328 LINNiEUS. 



fear, with much flattery and humiliation soliciting 

 the forbearance of a powerful rival ; but the report 

 which had reached him was false, and Haller hasten- 

 ed to dispel from the mind of the young botanist the 

 apprehensions under which he laboured. The cor- 

 respondence thus commenced continued with great 

 regularity, the letters of Linnaeus manifesting entire 

 confidence in Haller ; who, however, from a feeling 

 of envy, or, as he alleges, in his own defence, thought 

 proper to publish what had obviously been intended 

 to remain private. The publication of these epistles, 

 as we have seen, was productive of great distress to 

 their author ; and more especially of the following 

 one, which gives an account of his earlier years. 

 The Swiss professor concludes one of his notes in the 

 following generous terms: — " Farewell, my dear 

 Linnaeus ! may you enjoy your health and your 

 botanical pursuits, with every advantage for the pro- 

 secution of your labours ! My studies and engage- 

 ments, of a different kind, draw me unavoidably 

 aside ; but my inclination always leads me to the 

 charms of Flora. To botany I wish to devote my 

 leisure and my old age ; and my fortune to the col- 

 lecting of drawings, plants, and books. May you, 

 from whom Flora expects more than from any other 

 mortal, make the most of your advantages, and one 

 day or other return to a more genial climate ! If at 

 any time my native country should invite me, or I 

 can ever, as I hope, return to it, I have fixed upon 

 you, if the situation be worth your having, to in- 

 herit my garden and my honours, such as they are. 

 I have spoken on this subject to those in whose 

 hands all these concerns are placed. As soon as I 

 hear from you, I will tell you all the news I can. 



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