he mentioned: “
I have made a particular acquaintance here with Monsieur de Buffon.” He was in frequent correspondence with him, and in the
Notes on Virginia
analysed and criticized portions of the
Histoire Naturelle at great length. Buffon’s theories and systems of classification were discussed by Jefferson in his letters to his friends,
and to Dr. John Manners (on February 22, 1814) Jefferson referred to Buffon as “
the great advocate of individualism, in opposition to classification.”
The books are entered on the undated manuscript catalogue as follows:
“
Buffon.
Histoire Naturel. Supplement. 12. vols. 12
mo.
.}
Mineraux. 12
mo.
..............................................}
@
4 f 10.
”
Oiseaux. 18. v. 12
mo.
.......................................}
In his
Histoire Naturelle Buffon was assisted by L. M. J. Daubenton and others. The eight volumes dealing with reptiles, fishes and cetaceans were executed after the death of Buffon by B. G. E. de Lacépède, and published between 1788 and 1804.
Louis Guillaume Otto,was chargé des affaires de France in New York.
[1024]
20
Pisonis medicina Brasiliensis.
}
Marcgravii historia naturalis Brasilia
}De Laet.
fol.
1815 Catalogue, page 46. no. 42, as above.
[PISO,
Gulielmus,
and MARCGRAF,
Georg.]
Historia Natvralis Brasiliæ, auspicio et beneficio illvstriss. I. Mavritii Com. Nassau. Illius Provincjae et Maris summi præfecti
adornata: in qua non tantum Plantæ et Animalia, sed et indigenarum morbi, ingenia et mores describuntur et Iconibus supra
quingentas illustrantur.
Lvgdvn. Batavorvm: apud
Franciscum Hackium, et
Amstelodami, apud
Lud. Elzevirium,
1648.
QH117 .P67
First Edition. Folio. 222 leaves, engraved title, woodcut illustrations in the text; half-title for: Georgi Marcgravi de Liebstad, Misnici Germani, Historiæ Rervm Natvralivm, Brasiliæ, Libri octo . . . cvm Appendice de Tapuyis, et Chilensibvs.
Ioannes de Laet, Antvverpianvs, in ordinem digessit & Annotationes addidit multas, & varia ab Auctore omissa supplevit & illustravit.
Sabin 63028.
Surgeon General’s Library Catalogue I, xi, 328.
Willems 1068.
Pieters, page 257, no. 94.
Gulielmus Piso [Willem Pison], 1611-1678, Dutch physician and naturalist, was the founder of Dutch colonial medicine. In 1637 he accompanied J. Maurice
de Nassau to Brazil. His work occupies the first 122 pages of this book, and contains much scientific matter, including references
to the bubonic plague. Piso introduced ipecachuana into Europe from Brazil.
Georg Marcgraf, 1610-1644. Marcgraf died in Guiana on the return voyage from Brazil; his work contains an account of the inhabitants of
Brazil, and was edited after his death by Jean de Laet, 1593-1649, Belgian naturalist and geographer.
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21
Goldsmith’s animated Nature.
4. v.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 45. no. 18, as above.
GOLDSMITH,
Oliver.
An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. By Oliver Goldsmith. In
Four Volumes. Vol. I [-IV].
Philadelphia: Printed for
Mathew Carey [vol. I and II by
R. Folwell, vol. III by
Wrigley & Berriman]
May 12,
August 5,
Sept. 3,
Nov. 5,
1795.
QL50 .G62
4 vol. 8vo. in fours. Vol. I, 236 leaves; vol. II, 220 leaves; vol. III, 218 leaves; vol. IV, 254 leaves; 55 engraved plates,
including 1 frontispiece. The 12 page list of subscribers includes the name of George Jefferson of Richmond, Jefferson’s kinsman
and “correspondent.”
Oliver Goldsmith, 1728-1774, Irish poet and playwright, originally undertook his
History of the Earth and Animated Nature in 1769 for Griffin, the London publisher. It was first published posthumously in 1774.
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