238 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XIX. 



In later years * Loten returned from England to the father- 

 land, fixed his abode at Scadeshoeve — at least in the summer 

 — and died, as appears from the register of deaths consulted 

 by Mr. S. Muller, in the burgess rank, on 25th February 1789, 

 at Utrecht, " at the Drift near the Wittevrouwenbrug." 



In conclusion, something further regarding the history of 

 my collection of plates. 



Robide van der Aa had suggested 1790 as the probable year 

 of Loten' s death, referring to the Kunst- en Letterbode of 1790, 

 p. 34 (should be vol. ii., p. 34). On consulting that work, one 

 reads there under the short reports : — 



" Haarlem. List of presents to the Dutch Society of Sciences 

 since 25th May 1789 to 21st May 1790. For the room of 

 natural curiosities. A collection of about 130 very fine draw- 

 ings of mostly East Indian and rare birds, as also of some four- 

 footed beasts, fish, crabs, sea-polyps, insects, and plants, by 

 legacy of the late Mr. Joan Gideon Loten, in his lifetime 

 former councillor of Netherlands India and Governor of 

 Ceylon," 



At once surmising that this report referred to my own 

 plates, I applied through the medium of Dr. Greshoff to Prof. 

 Dr. J. Bosscha at Haarlem, secretary of the Dutch Society of 

 Sciences, whereupon I received the following reply : — 



Here is what my investigations have yielded. In the 

 minutes of the meeting of directors of 4th August the following 

 is recorded : — 



The president also communicated that Mr. J. Kol had in- 

 formed the secretary under date Utrecht, 18th July last, that the 

 late Mr. Joan Gideon Loten, in his lifetime former councillor of 

 Netherlands India and Governor of Ceylon, by a codicil dated 13th 

 October 1778 had engaged to have transferred to this Dutch Society 

 of Sciences his collection of drawings and sketches made in East 

 India, as these shall and are to be found in a large copper box f 

 among his movables, on application for the said legacy, in ex- 

 change for a proper receipt in discharge of the informant as ex- 

 ecutor of the deceased's estate, — that on the same date, the secre- 

 tary having been requested and qualified therefor, this transfer 



* Apparently about 1783 (see under Section III.), 

 t See at end of Section III. regarding this legacy. 



