158 Life of LinncBus. 



about 8000 species, for the works of Linnaeus contain, altogether an 

 indication of 7982 plants, and if some should have been obtained 

 after their publication, it is certain that others pointed out in his books, 

 are wanting in his herbal. We may judge of the progress which 

 botany has made within half a century, and in a great measure by 

 the influence of Linnaeus, if we take into consideration the increase 

 of actual collections. There exist many herbals of thirty and forty 

 thousand species, and one of them reaches at present to about fifty- 

 five thousand. Its proprietor has sometimes in one single year re- 

 ceived more species, than Linnaeus during his whole life. The globe 

 is explored in all parts, with an activity which astonishes the imagin- 

 ation, and it may be supposed with some truth, that within half a cen- 

 tury, there have been discovered annually a thousand species. 



Though the herbal of Linnaeus has ceased to be one of the great- 

 est in the world, it is not the less valuable, either because of the 

 sentiment of admiration which is attached to its founder, or because 

 it is the base and type of all the nomenclature. After the death of 

 Linnaeus this herbal passed into the hands of his son ; but the latter 

 surviving him only two years, his mother, who, it is said, was fond of 

 money, endeavored to reap something from it. Fearing that the 

 Government would not wish to retain it, or would give only a low 

 price for it, she offered it to Sir Joseph Banks. Mr. Fee says that 

 the latter not being in a situation to make the purchase, spoke of it to 

 Mr. Smith. The anecdote, as I have received it from the mouth of 

 Smith, is honorable to both and deserves to be recorded. Mr. J. Ed. 

 Smith, then very young, and a passionate admirer of Linnaeus, at a 

 public dinner, stated in a very animated manner, the price which was 

 asked for the herbal of Linnaeus, and his regret that his fortune did 

 not permit him to dispose of a thousand pounds sterling which was 

 asked for the herbal, the library, and the manuscripts of the great 

 naturalist. Banks hearing of this enthusiasm, sent for Smith, encour- 

 aged him to proceed and offered to lend him the money requisite to 

 this acquisition. Thanks to this generous instigation, the bargain was 

 made, and by the care of the English Consul, the herbal was sent to 

 England. It has been said that the Swedish government, indignant at 

 its being carried off, sent a frigate in pursuit of the vesssl which was 

 bearing off the herbal of their countryman, and this fact has been 

 cited as an illustrious homage rendered to his memory. I have be- 

 fore me, a portrait of Smith which has a vignette in which is seen the 

 Swedish frigate pursuing the vessel carrying the precious herbal. I 



