M. Fee's Life of Lmnceus, • 93 



of the feeling of admiration which is attached to its founder, or 

 because it is the type and basis of the whole of the nomenclature. 

 On the death of Linnaeus, it came into the possession of his son; 

 but he only survived him a couple of years. It is said that his 

 mother, who was very wealthy, wished to dispose of it to ad- 

 vantage ; afraid lest the Swedish Governmeni might be desirous 

 of retaining or purchasing it at a price unequal to its value. 

 She offered it to Sir Joseph Banks. M. Fee states, that the 

 baronet having no intention of purchasing it, mentioned the 

 circumstance to Mr Smith. The anecdote, as I heard it from 

 the lips of this gentleman, redounds to the honour of both, and 

 deserves to be preserved. Mr J. Edward Smith, at that time 

 very young, and a passionate admirer of Linnaeus, showed, in a 

 very lively manner at a public dinner, the value which he put 

 on the herbarium of Linnaeus, and his regret that his whole 

 fortune did not permit him to set apart L. 1000 Sterling, which 

 was demanded for it, the library, and the manuscripts, of this 

 distinguished man. Banks being made aware of his enthusiasm, 

 sent for Smith, engaged him to go over, and offered to lend him 

 a sum of money which would enable him to procure them. 

 The transaction was completed, and, thanks to this generous 

 interference, and the attention of the English consul, the her- 

 barium was sent to England. It is said that the Swedish Go- 

 vernment, irritated at its removal, dispatched a frigate in pur- 

 suit of the vessel which contained it, and this fact has been men- 

 tioned as a mark of distinguished respect to his memory : there 

 is even a portrait of Smith, with a vignette, which represents 

 the frigate in pursuit of the vessel \^ hich bore away the precious 

 herbarium. I regret throwing any doubts on an account so 

 pleasing, and so honourable to science, but I am bound to add, 

 that Sir J. E. Smith told me, that there was not the shghtest 

 grounds for it. 



We may subjoin in this place, that this learned individual 

 made use of these collections in a manner worthy of their origin. 

 He has published many works in which, in consequence of ha^ 

 ving seen the original specimens, he has smoothed away difficul- 

 ties, which the laconicism of Linnaeus frequently created ; he 

 frequently had the complaisance to clear away the doubts which 

 other naturalists might have had respecting the meaning of the 



