step, however, sufficient prudence still remained to lead him to consider what means he possessed of supporting himself in his retirement. His father could not be expected to afford facilities for carrying such a mistaken scheme into execution, and the only disposable property of any value he himself possessed, was his museum. That, accordingly, he resolved to sell, and he applied first to Thevenot, to make his intentions public, and to endeavour to procure a purchaser. This was readily undertaken by his friend, but notwithstanding his utmost exertions he was unable to get it disposed of. In this disappointment, he made a similar application to Nicholas Steno, who was now settled at the Court of Florence, where he had become a convert to the Catholic religion, and had been raised to a bishopric—a dignity likely to have the effect, if it was not conferred with the design, of making him stedfast in his new faith. Swammerdam thought that through his representations, the Grand Duke might be induced to renew the offer he had formerly made for the collection. The bishop of Titiopolis, in reply to his communication, urged him very strongly to come to Florence with his collection, assuring him that the Duke would willingly give the price formerly offered, as well as provide for his comfort otherwise; and, with the presumptuous zeal of a new convert, he took advantage of the opportunity to press him with every argument to follow his own example, and conform to the church of Rome. The implied condition that Swammerdam was to accompany his museum to Tuscany, if pur-
