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LETTER I. From Baron Born. 

 SIR, 



NOTHING could have given me greater pleafure than the honour which you have done 

 me, in fending me your work on Shells; it furpaffes every thing that ever has been, or ever 

 will be produced in the fame kind. Natural hiftory would make a rapid progrefs, if we could 

 have paintings of all the organized bodies in nature executed with equal accuracy and fidelity. 

 It is evident that the author joins to a very extraordinary degree of talent in his own art, the moft 

 profound knowledge of natural hiftory, and efpecially of thofe bodies of which he treats. 



I have tranfmitted to his Imperial Majefty the copy which you defigned for him. His Majefty 

 accepted it with pleafure, and has fent by his Great Chamberlain to Sir Robert Keith the great 

 gold medal, which you will receive from Sir Robert by the firft courier difpatched to London. 

 The other copy has been delivered to Baron Swieten, Keeper of the Imperial Library, and Prefident 

 of the Commiffion des Etudes, who will himfelf make you his acknowledgements. 



Accept, Sir, in turn, a copy of my work on the Shells in the Imperial Cabinet, and fome proof 

 plates, which I have had coloured in the ftyle of illuminations, for the purpofe of a work on Gold Ores. 

 Remember, Sir, that the arts have not yet arrived with us at that high degree of perfection which 

 they have attained in England ; and efpecially that we have none of that beautiful paper, which 

 contributes fo much to give a more brilliant effect to paintings. 



What gratitude would not the world owe you, Sir, if you would undertake a work, fuch as 

 this, on the Zoophytes ! I have long had an intention of publifhing an Iconography to illuftrate 

 the Elenchus Zocphytorum of Mr. Pallas. I have collected the mofc beautiful fubjects in this kind, 

 and I could not only fupply the figures of all which Pallas has defcribed, but I could add to them 

 a great number of new fpecies. But we zvant artifts, who are at the fame time connoijfeurs in natural 

 hiftory, to execute the whole with proper precijion -, and befides, our paper is fo exceedingly bad that 

 it is hardly poflible to make ufe of it. J 



With the greateft impatience I fhall wait for the continuation of your work ; and I mould be 

 happy if I could be of any fervice to you here. If to complete your collection of Shells you 

 fhould have occafion for any fpecies in the Emperor's Cabinet, I would have paintings of them 

 done on vellum with all poffible exactnefs, and I hope that you would have reafon to be fatisfied 

 with them. 



Continue, Sir, to honour me with your correfpondence; and be on all occafions afTured of my 

 defire to give you every proof of my efteem, and of the lincere regard with which I have the 

 honour to be, 



Sir, 

 ' Your moft obedient and moft humble fervant, 



Auguft 18, 1787. IGNATIUS, BARON OF BORN. 



P. S. Sir Robert Keith, the Englifh Envoy at the Imperial, Court, has the charge of the 

 packet which I have addrefTed to you. 



To Mr. Thomas Martyn, at his Academy for 

 illuftrating and painting Natural Hiftory, 

 N" 16, Great Marlborough-Street, London. 



LETTER 



