12 
MEMOIR OF LINNAEUS. 
those indigenous to Sweden. In a few years the garden at Upsala 
ranked equal, if not superior, to similar establishments in Europe. 
In this he was also assisted by the government, who were most 
liberal in defraying the expense, and even sending out young 
men free, to distant countries, which immensely increased the na- 
tional collections. In a few years, his pupils, of the most perse- 
vering minds, were distributed over the whole world ; and their 
various histories would form of itself a volume of the most interesting 
kind. Of this enthusiasm for science Linnaeus thus speaks : " If 
I look back upon the fate of naturalists, must I call madness or 
reason, that desire which allures us to seek and to examine plants 1 
The irresistible attractions of nature can alone induce us to face 
so many dangers and troubles. No science has had so many 
martyrs as natural history." Many of his pupils were unfortunate, 
and fell victims to the elements, or diseases of a pestilential cli- 
mate ; but many returned amply compensating themselves for the 
hardships they had undergone, while their names are handed down 
to science, in tributes which were bestowed by their venerable 
preceptor. 
The fame and reputation of Linnaeus had now gained him 
both riches and honors. He was admitted a member into most ot 
the scientific societies of Europe. The Imperial Academy distin- 
guished him by the name of Dioscorides Secundus. The Royal 
Academy of Sciences of Upsala, the Academy of Sciences at 
Montpelier, the Royal Academies of Berlin and Paris, and Royal 
Society of London, all ranked him among their members. In 1761, 
he attained an additional accession of honors, being presented 
by his sovereign with letters of nobility. His name was changed 
to Von Linne, and arms were assumed, corresponding with his 
new rank. But, perhaps, the most flattering testimony of the ex- 
tent and magnitude of his fame, was that which he received from 
the king of Spain, who invited him to settle at Madrid, with the 
offer of an annual pension for life of two thousand pistoles, let- 
