CXXXIV FLOKA OF BERKSHIRE 



not succeed in making him a convert. Yet a third version of the 

 story was given by Dr. Williams, a later Professor of Botany at 

 Oxford, to Professor Schultes. Dr. Williams says that Dillenius had 

 used 'confusion' when speaking of Linnaeus, but that shortly after- 

 wards Sherard Isic, ? Shaw] and Dillenius stopped by a wall overgrown 

 with Linaria Cymhalaria, a plant upon Avhich they were desirous of 

 having the opinion of Linnaeus, as much doubt had existed respecting 

 it. Linnaeus removed the difficulty with his natural perspicuity ; 

 a second and third plant, of which they felt uncertain, were also 

 cleared up with perfect ease by Linnaeus. Dillenius was surprised, 

 and his companion remarked that he could see no confusion in 

 Linnaeus. Then grew up a mutual liking, and it was not till Linnaeus 

 was about leaving Oxford that he remarked to Dillenius that he hoped 

 he had brought no confusion there, whereupon the Professor took the 

 opportunity of apologizing for the ungracious word. Whatever the 

 true account of the matter may be, the meeting of the two botanists 

 led to a friendship which was kept up in correspondence till the death 

 of Dillenius. Many of the specimens which Linnaeus sent him are 

 still preserved at Oxford, but his valued letters perished, it is to be 

 feared, with a large amount of most interesting correspondence, after 

 the death of the younger Sibthorp \ An interesting letter of Dillenius 

 to Linnaeus of May i6, 1737, published on pp. 85^94 of the SelecHon 

 of the Correspondence of Linnaeus, contains some valuable criticisms on 

 the Genera Plantarum. In another letter written in August of the 

 same year Dillenius praises the Flora Lappordca highly, though he dis- 

 liked the dedication of it to himself, but censures the Critica Botanica 

 rather severely. As explaining his dislike to personal commendation 

 the following sentence may be quoted : ' I could wish you to examine 

 carefully the DiUenia of your Nova Genera, 455, and compare it with the 

 Clusia of Plumier, 862 If they prove the same, you will doubtless 

 leave to this genus the name of an author superior to me in merit, as 

 well as by a pi-ior right entitled to the honour, in which measure 

 I shall gladly concur.' A letter dated Nov. 28, 1737, shows that 

 Linnaeus had been a little hurt by the criticism, for Dillenius hastens 

 to explain that ' so far from being angry with you, as you seem by 

 your last to apprehend, I, on the contrary, highly esteem and love 

 you. ... If you write to me in future, as I much wish you would, 

 pray leave out all formalities and long-winded titles, which are odious 

 to my taste.' 



In 174 1 Dillenius published his Historia Muscorum, a quarto volume 

 <>f 576 pages, containing the synonyms, history, and descriptions of 

 above 600 mosses, and eighty-five plates etched by himself. Only 

 250 copies were issued at a guinea each. Sir James Edward Smith 



^ See the Flora of Oxfordshire, p. 390. 



