90 MEMOIR OF LINNJEUS. 



Linnaeus by his king and his countrymen, it is apt 

 to astonish foreigners to learn, that the Collections 

 of that distinguished Naturalist were allowed to be 

 transported from Sweden, as has been already 

 noticed, and to become the property of an English- 

 man. The circumstance is thus related by one of 

 the biographers of Linnaeus : " In Sweden, it is 

 alleged, that there exists a law which vests in the 

 State a right of inheriting part of the effects of the 

 deceased, in all cases where he has exercised any 

 of the functions connected with Professorships in 

 the Universities. Madam Linnaeus, apprehensive 

 lest, on the death of her son, the collections of her 

 husband might be seized by the government, made 

 a secret offer of his herbarium and library to Sir 

 Joseph Banks ; but the latter not being then in a 

 condition to make so extensive a purchase, men- 

 tioned it to Mr. (afterwards Sir James) Smith, who 

 at once saw the importance of such an acquisition. 

 The sum demanded by the widow was 1000 livres 

 Mr. Smith offered 900, which were accepted. The 

 English consul at Upsala was privately entrusted 

 with the charge of conveying away the precious 

 cargo; but some knowledge of the circumstance 

 having transpired, the people were dissatisfied, and 

 threatened to oppose the removal of the cabinets. 

 The King, when informed of the transaction en- 

 tered into between Mr. Smith and the widow, 

 implored the latter to preserve for Sweden those 

 Taluable collections of which she was on the point 



