338 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



always delightful, filled with the musical and fragrant 

 breeze from the surrounding pine groves, is the view that 

 Linnaeus, with true Swedish patriotism, speaks of as 

 incomparable in the universe. The white-blossoming 

 bird-cherry, the Linnsean tree, grows in profusion round 

 this woodland temple for such it is and no less. A 

 long fish-skin stretched upon a lath still hangs above 

 his easel-shaped reading-chair and another high-backed 

 cane easy-chair, used by the king in his visits. The 

 rest of the seats are forms for the pupils. The drawers 

 of the escritoire and the cupboard contain a few objects 

 of curiosity, but seemingly of no great value. This 

 reading-room was established in 1768 (the diary in 

 one place says 1769). Here Linnaeus could find quiet, 

 and it relieved the house of the burden of scientific 

 study. Here he delivered lectures ; during eight hours 

 a day, so it is said. Here Lord Baltimore, one of his 

 audience, in a transport of gratitude for the instruction 

 he had received, presented Linne with a gold snuff-box 

 weighing 100 ducats, in addition to his fee of 800 

 ducats. Lord Baltimore also sent Linne a service of 

 silver plate, or what the French call a ' necessaire,' 

 worth 2,000 rix dollars, or upwards of 300Z. sterling. 1 



There are but few traces out-of-doors of the great 

 man's pursuits. A few Swedish winters would natu- 

 rally destroy all exotic plants. 



At the time of M. Pontin's visit he says, ' On de- 

 scending from the height his party visited a small level 

 1 Smith. 



