Francis Aston wrote Letter L-153 to inform Leeuwenhoek that his recent letter about wine was favorably received at the Royal Society
This letter is known only by reference in another letter.
In this letter, Francis Aston writes to L. to inform him that his recent letter about wine was favorably received at the Royal Society.
The date is New Style, which was ten days ahead of the Old Style date of 10 January 1685 used by Aston in London. Leeuwenhoek's reference to his letter of “22nd January N.S.” is actually Letter L-154 of 23 January 1685.
Aston’s previous letter to L. is Letter L-151 written between August and mid-October 1684, in this volume. Leeuwenhoek did not reply to it directly. Instead, he addressed his next letter, Letter L-152 of 5 January 1685 to the members of the Royal Society in general, which he had recently begun doing.
Leeuwenhoek had probably not received the present letter from Aston about the positive reception of Letter L-152 before he sent Letter L-154 of 23 January 1685 to the Royal Society about salts and their crystals. It was read at the meetings of the Society on 25 March, 29 April, and 6 May 1685 O.S.
Letter L-157 of 30 March 1685 to the Royal Society
The last letter I addressed to your worships was dated 22nd January N.S. Since then I have received two missives written by his honour Mr. Francis Aston, secr. Roy. Soc., namely that of 10th January and that of 9th February O.S., from the former of which I note with pleasure that my observations respecting wine have found favour with your worships, while from the second I see that, although my report on salts has been received, it has not yet been read out.
