Foreign Notices : — Sweden. 99 



Besides these flowers which were self-sown (selbst pjianz{) in the King's 

 Meadow, the whole neighbourhood is bare and free of wood. No trees sur- 

 round the farm-houses, and still less is there any appearance of forest 

 cultivation on a larger scale ; although, for several hundred years, both the 

 government and private individuals have encouraged the inhabitants to plant. 

 This proves how much is still wanting for the comfort of the inhabitants of 

 this flat district, and, also, that the means are yet to be devised how this 

 useful shelter can be forced upon them. The Swedish Horticultural Society, 

 however, appear to have found out how this can be effected, from the 

 the measures they have pursued in Uppland.* 



After leaving the King's Meadow, we passed through a bare plain, without 

 wood, to Hammarby, where we first found a few trees here and there growing 

 in a wild state, and some scattered plantations. This neighbourhood cannot 

 be called rurally beautiful by any means : a turgid stream runs so deep as to 

 be unseen between the fields. The King's Meadow affords the only beautiful 

 view that can be obtained from this place of the Castle and towers of Upsal. 

 The building containing Linnseus's dwelling-house consists of two houses, 

 and is situated on the south, at the foot of a stony height, surrounded by 

 large rocks, as if an earthquake had thrown the granite rocks around it. A 

 tree could only here and there find space enough to spring up among these 

 rocky ruins ; and yet the lecture-room (Jehrsaal) of Linnaeus, so well known 

 to the world, is found at the summit of a majestic uptowering pyramid formed 

 of them. There are two plantations near the house, more or less in a ruinous 

 state (yerfullene). 



There are two large rhamnuses at each side of the door, near the court, 

 which is overgrown with grass; and these trees, in all probability, were 

 planted in the time of Linnaeus. There is also a sweet chestnut, which has 

 widely spread out its branches over the entrance of the best of the dwelling- 

 houses, and has two supports, which give it the appearance of an old man 

 leaning on crutches ; and which was planted by Linnaeus himself, as his 

 handwriting testifies. 



The dwelling-houses consist of two wooden buildings, each two stories 

 high ; one of which (built like a wing), at the time of our visit, was inhabited. 

 The other, which appeared to be intended for Linnaeus and his family, was 

 closed, and the ground was covered with high grass as far as the steps ; a 

 proof how seldom the dwelling is visited. On account of some unknown 

 family arrangements ^made by the descendants of Linnaeus, this house has 

 never been occupied since his decease. It consists of a dwelling, which con- 

 tained all the comforts of wealth; and which, with its furniture, has remained 

 undisturbed for the space of fifty years. The sensations which overpowered 

 me when I entered it may be compared to those felt on crossing the threshold 

 to the atrium of a newly excavated house in Pompeii : all that surrounded us 

 were relics and recollections of bygone times, consecrated in a sanctuary for 

 future generations. The following expressive inscription is placed over the 

 entrance of the living-room of the lower story: — " Dum faveat Coelum." 

 " While it pleases Heaven." 



This apartment seemed to be intended for daily use ; and in it we observed 

 two indifferently painted likenesses of Linnaeus, and portraits in crayons of 

 his wife and four daughters. It is worthy of remark that, among the numer- 

 ous family pictures hanging on these walls, the portrait of his son and suc- 

 cessor. Professor Charles von Linne the younger, is wanting. The upper 

 apartment is in the same state as it was left on the death of Linnsus. Furni- 

 ture which, perhaps, was in fashion more than a hundred years back, ornaments, 

 and different kinds of household articles, all in the fashion of bygone times, 

 are in the same places in which Linnaeus left them. The walls of two apart- 



* Sec the Jahrcschrift of 1834-^ p. 38. 

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