THE BANKSIAN BOTANIST-LIBRARIANS. 
77 
any advancement. No doubt but you, my dear friend, know persons less eminent, 
but every way qualified in botanic science to teach Russian bears. I heartily 
wish we couhl here give Solander the encouragement he deserves. Some of his 
friends have proposed a scheme for that purpose; the success will be known before 
the end of this year. If, after all I have said, you have determined Dr. Solander 
for Petersburg, pray do not give a positive answer to the academy there, until 
you hear from your affectionate friend, P. Collinson.* 
Linnceus to Ellis, Nov. 23, 17G2. 
A report has lately arisen here, that my friend Solander labours under some 
difficulties in your country. I earnestly entreat you, by your regard for me, 
to give me some account of him by return of post. I wTote two months since 
to inform him of his appointment to the Professorship of Botany at Petersburgh ; 
but to my surprise, have had no answer. IMy letter went in a cover to Brander 
and Spalding.f 
Ellis to Linnceus, 2lst December, 17G2. 
I have now the favour of yours of the 23rd of November, and have consulted 
with my good friend Mr. Solander about what he intends to do. I find that after 
maturely weighing what you so kindly intended for him at Petersburgh, and 
after considting many friends here, he is determined not to accept of that professor- 
ship for many reasons, which he tells me he has wrote to you at large. 1 hope 
in time he will get something honourable to employ and (listinguish himself. I 
am greatly obliged to you for the honour you intend me, in giving me a new ))lant. 
I believe I met with it some years ago in Mr. James Gordon’s nursery garden, and 
made a drawing of it, which I magnified for my friend Mr. Peter Collinson ; since 
which, Mr. Solander has seen and described it as a new genus, and I suppose sent 
it to you. You will pardon me when 1 tell you that people here look on a little 
mean-looking plant as reflecting no honour on the person who.se name is given 
to it; though I am convinced, as it is a distinct genus, the com[)liment is equally 
great with the largest tree With regard to the conduct of our mutual 
friend Mr. Solander, no man bears a better character here. He is constantly 
employed in the business of natural history, and, I am persuaded, has made many 
discoveries of new genus’s in both the animal and vegetable world. His friends 
are considering of getting him em|)loyed in something that may be for his advance- 
ment, and they are in hopes of succeeding. He is e.xceedingly sober, well behaved, 
and very diligent, no way e.xpensive; so tliat I hope he will do very well. I can 
assure you, the more he is known, the more he is liked; and now peace is near 
settled, he has a greater ])robability of succeeding, than when we were engaged 
in the hurry of a troublesome, though victorious war. 
I am going to j)ublish a short memoir on some few of the Coccus’s, especially 
to describe the male fly of the Cochineal. I shewed Mr. Solander two sorts, which 
I had observed at my friend Mr. Webb’s garden, one on the Aminas, and one 
on the Kibes ; which he says you have not yet described: but I have not been 
able to discover the males. J 
Dr. Garden to .Mr. Ellis, November If), 17GJ. 
Can you let me have one of Solander’s catalogues of the Musseum, and likewise 
Solander’s draught and papers on the single Gardenia.^ 
When Mr. Murray arrived in London, you were not in town, and he wrote me 
that you had desired him to put them into Dr. Solander’s hands, to whom I 
• rorre.ip. : Linn bus, i, 57. 
t Ib„ 158. 
t Ib., 159, 160. 
5 I do not certainly know to which " Musaeum ” Dr. Garden refers. Perhaps to temporary 
employment at the British Museum. 
