OF THE LIFE OF LINNAEUS. 
207 
Besides the beauties of the vegetable reign, there was also at this uni- 
versity a colleHion of curiosities of the animal reign, which were in- 
creased in process of time by a civet cat, a casual- from Ceylon , and 
many others. 
In the possession of these treasures and other conveniences of life, 
LiNXiEus was now as happy as his wishes could make him. He ac- 
knowledged his fortunate situation in a public manner. — “ I thank 
« Providence,” said he in a programm a, in which he celebrated the anni- 
versary of the king’s birth day in 1752, “ which has guided my destinies, 
« that I now live, nay that I live happier than a king of Persia. I tell 
« the truth, when I deem myself fortunate. You know fathers and fel- 
“ low-citizens of this academy, that I am wholly occupied with thisaca- 
“ demical garden, that it is my Rhodus or rather my Elysium. I here I 
“ possess all the spoils of the East and the West which I wished for, 
and which, in my belief, are far more precious than the silken gar- 
“ ments of the Babylonians and the porcelain vases of the Chinese. 
« There I receive and convey instruction. 1 here I admire the wisdom 
44 of the creator, which manifests itself in so many various modes, and 
“ demonstrate it to others*.” 
The royal family of Sweden, whose favour he had particularly gained 
by personal acquaintance, and by arranging the royal cabinets of na- 
tural history, increased his happiness, and rewarded his merits in the 
* Deo optirao gratiam habeo, qui sic fata mea dispersavit, ut hoc tempore vivarn, idque 
ita, ut Rege Persarum beatior vivam. Verum nan o, duin me beatuni censeo. Nestis, patres 
cive-que, quod in Horto Academico totus sim, quod htc mea Rhodus sit, aut potius hie 
meum Elysium- Teneo hie, quae voto spolia Oricntis Occidentisque, et nisi me fallo, id quod 
Babyloniorum vestibus, Sinensiumque vasis, longe est speciosius. flic disco et doceo. Hinc 
tummi opificis sapentiam ipse, aliis aliisque documentis se pvodentem, admiror aliisque mun- 
stro . Amount. Academic, vol. x. Edit. Scbreber. f. 30. 
3 
worthiest 
