9S LINNAEUS IN ENGLAND. 



endeavoured to deny what he had said, and to turn the con- 

 versation on some other subjeft, but Linn^us insisted on an ex- 

 planation. 



"Well," said Dii.lenius, "come along with me." He went to 

 his library and showed Linn/eus his work: entituled Genera Plan- 

 iarum, of which Gronov, without his knowledge, had sent him one 

 half of the printed sheets. Every page was marked in different places 

 with the letters N. B. — " What do these marks signify.?" asked Lin- 

 N^us. — « They signify all the fake genera of plants in your hook.'' — 

 " They are not false," replied Linnaeus, "or if they are, I beg you 

 " would teach me better; I will thankfully receive your correftion." — 

 " Very well, let us try." — They went in the garden. Dillenius took 

 up a plant called blitum, in his and others opinion it had three stamina. 

 LiNN.Eus examined the flower, and found, according to his asser- 

 tion, that it only had one. — « Psha I such a thing may happen in one 

 flower," exclaimed Dillenius, — but it was so with all. — Several 

 plants were now examined, and the genera given by Linn.^us proved 

 to be accurate. This effefted an entire change in the conduft of Dil- 

 lenius. " You must not be gone so soon," said he " I wish you 

 "would assist me in arranging and classing Sherard's coUeftions." 

 LiNNAUs saw those collections, remained some time longer at Ox- 

 ford, and received of Dillenius all the plants he wished to have 

 for Clif fort's garden. 



Dillenius would not however publicly accept the Linn^ean 

 system. Old age added to the pride of experience, scouted the idea 

 of reform, and sought rather to follow error than truth. But this li- 

 terary discordance did not diminish the esteem which Dillenius had 

 2 conceived 



