Inhoudsopgave, summary of the contents, for Send-Brieven I. My translation and emphasis.
Het vleesch van den Walvis gedroogt, en door 't Vergrootglas gezien, vertoont zich kleinder, enz. Menigte van membraantjes, die de gezelde vleeschdeeltjes doorloopen. Dus is yder vleeschdeeltje als een muscul ofie spier.
Vleeschdeeltjes weer natgemaakt boedanig zich uytzetteden? Onder de gemelde membraantjes loopen veele bloetvaten. Rimpels in de vleeschdeelen van den Walvis: waar uyt dezelve ontstaan? De vleeschfibertjes van den Walvis bestaan al wederom uyt andere Fibertjes.
De Fibertje van 't runtvleesch ook met membraantjes omwonden.
Whale flesh dried, and seen through the magnifying glass, showed itself smaller, etc. A multitude of little membranes that run through these flesh particles. Thus is every flesh particle like a muscle.
Flesh particles again made wet and how they expanded? Under the mentioned membranes run many blood vessels. Wrinkles in the flesh of the whale: from what do they arise? The flesh fibers of the whale consist in turn of other little fibers.
The little fiber of beef also wrapped with membranes.
Signed autograph copy of the original letter. The manuscript is to be found in London, Royal society, Ms 2099, Early Letters L.4.48; 6 quarto pages.
A contemporary English translation of the letter is to be found in manuscript in London, Royal society, Ms 2103, Early Letters L.4.52; 5 folios.
The letter was read at the meeting of the Royal Society of 4 February 1712/13 O.S. Royal Society, Journal Book Original, vol. 11, p. 407.
The original drawings have been lost. In Leeuwenhoek's Dutch and Latin editions, the seven figures are combined on a single plate facing p. 3 in both editions.
It is evident from the word Copie in L.'s own hand that the manuscript is a copy; it has been written by L. himself. The copy was sent to the Royal Society by L. on 12 October 1713 at the request of Hans Sloane. See Letter 304 of 12 October 1713. In Philosophical Transactions, the present letter is dated 12 October 1713. The letter that must have been sent to Heinsius together with the accompanying letter is lacking in the Heinsius archive of the Nationaal Archief; the accompanying letter is Letter 295 of 8 November 1712.
Publicationsoverview
Chronologyall letters
Bibliographyfirst editions
Chronologyall editions and printings
