322 



LINNiEUS. 



SECTION X. 



Correspondence of LinncBus. 



Linnaeus's first Letter, addressed to Rudbeck in 1731 — His last, to 

 Dr Cusson in 1777 — Correspondence with Haller — With Dille- 

 nius, Ellis, and other English NaturaUsts. 



The correspondence of LinnEeus was so extensive, 

 that he declared to a friend that ten hands like his 

 were insufficient to return answers to all the letters 

 which were sent to him. Some time before his 

 death, he drew up a list of 150 persons with whom 

 he had maintained a communication of his ideas in 

 writing. Among the earliest of his epistles was one 

 directed to his benefactor, Olaus Rudbeck, profes- 

 sor in the University of Upsal, and is dated the 

 29th July 1731. The last is addressed to Peter 

 Cusson, IVI.D. of Montpellier, and was written in 



1777. 



The first of his correspondents of whom we shall 

 make mention is the celebrated Albert Haller, 

 who was born in October I7O8, and died on the 

 12th December 1777^ aged 69. He was eminently 

 distinguished for his knowledge of the physical 

 sciences, as well as by his poetical talents, and his 

 general acquaintance with literature. In fact, he 

 aimed at universal dominion; and the renown of 

 Rousseau, Voltaire, Linnaeus, and Buffon, excited 

 his envy of some and his contempt of others of these 



