WASTGOTA RESA-ROUND LAKE VENERN 211 



have written of Cinghalese botany, including the Eng- 

 lishmen Plukenetius, Raj us, Morisonus, and Sloane 

 Linnaeus could now publish a magnificent Flora of that 

 rich island. His ' Flora Zeylanica,' written at Upsal 

 1747, published at Amsterdam 1748, states on the 

 title-page that Hermann's ' Flora Zeylanica ' has been 

 here revised, examined, determined, and illustrated by 

 C. Linnaeus. 



A gloom was cast over all this work and rejoicing by 

 the death of Linnaeus's father, who died at Stenbrohult 

 May 12, 1748, aged seventy-four, on the eve of his 

 celebrated son's birthday. He who had ever sympa- 

 thised with the joy of every fresh botanical discovery 

 had passed away. A letter to Haller, dated May 1748, 

 says, c My father, Nicholas Linnaeus, born July 1, 1674, 

 died on the 12th of the present month.' Linnaaus 

 could feel with Carlyle, and with all who have lost good 

 fathers^ ' A whole section of the past seems departed 

 with my father shut out from me by an impassable 

 barrier. He could tell me about old things, and was 

 wont most graphically to do so, whenever I went to see 

 him. Now he will do so no more : it is past, past ! ' 



p 2' 



