ANECDOTES. 
277 
w at the very moment of its birth, and he immediately became all plain 
u good-nature again. His friendship was sure and invariable. Science 
u was generally its basis ; and every one who knew him must own 
“ what concern he always manifested for bis pupils, and with how much 
“ zeal they returned his friendship, and frequently became his, defenders. 
u He was so fortunate as to find among his favourites none that were 
“ ungrateful; even Rolan der deserved more to be pitied than 
« blamed. 
“ The ambition of Linnaeus knew no bounds; and his motto, Fa- 
f * mam Extendere Faftis, was the real mirror of his soul *. But this arn- 
“ bition never extended beyond the regions of his science, and it never 
te degenerated into surly and offensive pride. He certainly did not 
“ care much for the opinion of his cotemporaries, and only heeded that 
K which proceeded from those, who were men or genuine literary merit. 
“ His way of living was moderate and parsimonious, his d. plain, 
“ and oftentimes even shabby. The high rank to which his King had 
w raised him, pleased him only as far as he considered it as a proof 
“ of his scientific greatness. 
t£ In the pursuits of his studies he could but ill brook contradiflion 
w and opposition. He correfted his works agreeable to the just re- 
“ marks of his friends, whose hints he received with gratitude ; — but 
u the attacks of his opponents he despised, and instead of answering he 
1 
*' Lins^us commonly wrote tin's motto in the memorial- books presented to him by his 
continental friends ; the late celebrated Chevalier Ihre, who, though a sincere friend of 
Linn^us, disliked nevertheless all ostentation, inserted frequently opposite the writincr of 
Linnaeus these words “ Non magna sum, qua tumeni.”— The Author has verified this 
from several originals. 
“consigned. 
