158 Life of Linneus. 
about 8000 species, for the works of Linnzus contain, altogether an 
indication of 7982 plants, and if some should have been obtained 
after their publication, it is certain that others pointed out in his books, 
are wanting in his herbal. We may judge of the progress which 
botany has made within half a century, and in a great measure by 
the influence of Linnezus, if we take into consideration the increase 
of actual collections. ‘There exist many herbals of thirty and forty 
thousand species, and one of them reaches at present to about fifty- 
five thousand. Its proprietor has sometimes in one single year re- 
ceived more species, than Linnzus during his whole life. The globe 
is explored in all parts, with an activity which astonishes the imagin- 
ation, and it may be supposed with some truth, that within half a cen- 
wry, there have been discovered annually a thousand species. 
Though the herbal of Linnzus has ceased to be one of the great- 
est in the world, it is not the less valuable, either because of the 
sentiment of admiration which is attached to its founder, or because 
it is the base and type of all the nomenclature. After the death of 
Linnzus this herbal passed into the hands of his son; but the latter 
surviving him only two years, his mother, who, it is said, was fond of 
money, endeavored to reap something from it, Fearing that the 
Government would not wish to retain it, or would give only a low 
price for it, she offered it to Sir Joseph Banks. Mr. Fee says that 
the latter not being in a situation to make the purchase, spoke of it to 
Mr. Smith. The anecdote, as I have received it from the mouth of 
Smith, is h ble to both and deserves to be recorded. Mr. J. Ed. 
Smith, then very young, and a passionate admirer of Linneus, at a 
public dinner, stated in a very animated manner, the price which was 
asked for the herbal of Linnzus, and his regret that his fortune did 
not permit him to dispose of a thousand pounds sterling which was 
asked for the herbal, the library, and the manuscripts of the great 
naturalist. Banks hearing of this enthusiasm, sent for Smith, encour-. 
aged him to proceed and offered to lend him the money requisite to 
this acquisition. Thanks to this generous instigation, the bargain was. 
made, and by the care of the English Consul, the herbal was sent to 
England. It has been said that the Swedish government, indignant at 
its being carried off, sent a frigate in pursuit of the vessel which was, 
bearing off the herbal of their countryman, and this fact has been 
cited as an illustrious homage rendered to his memory. I have be- 
fore me, a portrait of Smith which has a vignette in which is seen the 
Swedish frigate pursuing the vessel carrying the precious herbal. I 
