OPPONENTS OF L I N N ^ U S. 113 



" plaisant and so polite, that they would not offend any person with a 

 " single word. 



" I have perhaps been the only one, who after your own method, 

 " acquired his learning without a master. I am still a learner, and 

 " you will indulge me for not having yet become learned. If science 

 " can be acquired by your method, I am also in hopes of it by my own*. 

 " Finally I much doubt whether you or any other accademical pro- 

 " fessor can derive any benefit fiom quarrels. The first endeavour of 

 " a teacher should be to procure the confidence and respeft of his 

 " audience. But if his pupils see him in error, how dangerous will 

 " it prove to his authority ! What man, however learned or accom- 

 " plished, has not been justly censured for having censured others. 



It always leaves some stigma behind. 



" Consult the history of all literary champions, and show me but one 

 " who ingratiated himself with the world by his feuds. Matthiolus 

 " might in his time have been a great man, had he not given himself 

 " to litigiousness. What could Ray and Rivinus do with their quar- 

 " rels ? DiLi.ENius still laments that the latter compelled him to enter 

 " the lists ; and did his vi&ory add any thing to his celebrity ? Another 

 " sent him a challenge some time after, but he wisely declined accept- 

 « ing it. The ingenious Vaillant endeavoured to pave himself the 

 " way to glory by the downfall of Tourn efort. How much greater 

 " would he have been, had he not a6led thus ! 



" I shudder at the idea of entering a combat. Because, whether you 

 *« vanquish or are vanquished — prejudice and blame will always attend 



* Ego demum fui et forte solus, qui secundum istam a te datam methodum absque prae- 

 ceptore ullo, quae novi, addidici. Disco adhuc; ignoscas quod do£tus, etiamnum non 

 evaserim. Si doftrina, tua methodo, comparari queat, spes doftrinae etiam apud me elucet. 



Q " your 



