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MICHEL-PIERRE DETALLE AND RENAUD DETALLE SCI.DAN.H. 4 • 2 with his two published works1 the largest portion of and its history, have been made available for the first the publications that resulted from the expedition. time in the Academy’s own Journal des Savants in the His publishing of three volumes using the notes of July-December 2011 issue.4 the naturalist Forsskål2 made up for the rest of the Niebuhr must have spent the summer of 1768 printed output from the expedition. drafting his responses, not to all questions, but only Towards the middle of 1768, Niebuhr must have to the ones from the French Academy. By the first of been informed that the new King of Denmark, Chris­ September he had a draft manuscript translated into tian VII, who came to power in 1766, would visit Paris Latin ready5. The final text, with only a few sentences later in that year. This may have spurred him to give modified from the last draft, is dated 2nd of Septem­ priority to responding to the large questionnaire that ber and consists of 20 pages (10 unbound folios) ad­ the French Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres had sub­ dressed to the “Illustrious and most erudite members mitted to Michaelis after he had invited scientists of the Academy”. The handwriting is in a different from all over Europe to provide questions to the de­ hand and much easier to read than the last draft. In parting expedition. These questions reached the ex­ the introduction, Niebuhr explains that he will not pedition when it was already on the way and in sepa­ address all the questions but only intends to provide a rate instalments, in Constantinople, Cairo and preliminary view, while cautioning that only ten Bombay. Michaelis published the compiled ques­ months after his return he still has much material and tions, his own focusing on Biblical research, and oth­ notes to review. At this stage the text does not give any er documents, in a volume that Niebuhr received in indication that he will separate his principal scientific 1763 in Bombay where his last companion died, leav­ contribution, his above-mentioned first book, from ing him the sole survivor.3 the more personal one, a detailed narrative of his trav­ Niebuhr was deeply impressed by the scientific el from Copenhagen to Bombay and back to Copen­ depth and breadth of the French academicians’ ques­ hagen, his second book6. Niebuhr’s great map of Ara- tionnaire (e.g. the detailed Tables chronologiques des an­ dens rois de l’Témen, a list of Yemen’s ancient rulers from 4. Detalle and Detalle (2011). Both authors extend their grati­ 1817 BC to the Prophet Muhammad with remarks and tude to the organizers of the symposium “World Views and Lo­ precise questions). From then onwards Niebuhr re­ cal Encounters in Early Scientific Expeditions 1750-1850” held at mained under the influence of these questions, as if the Royal Academy in Copenhagen on 27-28 October 2011 on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the departure of the ex­ the rational and empirical questions of the French pedition for this opportunity to place the Mmmmandum in its academicians had fulfilled his own longing for scien­ wider context. A word of thank is also due to Professor Bernard tific research freed from Michaelis’s Bible-centered Haykel of Princeton University, for his unflagging support. approach. 5. Since the questionnaire was in French, the most common This note is a brief presentation of the document language in Europe at the time, there is no explanation for the in Latin received in Paris on the 18th of November use of Latin: we know that Niebuhr used the services of a Mr. Klein for a translation from German, his mother tongue. The 1768, which, together with its translation in French original manuscript dated 2nd Sept. 1768, discovered by the present authors at the beginning of the twenty-first century, is 1. Niebuhr (1772; 1774-1778). in Paris at the “Bibliothéque nationale de France, Division 2. Forsskål (1775a, 1775b, 1776). The authors which to thank Manuscrits”, under “NAF 6896”. The draft dated i!t Sept. 1768 Professor Ib Friis for showing them Forsskål’s still extant is at Kiel University library under “MS KB 314.5.” collections of plants at the Herbarium, and Assistant Professor 6. In fact, the financial losses sustained by Niebuhr due to his Peter Rask Moeller and Ole Tendal for showing them being the editor-publisher of his and of Forsskål’s works led Forsskål’s still extant collections of animals at the Zoological him to abandon the last part of his intended writings, the Museum (including the famous “fish herbarium”), both travel from Aleppo to Copenhagen and his astronomical collections at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. observations: this was published as vol. III of Reisebeschreibung 3. Michaelis (1762). in 1837 only, long after Niebuhr’s death.

146 SCI.DAN.H. 4 • 2 CARSTEN NIEBUHR S REPLY TO THE FRENCH ACADEMY bia (in fact the western part of Yemen only), which he fer it to a panel of “rapporteurs “ who would study it was proud to annex to his Memorandum as he knew it further and consider whether it should be published would impress the foremost geographer of the time, by the Academy. Yet, none of this happened in the Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville (1697-1782), a case of Niebuhr’s Memorandum and this apparent lack member of the Academy, was not attached to the doc­ of interest for all the new discoveries made by Nie­ ument. It was Chancellor Bernstorff who, after re­ buhr could be linked to the fact that a few days later, viewing it, thought it wiser to set aside the hand on the 3rd of December, the King of Denmark came in drawn map of Arabia out of fear that an unscrupulous person to visit the three Academies 9 and was praised Frenchman could publish it without acknowledging for sending the Arabian expedition.10 Surprisingly, Niebuhr’s authorship. The fact that this Memorandum Niebuhr’s name was not mentioned, in spite of him vanished as soon as its reception was announced may being the only survivor, and his Memorandum having be interpreted as a proof that no documents were at­ been received two weeks prior: the King had already tached, since d’Anville was present on the day it was visited the Académiefranpaise and the Académie des sciences received, 18th of November 1768, and if he had been and was probably in a hurry. The proximity in date of given a chance to view a new map he would certainly the reception of the Memorandum and the visit of the not have missed the opportunity. King may have been a factor in cutting short the de­ The Memorandum attempts to cover as many of the bate on the first occasion, but it does not account for questions of the Academicians as possible and has an the disappearance of the Memorandum as a source of impressionistic quality but nonetheless reveals the important information years before the full scientific strength of Niebuhr’s methodology, his empathy for account would be published. the countries and people he saw and the rigorous A hypothesis which we developed in our French method he applied in measuring, surveying and writ­ article is that the members of the Academy may have ing down all the information he came across. One suffered from fatigue of the Orient, having been sub­ noteworthy point is that nowhere in the 20 pages does jected during no less than 26 sessions between 1763 he mention the Bible or the name of his patron and 1768 to lengthy reports and readings by another Michaelis, a probable indication of his limited inter­ oriental traveller, to India in this case, and fellow est for the latter’s objectives7. Academician, Abraham-Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duper- The Minutes of sessions of the Academy report ron (1731-1805), well known for his translation of Zara­ that, on 18th of November 1768, “un homme de lettres thustra. danois a présenté å l’Académie un Mémoire de M. After his books were published and had become Nehburg (sic)”:8 the link with a Mr. Schutze, a Dane classics of Arabian and Persian studies Niebuhr devel­ named foreign correspondent on the 16th of June 1761, oped close relations, revealed by an active corre­ whose identity and background are completely un­ spondence, with several Academicians in the ensuing known, could not be established. The standard proce­ years, notably with the famous Orientalist Antoine dure for such a communication was to either have an Isaac Silvestre de Sacy (1758-1838). Niebuhr’s perfect immediate debate following its presentation or to re­ copies of the cuneiform inscriptions at Persepolis per­ mitted the decipherment of the three languages ap­ 7. This does not prevent Niebuhr from giving a detailed answer to the French questions on religion. See Detalle and Detalle (2008). Among other things, Niebuhr was first to 9. Always in the formal order: 1) Académiefranfaise, 2) Académie des announce and describe the birth of a new “school” called sciences, 3) Académie des inscriptionset belles-lettres. There are now two “wahabism”, in Niebuhr’s own words “sect”, one of the origins more academies in the Institut de France: 4) Académ ie des beaux-arts, of today’s’ salafi movement. A) Académ ie des sciences m orales etpolitiques. 8. “A Danish man of letters presented to the Academy a 10. A decision which in fact had been made by King Frederik memorandum by Mr. Nehburg” V, the father of King Christian VII.

147 MICHEL-PIERRE DETALLE AND RENAUD DETALLE SCI.DAN.H. 4 • 2 pearing there. As a tribute to his multiple contribu­ References tions to philology, geography and the knowledge of Arabia, he was elected in 1802 Foreign Associate of Detalle, Michel-Pierre. 2003. Die dänische Expedition the Academy, the most prestigious status for a non­ nach Arabien, Carsten Niebuhr und Frankreich. French scientist.11 Yet, although his many maps were Historische Mitteilungen der Ranke-Gesellschaft (HMRG) known from his books, his contribution in the fields 16/2003:1-14. Detalle, Michel-Pierre and Detalle, Renaud. 2008. of astronomy remained little known because the re­ L’Islam vu par Carsten Niebuhr, voyageur en Orient sults were published in a piecemeal fashion and with (1761-1767). Revue de l’histoire des religions 2008(4): 487-543. much delay. Had this not been the case, he would On line: http://rhr.revues.0rg/6953#sthash.eb7rgzwV. have been a more natural candidate for the Académie des dpuf sciences, given his original training. Detalle, Michel-Pierre and Detalle, Renaud. 2011. Carsten A last word should be added about the sad fate of Niebuhr et l’expédition danoise en Arabia Felix. Un the manuscript, which was not only neglected and memorandum adresse en 1768 å l’Académie des forgotten by its recipients in the Academy, but then Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. Journal des Savant 2011(2): 277-332 (including a fac-simile of the original - 21 suffered the added mishap of being stolen by a math­ pages in Latin). ematician and political exile from Italy who had be­ Fors[s]kål, Peter. 1775a. FloraAegyptiaco-Arabica sive Descrip­ come member of the Académie des sciences. After stealing tiones Plantarum quas perAegyptum Inferiorem et Arabiam a large number of manuscripts and books from Felicem detexit, illustravitPt. Fors[s]kål. Postmortem auctoris French institutions he sold them to a British collector. edidit Carsten Niebuhr. Copenhagen: Möller. Decades later the lot was bought back by the French Fors[s]kål, Peter. 1775b. DescriptionesAnimalium, avium, Bibliothéque nationale and forgotten. Sheer luck in 2001 amphibiorum, piscium, insectorum, vermium, qua in itinere permitted the authors to retrieve the document and orientali observavit Pt. Fors[s] kål. Postmortem auctoris edidit Carsten Niebuhr. Copenhagen: Möller. its precious content for the benefit of Arabian studies Forsskål, Peter. 1776. leones Rerum Naturalium, quasinitinere and the historiograpy of Orientalism.12 orientalis depingi curavit Petrus Forskål. Postmortem auctoris ad regis mandatum aeri incisas edidit Carsten Niebuhr. Copenha­ gen: Möller. Michaelis, Johann David. 1762. Fragen an eine Gesellschaft Gelehrter Männer, die auf Befehl Ihro Majestät des Königs von Dannemark nach Arabien reisen. Frankfurt am M.: Johann Gottlieb Garbe. Niebuhr, Carsten. 1772. BeschreibungvonArabien.Auseigenen Beobachtungen und im Lande selbst gesammelten Nachrichten. Copenhagen: Möller. Niebuhr, Carsten. 1774-1778. Reisebeschreibungnach Arabien und andern umliegenden Ländern, Vols. I and II. Copenhagen: 11. See Detalle (2003). Möller. Vol. m. 1837 Hamburg. 12. As this article went to press another lost Niebuhriana resurfaced during a family reunion of Niebuhr-descendants in Meldorf, the town where Niebuhr lived and worked from 1778 until his death in 1815. One of them offered to the local Dithmarscher Museum the original in German of the King’s Instruction dated 15th December 1760 for the mathematicus Carsten Niebuhr. It is to be hoped that the text will be made available, as it would be the only way to know the exact and final wording of these instructions; none of the copies issued to the four other members of the expedition is known to have been preserved.