The Hartlib Papers

Sir,

In answer unto your request, & performance of my late promise I shall heere Trouble you with a short narration of Insects in my observation.

First of al let me assure you that the Subject is in my opinion very wel worth a profounder observation & acurater pen then either my braine or quil can reach unto, for they are very strange to Consider, their original, progresse & spontaneous transmutation.

Now not to trouble your selfe with such obvious things which are visible to Every observer, as namely the change of Caterpillars into Butterflyes, (which thing I have observed wh a great deale of Curiosity, & shal be able to give you a large account of) I shal at present only informe you of some fruits of my Idle houres in a new yet exceeding pleasant speculation concerning Insects;

I find by more then seldome or fortuitous observations that the Celestial influx doth sport it selfe in nothing more seriously then in producing of living beings, which are obvious almost in Every thing, as for instance, the palmetoe or wilde Date tree when nothing is at Certaine seasons of the yeare filled with a Bloudsucking flye, that the whole trunke if Cut or broken wil appeare as I may say Hunny Combed with those animalls, some newly forming, others more mature, & some fit to flye.

The same Individual <Species of> flye I have observed in other parts where no Palmetoe Ever was seene, & that only bred in one other tree namely the Chesnut tree, & I would be thankful to any man that Could Experimentally informe me that it is bred in any other tree.

I shal not heare insert the production of Snakes, mice, & such like which is very strange, yet true, nor of pismires, Muskeetaes, & ordinary flyes which if I should discourse of it would require a long tractade,

Yet though Insects are so various yet in reference to their nativity I ranke them into two sorts, & they are either more neere or remote to or from the Vegitable Kingdome,

I pray let me not be misinterpreted, for I allow them al a Vegetative life, but yet the difference I meane is that some are when dead more Cadaverous, others in their putrefaction more like to a vegetable, for odor,

I find that al Herbes, plants & trees, yea & many mineralls, as also al Animalls inclined to this propagation, Yea & the same thing in kind, as it is variously disposed, wil yeeld a various animality in this Kind.

As for instance if the Liver or bloud of a beast be taken, & fit in a sensible but very little warmth, it wil produce a maggot or gentle, which will grow very great, if these be Collected in a quantity, washed & put into a glasse & stopt soe close that they may want all aire they wil dye, & then giving a little aire they wil produce another insect, which being used as before wil produce a third & so a 4th 5th & 6th sort, al of a divers forme, & bignes & each lesse Cadaverous then the former, & at length the odor & qualityes of Carion wil not be in the least measure perceptible in the putrefaction of the last insects, out of which may be drawne [continues in left margin] a tincture, scarce credible to one who hath not seene it, The same alterration of Formes I have attempted & performed in Insects which have had their original from vegetables, especially Shooemake, & have obteyned a Gallant tincture, which is a way of Graduation of a Substance by animal fermentation, I thinke practised by few save my selfe, & to some perhaps scarce credible, but facile to an indusrious searcher, But time preventing me, & my occasions pressing brevity, I shal Conclude my discourse at present Intending a large & particular description of these things, & in the meane time remaine

               Sir Your assured Friend, & most faithfull Servant G.S: For his Truly Honored & highly esteemed Friend Mr Samuell Hartlib at his house at Charing Crosse here ddd

[Left margin, another hand] M.S. of Mr. Hartlibs, concerning naturall hystory Philosophie etc. viz.