To Benjamin Franklin from Ignaz Edler von Born, 17 July 1784
From Ignaz Edler von Born1
ALS: College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Vienne ce 17e Juillet 1784
Monsieur
Un quelqu’un qui, attaché depuis le matin jusqu’au Soir a Son bureau, et privé presque de l’usage de Ses pieds,2 ne connoit d’autre delassement, que celui que les etudes peuvent donner, Vous offre une petite brochure, qui peut etre pourra Vous amuser dans des moments perdus.3 Agrées Monsieur cet hommage d’un inconnu, qui admire vos connaissances et vos actions depuis long tems, et qui Vous Souhaite pour le progres des Sciences et pour le bien de l’humanité une vie immortelle. Monsieur Votre tres humble et trés obeissant Serviteur
Born
1. A mineralogist and court counselor; see XLI, 214–15.
2. Born suffered an accident while inspecting an ore mine in Hungary in 1770, and developed chronic neuritis. In his later years he could not move without assistance: Helmut Reinalter, “Ignaz von Born—Persönlichkeit und Wirkung,” in Die Aufklärung in Österreich: Ignaz von Born und seine Zeit, ed. Reinalter (Frankfurt am Main, 1991), pp. 16, 29.
3. The enclosed work was Opuscula … (Augsburg, 1784), an expanded edition of Born’s Specimen monachologiæ methodo Linnæana … (Augsburg, 1783). Both were published under the pseudonym “Joannis Physiophilus.” This biting satire against monks classified the various orders according to a system modeled on Linnaean taxonomy, and caused outrage among church officials in Vienna: Reinalter, “Ignaz von Born,” pp. 22–3. BF signed his name on the title page and inserted the present letter into the book, writing, “Given by the Author Baron de Borne of Vienna to BF.” The book, as well as the letter, is at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia library.