74 MEMOIR OF LINN^US. 



Swedish; that he was a distinguished physician, 

 since he published several important works on 

 different branches of medicine ; that he was an 

 able antiquary, since he descanted so learnedly on 

 the ruins which he met with in the isles of Gothland 

 and Oeland ; and finally, that he was an intelli- 

 gent agriculturist, since he produced a considerable 

 number of treatises on rural economy. But these 

 labours, any one of which might have sufficed to 

 confer distinction on less elevated minds, are scarcely 

 reckoned of any account amidst the vast multitude 

 of his writings. 



That Linnaeus was a patriot, in the true sense of 

 the word, enthusiastically devoted to the interests 

 of his native country, is abundantly evident from 

 his refusing the flattering offers of foreign princes, 

 who tried to tempt him with large pensions to settle 

 in their dominions. It was his aim to turn his 

 studies and his public works to the advantage of 

 Sweden ; the titles which he gave many of them, 

 showed that he wished her to inherit their fame, 

 whilst several of them were expressly intended for 

 improving certain branches of her domestic eco- 

 nomy. 



The life of Linnaeus is a history of the natural 

 sciences during the eighteenth century. Its principal 

 incidents have been touched in the preceding sketch 

 we have seen him struggling with adversity in his 

 youth; visiting different countries of Europe to 

 gather information, and gratify his ardent passion 



