MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS. Vll 



and the inhabitants of the world; and his descriptions are continually 

 interspersed with expressions of admiration, of gratit ude, and love 



His memory was most comprehensive, and remained almost unim- 

 paired till his sixtieth year ; but the most remarkable feature in his 

 comprehensive mind, was the power to seize upon the essential cha- 

 racters of whetever he was engaged with, to separate the useful from 

 the useless, and at once to characterize them with that decision and 

 clearness, which so peculiarly mark his writings and descriptions. A 

 better example of this cannot be referred to, and his style will be 

 better understood in the perusal, than in his Imperium Nature, or 

 the preface to three kingdoms in his Systema Naturce. 



This love of order was equally conspicuous in his domestic arrange- 

 ments. In winter he slept from nine to six, in summer from ten to 

 three ; but he never extended his application of mind beyond the 

 moment at which he felt fatigue, and whatever fact came to his 

 knowledge, he noted it immediately in its proper place. He was 

 frugal in his way of living, and in his greatest prosperity never gave 

 way to extravagance or ostentation ; he was a strict economist, yet 

 liberal in conferring benefits. He often relieved his pupils when in 

 want, and was always ready to assist them in their travels, either by 

 money or advice. In his capacity as teacher, he possessed the faculty 

 of interesting his hearers, and of easily making himself understood, 

 and his pupils looked upon him more in the light of a counsellor, or 

 beloved adviser, than as a grave or austere professor. 



