JOHN SWAMMERDAM. 131 



unable to find a purchaser in France. He then had 

 recourse to another friend, Nicolas Steno, who had 

 abjured the Protestant faith and was living at Flo- 

 rence, and whom he requested to represent the mat- 

 ter to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in case he might 

 feel disposed to purchase them. This person ad- 

 vised him to follow his example, relinquish his 

 creed, embrace the Catholic faith, and proceed to 

 Florence, promising that he should induce the 

 duke to accept the offer. Swammerdam replied 

 indignantly, that he would not sell his soul for 

 money. 



Being without any fixed occupation, he devoted his 

 leisure to arranging and cleaning the contents of his 

 museum, and writing out a catalogue of them. They 

 consisted of anatomical preparations and insects, of 

 the latter of which there were nearly three thou- 

 sand distinct species. These were all described and 

 arranged into classes, and the entire structure of many 

 of them had been demonstrated by the most minute 

 dissection. He then published his Treatise on the 

 Ephemeris, which he had commenced when in 

 France, and which is considered as one of the most 

 remarkable productions of any age. He did not, 

 however, venture upon this step without consulting 

 Bourignon. These arrangements completed, he now 

 determined in earnest to lead a holy life, and being 

 desirous of a personal consultation with his direct- 

 ress, he went to Holstein, where he remained with 

 her some time. On returning to Amsterdam, he 

 again endeavoured to dispose of his museum, but 

 without success ; and his sister, who had hitherto 

 presided over the domestic establishment, happening 

 at this time to be married, his father resolved upon 



