Extract of a letter, from Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to the Royal Society Quotes from Dalenpatius's 'Nouvelles de la Republique des lettres' in which spermatozoa are described as having the shape of the human body. Leeuwenhoek disputes this with various arguments. Leeuwenhoek discovered spermatozoa in 1677. This letter no longer exists but a transcription and translation of observations of the discovery of living spermatozoids is printed in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', vol 2, p 277 and 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 12, no 142, p 1040. Read to the Royal Society on 28 June 1699 English translation see EL/L3/7 Transcribed in JBO/10/134 Transcribed and translated in 'Alle de brieven van Antoni van Leeuwenhoek', edited, illustrated and annotated by Committee of Dutch Scientists, vol 12, p 293 Translated extract printed in 'Philosophical Transactions', vol 21, no 255, p 301 9 June 1699