A Voyage to California; To Observe the Transit of Venus - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1778. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... ExtraB of a Letter from Mexico addrejjed to the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, by Don Joseph Anthony de Alzatey Ramyrez, now a Correspondent of the said Academy, containing some curious particulars relative to the Natural History of the Country adjacent to the City of Mexico 3. Gentlemen, Th E departure of Mr. Pauly for Paris procures me a favourable opportunity of sending you several of the curiosities of 5 This letter, written in Spanish, was delivered to the academy by Mr. Pauly, together with Mr. Chappe's papers: Mr. Pingre was desired to translate it into French, in order to its being read at one of their private meetings. Every thing is here left out that is foreign to natural history, or of little or no consequence to the public. this country *. I think it will not be amiss to subjoin, an explanation, which however I submit to your judgment and learning. I have been greatly affected by Mr. Chappe's death. New Spain has lost in him a man whose talents would have been of great service, to make known a thousand natural curiosities which here lie buried in oblivion. Those who are fittest to rescue them from it, either disregard them, or are not able to communicate them to the public. t The chest containing the specimens of natural history, mentioned here by Don Alzate, did not come to hand till long after this letter. The academy then appointed M. de Juflieu and M. Fougeroux de Bondaroy to examine them, and to make their report. Mr. Fougeroux has favoured me with his observations on the specimens, and has given me leave to insert the following notes, for the better understanding of Don Alzate's letter. By what I can collect from Mr. Pauly's account, Mr. Chappe must have died of an epidemical distemper, which we call here, in the Mexican language, MaU laz...