the man he ought to get to know, he being the most 

 advanced in acquirements and the keenest in applica- 

 tion in the department which Linnaeus meant to make 

 his own. For the time being, however, a meeting be- 

 tween the two future scientists was precluded, by reason 

 of Artedi having been summoned home to Nordmaling 

 to his father's deathbed. 



Artedi appears to have prolonged his stay at his 

 home till the close of that year and well on into the 

 following one. Though he was doubtless much absorbed 

 in the family arrangements consequent upon his father's 

 decease, there is proof that he did not wholly lose sight 

 of his scientific interests in the shape of a manuscript, 

 preserved in the Upsala University Library, entitled "A 

 Short List of the Trees, Bushes and Plants that are In- 

 digenous to the Glebe-Lands in Nordmaling and the 

 Villages lying in its Immediate Vicinity". This manu- 

 script bears date: February 24 1729, but his return to 

 Upsala must have taken place shortly afterwards, for 

 he is reported as having participated, in the capacity 

 of Opposer, at the keeping of an Act at his nation-house 

 on the 2nd of April. 



As soon as Linnaeus received news of Artedi being 

 in Upsala again, he hastened to go and see him in or- 

 der to make his acquaintance, and wrote subsequently, 

 in his Introduction to Artedi's "Ichthyologia", concerning 

 the impression made upon him at this first meeting as 

 follows: — "I saw him before me, lofty of stature and 

 spare of figure; his hair was long and his face reminded 

 me of John Ray's 1 ; he struck me as humble-minded, not 

 hasty in forming an opinion, but yet prompt, firm and 

 withal mature, a man of old-world honour and faith. 

 It rejoiced me to remark that our talk turned at once 

 upon stones, plants and animals, and I was much moved 

 at having so many of his scientific observations confi- 

 ded to me without the least hesitation or reserve upon 

 that very first occasion on which we met. I sought 



The English natural scientist, 1628—1705. 



