ADANSON'S DEATH. 97 



the invitation, as he had not shoes. The Minister 

 of the Interior granted him a pension. 



Adanson died in 1806, cherishing to the last 

 the hope of seeing his great work completed. 

 Surely from such an original must Walter Scott's 

 gardener Abbot have been drawn. My readers 

 will recall the scene in the cottage of the old man 

 on the night of Queen Mary's escape from Loch- 

 leven, and will remember his pettish reply to her 

 proffers of remuneration : " May it please your 

 Grace, if your Grace's servants have occupied my 

 house so that I could not call it my own ; if they 

 have trodden down my flowers in the zeal of their 

 midnight comings and goings, and destroyed the 

 hope of the fruit-season by bringing their war- 

 horses into my garden, I do but crave of your 

 Grace in requital, that you will choose your resi- 

 dence as far from me as possible. I am an old 

 man, who would willingly creep to my grave as 

 easily as I can, in peace, good will, and quiet 

 labour." 



