9 2 
LINNAEUS IN ENGLAND. 
endeavoured to deny what he had said, and to turn the con- 
versation on some other subjea, but Linnaeus insisted on an ex- 
planation. 
“ Well, said Dillenius, “ come along with me.” He went to 
his library and showed Linnaeus his work: entituled Genera Plan - 
tarum, of which Gronov, without his knowledge, had sent him one 
half of the printed sheets. Every page was marked in different places 
with the letters N. B. — •« What do these marks signify?” asked Lin- 
n & u s.— — 14 They signify all the false genera of plants in your book.”— 
They are not false, replied Linn*us, £{ or if they are, I beg you 
would teach me better; I will thankfully receive your correction.”-— 
“ Very well, let us try.”— They went in the garden. Dillenius took 
up a plant called blitum , in his and others opinion it had three stamina 
Linn* us examined the flower, and found, according to his asser- 
tion, that it only had one.— « Psha ! such a thing may happen in one 
flower,” exclaimed Dillenius,— but it was so with all.— Several 
plants were now examined, and the genera given by Linn* us proved 
to be accurate. This effeaed an entire change in the conduft of Dil- 
lenius. «■ You must not be gone so soon,” said he « I wish you 
“ would assist me in arranging and classing Sherarb’s colleaions.” 
Linn*us saw those colleaions, remained some time longer at Ox- 
ford, and received of Dillenius all the plants he wished to have 
for Cliff or t’s garden. 
Dillenius would not however publicly accept the Linn*an 
system. Old age added to the pride of experience, scouted the idea 
o re orm, and sought rather to follow error than truth. But this li- 
d ' iCOrdance did not diminish the esteem which Dillenius had 
conceived 
