opportunity of further improvement. Rudbec had formerly travelled over Lapland in the year 

 1679, at the command of Charles XI. but his journal was destroyed by the great fire at Upsal 

 in 1702; but the ancient professor, with the garrulity of old age, would often discourse with him 

 of his " young encounters," what he had seen, the new plants he had discovered, and he 

 kindled up an ardent desire in the youthful mind of LiNNiEUS to visit those regions. Provi- 

 dence appears always to have interfered for his advancement. Gustavus Adolphus, the 

 reigning monarch, had directed the Royal Academy of Sweden to appoint some person to explore 

 the natural productions of the Arctic Regions. Every eye was on this occasion naturally turned 

 towards LiNN^us, and, notwithstanding the sacrifice, even Rudbec wished to see his former 

 labours revive by those of his successor. LinnjiUS had even at this period planned out his 

 Sexual System, but no body of plants had been arranged under it, which was another great 

 stimulus to the active enterprizing mind of Linn^us to accept the lure of ambition held out by 

 the Royal Academy. Accoutred as he appears in our painting, he visited the whole of Lapland 

 in the year 1732. 



Solus Hyperboreas glacies, Tanaimque nivalem, 

 Arvaque Rhipseis nunquam viduata pruinis 



Lustrabat 



ViRG. Geobg. 



This gave origin to his first immortal work, the " Flora Lapponica," where Linnj5Us relin- 

 quished all former systems, and arranged the Northern Plants he had collected according to 

 their Sexes, which greatly excited the attention of the botanist, and the world, towards THE 



SEXUAL SYSTEM.* 



This system at first had to encounter the opposition of men of the highest literary eminence 

 in every country. In Russia it met with a most violent and bigotted opposition from Sigesbeck; 

 in Germany, the envious resentment of Heister ; in France, the ridicule of Buffon; in Swit- 

 zerland, the enlightened, but still prejudiced, rejection of Haller ; in Ita/y, the decided and 

 laborious opposition of Pontedera; and m England, the sarcastic and futile objections of 

 Alston ; whilst at home it was much opposed from the general envy of merit. But it soon 

 triumphed over every obstacle, and notwithstanding the celebrated works of a Tournefort 

 and a Jussieu, it is, even at this day, received as the predominant system in France, a country 

 justly celebrated for the number of its learned men, and the general thirst after real knowledge, 

 and great encouragement to science, and men of letters, but suspected of being extremely 

 national; whilst in Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and England, although there a.K fifty- 

 two different systems of Botany, and we can boast of a Ray, yet the Sexual one is the only 

 System that is universally adopted. 



* The reader must feel gratified at being informed, tliat " A View of the Life and Writings of Linniem," was some time back published by 

 the late learned Dr Phltenet, of which admirable performance a new edition has lately appeared, with very considerable additions and 

 improvements, by his very ingenious and no less learned nephew, Dr. Maton, Vice-President of the Linnaan Society, in which the Dmry 

 complete, from the MS. of Linn^us, may be seen, which cannot fail to interest every person who has any taste for science, or regard for 

 extraordinary talents, and pre-eminent virtue. For further, and full particulars, respecting the life of so transcendent a genius, we must 

 beg leave to refer to that excellent work, and also to " Travels into Lapland,- a translation of which, from Lihhjeus s MS. will shortly be 

 published by the illustrious President of the Linuiean Society, Dr. Smith. 



