Letter 3167

Vincent thanks Sloane for his favours. Many people come to see his cabinet in Haarlem. His age and feebleness prevent him from traveling to England to visit Sloane and view his cabinet. He discusses how difficult it is to procure curiosities. Dr Chirac, physician to the Duc d’Orleans and Director General of the Jardin du Roi, is one of Vincent’s primary contacts in France. Vincent can reach the King of France through Chirac. He offers his service to Sloane, claiming he can make it easier for Sloane to purchase curiosities in Europe. Levinus Vincent (1658-1727) was Dutch damask merchant and Anabaptist. He was an avid collector of natural and man-made artifacts whose visitor book recorded 3,500 patrons, including Peter the Great. The contents of his collection were published in a catalogue entitled ‘Wonder Theatre of Nature’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levinus_Vincent).