LINNiEUS. 343 



the connexion that our royal family have had with 

 them." 



The first voyage of Captain Cook, in which he 

 was accompanied by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr So- 

 lander, interested Linnaeus in a high degree, as he 

 expected from it great accessions to science. On 

 being apprized by Ellis of the return of the expe- 

 dition in 1771 J he thus writes in reply: — 



" I received, about an hour ago, my ever valued 

 friend, yours of the 16th of July, nor did I ever 

 receive a more welcome letter, as it conveys the 

 agreeable news of my dear Solander's safe return. 

 Thanks and glory to God, who has protected him 

 through the dangers of such a voyage ! If I were not 

 bound fast here by sixty-four years of age, and a 

 worn-out body, I would this very day set out for Lon- 

 don, to see this great hero of botany. Moses w^as not 

 permitted to enter Palestine, but only to view it 

 from a distance ; so I conceive an idea in my mind 

 of the acquisitions and treasures of those who have 

 visited every part of the globe." 



The following letter, principally on the same sub- 

 ject, is selected as one of the best specimens of Lin- 

 naeus's epistolary style : — 



LiNNiEus TO Mr Ellis. 



" Upsal, October 22, 1771. 



" My dear Friend, — I have just read in some 

 foreign newspapers, that our friend Solander in- 

 tends to revisit those new countries, discovered by 

 Mr Banks and himself, in the ensuing spring. This 

 report has affected me so much, as almost entirely 

 to deprive me of sleep. How vain are the hopes of 



