Thomas Gale wrote Letter L-101, sending Leeuwenhoek official notice of his election as member of the Royal Society

Date: 
March 8, 1680

Heniger's article on Leeuwenhoek's diploma has a transcription but not a translation of this short letter that Thomas Gale, secretary of the Society, wrote in Latin.

Viro Clarissimo D. Antonio Leuwenhook Philosopho eximio, Tho: Gale Regiae Societ. Secretarius S. D.

Frequens admodum erat conventus, cum nuperae observationes tuae perlegerentur. Omnia omnium tulisti puncta' nec facile erat dictu, quid potissimum in Te lauderent, ingenium, industriam, modestiam, an voluntatem illam, que erga collegium nostrum uteris amicissima. Gratiae igitur Tibi imprimis amplissimae decernebantur; censuit q 'consessus universus Te cooptari aportere in Societatem hanc Regiam; ut Tu ordinem nostrum, et Te vicissim ordo noster cohonestare possit. Horum omnium fidem Tibi faciet Diploma Societatis publicum, quod una cum his ad Te do. Rogo Te, ornatissime Vir, si tamen id necesse sit, ut hic Tuus erga Philosophiam et nos egregius animus sit perpetuus.

Vale

The article also has a transcription but not a translation of the diploma.

It was drafted by Thomas Gale on February 12 (O.S.) and finalized on 26 February/8 March 1679/80 (O.S./N.S.) and sent some time between when Royal Society president Williamson approved it on March 4 (O.S.) and when Leeuwenhoek sent his thanks on May 13 (N.S.).

Praeses Concilium et Sodales Regalis Societatis Londini pro Scientia Naturali promovenda Omnibus et Singulis a quos Presentes pervenerint salutem. Cum per varia in rebus Opticis ingeniosissima Experimenta Vir solertissimus Anthonius Leuwenhooke Delphensis singulare suum studium ad promovendos nostrae Societatis conatus jamdiu ostenderit, Sciatis quod dicta Societas laudatum Virum consessu conspirantibus omnium suffragijs, in soladium suorum numerum cooptavit, Inq’ hujusce rei Testimonium sigillum suum huic Diplomati affigi curavit. Datum Londini anno salutis praedicto, Regni autem Caroli II. Augustissimi Magnae Britanniae Regus, Dictae Societatis Fundatoris et Patroni Munificentissimi Tricesimo secundo.

Document: 

A copy of the original manuscript, on one folio page, is preserved at the Royal Society (Register Book Original 6.140).

Sources
Year Author Title
1756 Birch, T. The History of the Royal Society of London
1979 Heniger, J. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek en zijn diploma van de Royal Society