72 L I N N ^ U S A T H A M B U R G H. 



foreign countries, which the laws of love and ancient custom had ren- 

 dered necessary, and which became pleasant by the happy prospe£ts of 

 his farther improvement and the enterprizes he had planned. But he 

 could then as little foresee the advantageous circumstances thrown in 

 his way by auspicious fate to favour his remarkable career, as he could 

 measure the long space of time which he was to pass afar from his 

 country. 



He set out on his tour to Holland from Fahlun, through the Southern 

 provinces of Sweden, Copenhagen, Jutland, Schleszuick, and Holstein to 

 Hambwgh. Here he rested himself for some time. His zeal of know- 

 ledge outweighed all other considerations. He saw the literary cu- 

 riosities and natural coUeftions at Hamburgh, and met with a most ami- 

 cable reception on the part of the respeftive proprietors and other con- 

 noisseurs and lovers of natural history. 



Among these was Dr. John Peter Kohl of Altona, afterwards 

 professor at Petersburgh, who when advanced in life returned to the 

 former place, where he became the benefaftor of the college, and en- 

 riched it with a large and fine library. At Hamburgh, he found the 

 Burgomaster John Anderson, Doftor Geoffry J^nisch, and 

 John von Spreckelsen *, all eminent men, with whom Linnaeus 

 carried on a literary correspondence. The great library and colleclion 

 of natural curiosities which belong to the latter, chiefly engrossed his 

 attention — afforded him utility and entertainment — but at the same 

 time involved him in a pleasant dilemma. 



* Several foreign liierary produdions have very improperly represented Spreckelsen, 

 by the title of Burgomaster; he was only Secretary of Council. Professor Dillenius of 

 Oxford has also mistated his death in a letter to Haller, written in 1746. Spreckelsen 

 had a correspondence with the greatest Naturalists and Botanists of the age. 



It 



