Anecdotes of Linmeus. 131 



neglect of it, in the higher orders of society, very repre- 

 hensible ; and as to Clergymen utterly ignorant of Na» 

 tural History, he said, that such were ill qualified for 

 their sacred function. 



He firmly believed in the particular providence of 

 God, and was very grateful for the many specimens of 

 it to himself. Well persuaded that many dispensations 

 of it cannot be developed in the present life, he also be- 

 lieved, that our happiness and misery on earth are fre- 

 quently not only natural consequences of virtues and 

 vices, but also brought about by that Providence, as re* 

 wards and punishments. 



He sometimes conversed with me on the modes of 

 preaching. His correct judgment, and natural gaiety, 

 were incompatible with austere superstition. A clergy- 

 man, in the vicinity of Upsal, who had more zeal than 

 wisdom, did not escape his wit. He once asked me, 

 how I addressed my hearers? " The mildest appella- 

 tion Irom that man," he said, " is beloved sinners." 



The pious reflections so fi-equent in the writings of 

 the Ss\edish naturalists, the liberal devotion of the clergy, 

 and the rational principles of religion that prevail in the 

 Swedish nation, are not a little owing to the influence of 

 Linriseusv It was very extensive, because a great pro- 

 portion of the students at Upsal attended some of his 

 lectures, besides the votaries of natural history, and the 

 candidates for medical degrees ; and because numbers 

 of other persons, who were well educated, were in the 

 habit of reading more or les» of iiiii works. 



