I receaved your last letter, Febr. 14, with others which should have come before, but they all came together. I sent to you about xii dayes ago. Yours came together of late, when some have layn by the way a weeke or more, and so they come unto your sister safe at last, and therefore, I tbinck you may so direct them from any place. I cannot conceaue your stay will bee longer at Vienna, perhaps not while this may come unto you; but out of my love and care of you, I would not omitt to send adventure this. For satisfaction of the queries of the R. S. putt yourself to no hazard or adventure, butt leame and make the best enquiries you can of 176 DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. [1669. things in Hungarie, and at distance, by others, and what is neere Vienna or in it, you may observe yourself. Your chief buisinesse must bee to settle a correspondent, who may write unto you at any time and answer your letters, in order to the R. S. or to their secritarie, if need requireth, which must bee some person resident in Vienna, of an ingenious and inquisitiue temper, who make it his businesse to enquire particularly of himself or according to your queries, or what may bee further hinted hereafter. There is an author named Wernherius, or Vernherius, de rebus Pannoniæ, which is Hungarie and part of Austria, who hath writ of all the mineralls and all minerall waters in and about those parts; out of whom Baccius, de Thermis, hath taken what hee writes of such things in Austria, Hungarie, and neere Poland. I doubt whether you can have the opportunitie in any librarie there to looke upon it. You may receave some knowledge about. the mines in your queries by proposing them all, or some, to some of the emperours officers implyed about the mines, which you may find in Vienna, or some practical workmen that hath observed them. Quarries of . . . . . . . . . are probably not farre from the city. The baths of Baden, by Vienna, are mentioned in Baccius, de Thermis. You may enquire of what they consist, and what tryall hath been made of what mineralls they consist. You may enquire about an hot bath by Buda, very hot, which Baccius calls purgatorie, from the popular name. Vitriolun Hungaricum, the best is only worth the obtaining; Cinnaberis nativa, best in lumps; and Vitriolum Crystallinum, and other things you mention; but how you should send them, I see not, sure not by the post, in respect of dearenesse and hazard to bee lost. You must fall in with some merchands that send any goods to Amsterdam, and so putt them up distinctly in boxes; the saline bodyes being apt to relent by moyst ayre; and some smaller quantities of what is singular you may putt in your portmantell. I confesse I should bee willing to receave or see such things. Take as good account, and as particular as you can. Whether you should give any account now, or rather hereafter, to the R. S., I make some doubt; for in your returne you may observe many things, perhaps considerable, in 1669.] DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENCE. 177 those poynts; butt, however, you may signifie them, and write of them, in your letters to mee. You may enquire of Mr. de Bois concerninge thus and myrrha, non arborea, sed fossilis, found at Gradisco in Moravia, whereof you may read in Ortelius his Geograpbie in the cap. of Moravia; read also his chap. De Mansfieldiæ comitatu, where scheyffersteyn are found, and a lake wherin the shape of fishes and froggs are found in stones. I am glad you gave account of so many things in your letters. It was high enough to go up 338 stepps in St. Steph. steeple; and very much that the half moone should stand so longe. The ice showes exceed others in any place. Clusius, the learned botanist, that writ De stirpibus Pannonicis, was over the emperours garden. Endeavor by all means to see his treasure of rarities, and what is remarkable in any private custodie. I am glad you have anatomies there. 'Tis not bard to converse with learned men in those parts. I am sorry the great bridge is broke down, which must much incommodate the citty. How came you to see Rudolphus his glasse, and what credit doth it· beare? Dee I thinck was at Prag in his time. The fountaine at Saltzberg is noble. I could make a shift to understand the Duch writing in it. I like the Turkish foot ensigne well, &c. The Turkish Asper was not in the letter. 'Tis good to see the manner of the executions in all places. I beleeve Nurnberg is the largest towne you have yet met with. You do well to observe fishes and birds, and to learne the Duch names, which commonly are significant, and are set downe with the. Latin in Aldrovardus. By that time you are on your returne, the hearbs will showe a litle in the fields and trees also, which you may take notice of. Enquire what tree that is of which they make musicall instruments; a white waved wood which is called ayre, and sayd to come from Germanie. I bless God for your health, good rencountres and protection of you, and that he would continue the same, is the prayer of your loving father, Thomas Browne.