To the most distinguished man,

Mr. GEORGE

SCHUMACHER, original: "S. P. D." This is an abbreviation for "Salutem Plurimam Dicit," a standard Latin greeting meaning "sends many greetings."

PETER LAUREM-

BERG.

Just as it is with coins, original: "nummis" most prudent SCHUMACHER, which a prince causes to be struck with a unique emblem and sent out among the common people, the same thing usually happens with little books by which men of some learning and fame set out to promote the public benefit of the republic of letters original: "rei literariae." This term refers to the pan-European community of scholars and intellectuals who shared knowledge regardless of borders.. We handle both of them curiously, we inspect them, we turn them over, and if they display anything memorable, we read them; each of us also interprets them according to the judgment of our own individual inclination. An example of this (to not look further afield) can be this little work by Cornelius Drebbel on the Elements, which almost everyone has handled with a careful and diligent hand during these few past years? This only