Frederick Adriaan van Reede wrote Letter L-249 sometime in early May 1695 that he was pleased with Leeuwenhoek’s observations about the apple-blossom weevil and black flies on apple tree blossoms
This letter is known only by reference in other letters. It was written sometime between Leeuwenhoek's first letter to him, Letter L-248 of 22 April 1695 and Letter L-253 of 18 May 1695, his reply to the present letter from Van Reede.
Van Reede, a wealthy landowner and diplomat from Utrecht, seems to have initiated this exchange of letters by sending Leeuwenhoek a caterpillar to study some time before Leeuwenhoek sent his first letter to him.
In this letter, van Reede writes that he is pleased with Leeuwenhoek’s observations about the apple-blossom weevil and black flies on apple tree blossoms.
Letter L-248 of 22 April 1695 to Frederik Adriaan van Reede
I express as yet my gratitude for the large and unfamiliar Caterpillar sent to me, which I should have liked to see metamorphose.
Letter L-253 of 18 May 1695 to Frederik Adriaan van Reede
I have seen with satisfaction in his Very Honourable’s Letter that he had read with pleasure my discoveries which I had sent his Very Honourable on the 22nd of April.
