34 LEEUWENHOEK AND HIS ‘“‘ LITTLE ANIMALS” 
surveyor. This discovery illuminates various passages in 
his letters, where he enters into arithmetical calculations 
regarding areas, volumes, heights, magnitudes of organisms, 
and so forth. ‘The act of his admission as_ surveyor 
(landmeter) in 1669 is extant in the Dutch State Archives, 
and seems sufficiently interesting to quote. It runs as 
follows :” 
FoRASMUCH AS ANTONY LEEUWENHOECK,° burgher and 
denizen of the town of Delft, hath made petition unto the 
Court of Holland, saying that he hath for some while 
heretofore exercised himself in the art of Geometry, and 
advanced so far that he deems himself capable to fulfil 
henceforth the office of surveyor, and perform the service 
and duty thereof, wherefore he humbly intreateth that 
the Court be pleased to permit him to exercise the office 
of surveyor, after previous examination and trial of his 
ability : ACCORDINGLY, the said Court, having heard the 
report of the commissioner appointed thereunto, in whose 
presence the applicant was examined by the mathematician 
Genesius Baen* as to his aptness for the performing the 
foresaid office of surveyor, wherein he was found competent, 
hath allowed the application and hereby authorizes the 
applicant to perform the office and duty thereof, within 
the jurisdiction of the Court ; and hath administered unto 
him the statutory oath, that he acquit himself well and 
truly therein, by the hands of Mr. Pieter Ockers,’ councillor 
ee ——— 
‘ Ascertained by the late Mr Bouricius, though not published by him. 
It appears that Dr Baart de la Faille, archivist of Haarlem, supplied him 
with the reference to the relevant entry in the Archives. Cf. Schierbeek 
(1929a, 19380). 
2 Extract from 12de memoriaalboek van mr. Adriaens Pots, fol. 17. 
Rijksarchief : fide Schierbeek (1929a, 1930). Dr Schierbeek first published 
the entry from Mr Bouricius’s MS. remains; and the above is my English 
translation of his printed versions, checked by a photographic copy of the 
Dutch original which he has kindly sent me. 
* The name is so spelled in the original. 
4 Paen Schierbeek (1930) : a misreading. 
5 Ochers according to Schierbeek (1930); but this is also an obvious 
misreading or misprint. 
