324 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



corpulent man, but spiritually minded.' i Power has a 

 natural tendency to corpulency,' says the Clockmaker ; 

 so it is with men. 



It is pleasant to contemplate Linnaeus in his souire- 

 like aspect, he and his wife installed in their high 

 positions; he the provider, she the divider, of bread, 

 honouring the neighbourhood, 'an institution in him- 

 self ; receiving the visits of the learned and respectful 

 world ; directing his pupils, and even entertaining in 

 a dignified yet homely way the King of Sweden and 

 the grandees. He had a visit here from Dr. Laurence 

 Burmann in 1760, the son of his old Dutch friend. 

 Linnaeus found an opportunity to requite Burmann's 

 favours, by kindness and instruction to his son, who had 

 studied under him at Upsal since 1759. Great people 

 enjoyed their visits to Hammarby, in those ' blest silent 

 groves, mirth's best nursery.' The mingling of deep 

 learning with country pleasures and the company of 

 their host's four pretty and lively daughters was charm- 

 ing. Linnaeus would often make up dances for his family 

 and pupils at Hammarby, where, with unaffected and 

 amiable gaiety of mind, he used to look on and even 

 derive amusement from these little domestic festivals ; 

 wise, playful, tender for, as Disraeli says, genius can 

 be everything smiling on his children with sunny 

 fondness. 



He would walk with his visitors to the gate, or 

 sometimes through the forest path that still makes the 

 shortest cut to the high-road, where a cottage did duty 



