LINNiEUS AT STOCKHOLM. 149 



bles in insefts*. This speech contairicd excellent observations and 

 the most beautiful sketch of the oeconomy and wisdom of nature. 

 " The author of this speech," says the Ghevaher Bmck, " was an ani- 

 " mated and sprighdy painter, who captivated his readers, and excited 

 " in them a kind of ecstatic rapture." 



This society, however small in the beginning, soon rose to the most 

 honourable public greatness. The number of its members kept pace 

 with its fame; and through the patriotic exertions of Count Tessin, 

 it was raised to the honourable title of Royal Academ) of Sciences at 

 Stockholm on the 31st of March 1741. This example set by Sweden 

 soon excited the emulation of Denmark. The royal Danish academy 

 was consequendy instituted in 1742 at Copenhagen, under the direction of 

 the beneficent Count of Holstein, then minister of state. The learned 

 society of Stockholm was not gifted with any particular funds on the 

 part of the crown, nor did its members receive annual salaries. The 

 only stipends allowed were those assigned to the professor of natural 

 philosophy, and to the two secretaries. These, besides the prizes and 

 prize-medals, were drawn from the fund arising from presents or lega- 

 cies. The members had already published their transactions, which at 

 the expiration 1779 amounted to forty volumes, and have been trans- 

 lated into German, French, and other languages, and are continued 

 down to the present time. These transattions contain the richest store 

 of useful knowledge and discoveries. This advancement of the 

 sciences in that country is originally due to Li n n /eu s. 



Having enjoyed the utmost popularity in the capital of Sweden, and 

 being blest with the resources of a plentiful income, Linn^us was not 

 • Oratio de Memorabilibus in Insedlis. Vide Amoenitates Academics, vol. ii. 



quite 



