THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

...at that time. See the same author's Treatise on Respiration, pages 90-91. He later wrote to Thevenot on the 24th of September of the year '65, that these images might perhaps have been seen by the most famous Frederik Ruysch before he himself had published his own findings on these matters. He said this to Thevenot on the occasion when he was sending him from Amsterdam to Paris the little book that Ruysch had published this same year at The Hague. He insinuates this suspicion obliquely, but yet adds that he could never assert it; that he loves Ruysch as much as possible, and that he rejoices seriously that the true knowledge of these valves has become known through him. And anyone who considers the matter sees that it could hardly have happened, because Ruysch had long before the edition of his book shown these valves to others, and to Bils himself. However, the letters given to Steno for Copenhagen, sent from there to Batavia, would have come to Steno late. And if they had been seen by him, how would he have dared to publish those plates publicly, with Swammerdam already living and present, without making any mention of the inventor? Meanwhile, among other things, in France, by the Loire River, he observed and described the dragonfly, a flying insect, and certain kinds of mayflies. He then lived in Paris, in the same lodgings with Steno, using his company most familiarly at that time. He enjoyed there the intimate friendship of Melchisedech Thevenot, a most distinguished man, who had been an ambassador of the King of France to the Republic of Genoa. In his most pleasant villa at Yffi, not far from Paris, together with Steno, he was hospitably received and observed various insects. The distinguished man observed the singular gifts of Swammerdam's genius, and the happy industry with which he had polished them. Therefore, he most liberally offered everything to the man that he thought could help his studies. Always mindful of his benefactors, and always increased with new gifts, he wrote not too long before his death that he had found in Thevenot alone a certain, faithful, and true friend, to whom he had found no equal among mortals anywhere. Thevenot introduced this guest of his into the assembly of the learned, which was held frequently in his own house to cultivate the liberal arts. There, he was always only a listener, always silent, and could not be excited to break his silence. At last, driven by great clamors, unwillingly he exhibited one or two examples of dissecting insects, and exposing their interiors to the eyes; then, indeed, admirable to all and praised, he suppressed the loquacity of the chatterers with silent art. Thevenot recommended the man's skill to the most distinguished man, Conrad van Beuningen, Senator and Consul of Amsterdam, who was then an ambassador from our Republic to the King of France. He later ensured that, upon his return, he obtained the faculty to dissect the corpses of those who died in the hospital of Amsterdam. That liberty indeed benefited most greatly the promotion of anatomical studies. Having returned to Amsterdam, he set himself diligently to examining corpses, using the occasion given in the hospital.