Notices of European Herbaria. 133 



their intrinsic value, since they are seldom large, and the specimens 

 often imperfect. 



With the introduction of the Linnsean nomenclature, a rule abso- 

 lutely essential to the perpetuation of its advantages was also esta- 

 blished, viz. that the name under which a genus or species is first 

 published shall be retained, except in certain cases of obvious and 

 paramount necessity. An accurate determination of the Linnaean 

 species is therefore of the first importance ; and this, in numerous 

 instances, is only to be attained with certainty by the inspection of 

 the herbaria of Linnaeus and those authors upon whose descriptive 

 phrases or figures he established many of his species. Our brief no- 

 tices will therefore naturally commence with the herbarium of the im- 

 mortal Linnseus, the father of that system of nomenclature, to which 

 botany, no less than natural history in general, is so greatly indebted. 



This collection, it is well known, after the death of the younger 

 Linnaeus, found its way to England, from whence it is not probable 

 that it will ever be removed. The late Sir James Edward Smith, then 

 a young medical student, and a botanist of much promise, was one 

 morning informed by Sir Joseph Banks, that the heirs of the younger 

 Linnaeus had just offered him the herbarium, with the other collec- 

 tions and library of the father, for the sum of 1000 guineas. Sir 

 Joseph Banks, not being disposed to make the purchase, recom- 

 mended it to Mr. Smith ; the latter, it appears, immediately decided 

 to risk the expectation of a moderate independence, and to secure, 

 if possible, these treasures for himself and his country ; and before 

 the day closed had actually written to Upsal, desiring a full cata- 

 logue of the collection, and offering to become the purchaser at the 

 price fixed, in case it answered his expectations*. His success, as 



* The next day Mr. Smith wrote as follows to his father, informing him 

 of the step he had taken, and entreating his assistance : — 



" Honoured Sir : You may have heard that the young Linnaeus is lately 

 dead : his father's collections and library, and his own, are now to be sold ; 

 the whole consists of an immense hortus siccus, with duplicates, insects, 

 shells, corals, materia medica, fossils, a very fine library, all the unpublished 

 manuscripts ; in short, everything they were possessed of relating to natural 

 history and physic : the whole has just been offered to Sir Joseph Banks for 

 1000 guineas, and he has declined buying it. The offer was made to him 

 by my friend Dr. Engelhart, at the desire of a Dr. Acrel of Upsal, who has 

 charge of the collection. Now, I am so ambitious as to wish to possess this 

 treasure, with a view to settle as a physician in London, and read lectures 

 on natural history. Sir Joseph Banks, and all my friends to whom I have 

 entrusted my intention, approve of it highly. I have written to Dr. Acrel, 

 to whom Dr. Engelhart has recommended me, for particulars and the re- 

 fusal, telling him if it was what I expected, I would give him a very good 

 price for it. I hope, my dear sir, you and my good mother will look on this 

 scheme in as favourable a light as my friends here do. There is no time to 

 be lost, for the affair is now talked of in all companies, and a number of 

 people wish to be purchasers. The Empress of Russia is said to have 

 thoughts of it. The manuscripts, letters, &c. must be invaluable, and there 

 is, no doubt, a complete collection of all the inaugural dissertations which 

 have been published at Upsal, a small part of which has been repub- 

 lished under the title of ' Amoenitates Academicae,' a very celebrated and 

 scarce work. All these dissertations were written by Linnaeus, and must 



