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Hi Kelly, The RDL names you mentioned seem a bit ambiguous, but it seems possible that these might refer to Rome de Lisle? He produced several mineralogy works, inlcuding a big 4-volume "Cristallographie...." in 1783, which might be the reference cited. Can't help directly on other stuff, but if you're working on the mineralogical aspects of St Aubyn family you might be interested in this. Tha anatomist William Hunter (1718-1783), whose collections founded our museum, more or less began his serious collecting after being given a collection of Cornish specimens by Lady St Aubin [sic] (your Sir John's mother), in 1764 or 5. Our only documentation of this is a quote from his brother, John Hunter who related that until this time he had "held such mineral collections in contempt". Although we have a lot of Hunter's correspondence, it doesn't include any letters from Lady St Aubyn. Unlike many of Hunter's mineral acquisitions, no lists or bills survive, so we don't know what was given, and we can't now identify any of the St Aubyn material in the current collections, although many of Hunter's other 18th century specimens can be distinguished via bills, lists, catalogues, and adhering labels. Jacob and Elizabeth Forster's bills and labels are especially informative and distinctive. I'm hoping to put something together on these for our bicentenary in 2007. I'd be very interested to know of any surviving Lady St Aubyn correspondence which might shed light on the 1764-5 donation - any help appreciated! Cheers John Dr JW Faithfull Curator in Geology Hunterian Museum Annex University of Glasgow 13 Thurso St Glasgow G11 6PE Tel:0141 330 4213 Fax:0141 330 8001 Email: [log in to unmask]