THE DREAM FULFILLED 149 



rest only needs skilful manipulation. Linnseus's master 

 mind held firm grip of the whole of science in its mana- 

 geable youth ; now sub-division has become necessary. 



The orator concludes : ' I thank God who has so 

 directed my footsteps, that I have grown up, not- 

 withstanding poverty and other inconveniences, in sim- 

 plicity and innocence of life, and in the most ardent 

 pursuit after knowledge.' In the empire of natural 

 history there is room for the exercise of lofty virtues, 

 and deeds and sufferings fit for the pages of romance. 



Even more than his oration was admired Linnaeus's 

 calm and dignified abstinence from all subjects of pre- 

 vious dispute and personal topics which would arouse 

 acrimony ; the ' frankness and cordiality with which 

 he met the welcome of former friends and pupils, the 

 anxiety to return the courtesies with which he was re- 

 ceived by old and young.' 



The description of all this much resembles a modern 

 analogous case : ' It was a grand display. I never 

 before recognised what oratory could do, the audience 

 being kept for three hours in a state of electric tension, 

 bursting every moment into applause. Nothing was 

 said which seemed of moment when read deliberately 

 afterwards ; but the voice was like enchantment, and 

 the street when we left the building was ringing with a 

 prolongation of the cheers. 1 



His and Rosen's appointments * militated,' Stoever 

 says, ' against the call and will of the Muses.' Rosen 

 1 Froude, On Gladstone's Great Oration on Homer. 



