LINNiEUS. 



315 



to present their warmest thanks, and to beg his per- 

 mission to print the address which he delivered on 

 resigning. 



In 1773, he had another attack of lumbago, and 

 was moreover affected with an epidemic sore throat ; 

 but on the whole his health did not suffer mate- 

 rially. This year, a committee of six bishops, six 

 doctors of divinity, and eight literary and scientific 

 individuals, was appointed by the government to 

 undertake a better translation of the Bible into the 

 Swedish language. Linnaeus was among the num- 

 ber, having been chosen on account of his knowledge 

 of the animals and plants mentioned in the Scrip- 

 tures ; but it does not appear that he ever engaged 

 seriously in the undertaking, although he made two 

 journeys to Stockholm for the purpose. 



While delivering one of his lectures in the bo- 

 tanic garden, in the beginning of May 1774, he had 

 a slight attack of apoplexy, from which he did not 

 recover for some time; and from this period his 

 health rapidly declined. It is said, that the vexation 

 produced by the publication of a letter in which be 

 had confidentially disclosed to a friend the history 

 of his youth, and especially the progress of his 

 courtship, was the exciting cause of this fatal af- 

 fection. The illustrious Haller, with whom be 

 had corresponded from 1737 to I766, published a 

 volume of letters, written in Latin by men of li- 

 terary eminence, and addressed to himself; and, 

 having been always extremely jealous of Linnajus, 

 thought proper to print all his epistles, in order to 

 defend his own character against the accusations of 

 envy which had been but toojustly preferred. When 

 he read these communications he was violently agi- 



