Letter received by Banks from Andrew Lumisden, 23 February1784 (Series 72.114) - No. 0003

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obligingly to him.  Indeed he never ceases to express the high regard he has for you, his gratitude for the essential favors you have done him, and his dissatisfaction at the Academy des Sciences here, for not having named you one of their right foreign members. The truth is, that there are members of that academy, jealous of M. de Buffon's superior merit, and envious of the honors universally conferred on him, do every thing in their power to thwart him in the Academy.  He will however let slip no opportunity to solicit the Academy in your behalf, and he doubts not of at last succeeding.

M. de Buffon has just published the 9th, and which will be the last volume of birds:  and he has now given the 1st and 2d volume of his mineral kingdom.  He begs you will accept of these 3 volumes as a small mark of his friendship, and has desired M. Panckoucke to send them to you, which he has done to his correspondent M. Emsley, and who, on printing the inclosed order, will deliver them as soon as they arrive.  His minerals he thinks will take up other two volumes, which he will send you when published.  In the 4th volume he will give his ingenious ideas on the inclination and declination of the needle.

I am glad that you have found a copy of Barba's Arte De los Metales, be[cause]