26
Accompanied by two leaves (3 pp.) of Adanson’s description of the genus and one species of
[Arctium]. Originally filed in
Dictionnaire de botanique under
Arction.
AD 136 [ADANSON, Michel], [Paris, n.d.]. To Monsieur Le Sassier. 1 p.
Catalogue des objets d’histoire naturelle du Mississipi [
sic] demandés à Monsieur Le Sassier.
Comprises a list of wanted items: 4 minerals, 11 animals, 3 of plant materials.
AD 137 ADANSON, [Michel], Paris, 17 Juin 1775. 3 pp.
To Mr. Robillart, Négociant, [Paris], “Pour mettre s’il lui pl[ait] à M. Le Grand.”
An answer to a Prospectus for the Bibliothéque de Medécine, and for which Robillart apparently
asked Adanson for biographical information. The poor treatment given
by some authors of
similar works to such requests caused Adanson to forget himself and to leave to posterity his
distinctions between three types of scholars: (1) those who have the genius of invention and
method, (2) those who have only the method, and (3) those who are only compilers.
Nevertheless, Adanson sent a sketch of ideas of interest to him and of which truth will be the
only merit, together with a sketch of his life and ideas, stressing his méthode naturelle.
AD 138 [ADANSON, Michel], Paris, 15 Mars 1769. [1 p.; incomplete, for the first part is
missing] [Addressee unknown, perhaps Albert von Haller.]
Gives directions for reciprocal shipments of plants and seeds. Criticizes Linnaeus sharply for his
bad Latin, noting that Linnaeus’ generic names of
Scopola,
Tillaea, and
Jussiaea should be
Scopolia,
Tillia, and
Jussia, and that
Pittonia,
Jacquina, and
Adansonia should be
Pittona,
Jacquina, and
Adansona. Linnaeus did not loose his judgment, because Adanson could not find
in his works the slightest trace of it. Adanson defies anybody to show him anything new [in
Linnaeus’ work] which warrants one hundredth of the celebrity which he acquired only by
praising his pupils, although he cannot boast of having made one botanist, in contrast with
Tournefort, who made the de Jussieu’s, and other persons who will avenge this Age of
usurpation.
Adanson reports that it is his intention to publish his “figures,” so that all naturalists may obtain
them at the lowest price possible, 80 livres per 1,000 plates for subscribers and 100 livres for
others, making the cost 2,400 to 3,000 livres for a complete set of 30,000 natural history plates.
These would be well executed, with details drawn by Adanson himself, which would eliminate
the expense of 10- to 30-thousand livres otherwise necessary for purchase of illustrated natural
history books, and which often are so incomplete that time spent in search of such figures is lost.
He notes that this second edition of Familles des plantes is completely ready for publication,
with accounts of new genera and other additions; it will not go to the printer before the
Histoire
du Sénégal is published, which the publisher promises to take up without delay.
AD 139 d’ALEMBERT, [a nom de plume for Jean LEROND, cf. AD 11] (1717–1783), Paris, 16
Mars [1772]. 1 p.
27
Asks Adanson to do what he can to enable M
r
. L’abbé Remy [also written Remi] to attend
Adanson’s “cours.”
A draft of Adanson’s reply notes that it is sufficient to be interested in behalf of someone if
d’Alembert is; he will see what can be done, although the idea of easing the conditions of the
cours had not occurred to him, for he has considerably expenses and hopes to be successful.
Mentions also the recent death of his mother and ends with greetings from Madame Adanson.
AD 140 ANDRIOT,____, Arcy Sainte-Restitute [a Fère en Tardenois], 22 F[évrie]r 17[64].
Was charmed to receive Adanson’s letter. Reports on wheat growing methods in the region.
Should prefer to rent the cheaper room with Mlle. Le Maux, provided M. Hautteclocq will
release him from existing arrangement. Closes with a sentence in Ouolof [cf. p. 20].
Andriot, college friend of Adanson, was “officier du génie, chargé de l’entretien des forts de
Saint-Louis et de Gorée” during Adanson’s stay in Senegal.
In his reply of 4 Mars 1764, Adanson thanks Andriot for details on wheat growing and asks for
more information and seed samples from Damartin or other cereal-growing region. Plans to go
himself to Damartin, but fears the bad roads; cannot go later than 25 Mars, wanting to start then
daily observations on his seedlings. Mentions a notary Deshaies, hanged by effigy because of
bankruptcy, remarking he will not have lost his appetite by that. Reports that his negotiations for
the post at Louvain has not been completed. Advises Andriot not to envy people going to
[French] India, because of politics. Ends with an Ouolof sentence, possibly concerning
Senegalese persons known by both men.
AD 141 AVED, [Charles-François, Maitre des Eaux et Forets de Chaumont en Bassigny]
(ca.1730–1787), Chaumont en Bassigny, 3 [Jan.] 1767. 2 pp.
Praised Adanson’s Familles des plantes and Duhamel’s Elémens d’Agriculture as precious and
hoped that M. Bombarde, who died
in March of the previous year, would have introduced him to
Adanson. Wants to be informed on good books in natural history so as to avoid falling into traps
of charlatans like Dagoty and Buc’hoz; criticises Buc’hoz’s first book sharply, and to which he
was misled by the use of Adanson’s name in the prospectus. Could not get Adanson’s Voyage at
several booksellers in Paris. Would be happy if Adanson would come to herborize with him in
the country; facilities are at his disposal.
AD 142 AVED, [Charles-François], Chaumont en Bassigny, 17 Février 1767. 3pp.
Gave Adanson’s Mémoire [cf. AD 274] at once to the “Procureur du Roy,” who knows
Villeneuve au Roy and of Adanson’s plan to buy property there for 6,500 livres. Inasmuch as
Adanson talked to him about finding an intelligent widow to run his household, Aved
recommends his unmarried sister-in-law, the daughter of the late Marquis de Magnac, who lost
his money in chemical experiments.