MEMOIR OI' LINNjEUS. 



gised the country, in the Flora Lapponica, as all that could be desired, 

 happy, and smiling ; free from many diseases, and the scourge of war ; 

 and possessing plentiful resources in itself; while the inhabitants are 

 said to be innocent and primitive, displaying the greatest hospitality 

 and kindness to a stranger. In the journey, he travelled over the 

 greater part of Lapland, skirting the boundaries of Norway, and re- 

 turned to Upsala by the Gulf of Bothnia, having passed over an ex- 

 tent of above 4000 miles. He considered his labour amply remu- 

 nerated by the information he had gained, and the discovery of new 

 plants upon the higher mountains, and the payment of his expenses, 

 amounting to about 10/. 



The tour which was thus made by the young Lirma?us has been 

 published in English by the late Sir J. E. Smith, and though not 

 very well written, the curious particulars contained in it, render it 

 well worth perusal. It is probable, we think, that Linnseus might 

 never have been heard of beyond the confines of Sweden, had not 

 the refusal of a marriage proposal on the ground of his poverty, in- 

 duced him to visit Holland, in order to graduate as a physician. In- 

 stead of one year's absence, however, as originally intended, he was 

 detained about three years ; during which time he visited England 

 and France, became acquainted with Boerhaave and most of the 

 distinguished naturalists of the age ; and published some of the 

 works on Avhich his future celebrity became founded. On his return 

 to Sweden he commenced practising as a physician, and married the 

 lady whose hand had been before refused him. His subsequent 

 career is well known. He was soon chosen to fill the botanical 

 chair, which he did with great reputation for more than forty years. 

 To sum up his character: — 



His mind was ardent and enthusiastic in the highest degree, par- 

 ticularly in following out his beloved science ; he never, however, 

 in his enthusiasm, lost sight of the First Great Cause, but looked 

 truly up to Nature's God, as the giver of all his benefits and acquire- 

 ments. Over the door of his room was inscribed, — " Innocue vivito 

 — Numen adest." And when enumerating in his diary his various 

 successes in life, he commences, " The Lord himself hath led him 

 with his own Almighty hand ;" and sums them up with " The Lord 

 hath been with him whithersoever he hath walked, and hath cut off 

 his enemies from before him, and hath made him a name like the 

 name of the great men that are in the earth." The most important 

 of his works commence and finish with some verse from the Scrip- 

 tures, implying the power or greatness of God, or his own gratitude 

 to Providence, for the innumerable benefits conferred upon himself, 



