1792. anecdotes of Arledi. 109 



ANECDOTES OF ARTEDI, THE FAMOUS SWEDISH NATURALIST, 

 WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF A NEW EDITION OF HIS WORX5 BY 

 M. WALBAUM. 



A HE public are indebted to Linnaeus for the following in- 

 teresting memoirs of his friend and fellow disciple Artedi, 

 a name well known to the lovers of natural history. 

 These extracts are made from a Latin edition of Artedi's 

 works, just publiflied by Dr Walbaum of Lubeck, in three 

 volumes quarto, with plates. These anecdotes are written 

 with that warmth which was natural to Linnaeus, and adds 

 one more to the numerous list of examples that are before 

 the public, of the hard fate that too often marks the private 

 life of philosophers. 



John Artedi was born in the year 17Q5, in the province of 

 Angermania in Sweden. He inherited from nature an 

 ardent paflion for all branches of natural history, but he 

 excelled particularly in what respects fifties. — \w 1724, he 

 came to study at the university of Upsal. " la 1728," says 

 Linnaeus," I came from Lund to Upsal. I wiQied to devote 

 myself to medicine. I inquired who, at that university, 

 excelled most for his knowledge j every one named Artedi. 

 I was impatient to see him. I found him pale,^ and in 

 great distrefs for the lofs of his father, with his thin hair 

 neglected. He resembled the portrait of Ray^ the natura- 

 list. His judgement was ripe, his thoughts profound, 

 his manners simple, his virtues antique. The conversa- 

 tion turned upon stones, plants, animals ; I was enchan- 

 ted with his observations, equally ingenious and new j for 

 at the very first, he was not afraid to communicate them to 

 me with the utmost franknefs. I desired his friendftiip, he. 

 afked mine. From that moment we formed a fricndfbip, 



