SALE OF THE LINNJEAN COLLECTIONS. 
3*3 
5S ter. I ntver was in Sweden at any time of my life. — In due time the 
se Professor sent an accurate catalogue of books, and a general account 
44 of the other articles. But by this time the mother and sisters of Lin- 
44 N^us began to think, they had been too precipitate. They had 
“ been in great haste to sell the colleftion before the return of the 
“ King of Sweden , perhaps lest she might be obliged to sell it to the 
« University of Upsal,- at a cheap rate ; and they had pitched upon Sir 
« Joseph Banks, as the most opulent and zealous naturalist in Europe^ 
« thinking he would give more for it than any body else, and at the 
“ same time they fixed 1000 guineas as probably the largest sum that 
“ could be thought of,. 
44 But while they were in treaty with me, enquiries were made, 
“ which gave them an higher idea of the value of the collection, and 
44 they had unlimited ojfprs Jrom,. Russia. They therefore wanted to 
“ break off their negotiation with me ; but Professor Acre l would not 
“ consent to that, and insisted on their waiting for my refusal. Fof 
“ this honourable conduB. he has unfortunately incurred their censure, 
“ and all sorts of false reports have been raised against him, such as, 
44 that I bad bribed him with 100 guineas, which however is so far 
44 from being the case, that he never had a present from me, except a few 
44 English books out of the Linn^ean library, (worth about six or eight 
44 guineas) which he desired to purchase of me, as he could not get 
14 them in Sweden , and which I prevailed on him with some difficulty 
44 to accept. I thought this a very small and inadequate return for the- 
“trouble he had on my account, and it surely could not be con-* 
44 sidered as a bribe. 
S 3 
44 At 
