Cadwallader Golden with Gronovius, Linncsus, fyc. 87 



can collect some seeds for him, I do not doubt he will present 

 you with a copy of it. Sometimes it is to be met with in a 

 public auction, where it commonly goes for about twenty five 

 guilders. 



The second part of the Flora Virg. is printed, of which I 

 take the liberty to send to you a copy, besides a copy of the first 

 part. But as you make no mention in your letter of some other 

 books of Linneeus, besides his Characters, I take the liberty to 

 present you with some other books, which you will find of great 

 use to you, viz. with a new edition of his Fundamenta Botanica, 

 in which you will find a great thesary of learned observations ; 

 but this book must be read over and over, and then you will ea- 

 sily perceive the laws which must be observed in making the 

 characters, particularly about the partes fructificationis, where 

 the Humerus, figura, proportio, et situs, always must be observed. 



I am infinitely obliged to you for the plants and characters 

 you are so kind as to communicate to me. At present I am very 

 much taken up with the public affairs, and the short staying of 

 the Rev. Mr. Dorsius is the cause that I cannot examine your 

 characters. What [can] I hope to do when our 20.000 men for 

 assistance of the queen of Hungary, are marching, being about 

 these affairs not only the seven provinces, but the towns them- 

 selves divided in their opinions ! However there is great hope 

 to a general agreement. 



However, in reading now and then for a moment your charac- 

 ters, I am (without any flattery) surprised how you, in such a 

 short time, could have such ideas of Linnasus's way in making 



up the notas characteristicas. Linnaeus hath promised to give 



out one time or another the Philosophia Botanica, which should 

 only consist of an explication upon the aphorismi of his Funda- 

 menta; so that this book should be as a standard. A part of it 

 is printed in the Critica Botanica, wherein certainly you shall 

 find exceeding good remarks; wherefore I take the liberty to 

 present to you my own copy of that book, which I have more 

 than fifty times read over and over. I do not doubt you shall 

 find by reading nicely the Fundamenta, the preface to the Char- 

 ters, and this Critica Botanica, you may easily make yourself 

 master of Linnaeus's way. For myself, I assure you, I cannot give 

 to you better directions. But if it is that you have still some scru- 

 ples, I shall always be ready to answer them as much as I can. 



