2 Notices of European Herharia. 



upon whose descriptive phrases or figures he established many of 

 his species. Our brief notices will therefore naturally commence 

 with the herbarium of the immortal Linneeus, the father of that 

 system of nomenclature to which botany, no less than natural 

 history in general, is so greatly indebted. 



This collection, it is well known, after the death of the young- 

 er Linnssus, found its way to England, from whence it is not 

 probable that it will ever be removed. The late Sir James Ed- 

 ward Smith, then a young medical student, and a botanist of much 

 promise, was one morning informed by Sir Joseph Banks that 

 the heirs of the younger Linnajus had just offered him the herba- 

 rium with the other collections and library of the father, for the 

 sum of 1000 guineas. Sir Joseph Banks not being disposed to 

 make the purchase, recommended it to Mr. Smith ; the latter, it 

 appears, immediately decided to risk the expectation of a moder- 

 ate independence, and to secure, if possible, these treasures for 

 himself and his country ; and before the day closed had actually 

 written to Upsal, desiring a full catalogue of the collection, and 

 offering to become the purchaser at the price fixed, in case it an- 

 swered his expectations.* His success, as soon appeared, was 

 entirely owing to his promptitude, for other and very pressing 

 applications were almost immediately made for the collection, but 

 the upright Dr. Acrel having given Mr. Smith the refusal, declin- 

 ed to entertain any other proposals while this negotiation was 

 pending. The purchase was finally made for 900 guineas, ex- 

 cluding the separate herbarium of the younger Linnaeus, collected 

 before his father's death, and said to contain nothing that did not 

 also exist in the original herbarium : this was assigned to Baron 



* The next day Mr. Smith wrote as follows to his father, informing him of the 

 step he had taken, and entreating his assistance. 



"Honored Sir: You may have heard that the young Linnseus is lately dead: 

 his father's collections and library, and his own, are now to be sold ; the whole 

 consists of an immense hortus siccus, with duplicates, insects, shells, corals, mate- 

 lia medica, fossils, a very fine library, all the unpublished manuscripts; in short, 

 every thing they were possessed of relating to natural history and ph3'sic : the 

 whole has just been ofl'ered to Sir Joseph Banks for 1000 guineas, and he has de- 

 clined buying it. The offer was made to him by my friend Dr. Engelhart, at the 

 desire of a Dr. Acrel of Upsal, who has charge of the collection. Now, I am so 

 ambitious as to wish to possess this treasure, with a view to settle as a physician in 

 London, and read lectures on natural history. Sir Joseph Banks, and all my 

 friends to whom I have entrusted my intention, approve of it highly. I have 

 written to Dr. Acrel, to whom Dr. Engelhart has recommended me, for particulars 

 and the refusal, telling him if it was what I expected, I would give him a very 



