the family strife that ensued, together with the anxiety he continually felt about his spiritual state, and his almost unintermitted devotional exercises, again brought on a severe disorder of that description called a double tertian ague. During this long-continued illness, he was mostly confined to bed, and unfit for any exertion; even when it was so far abated that air and exercise became desirable, he could not be prevailed on to leave his bed-chamber. In order to avoid the importunity of his friends on this subject, he persisted for a long time in maintaining an obstinate silence. In this moody and hypochondriacal state of mind, when any one attempted to draw his attention to the investigations which he formerly delighted in, he manifested great dissatisfaction, and even seemed as if he would feel relief by getting completely rid of the objects which he had taken such pains to collect and preserve. A final offer of them was made to Thevenot, that he might dispose of them in France, accompanied with an intimation, that, if he should succeed, Swammerdam would accept of his invitation to come and live with him, provided he were allowed to do so retired and unknown. Thevenot, however, was unsuccessful; and, as he now despaired of finding a purchaser for the entire collection, he determined to sell it by auction in separate lots, for such sums as might be offered. The sale was advertised to take place in the month of May, 1680.
With whatever indifference Swammerdam might now regard his collection, he was not destined to witness its dispersion. His disorder returned with
