HIS WORK FOR POSTERITY 239 



Pray persuade Solander to write to his excellent mother, 

 who has not received a letter from her beloved son for 

 several years, which she much laments. Her residence 

 is now at PiteaV 



Natural science does not always soften the heart. 

 At Solander's sudden death several letters from his 

 mother were found unopened. Linnasus was more 

 tender than the son over the mother waiting, hoping, 

 longing for letters, in her far northern home. She 

 seems only to have heard through Linnaeus of her son's 

 safe return from his long voyage of discovery. 



Ellis to Linnceus. 



Aug. 1768. 



' Mr. Fitzhugh, factor to the East India Company 

 has just arrived, and brought a tea-tree home alive. 

 It is an old one. I asked him particularly about the 

 species of tea, green and bohea. He declares it is 

 one and the same plant. He raised several plants 

 from seed. I hear there is another tea-tree just arrived 

 in fine order. The tea-plant here succeeds well from 

 cuttings.' 



Linnceus to Ellis. 



Nov. 1769. 



< Is your tea-tree that came last year in health ? ' 

 Here are, as usual, tender inquiries after their inte- 

 resting families of tea plants. 'The King of France 

 has received one, of which a branch was sent me by 

 his command ; but this proved a species of Camellia, 

 and not the genuine thea.' 



