312 SALE OF THE LINNALAN COLLECTIONS. 
« mother and sisters of the deceased were anxious to make as large a 
« profit as they could of his museum, and therefore within a few weeks 
« after his death employed Dr. John Gustavus Acrel, Professor of 
“ Medicine at Upsal, to offer the whole colleftion of books, manu- 
t£ scripts and natural history, to Sir Joseph Banks, for the sum of 
tc 1000 guineas (1050 pounds sterling). 
' ts Dr. Acrel wrote to Dr. Eng elh art the younger, now Professor 
(i at Gottenburgh, and u'ho was then in London, to make this offer to 
« Sir oseph Banks. It happened, that I breakfasted at Sir Joseph’s 
w that very day, which was December 23, 1783, and he told me of the 
<c offer he had, saying he should decline it, and advising me strongly 
“ to make the purchase, as a thing suitable to my taste, and which 
would do me honour. 
“ At that time w e knew very little of what the colleaions consisted. 
c< When the catalogue of the books and other particulars were after- 
u wards sent, they proved much richer than either Sir Joseph Banks 
** or myself had any idea of ; but I ought not to omit, that Sir Joseph 
“ afted throughout the affair with the utmost honour and liberality, 
“ (for which indeed he is very remarkable) always encouraging me in 
“ every difficulty with his advice ami assistance. On the 23d of 
« December I made my desire known to my friend, Dr. Engel- 
« hart, with whom I had been intimately acquainted at Edinburgh, 
“ and we both wrote the same day to Professor Acrel, desiring a cata- 
“ logue of the whole, and saying, that if it answered my expectations, I 
“ would be the purchaser at the price fixed. 
“ In this affair I trusted to the honour of Professor Acrel alone, nor 
“ I apply to any body else, to take care of my interest in the mat- 
“ ter. 
