Lettre de John White à non id., 1770-10
Creators: name: White, John
name: White, John
Publisher: name: NAKALA - https://nakala.fr (Huma-Num - CNRS)
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/04ces3204
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2022
Subjects: Histoire naturelle (général)

description: Dear Sir,

It was no small disappointment to me to hear that Mr Fuisse had left the South of France, without being able either to procure Dr Gouan book on the fishes of the Mediterranean, or to have any conversation with that learned gentlemen; whode works have been recommended to me by Mr Pennant, author of the British zoology &amp; by brother of mine, who is an intimate acquintance of Mr Penannt, &amp; likewise himself a considerable proficient in Botany &amp; others branches of Natural History. But by your very obliging letter I was last week informed that Mr Twisse has made ample amends for that disappointment, by leaving my commission to the case of one who has executed it to the utmost of my wihes. Wich my best respects these for to those celebrated naturalist, Dr Gouan a M Séguier be pleased to explain to them, that is now no more than two years since I began to investigate &amp; collect some of the natural productions of this part of the world, hither to chiefly in the animal kingdom. That I propose shortly to make some incursions into the vegetable &amp; fossil kingdoms. That the only books I am furnish’d with for this purpose are Linnaei Systema Naturae; Raii Quadrupedum, avium &amp; Piscium synopsis, Linnaei Fauna Svescica; Scopoli Entomologia Carniolica; Pennant British Zoology; Stilling fleets Sweedish tracts on Natural History &amp; Asselquist’s voyage to the Levant; Lee Introduction to the sexual system of Botany and some other English writers &amp; that lately Dr Gouan &amp; Brunnick on the fishes of the Mediterranean have been recommanded to me as excellent assistant. That I find many species of fishes here not well described in Linnae or Ray, wich I depend upon having fully explain’es by those later writers ; especially as their researshes are limited to the Mediterranean; at that same time that may probably meet with some unknow to them bt being situated so much nearer the Ocean. That in order to advance &amp; compleat my own labour &amp; if possible to contribute ever so little to the information of Dr Gouan or M. Séguier, I have inclosed a catalogue of the principal part of those animals wich I have already collected, or remarked in &amp; about this place &amp; arrenged them according to the Linnean method, whose system seems now to be pretty universaly followed. That though the whole progress I have to made may be too onconsiderable to engage the attention of those very eminent adepts, yet I hope, wiche their premission for me to become a disciple of so illustriois masters, to collect some intelligence in the natural world not unacceptable to the curious. That while I reside her I intend to apply alle the leisure time I have from the duties of my function in these national &amp; pleasing pursuits, &amp; wish at least to contribute my mite towards accomplishing a more perfect &amp; accurate History of the works of the Creation. I shall esteem it a great favour if either of those Gentleman can inform me, or if yourself can learn at Marseille among the booksellers, whether the [fol. 11v] Icones insectorum descriptionum in Entomologia Carniolica Scopoli are yet published, or to be procured in France. I have the Entomologia, but should be very glad of so excellent guide as the Icones. I am really vexed that is out of my power to send M. Séguier at present a specimen og the Bee-bird (Meropos Apiaster Lin.) or of the Match-cock, or Hoopae (Lepupa Epops Lin) having but lately sent all my specimens of birds, fishes &amp; insects to England. But you maty depend I will not fail sending him some in the spring, when those birds will return to us from Africa, whither they retire regularly during the winter. If these be likewise, any inscets in my catalogue unknow or curious to those Gentlemen, I shall transmit them specimens thereafter, with great pleasure. I must further beg the favour of some exact instructions for preserving fishes; having yet tried no method but putting them in spirits, wiche destroys their beauty. Yo will also oblige me much by informing me in what language I may best correspond with either of these Gentlemen, for tho’ I undestrand the French a Italian sufficienly to read them with pleasure. I should make a bad figure in attempting to write them &amp; I fear my latin is grown too rusty to run with the ease of fluency I would wish. I hope to hear from you soon with whatever commands yourself Dr Gouan or M. Séguier may please to honour me with &amp; with many them for this singular favour. I am, Dear Sir, your most obliged &amp; obedient servant.

 John White

[La lettre n’est pas adressée à Séguier. Des fragments de papier sont collés sur le nom. Apparait : soins de M. Alexandre R…. Montpellier]

[Lib. De Marseille]
description: Source: [établissement de conservation] Nîmes, Bibliothèque Carré d'Art [cote] ms. 249, fol. 11
description: created: 1770-10-00