A VISIT TO ENGLAND 335 



seemed to promise the establishment of the botanic 

 sceptre in England (Chelsea, Eltham) ; but they were 

 at a standstill for a system.' ] Ray's as he left it was 

 imperfect, and too complex for general handling. It 

 was because the question was so pressing, ' How is the 

 king's government to be carried on ? ' the government, 

 that is, of Sir Hans Sloane that Linnaeus, who had 

 fixed the attention of all Europe with five works, the 

 product, apparently, of a year, causing a revolution of 

 thought through the whole realm of science, was re- 

 pulsed by them as an innovator and a radical. Dille- 

 nius in his letter to Haller treated Linnseus with a 

 moroseness of criticism and harshness of language 

 that the young Swede's learning and endowments did 

 not deserve. Disheartened by his cold reception, and 

 failing to conciliate the professor's kindness, Linnaeus 

 called next day to take leave. ' Before I go,' said he, 

 ' I have to request one favour : tell me why you accuse 

 me of confounding botany ? ' 



Dillenius perceived that the youth had understood 

 his remark to Dr. Sherard, but did not care to explain. 

 Linnaeus persisted, and the professor produced from the 

 library a part of Linnaeus's own ' Genera Plantarum,' 

 printed at Leyden, a copy of which Gronovius had sent 

 to Oxford. Linnaeus found N.B. written on almost 

 every page, and was informed that those letters marked 

 the false genera. Linnaeus denied this, and they ad- 

 journed to the garden. The professor referred to a 

 1 Sir J. Smith. 



