MEMORY OF LINN^US. 253. 



happened, that some eminent persons from Paris were present with the 

 members, who had a certain acquaintance among the inhabitants St> 

 Germain. Meanwhile, several members had returned home at the com- 

 mencement of the dispute. Those who still remained, also thought it 

 adviseable to wait quieter times, a quieter place, and the assembling of 

 an undisturbed and solemn society. Thus the revolutionary spirit pre- 

 vented for this time the raising of the monument. 



A few days after the Linn an Society made a formal application to 

 the National Assembly, to obtain permission to ere£l the projefled 

 monument in the royal botanical garden, under the highest cedar of 

 Mount Lebanon. The Assembly, without the least difficulty, decreed 

 that the request of the society be granted. 



In the evening of the 23d of August 1790, the bust of Linn.^us, 

 which was only made of stucco, imitating bronze, and standing upon a 

 stone-pedestal painted in colours imitating porphyry, was solemly inau- 

 gurated by the light of torches, and the names of all the Linn^ans 

 present, were buried in a vase at the foot of the monument. 



Between this period and the close of the year 1790, the number of 

 the members had so considerably increased, that the society found it 

 necessary to hold their meetings in the great amphitheatre of the royal 

 botanical garden. It then resembled one of those clubs which began at 

 that period to become so numerous at Paris. Many of the members 

 had not the smallest knowledge of natural history, and curiosity was the 

 only motive from which they resorted to the meetings of the society. 



Under those circumstances, it was resolved to give to the society a 

 proper constitution, to enaft laws and statutes, and thereby to ensure to 

 it duration and greater utility. Between twenty and thirty of the mem- 

 1. bers 



