Returning again to Harlem, Mr. Van Dale carries me to visit Mynhéer Koolaert, a merchant, and father of a beautiful daughter, named Hester, about seventeen years of age, born deaf and consequently dumb; but taught to speak (tho not very articulately) by one Dr. Amman, who has published a book upon that art, of which the young lady gave me a copy in Dutch, and her father another in Latin. She asked me after Mr. Rombouts of Constantinople; and I answering he is dead, she discerned what I said by the motion of my lips. By the same means she can discourse at large with her mother even in the dark, by feeling her lips when speaking. She writes well, and paints curiously. And her mother is an excellent Latinist. The same day Mr. Van Dale shewed me a specimen of the first printing, kept in the town house of this place; and in the market place the inscription, asserting that invention to Harlem:
MEMORIAE SACRVM
TYPOGRAPHICA ARS ARTIVM OMNIVM CONSERVATRIX
HIC PRIMVM INVENTA A L. COSTERO HARLEMENSI MCCCCXXIIX.
The next day I leave Harlem, and return to Amsterdam.
May i.
This morning, with Dr. Cockburn and Mr. Vandeput, I visit the learned Mr. le Clerc. He shewed me the Thesaurus linguae Latinae of Rob. Stephanus, improved by manuscript notes of the author’s own hand; as also Irenaeus, Lib. v. cap. 2. concerning the presence in the sacrament; and complained of Mr. Grabe, as misrepresenting the church of England in his notes. In the afternoon, in company with Mr. Vandeput, I review the cabinet of Mynhéer Uilenbroek; and by his leave copy the two following sepulchral inscriptions, one in Latin, and the other in Greek, the former of which is peculiarly remarkable for the corruption of the language.
D. M. S.
NON. SVFECERAT. VNO. DOLORE.
MISEROS. BIBERE. PARENTES.