335 
Pavia. 
Scopo.i.— This is at present the most celebrated 
university in Italy. The loss of one bright 
ornament we have now indeed to regret; the 
accomplished Scopoli, who was at this time 
Professor of Botany here. We found hima 
man verging towards the decline of life, of a 
plain but animated countenance, not at all re- 
sembling his portrait in the Flora Carniolica, 
and entirely devoid of that stupid gravity so re- 
markable in that print. Breakfasting with him 
next morning, I took an opportunity of offer- 
ing him any assistance the Linnean herbarium 
could afford, by which he first understood 
it was in my possession, having but slightly 
read over our French introductory letters. He 
was quite overjoyed; gave me a most cordial 
embrace, and from that moment we scarcely 
separated during my abode in Pavia. 
“One morning, at 7 o’clock, we attended a 
botanical lecture of Professor Scopoli’s, in a 
room ata garden. It was in Italian, chiefly on 
grasses. He observed that there are really no 
limits between Bromus and Festuca; but that, 
nevertheless, Linnzus’s arrangement of the ge- 
nera and species in general was the best, as well 
as the first, ever seen.” 
* GreGoRIO Fontana, brother of the Abbé Fon- 
tana at Florence. Little could I imagine, when 
I enjoyed the pleasure of his conversation and 
admired the acuteness and versatility of his 
