PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR. 
Unn.cus, if we consider the extent of his scientific fame, 
and its influence over the empire of learning and knowledge, 
holds, doubtless, the first rank among the geniuses Sweden 
could ever boast of. He belongs to that small number of lu mi- 
nes, who made a fresh epoch in the annals of literary great- 
ness, raised their merit beyond the limits of their age, and 
rendered imperishable the splendor of their name. But as 
universal as the fame of Linn a: us is acknowledged to be, as 
unknown are, upon the whole, the thorny and difficult paths 
on which he reached the pinnacle of his eminence. Needless 
would it be to mention to the learned any thing respe6ling that 
barrenness and biographical want, which the modern history 
of literature exhibits, with regard to him. Plow voluminous 
are not the writings on the learned of our age, whether p-reat 
or little, and how small and disproportionate is the measure 
of every thing modern and essential relative to Linn a. us ! 
— Yet the life of this great man was superlatively rich in 
merits. 
