i88 TRAVELLING PUPILS OF LINN^US. 



nolia, Sec. — His Dutch friends by the Gronovia, Royena, Cliffortia, 

 Boerhaavia, Swietenia, Burmannia, GorteriUi Sec* . 



Thus the majestic prerogative which Linn^us was possessed of, 

 to confer titles in the vegetable reign, became an excellent means for 

 him to honour merit and to demonstrate his friendship. But the use he 

 made of this prerogative did not escape die eye of critical censure; 

 and Haller morosely complains of it in the following expressions : 



" We find it very natural to assign to the genera of plants the names 

 « of celebrated men, and so far they ought not to be altered. But, as 

 " these names are the reward of labours generally unrewarded by the 

 " world, and an encouragement to devote oneself to such labours ; and 

 " as no prince or minister is particularly honoured^^by having his name 

 " assigned to some herb or plant, we would reserve all those garlands fox 

 « those alone who. are real and experienced botanists. Nor vs^ould we 

 " ever assign such a denomination to the mere hopes conceived of men 

 «' who have not passed the ordeal of merit; nay, we would by no 

 " means advance with a title, those whom experience may afterwards 

 « prove to be unworthy of such distinftion. Above all, personal ser- 

 " vices, receptions into learned societies, presents, and casualties of 

 *' this kind, ought by no means to be acknowledged with an honour 

 " which confers immortality, and is congenial alone to merit !" 



• A list of plants thus denominated is to be found in G. R. Boehmerj Dhseuatjo ds' 

 Plantis, in Culiorutn Memoriam nom'tnatls^ Witembergce^ i770j quarto. 



SECTION 



