LINNJEUS. 



325 



" 5. I have been acquainted with most botanists 

 of distinction, who have all given me their encou- 

 ragement ; nor has any one of them thwarted my 

 insatiable desire of natural knowledge. Will you 

 be more severe than any body else ? You appear, 

 by your dissertation, too noble to triumph over the 

 ignorance of others. 



" 6. You may, with great advantage, and without 

 injury to me, display your profound learning and 

 intimate knowledge of the works of Nature, so as to 

 acquire the thanks of all the learned world. Do 

 but turn over the writings of botanists in general, 

 and you will see, by their earlier performances, how 

 they are puffed up at first with their own conse- 

 quence, and scarcely able to keep from assaulting 

 others ; of which I myself have perhaps been guilty, 

 which I deeply regret, having now learned better. 

 But when these same people have passed a few years 

 in the field of battle, they become so mild, candid, 

 modest, and civil to every body, that not a word of 

 offence escapes them. This chiefly leads me to doubt 

 the truth of the report in question ; for I know your 

 reputation has already been long established. 



'' 7. It seems wonderful to me that I should have 

 excited so much of your displeasure ; for I cannot 

 but think there is no work of any author more in 

 unison with my ideas than this essay of yours. 



" 8, I, and perhaps I alone, have acquired what 

 I know entirely by the rules you have laid down, 

 of studying without a master. I am still but a 

 learner ; and you must pardon me if I am not yet 

 become learned. If knowledge is to be acquired by 

 your mode, the hope of it, at least, still serves to il- 

 luminate my path. 



