2 ESSAYS. 
he established many of his species. Our brief notices will 
therefore naturally commence with the herbarium of the im- 
mortal Linn:eus, the father of that system of nomenclature to 
which botany, no Jess than natural history in general, is so 
greatly indebted. 
This collection, it is well known, after the death of the 
younger Linnzeus, 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 Linnzeus had just 
offered him the herbarium with the other collections and the 
library of the father, for the sum of 1000 guineas. Sir Joseph 
Banks not being disposed to make the purchase, recommended 
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 catalogue of the collection, and offering to become the 
purchaser at the price fixed, in case it should answer his ex- 
pectations.1 
1 The next day Mr. Smith wrote as follows to his father, informing him 
of the step he had taken and entreating his assistance : — 
“HONORED Str: You may have heard that the young Linneus is 
lately dead: his father’s collections and library, and his own, are now to ' 
be sold ; and the whole consists of an immense hortus siccus, with dupli- 
cates, 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all the unpublished manuscripts, in short, everything they were possessed 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 refusal, 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 favorable 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 
