14 MEMOIR OF LINN^US 



followed the tastes of her husband, and possessed a private col- 

 lection, also arranged by Linnaeus. The leisure time in the sum- 

 mer vacations was often spent in these occupations ; and the pala- 

 ces of Ulrichsdale and Drottingholm, at easy distance from his 

 own villa, were often the scene of his studies, and served as ano- 

 ther recreation from the more severe duties of his professorship. 



It was at this period of his life, that he was seized with severe 

 attacks of gout, which prevented his repose for many nights at a 

 time, and which he relieved by eating wild strawberries. These 

 were almost the first symptoms of an approaching decay in his 

 vigorous constitution. The excitement of seeing a collection of 

 novelties had a singular effect ; and an anecdote is preserved, of 

 his being cured in this way of a severe fit, by the return of a pu- 

 pil from North America. He was afflicted with a violent fit of 

 the gout, and was obliged to keep his bed, almost totally deprived 

 of the use of his limbs. When he heard of the return of Kalm, 

 with a number of new plants and other curiosities, the desire of 

 seeing these treasures, and the delight which he felt when he saw 

 them, was so great, as actually to make the gout disappear. 



The family of Linngeus, consisting of only one son and four 

 daughters, were now grown up. The son, his first-born, of whom 

 so much was expected, inherited a portion of his father's abilities, 

 but was not spared to bring them to that maturity which his con- 

 stant study for many years would have enabled him. At the early 

 age of ten, he is said to have been acquainted with most of the 

 plants in the botanic garden, and the highest wishes of his father 

 were to render him fit for, and to see him his successor in, the 

 botanical chair. 



We have now brought down the principal incidents in the life 

 of this great naturalist, to the time, when, though only fifty-six 

 years of age, he felt the vigor of his constitution impaired, and 

 his versatile mind commencing to wane. He was conscious that 

 he had fulfilled his adopted motto, " Faraam extendere factis,' and 



