SENEBIER JEAN: (1742-1809) Genevan Naturalist. A major Pioneer of photosynthesis research. Senebier was a Calvinist ...

SENEBIER JEAN: (1742-1809) Genevan Naturalist. A major Pioneer of photosynthesis research. Senebier was a Calvinist Pastor. Senebier correctly concluded that plants use the carbon in carbon dioxide as a nutriment. A rare and excellent A.L.S., `Senebier´, one page, 4to, Geneva, 16th April 1804, to Monsieur De Saluces, President of the National Academy of Sciences, Literature and Arts in Turin, in French. A very interesting letter with scientific content, Senebier stating in part `.. I beg your kind help to forward the copy, which you have booked for me, of the last volume of Memoirs of the Turin Academy, together with the copies of my Memoir to Monsieur Aubert… I really languish to share the education and pleasure that such excellent works done by the illustrious members provide. I dare to say that mine might not be worthy of being presented together with the others..´ Senebier further refers to other contemporary scientists and to their works, saying `Professor Prevost, on his last lecture session at our Physics and natural History society, read a curious memoir where he deduced after multiple observations… a translational movement of our solar system, which he determines towards the Lambda des jambes d´Hercule star…. You might have read on the last Britannique journal the great experiments by Count Rumford about heat, they bring us back to former knowledge we had on this phenomenon production.´ With blank address leaf, and small area of paper loss as a result of the letter opening. Very small overall age wear and bottom right corner clipped, otherwise G to VG £400-600