610 LETTERS. 



where Pecquet indicates his receptacle, of such a size that it 

 might readily have been compared to the abomasus, or read 

 of the animal. 



These observations, learned sir, have I made at this time 

 in answer to your letter, that I might show my readiness to 

 comply with your wishes. 



Pray present my most kind wishes to Dr. Pecquet and to 

 Dr. Gay ant. Farewell, and believe me to be, very affectionately 

 and respectfully, Yours, 



WILLIAM HARVEY. 

 London, the 28th April, 1652. 



LETTER V. 



To the most excellent and learned John Nardi, of Florence. 



DISTINGUISHED AND ACCOMPLISHED SIR, The arrival of 

 your letter lately gave me the liveliest pleasure, and the re- 

 ceipt at the same time of your learned comments upon Lucretius 

 satisfied me that you are not only living and well, but that 

 you are at work among the sacred things of Apollo. I do 

 indeed rejoice to see truly learned men everywhere illustrating 

 the republic of letters, even in the present age, in which the 

 crowd of foolish scribblers is scarcely less than the swarms of 

 flies in the height of summer, and threatens with their crude 

 and flimsy productions to stifle us as with smoke. Among 

 other things that delighted me greatly in your book was that 

 part where I see you ascribe plague almost to the same efficient 

 cause as I do animal generation. Still it must be confessed 

 that it is difficult to explain how the idea, or form, or vital 

 principle should be transfused from the genitor to the gene- 

 trix, and from her transmitted to the conception or ovum, and 

 thence to the foetus, and in this produce not only an image of 

 the genitor, or an external species, but also various peculiarities 

 or accidents, such as disposition, vices, hereditary diseases, nsevi 

 or mother-marks, &c. All of these accidents must inhere in the 

 geniture and semen, and accompany that specific thing, bywhat- 



