94 
prodigious value. In short, the more I think of 
this affair, the more sanguine I am, and earnestly 
hope for your concurrence. I wish I could have 
one half hour’s conversation with you; but that is 
impossible.” 
To this appeal there came an admirable reply, 
regarding the expediency of the purchase, in every 
point of view; but so much approaching to a re- 
fusal as to produce great uneasiness andalarm: and . 
another letter, reiterating the persuasions in the first, 
had but little more effect. Repeated efforts, how- 
ever, produced some change of opinion; and ina 
subsequent letter, Sir James tells his father, “I 
have learnt from Mr. Dryander what the collection 
consists of; he has often seen it: it was kept ina 
room built on purpose by itself, for fear of fire. 
One side of this room was quite occupied by the 
cabinets of fossils, which are very fine; in another 
part was a large cabinet of corals, and some ani- 
mals, as he thinks: there was also a very large 
collection of insects and shells. The dried plants 
of the elder Linnzeus wereabout 8000; and his son’s 
collection in his travels, from Sir Joseph, and in 
France, about as many more. -There were many 
cabinets round the room, and also a few books for 
common use ; but his principal library was kept in 
another place, and this Dryander never saw: he tells 
me it was considered to be a good one.” 
