12 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LIXN.-EUS 



sympathy with poor laborious Dillenius, who saw his 

 life's work thus upset. 



Revolutions, even in science, always occasion con- 

 vulsions. It is a stirring of the fire on a great scale. A 

 reformer always has his adversaries. ' Never answer 

 attacks,' said Boerhaave. 1 1 promised,' said Linnaeus, 

 1 to take his advice, and I have found my account in so 

 doing.' l Fear and anxiety more than esteem made 

 Haller correspond with Linnaaus in 1 737. Linnseus wrote 

 (April 5) a pacificatory letter to him from Hartecamp ; 

 a fine letter of noble and temperate argument. Haller 

 wrote immediately to inform him of his friendly dispo- 

 sition in the warmest expressions.' l 



Haller's note on the report of his intending to write 

 against Linnasus's method is this : The report was false, 

 nor did it ever enter my mind to disturb a young man 

 of so much merit in the science of botany in the com- 

 mencement of his fame and fortune.' Linnaeus sent 

 him a letter of thanks (May 1). 'You only and Dil- 

 lenius I could never wish to be mine enemies, for you 

 both have read the same book which I read you have 

 read Nature.' 



Linnaeus speaks of himself to Haller as c a little man 

 among the prophets. I pass my harmless time in pre- 

 paring the " Hortus Cliffortiensis." I am struck with 

 the supreme sagacity of Vaillant.' 



This same year, however, scientific zeal brought on 

 a short interruption of their friendly correspondence. 

 1 Stoever. 



