Letter 3512

Breyne received one of Blair’s last works, Quincy’s Dispensatory, the Philosophical Transactions, and a packet of seeds Sloane sent him. He is going to plant the seeds next spring, as it is too late in the season to plant them. Breyne does not have anything to send Sloane, but promises to forward seeds from his garden next year. He believes his coffee tree will bear fruit in the spring. The tulip tree, Guernsey lilies, and parcel of books have finally arrived. Breyne sent, by Captain John Keble, ‘about 40 pieces of Ambre with several insects’. He will send more fossils next year. Breyne found Mr Martyn’s book on plants agreeable and asks that any future works by Martyn be sent to him. He was glad to find that colourful renderings of plants are included in English natural histories. Breyne disputes Martyn’s conclusions on Aloe, however, and justifies his position. He was sad to hear of Dr Sherard’s death, especially since the latter’s book has not yet been published. Nonetheless, he hopes Dr Dillenius will print it soon. Breyne provides a list of 7 books and asks Sloane to send them if they are available. Johann Philipp Breyne (1680-1764) was a German botanist, zoologist, and entomologist known primarily for his work on the Polish cochineal, or Porphyrophora polonica, used in red dye production. He became a fellow of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 1715 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Philipp_Breyne).