[ u 1 



their appearance in the Englijh^ or fome other 

 language befides that of Sweden ; for though, in 

 country cultivated like ours, many hints, perhaps,, 

 might not be drawn from thefe volumes, of real 

 Importance to agriculture here\ yet they are fo 

 replete with curious and philofophical obferva- 

 tions, that they could not fail to be an acceptable 

 prefent to the public ; as the general fcope of 

 thefe volumes is to adapt natural hiftory to eco- 

 nomical purpofes. In the Iter Gothlandicum et 

 CElandicum^ Linn^eus's inftruflions were di- 

 reeled principally to thefe particulars: — He 

 was to endeavour to find fome kind of earth 

 proper for making pottery-ware in imitation of 

 the porcelaine of Chi7ia : he was to notice every 

 produdlion of nature that might fuperfede the- 

 neceflity of the importation of any article, 

 ufed either in phyfic or manufadlures : and in 

 fine, he was to have a regard to every part of 

 natural hiftory. In the execution of his plan^ 

 however, he went much farther than his commif- 

 fion extended, having interfperfed a number of 

 obfervations relating to the antiquities of thefe 

 iflands, the mechanic arts, to the manners of the 

 people, their fifhery, and various other articles. 

 He was, as might reafonably be expe6bed, un- 

 fuccefsful in the firft part of his commiflion, 

 fince the two iflands are almoft entirely conl- 

 pofed of limeftone, or coral rocks, which abound 

 in a remarkable degree in the Baltic. 



As a jproof of the little attention that had been 

 paid to natural hiftory in Sweden^ we may obferve^ 



tliat 



