2 5 § SCIENTIFIC BEQUEST. 
to Dr. Dahl, a pupil of Linn a us, to purchase the whole, and or- 
dering the sum necessary for that purchase to be paid to him. Dr. 
Dahl is even stated to have agreed for them.at two thousand ducats ; 
but he did not succeed, and Dr. Smith had the preference. We can 
give the following additional particulars respecting the disposal of the 
learned productions left by Linnaeus : 
« The collection,” writes a Swedish literatus, in a letter to an emi- 
nent German botanist, dated March 3d, 1784, “ are still in the same 
« state which they were in at the death of the younger Linnalus. An 
u Englisman of the name of Smith has offered one thousand guineas 
« for them, but he wants all the books and manuscripts. M. Alstroe- 
« mer lays a claim to the Herbarium, which the younger Linnalus col. 
u leCted in his youth; this separation, though not in the least prejudicial 
« to the whole, makes, perhaps, such an impression upon the purchasers, 
“ that they will not give the whole sum of two thousand ducats. In 
« striking a bargain of such importance, it may be considered as an un- 
ts fortunate circumstance, to have to deal with so many heirs ; the one 
u will not always consent to do what the other will. If I can pre- 
« vent the letters from being sold, it would be a good thing to have; 
« them printed in Germany for the benefit of the heirs; and should this 
« be the case, I will take the liberty of addressing myself to you.” 
Dahl himself, in a letter to a German friend, dated Novem- 
ber 30th, 1784, expresses himself thus : “ I agreed with Mr. ***** 
“who disposes of the property of Linn as us, for the library and 
seura immortalium a Linne ; quod tamen, numerata licet eadexn pecuniarum summa nescio 
quo fato exteris cessit. See Andr. Dahl Observations Botanic <e Circa Sjstema Vegetal, 
Divi a Linne. Coating. 1784. Edituic, &c. Havnite 1787. 
o “ colleClions 
