17 



Concerning his experiences on the voyage we have 

 no record, nor indeed any very definite one of the more 

 important matter as to what places and institutions he 

 visited in England. We can, however, be sure that he 

 made the best possible use of his time, one evidence of 

 which is to be found in the dating of the preface to 

 his ichthyological works from London, 1735. The only 

 extant account of his doings in England is what Lin- 

 naeus reports of the conversations they had together 

 when they unexpectedly met in Leyden on July 8 1735. 

 Linnaeus was temporarily resident in Holland at that 

 time and happened on the above date to go to Leyden, 

 where Artedi, who was on his way back to Sweden, 

 was tarrying with a view to acquiring the doctor's de- 

 gree. It is easy to imagine what a source of mutual de- 

 light and satisfaction this unlooked-for recovery of each 

 other must have been. More than a year had passed 

 since the two had parted in Upsala, and by reason of 

 their having been constantly on the move in the mean- 

 time they had not been able to communicate with each 

 other. Hence there would be much for both to relate; 

 of Artedi's sojourn in England his friend received a very 

 glowing report; the great and excellent opportunities 

 afforded him for studying Ichthyology, the extreme good 

 fortune vouchsafed him in the friendships he had made 

 with learned men and the profitable intercourse he had 

 had with them, all combined to render his recollection of 

 his visit an exceedingly pleasant one. He expressed to 

 his friend in the warmest terms his sentiments of grat- 

 itude for, and appreciation of the many marks of con- 

 sideration and goodwill that had fallen to his lot in 

 England and declared his firm attachment to, and un- 

 alloyed admiration of both the country and its people. 

 Of those with whom he had been privileged to come 

 into contact he specially mentioned Sloane, 1 the cele- 

 brated naturalist, and spoke with grateful recognition 



1 S. was born in Killileagh, Ireland, in 1660. At his death in 1753 

 he was Physician in Ordinary to King George I and also President 

 of the Royal Society. 



Feter Artedi. 9 



