LIFE AT STOCKHOLM 75 



chosen one of its members.' 1 ' The scientific merits of 

 Linnaeus were not overlooked, as he was unanimously 

 chosen a member of the Upsal Academy, the only one 

 then in Sweden. Yet the homage he had so lately re- 

 ceived abroad seems to have made him a little unreason- 

 able on this head, and he declares he would certainly 

 have quitted his native country had he not been in love.' 2 



He had almost resolved to quit Sweden ; and had a 

 letter from Haller come to hand in reasonable time 

 Sweden would have lost her child, the ornament of 

 her house. Haller showed himself grand and noble. 

 This eminent man, indignant with the neglect of Lin- 

 naeus shown by his countrymen, generously proposed to 

 resign to him his own professorship of botany at Got- 

 tingen. ' Eeturn once more to gentler climes,' he writes. 

 1 1 have pitched upon you if you like the offer to be 

 the heir of the garden of this city and of all my digni- 

 ties.' Haller himself expected to be recalled to his native 

 place, Berne. In a later letter January 19, 1739 he 

 repeated the offer ; but Linnaeus did not receive the letter 

 till August 12, when his circumstances had changed for 

 the better. He wrote, however, with liveliest thank- 

 fulness to Haller : l A brother cannot be kinder to a 

 brother, a father cannot treat better his only son. I 

 have had intercourse with many men ; many have shown 

 me affection, but none so much kindness as you.' 



Linnaeus was full of the liveliest gratitude for this 

 unlooked-for kindness, 'for Haller had never warmly 

 1 Pulteney. 2 Smith. 



