1 88 
TRAVELLING PUPILS OF LINN^US. 
nolia, See. — His Dutch friends by the Gronovia, Royena, Chjfortia, 
Boerhaavia, Swietenia , Burmannia , Gorteria , Sec.* . 
Thus the majestic prerogative which Linnteus was possessed of, 
to confer titles in the vegetable reign, became an excellent means for 
him to honour merit and to demonstrate his friendship. But the use he 
made of this prerogative did not escape the eye of critical censure ; 
and Haller morosely complains of it in the following expressions : 
« We find it very natural to assign to the genera of plants the names 
« of celebrated men, and so far they ought not to be altered. But, as 
« these names are the reward of labours generally unrewarded by the 
ce world, and an encouragement to devote oneself to such labours ; and 
« as no prince or minister is particularly honoured by having his name 
« assigned to some herb or plant, we would reserve all those garlands for 
« those alone who are real and experienced botanists. Nor would we 
u ever assign such a denomination to the mere hopes conceived of men 
“ who have not passed the ordeal of merit; nay, we would by no 
* * 
« means advance with a title, those whom experience may afterwards 
« prove to be unworthy of such distinblion. Above all, personal ser- 
“ vices, receptions into learned societies, presents, and casualties of 
<£ this kind, ought by no means to be acknowledged with an honour 
“ which confers immortality, and is congenial alone to merit!” 
* A list of plants thus denominated is to be found in G. R. Boehmeri Dissertatio de 
Plantis, in Cultorum Memoriam nominatis. Witcmbergce , 1770, quarto. 
SECTION 
