PETER LOEF LIN G. 79 



^11 thefe contributed to make his journey both 

 ufefLil and agreeable. At Madrid where he ar- 

 rived, after having been Seventeen days on the 

 road Loefang began to fear he lliould find neither 

 botaniils, nor friends, nor patrons: but the gloom 

 which this thought had fpread over his counte- 

 nance, was foon changed into joy and content- 

 ment, by the. recommendation of Mr. Godin, 

 who introduced iiim into the beft companies, 

 ^nd prefented him to Don Carvajal^ who fa- 

 voured him with a kind and gracious recep- 

 tion. 



The mofl unexpedled thing to him was the 

 great number of lovers of botany, which . he 

 found at Madrid, Four of them deferve chiefly 

 to be mentioned : viz. Don Jofeph, Ortega^ chief 

 apothecary to the army, and fecretary of the 

 phyfical academy at Madrid ; Don Miniiart chief 

 apothecary to x}a^ hofpitals ; Don ^^r, firfl 

 furgeon to the king, who had a fplendid bota- 

 pical garden, and a mofl elegant collection of 

 plants •, and Don Chriftoval Velez^ apothecary 

 and examinator of the College of Phyficians, 

 who was poflefled of a choice colledion of 

 botanical books, of 2. gX2.xi^ Hortm Siccus, and 

 had drawn up a Flora Madritenfts. Thefe gen- 

 tlemen found our young botanift much to their 

 Jijcing ; he was carelTed by every one, and their 



houfes. 



