LINNiEUS. 367 



him into expressions which indicated a great want 

 of self-control ; but if he was easily roused to anger^ 

 he was as speedily appeased. He was exceedingly 

 pleasant in conversation, humorous, and fond of tell- 

 ing entertaining stories. Constant in his attach- 

 ments, he was ever disposed to look with indulgence 

 on the faults of his friends ; and he was fortunate 

 in the affection which his pupils manifested towards 

 him. But it is said that he was equally tenacious 

 of dislike towards his enemies, or those of whom he 

 had formed an unfavourable opinion. 



His opponents he treated with forbearance or con- 

 tempt, and on no occasion engaged in controversy. 

 In a letter to Haller he says, — '' Our great example, 

 Boerhaave, answered nobody whatever : I recollect 

 his saying to me one day, ' You should never reply 

 to any controversial writers ; promise me that you 

 will not.' I promised him accordingly, and have 

 benefited very much by it." If he cherished ani- 

 mosity towards his adversaries, it certainly did not 

 prevent him from expressing his esteem for their 

 merits ; and as dissimulation had no place in his 

 character, he did not follow the example of those 

 who by private misrepresentations undo the benefits 

 conferred by public encomiums. '' I am certain," 

 says Murray, " that had his most unjust and most 

 violent opponents heard him, they could not have 

 refused him their esteem and affection." 



No man ever excelled him in the discrimination of 

 natural objects ; nor is it necessary for us to enter 

 upon any exposition of the excellencies of his men- 

 tal constitution, as fitting him for the office which 

 he assumed as legislator of natural history. Active, 

 penetrating, sagacious, more conversant with nature 



