3* MEMOIR OF 



the following information : " When I had brought 

 myself into difficulties, and was on that account led 

 to employ my patrons, as means of invoking your 

 clemency, you not only assisted me, but conferred 

 benefits of a nature that exceeded my highest ex- 

 pectation, and for which I can never be sufficiently 

 grateful."* In the year 1600, our author gives us 

 the following additional intelligence : " Pope Sixtus 

 VI., that lover of the good and learned, deigned to 

 place me in the class of literary men, and showed 

 great liberality by increasing my comfort; for, 

 learning from others that I was incurring an ex- 

 pense for the general benefit of the studious beyond 

 my means, he, of his own accord, recommended me 

 so strongly to the Senate of Bologna, that I receive^ 

 from them very considerable remuneration medio- 

 cresfructus" 



But by far the most interesting witness in these 

 matters is the widow of Aldrovandi, whom we regret 

 we have not the means of introducing more inti- 

 mately to the reader's acquaintance. In her dedica- 

 tion of the sixth volume of the Opera to the Senate 

 of Bologna, she says : " Among the illustrious 

 men who have been distinguished by the study of 

 Philosophy and other branches of learning, I allude 

 to no other than Ulysses Aldrovandi your country- 

 man, my husband, who did not occupy the lowest 

 place amongst them, for almost fifty years, and upon 

 whose excellent character, and extensive erudition, 

 I should dwell, were it not well known to you, not 



* Opera, t. ii. Dcdie. sub. fin. 



