MARTIN FOLKES, ESQ. 103 
instruments will be considered later ': I shall here give only 
what he says about their maker, because it shows how 
Leeuwenhoek was regarded by the Society at that date and 
will serve as a funeral oration—for want of any other or 
better. In the Philosophical Transactions for November and 
December, 1723, Folkes wrote’: 
It is now above 50 Years, since the late Mr. Leewwenhoek 
first began his Correspondence with the Royal Society ; 
when he was recommended by Dr. Regnerus de Graaf, as 
a Person already considerable by his Microscopical 
Discoveries, made with Glasses contrived by himself, 
and excelling even those of the famous Hustachio Divini, 
so much talk’d of in the learned World: And as he has 
ever since that Time apply’d himself, with the greatest 
Diligence and Success, to the same Sort of Observations, 
no Doubt can be made of the Excellency of those Instru- 
ments he so long us’d, so much improv’d, and upon the 
fullest Experience so often commended in his Letters ; 
great Part of which, at his Decease, he thought fit to 
bequeath to this Society, for whom he ever express’d 
the greatest Esteem and Respect. 
He had, indeed, intimated this Design in several of his 
Letters, and in his last Will and Testament’* gave 
Orders, that the Glasses should be delivered as soon as 
conveniently might be after his Decease; which was 
accordingly done, by the Directions of his surviving 
Daughter, Mrs. Maria Van Leeuwenhoek, to whose great 
Care we are obligd, for the safe and speedy Delivery of 
this very curious and valuable Present.’ 
" See p. 314 sq., infra. * See Folkes (1724). 
* According to Servaas v. Rooijen (1904, p. 384), L.’s will is still extant 
in the protocols of the notary Jan de Vries at Delft. I have not seen this 
document—executed jointly by Antony and Maria, “ both being sound of 
mind and body,” on 30 November 1721. 
* = Mistress: a title applied at that date, of course, to unmarried 
women. 
° Here follows an account of the cabinet of microscopes, and a list of 
the objects placed before them. See p. 314 sq., infra. 
