2 ESS A YS. 



he established many of his species. Our brief notices will 

 therefore naturally commence with the herbarium of the im- 

 mortal Linnaeus, the father of that system of nomenclature to 

 which botany, no less than natural history in general, is so 

 greatly indebted. 



This collection, it is well known, after the death of the 

 younger Linnaeus, found its way to England, from whence it 

 is not probable that it will ever be removed. The late Sir 

 James Edward Smith, then a young medical student, and a 

 botanist of much promise, was one morning informed by Sir 

 Joseph Banks that the heirs of the younger Linnaeus had just 

 offered him the herbarium with the other collections and the 

 library of the father, for the sum of 1000 guineas. Sir Joseph 

 Banks not being disposed to make the purchase, recommended 

 it to Mr. Smith ; the latter^ it appears, immediately decided to 

 risk the expectation of a moderate independence, and to secure, 

 if possible, these treasures for himself and his country ; and 

 before the day closed had actually written to Upsal, desiring 

 a full catalogue of the collection, and offering to become the 

 purchaser at the price fixed, in case it should answer his ex- 

 pectations. 1 



1 The next day Mr. Smith wrote as follows to his father, informing him 

 of the step he had taken and entreating his assistance : — 



"Honored Sir: Yon may have heard that the young Linnseus is 

 lately dead : his father's collections and library, and his own, are now to 

 be sold ; and the whole consists of an immense hortus siccus, with dupli- 

 cates, insects, shells, corals, materia medica, fossils, a very fine library, 

 all the unpublished manuscripts, in short, everything they were possessed 

 of relating to natural history and physic ; the whole has just been offered 

 to Sir Joseph Banks for 1000 guineas, and he has declined buying it. The 

 offer was made to him by my friend Dr. Engelhart, at the desire of a Dr. 

 Acrel of Upsal, who has charge of the collection. Now, I am so ambitious 

 as to wish to possess this treasure, with a view to settle as a physician in 

 London, and read lectures on natural history. Sir Joseph Banks and all 

 my friends to whom I have entrusted my intention, approve of it highly. 

 I have written to Dr. Acrel, to whom Dr. Engelhart has recommended 

 me, for particulars and the refusal, telling him if it was what I expected, 

 I would give him a very good price for it. I hope, my dear sir, you and my 

 good mother will look on this scheme in as favorable a light as my friends 

 here do. There is no time to be lost, for the affair is now talked of in all 

 companies, and a number of people wish to be purchasers. The Empress 



