LINN^US. PS- 



glee, nay, even if we became noisy. His only 

 anxiety was, that we might be well entertained. 

 Those days, those hours, will never be erased from 

 my memory, and every remembrance of them is 

 grateful to my heart ! " 



He seems, before sending it, to have added at 

 the close a sort of summary of his deeds, his 

 merits, his honours, and his obligations. With the 

 scrupulous care, and love of truth and justice, 

 which always characterized him, he reckoned up, 

 under the latter head, the various aids afforded 

 him by his pupils and friends ; and, conscious of his 

 higher obligations, he enumerated the favours he 

 had received from the Divine hand which he ac- 

 knowledged had led and prospered him. He had 

 permitted him to visit His secret council chambers, 

 and to see more of the creation than any mortal 

 before him, and given him greater knowledge of 

 natural history than any one had hitherto acquired. 

 Even beneath the pressure of increasing infirmities, 

 the fondness of Linnaeus for his beloved studies 

 continued undiminished, and his desire of adding 

 to his knowledge was keen as ever. Some of his 

 letters at this period are full of vivacity, and 

 strikingly express the ardour of his zeal. An idea 

 of their spirit may be gained from a short extract 

 taken from one, dated August 8th, 1771. "I re- 

 ceived an hour ago," he writes, " yours of the i6th 

 July, nor did I ever get a more welcome letter, as 

 it contains the happy tidings of my dear Solander's 

 safe return. Thanks and glory to God, who has 



