained b 
means of the recovered original drawings.)—From Transactions of the oe 
Academy of Sciences at Berlin for 1814 and 1815, p. 201, ete. (Introd. and Mammalia. 
1816 and 1817, p. 155 (Birds); 1820 and 1821, p. 237 (Amphibis); ; 1826, p. 49 
(Fishes). 
+ M. Lichtenstein calls him Maregrave in his Commentary; 1 have retained the 
more usual spelling, Marcgrav. 
