SALE OF THE LINNrEAN COLLECTION. 
3U 
11 At this time Baron Alstroemer, claimed of the heirs of Lin- 
N^usa debt, which the younger Linnaeus owed him, and for which 
« they agreed to give him a small herbarium, made by the said Lin- 
“ n^ius during his father’s life, containing only duplicates of the great 
cc collection, and not any of the plants he afterwards collected in his 
({ travels. On consideration of this they agreed to abate one hundred 
u guineas of my purchase money. To all this I consented. I paid 
“ half the money down, and the rest in three months, — and in OCtober, 
“ 1784, received the collection in twenty-six great boxes , perfectly safe. 
“ I paid eighty guineas to the captain for freight, which was too much 
by half ; but I was careful to avoid all delay. For the ship had just sailed 
“ when the King of Sweden returned , and hearing the story, he sent a vessel 
« after the ship , to bring it back ; but happily for me, it was too late. The 
“ English government, in consequence of the application of my friend, 
“ Sir John Jervis, was very indulgent to me, in suffering the whole 
*< collection to pass the custom-house without any examination or ex- 
« pence, except a slight duty on the books. 
“ This is a true statement of the purchase. As to what Dr. Dahl 
« has mentioned in his Observationes Botanicce about a Mr. Mauhle. 
“ I have authority to say, it is altogether false ; and if it had been true, it 
“ could not have prevented the collection coming away, unless the heirs 
“ had aCted dishonourably towards me. I do not wonder the Swedes 
“ are angry at losing such a treasure-, but they ought to stick to truth; 
“ and I can at any time justify Dr. Acrel and myself by publishing 
“ our whole correspondence. I have endeavoured, to do him some 
* e justice in the dedication of my Reliquice Rudbeckiance. 
a 
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