ANECDOTES. • 277 



at the very moment of its birth, and he immediately became all plain 

 « good-nature again. His friendship was sure and invariable. Science 

 « was generally its basis 3 and every one who knew him must own 

 " what concern he always manifested for his pupils, and with how much 

 « zeal they returned his friendship, and frequently became his defenders. 

 " He was so fortunate as to find among his favourites none that were 

 « ungrateful; even Rolander deserved more to be pitied than 

 " blamed. 



" The ambition of Linn.€.us knew no bounds; and his motto, Fa- 

 " mam Extendere FaBis^ was the real mirror of his soul *. But this am- 



bition never extended beyond the regions of his science, and it never 

 " degenerated into surly and offensive pride. He certainly did not 

 ** care much for the opinion of his cotemporaries, and only heeded that 

 " which proceeded from those, who were men of genuine literary merit. 

 *' His way of living was moderate and parsimonious, his dress plain, 

 *' and oftentimes even shabby. The high rank to which his King had 



raised him, pleased him only as far as he considered it as a proof 



of his scientific greatness. 



" In the pursuits of his studies he could but ill brook contradiftion 

 " and opposition. He correQed his works agreeable to the just re- 

 " marks of his friends, whose hints he received with gratitude ; — but 

 " the attacks of his opponents he despised, and instead of answering he 



• LiNNJEus commonly wrote this motto in the memorial- books presented to him by his 

 continental friends; the late celebrated Chevalier Ihre, who, though a sincere friend of 

 LiNN^us, disliked neverthekis all ostentation, inserted frequently opposite the writing of 

 LiNN^us these words '« iVci« iunt, qu<e tumeni."— The Amhor has verified this 



from several originals. 



" consigned 



1 



