LINN^US. 241 



before met with. Whether I answer him or keep 

 silence, my reputation must suffer. He cannot un- 

 derstand argument. He denies the sexes of plants. 

 He charges my system with indelicacy; and yet I 

 have not written more about the polygamy of plants 

 than Swammerdam has about bees. He laughs at 

 my characters, and calls upon all the world to say 

 if any body understands them. I am said to be 

 ignorant of scientific terms. He judges me by the 

 principles of Rivinus, and hundreds of the vilest 

 scribblers. Inasmuch as the man humbles me, so 

 do you, whose learning and sense have been made 

 sufficiently evident, exalt me. It distresses me to 

 read the commendations you are pleased to heap 

 upon so unworthy an object. I wish there might 

 ever be any reason to expect that I could evince my 

 gratitude and regard for you. I hope life will be 

 granted me, to give some proof of my not being 

 quite unworthy." 



Linnaeus was now, however, in his proper element, 

 and commenced his academical career with great 

 ardour. The botanical garden, founded by the ce- 

 lebrated Olaus Rudbeck about fifty years before, was 

 entirely destroyed by the dreadful fire which, as al- 

 ready mentioned, had, in 1702, converted the greater 

 part of Upsal into a heap of ruins, and now served no 

 more important purpose than that of pasturing a few 

 cows. His first efforts were directed towards its re- 

 novation, which he soon succeeded in accomplishing. 

 Count Gyllenborg, who was then chancellor of the 

 university, was a man of considerable scientific at- 

 tainments, and had a special love for botany. This 

 circumstance, as well as his interest in the prosperity 

 of the institution, induced him to lend a ready ear to 



p 



