MUNICIPAL APPOINTMENTS ao 
From the treasurer’s accounts it appears that the emolu- 
ments attaching to this appointment amounted, in all, to 314 
florins per annum.’ Later entries show, however, that by 
1699 Leeuwenhoek’s grant had been increased to 400 florins 
yearly ; while a still later entry,” in 1711, shows that at that 
time he was receiving an additional salary of 50 florins for 
his services as “ generaal-wykmeester’’—an office resembling 
that of an English alderman. Both these municipal appoint- 
ments were probably sinecures, and their menial obligations 
performed by proxy. I note this in order not to convey the 
impression that Leeuwenhoek was really—as Richardson and 
Plimmer would have us believe—a sort of village beadle.* It 
is hardly necessary to add that 450 florins represented a much 
larger sum of money in the XVII Century than they do 
today. 
To preserve the historic perspective I must here venture 
once more to remind the reader of contemporary affairs in the 
world at large. In 1664, when Leeuwenhoek was 32 and had 
been Chamberlain for some 4 years, his mother—as we have 
already heard—died: but in this same year another memorable 
event also occurred. England and Holland were then again 
at war; and our Admiral Holmes* attacked and captured the 
Dutch colony of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island in 
North America, and changed its name to New York in honour 
of his chief—the Duke of York, afterwards our King James II. 
Englishmen, Hollanders, and Americans—not to mention 
men of other nations—therefore have good reason to 
remember this epoch. But we must return to our real hero, 
who wisely took not the least notice of politics or warfare. 
It has recently come to light that Leeuwenhoek was not 
only a draper and sheriffs’ chamberlain but also a qualified 
‘The sum was made up as follows: For acting as Chamberlain, 
260 florins; for cleaning the Chambers of the Sheriffs, Council, etc., and 
on account of expenses necessarily incurred thereby, 54 florins. (Haaxman, 
1875.) 
* Quoted by Haaxman (1875). 
* Bedellus immortalis Richardson (1885)—unblushingly borrowed by 
Plimmer (1913)—is not only an unsuitable designation for L. but is in 
addition (under the Rules of Nomenclature) an invalid synonym of the more 
adequate name Homo sapiens Linnaeus. 
“Sir Robert Holmes (1622-1692), a great but now almost forgotten 
warrior who distinguished himself on many other occasions. 
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