15(^ Anecdotes of Linnaus. 



my life, arc still fresh in my memory. Sublime instruc- 

 tion was joined with social friendship ; for his enthusiasm 

 tic fondness of the science raised pupils, who loved it, 

 to ihe rank of companions. 



Those sentiments of piety, so well expressed in the 

 introduction to the Sijstema Naturae, were habitual to 

 Linnaeus. He frequently impressed them upon the 

 minds of his pupils, in the public lectures, and they of- 

 ten flowed tlirough his piivate conversation. Particular 

 occasions called them suddenly forth, in very sublime 

 and pathetic strains of adoration. In one of our walks 

 through the garden, we came to a beautiful young 

 Abh, whose vernal leaves played in the beams of the 

 evening sun. He stopped, and addressed the Creator 

 in extatic admiration of his power, wisdom, and good- 

 ness. 



Linnreus was charmed with the forms and colours that 

 embellish the vegetable world, and regarded them as 

 splendid proofs of the Divine Majesty. In that view, 

 he displayed the beauties of some flowers to a numerous 

 audience, for a good while, till they, in their turn, were 

 satisfied, showing their incomparable superiority over the 

 most elegant works of human contrivance. 



His own sensibility to the beauties of Creation, it is 

 probable, sharpened his contempt of those who had no 

 relish for them. *' Tht y trample on the flow cry meads," 

 he would say, " like the guzing cattle." Judging that 

 all men are, in duty, bound to contemplate the works of 

 God, according to their talents and means, he deemed ^i 



