LEEUWENHOEK’S LANGUAGE 307 
Your favour of the 28th December [1675] has reached 
me safely, from which I see that you doubt not but I have 
a sufficient knowledge of the French language ; but I must 
confess, to my sorrow, that I don’t know any tongue but 
the Nether-Dutch, to which I was brought up: but if 
you write to me in French or Latin, I can manage it 
all right, as I have friends enough here who can translate 
itforme. But with English I can’t cope, since the death 
of a certain Gentleman who was well versed in that tongue. 
I grant you there be plenty of the English nation knock- 
ing about everywhere, but not all of them are competent 
to translate the T'’ransactions out of English into Dutch: 
for when I inquired here for a fit person, I was directed to 
the chanter of the English Church (who offers his services 
also for teaching English). This fellow, presuming to do 
what I wanted, and having translated for me a bit 
that roused my curiosity, twas so lame I could make 
neither head nor tail of it. 
In a slightly earlier letter” he also remarks parenthetically 
(since I don’t understand English, to my sorrow, 
and there's nobody in this town who has the ability to translate 
into Dutch for me)”. It may be taken as certain, therefore, 
that Leeuwenhoek could neither speak nor read any language 
but his own. Consequently—and this must always be remem- 
bered—he was never able to detect or correct mistakes 
committed by the translators of his letters into English and 
Latin. As these translators were often wholly ignorant of the 
things which Leeuwenhoek was attempting to describe, their 
versions should always be read with caution. In all cases 
of doubt it is necessary to refer—whenever possible—to his 
own original words. 
One of Leeuwenhoek’s present-day countrymen,’ looking 
(75 
1 Howell, at an earlier date (1622), says “ There is no part of Europe so 
hanted with all sorts of Foreigners as the Netherlands”’ (ed. 1705, p. 87). 
2 Letter 13. To Oldenburg. 20 December 1675. MS.Roy.Soc. 
Unpublished. 
* Becking (1924). 
