r 
PORTRAITS OF LINN/EUS. 257 
editions of his works, it would take up both too much time and space in 
the present work. 
The scientific inheritance left by Linn a us, his excellent collections 
of natural history, his herbarium, manuscripts and letters, remained in 
the possession of his family till the death of his son in 1783. A Bri- 
tish naturalist of considerable property, but whose great talents far 
outshine his fortune, and whose love of nature is of the most ardent 
kind, Dr. James Edward Smith of London, obtained those treasures. 
He agreed to purchase them of the widow of Linn^us for the sum of 
one thousand guineas-, infinitely glad at his being able to carry that 
golden fleece to England for so trifling a consideration. How much 
must Sweden regret, that the treasures of her immortal genius, should 
have fallen to the share of a foreign land ! It is, however, a consola- 
tory reflection, that they fell into excellent hands, and that their pre- 
sent proprietor will use them in the best manner, for the benefit of 
natural history. Dr. Smith has already published several of the un- 
known produftions of Linnaeus, and the scientific world may expea 
to reap many more advantages from his penetrating knowledge and un- 
remitting diligence. 
At first, no person at Upsal could in the least imagine, that the inva- 
luable learned remains of the prince of botany would ever be exported 
to a foreign country. A patriotic Swede and zealous promoter of 
natural science, 'of the name of Mauhle, who was at that time in C/untr, 
upon business concerning the Swedish East India Company, is said to 
have endeavoured to get them into his possession*, by giving directions 
to 
* Crinum Africanum novum genus constitui et Mauhliam in honorem nobilissimi Dom. 
Jo. Mauhle nominavi, qui solus pecuniam mihi suppeditaverat ad servandum in patria Mu- 
l 1 sewn 
