Dn. Smitu’s Introductory Difcourfe. 55 
poffeffed relating to natural hiftory or medicine, his entire library, 
manufcripts, and the correfpondence of his whole life, as well as 
all the acquifitions made by the younger Linnzus in his tour 
through Europe, after his father's deceafe, but which his own 
premature death prevented him from communicating to the world ; 
all thefe will be a never failing refource to us in every difficulty, as 
well as a fund of information not eafily to be exhaufted. For my 
own part I confider myfelf as a truftee of the public. I hold thefe 
treafures only for the purpofe of making them ufeful to the world 
and natural hiftory in general, and particularly to this fociety, of 
which I glory in having contributed to lay the foundation, and to 
the fervice of which I fhall joyfully confecrate my labours, fo long, 
as it continues to anfwer the purpofes for which it is defigned. 
