MEMOIR OP LINNAEUS. 4Q 



collections to a teacher whom they both loved and re- 

 spected. In this he was also assisted by the government, 

 who were most liberal in defraying the expense, and 

 even sending out young men free to distant countries, 

 which immensely increased the national collections. 

 In a few years his pupils of the most persevering minds 

 were distributed over the whole world, and their va- 

 rious histories would form of itself a volume of the most 

 interesting kind. Of this enthusiasm for science Lin- 

 naeus thus speaks, " If I look back upon the fate of 

 naturalists, must I call madness or reason, that desire 

 which allures us to seek and to examine plants ? The 

 irresistible attractions of nature can alone induce us to 

 face so many dangers and troubles. No science has had 

 so many martyrs as natural history." Many of his pupils 

 were unfortunate, and fell victims to the elements, or 

 to the diseases of a pestilential climate ; but many 

 returned, amply compensating themselves for the 

 hardships they had undergone, while their names are 

 handed down to science in tributes which were be- 

 stowed by their venerable preceptor.* 



The fame and reputation of Linnaeus had now 

 gained him both riches and honours. He was admit- 

 ted a member into most of the scientific societies of 

 Europe. The Imperial Academy distinguished him 

 by the name of Dioscorides Secundus. The Royal 



* Osbeckia, Kalmia, Solandra, Alstroemeria, Locflingia, &c. 

 will recall the names of some of his pupils. 



