300 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



copies of it,' said the banker, laughing, ' and you shall 

 have this if you will give me Linnasus in exchange.' 

 The proposal thus made, apparently in jest, soon led to a 

 serious one, and Clifford invited Linnseus to live with 

 him as his physician and botanist, and offered him a 

 salary of 1,000 florins per annum. 1 



Linnaeus was dazzled and captivated by this new 

 experience. Never had he met with a sort of life 

 so tucked in with velvet curtains, such sumptuous 

 appearances of equipage and well-laid table, and every- 

 thing so rich and bankery : but these things alone 

 would never have tempted him had there not been ample 

 liberty and the garden at command, and unlimited 

 powers given him to use both to the best advantage. 

 He could here cultivate science without restriction. 

 He was truly happy. Hear himself : * Thus Linnaeus 

 moved to Clifford's, where he lived like a prince ; had 

 one of the finest gardens in the world under his in- 

 spection ; with commission to procure all the plants that 

 were wanting in the garden, and such books as were not 

 to be found in the library ; and of course enjoyed all the 

 advantages he could wish for in his botanical labours, to 

 which he devoted himself day and night.' His energy 

 had a tremendous impulse now that he was settled and 

 at leisure. He was an excellent companion too. He c had 

 an immense fund of articulate gaiety in his composition, 

 beautiful light humour,' never flying off into folly, ' yet 



1 Turton says 800 florins a year; Fee says 1,000 florins. We 

 must take that sum which is nearest a ducat a day. 



