of the University of Copenhagen. 197 



exertions, that the science was embraced with much avidity, 

 and that a love of it became general over all Europe. 



In 1752, a skilful pupil of the Hallerian school arrived 

 from Germany, who afterwards became professor of botany 

 in this university. By his ability, and the fostering care of the 



then ministers, Count A. G. Moltke, and Thott, botany, as 



well as other sciences, was greatly promoted, A new and large 

 botanic garden was laid out in the same year, at the custom- 

 house, which was graciously presented to the university by 

 King Frederick v., who also endowed it with an annual grant 

 of money. At this time Oeder was on his travels, collecting 

 plants and drawings for the Flora Danica, of which he was 

 the first author. John Zoega, brother to the celebrated archae- 

 ologist Zoega, and a beloved pupil of Linnaeus, was lec- 

 turer ; and the cultivation of the plants was conducted by an 

 excellent Dutch gardener of the name of Kaesemakker. 



When Oeder gave up the pursuit of botany for that of agri- 

 culture, and Zoega for that of finance, C. F. Rottboell, the 

 professor of medicine, and who, since 1773j had given lectures 

 on botany, was made superintendent of the garden. This 

 gentleman's works were chiefly extracted from the labours and 

 discoveries of his pupil, J. G. Konig, in the East Indies, <!,and 

 are well known : but his valuable monograph of Epidendrum 

 placed him in the first rank as a practical botanist. During 

 his direction, the garden was removed to Charlottenburgh in 

 1778, where it now remains. In the following year, the cele- 

 brated botanist, Martyn Vahl, just arrived from the prosecu- 

 tion of his studies at Upsal, was appointed lecturer on botany, 

 but soon gave up the office, in consequence of disagreement 

 between himself and some others, with respect to regulations 

 connected with the establishment. M. Vahl set out on a bo- 

 tanical excursion over Europe and part of Africa, and was 

 succeeded in the lectureship by his pupil, Erik Wiborg. 

 After this time the garden was improved, in consequence of its 

 connection with other establishments of the kind ; and, though 

 it was strictly a royal garden, the entire use of it was given up 

 to the university. 



Rottboell died in 1797, having bequeathed his whole inter- 

 esting herbarium to the garden, and which being united with 

 what it before Contained, viz. the collections of Rolander and 

 Forskael, added much to the value of the institution. 



Rolander was a native of Sweden, and a pupil of Linnaeus. 

 He made a voyage to Surinam, where he collected many rari- 

 ties in natural history, of which he gave a description in the 

 Latin language. Returned from his travels in Surinam, he 



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