PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR. 
V 
ix 
had the good fortune to collefcf many valuable faffs, which 
would, in all probability, have otherwise been totally lost I 
feel also great pleasure to premise here, that even in Sweden 
my design has given birth to an enterprise, which will reflefl 
fresh honour on the memory of Linnaeus. 
That a detailed portraiture of that great luminary was no 
trifling labour, needs, from what has already been alledged, 
neither mention nor proof. As a friend to the history of lite- 
rature, as an admirer of literary merit which it is destined to 
record, I took upon roe to draw this pifture, with the humble, 
modest wish, that a better one may start *. The resources 
which I used in the performance of this arduous task, were 
documents in different languages, partly printed, partly in ma- 
nuscript. I collated and profited by them with critical keen- 
ness, and chose Truth to be my guide. Through many tortu- 
rous windings was I obliged to seek her; yet I found my 
industry truly rewarded. Some generous men, friends of 
truth, and privy to many minute circumstances relative to 
Linnaeus, offered me with pleasure an helping hand, for 
which I thus publicly acknowledge my warmest and most 
heartfelt gratitude. 1 farther confidently declare, that the 
Public, in whose esteem they have long held a distinguished 
rank, will think themselves more obliged by their combined 
* Salvo mellori. 
b 
assistance 
