Fac Simile of one of Copernicus's Letters .■ 
63 
Art. XI . — Notice respecting Copernicus , with a Plate , ron- 
taining a Fac Simile of one (fhis Letters . 
TL HE particulars of the life and discoveries of Copernicus have 
been so fully detailed by Gassendi, in his account of this great 
restorer of astronomy, that it would be inconsistent with the plan 
of this Journal to enter upon a subject so familiar to all who have 
studied the history of astronomy. 
We have been led to introduce the subject at present, in con- 
sequence of having been indulged, through a friend, with a sight 
of one of the few letters that remain of that celebrated astrono- 
mer ; and we have no doubt’that our readers will thank us for gra- 
tifying them with a fac simile of this interesting MS. 
The original letter is from the Library of Prince Czartoryski, 
at Putawy in Poland, who has distinguished himself by his im- 
mense collection of Polish antiquities. 
The following is the original letter, as engraven in Plate III,, 
“ Rev me in Christo pater et domine. Percepi literas lie- 
verendae Dominationis Vestrae, e quibus humanitatem, gratiam et 
favorem erga me Reverendae Dominationis Vestrae satis intelligo, 
quae cum apud ipsam obtinui, etiam apud alios quoscunque bo- 
nos viros eadem mihi propagare non dedignat ur. Quod certe 
non meis meritis sed cognitae R. D. Vestrae bonitati puto tribu- 
endum. Utinam mihi possit aliqua contingere quibus haec pos- 
sent promoveri. Gaudeo certe plusquam dici potest me talem 
dominum et fautorem invenisse. Quod autem petit R. D. Ves- 
tra ut ad se 20 hujus mensis conferrem, quod etsi libentissimus 
facerem non levem causam habens tantum amicum et patronum 
visitandi, id tamen mihi incidit infortunium ut eo tempore Do- 
minum Felicem et me negotia quaedam et causae necessariae nos 
cogant in loco manere. Itaque uti R. D. Vestra boni consulat 
absentiam tunc meam rogo. Sum alioquin accedere R. D. Ves- 
tram, ut par est, paratissimus, et cui plurima alia debeo facere 
quod placuerit, modo id R. D. Vestra alio tempore mihi insinua- 
verit. Cui jam non in petitis gratihcari, sed magis missam ca- 
