LINNiEUS. 363 



cessive vivacity, and even of a little jealousy. In 

 this sketch he has pushed modesty and truth to 

 their utmost; and they who have known that great 

 naturalist, justly charge him with severity towards 

 himself. There are moments when the most vir- 

 tuous person sees nothing but his own failings. Af- 

 ter describing universal nature in all its details, it 

 may be said that the picture would have remained 

 incomplete had he not painted himself. At the 

 same time it is vexing that he should have painted 

 himself in colours so unfavourable. Judging him 

 by his conduct, no one could have fancied the exist- 

 ence of these defects, nor could they have been known 

 unless he had revealed them." Yet, if the damna- 

 tory revelation which he made be, as M. Fee asserts, 

 nothing more than the above sketch, it would appear 

 that he has half in playfulness presented a techni- 

 cal character of himself, such as he would have writ- 

 ten of a bear or a baboon. It presents indications 

 of candour and self-reproach, but certainly is, on 

 the whole, much more laudatory than otherwise. 



With respect to bodily conformation, he was of a 

 stature rather below the ordinary standard, as has 

 been the case with several very ambitious, active, 

 and successful men. His temperament was the san- 

 guineous, with a proportion of the nervous ; whence 

 he was lively, excitable, full of hope, and of great 

 ardour ; but since he was in no degree melancho- 

 lic, some physiologists might puzzle themselves to 

 discover where he obtained his indefatigable indus- 

 try, his perseverance, his obstinate straightforward- 

 ness, and the tenacity with which he held all opi- 

 nions which he had once received. In youth and 

 middle age he was light, but muscular ; whence his 



