ANECDOTES OF LINNJBU8. V 



after writing a letter to Mora?us, his father in-law, 

 at Fahlun, he almost found it impossible to recollect 

 his name. 



" His passions were strong and violent. His 

 heart was open to every impression of joy; and he 

 loved jocularity, conviviality and good living. He 

 was an excellent companion, pleasant in conversa- 

 tion, full of strong hits of fancy and seasonable and 

 entertaining stories ; but at the same time, suddenly 

 roused to anger and boisterous ; the sudden effer- 

 vescence of this fiery passion subsided, however, 

 almost at the very moment of its birth, and he im- 

 mediately became all plain good-nature again. His 

 friendship was sure and invariable. Science was 

 generally its basis ; and every one who knew him 

 must own what concern he always manifested for 

 his pupils, and with how much zeal they returned 

 his friendship, and frequently became his defenders. 

 He was so fortunate as to find among his favourites 

 none that were ungrateful ; even Rolander deserved 

 more to be pitied than blamed. 



" The ambition of Linnaeus knew no bounds ; and 

 his motto, Famam Extendere Factis^ was the real 

 mirror of his soul.* But this ambition never ex- 

 tended beyond the regions of his science, and it 



* Linnaeus commonly wrote this motto in the memorial 

 books presented to him by his continental friends ; the late 

 celebrated Chevalier Ihre, who, though a sincere friend of 

 Linnaeus, disliked nevertheless all ostentation, inserted fre- 

 quently opposite the writing of Linnaeus these words, " Non 

 magna &wit^ quce tument." 



