12 



the vicissitudes of fortune, and could experience the 

 joy of sharing each other's prosperity and adversity at 

 all times and seasons." 



"An instance may be cited to show the quality and 

 depth of our mutual attachment. When I was on the 

 point of starting for far-distant Lapland, I ordained and 

 appointed Artedi to be my sole heir and legatee in respect 

 of all those my manuscripts and collections of natural 

 history specimens, he solemnly undertaking and enga- 

 ging to have such of them published and given to the 

 world as might be deemed worthy thereof, for the event 

 of the enterprise I was about to embark upon proving 

 one from which I was not destined to return alive. He, 

 again, on leaving Upsala for England, directed to be 

 handed over into my keeping and for my use those of 

 his books which he could not conveniently take with 

 him on his journey, at the same time writing me word, 

 who was then travelling on a tour of scientific investi- 

 gation in Dalarna, that I was to take charge of the 

 said books, and that they were to become my property, 

 if Fate ordained that he should never come back to his 

 native land again." 



In addition to the above statements Linnaeus also 

 makes some comments upon his friend's capabilities 

 and acquirements in other departments of knowledge 

 than natural history. u He was exceedingly well versed 

 in litterse humaniores and in modern languages, was a 

 profound philosopher, and possessed a sound knowledge 

 of medicine; he had the power, moreover, of giving 

 the most admirable addresses on very various subjects, 

 wherein he displayed keen judgment and a thorough 

 acquaintance with his topic, so that none of his hearers, 

 on leaving the lecture-room, could fail to accord him 

 the distinction of being a very great and learned man." 



The above quotations, it should be remembered, 

 are from the pen of the man who was best qualified 

 to form an estimate of Artedi, both as a personality 

 and a scholar. That they were prompted by feelings 

 of genuine attachment, mingled with profound sorrow 



