88 Selections from the Correspondence of 



Dr. Linnaeus is not only content with his botany, but he 

 extends his industry to all parts of natural history, and has 

 brought me over to it, particularly persuaded by the power of my 

 family, and I myself, too, in the government of this town, and 

 by that way now and then departs to the states of Holland and 

 other colleges. I get by our men of war an immense collection 

 of natural things, of which my chiefest delight is in the Lapides 

 and Testacea, that is, the concha et cochlece. 



I have tried juxta Linncei Fundamenta Botanica, to give 

 names to all these things, and printed a catalogue of it in the year 

 1740 ; since which time my collection increased once larger. 

 You shall infinitely oblige me if you meet some of these things, 

 to communicate them to me ; particularly the cochlece and conchce 

 of your country. I don't doubt there is in your country a good 

 variety of snails, (as well at land as to the rivers,) whose cochlece 

 shells are different in shape and colors. 



Now, sir, once more, I shall acknowledge myself very much 

 obliged to you for your letter and characters, assuring that I shall 

 always be glad to see your letters, to which I shall always an- 

 swer upon [the] spot. Direct only to Mr. Sadelhof, merchant at 

 Amsterdam, or to Mr. John Papin, junior, merchant at Rotter- 

 dam, with a direction to Dr. John Frederic Gronovius, Senateur 

 de la Ville de Leyden, in Holland. 



I am, dear sir, wishing you all health and prosperity, your most 

 obedient servant, Joh. Fred. Gronovius. 



Leyden, October 3d, 1743. 



Sir — The before-mentioned Mr. Dorsius hath told me that he 

 was resolved in short time to go over to Pennsylvania, and prom- 

 ised me that he should call upon me and spend a night ; where- 

 upon I wrote these preceding lines, and made a packet of things 

 mentioned there. To my great sorrow I did not hear any thing 

 of that gentleman. In the mean time, I resolved to fix daily 

 some hours to consider your characters. Once for all you must 

 know that I [am] one who never will flatter any one ; but with 

 father Plinius agnoscere per quern profecerim. Indeed, I must 

 confess, I hath [obtained] a great deal [of] light in your charac- 

 ters, about some plants mentioned in the Flora Virginica. 



I take the liberty to send you my remarks, which have been 

 ready a month ago, when I hath made this packet ready, that 

 at the approach of Dorsius I could give it immediately in his 



