MEMOIR OF L1NN.EUS. 
49 
collections to a teacher whom they both loved and re- 
spected. In this he was also assisted by the government, 
who were most liberal in defraying the expense, and 
even sending out young men free to distant countries, 
which immensely increased the national collections. 
In a few years his pupils of the most persevering minds 
were distributed over the whole world, and their va- 
rious histories would form of itself a volume of the most 
interesting kind. Of this enthusiasm for science Lin- 
naeus thus speaks, “ If I look back upon the fate of 
naturalists, must I call madness or reason, that desire 
which allures us to seek and to examine plants ? The 
irresistible attractions of nature can alone induce us to 
face so many dangers and troubles. No science has had 
so many martyrs as natural history." Many ofhispupils 
were unfortunate, and fell victims to the elements, or 
to the diseases of a pestilential climate ; but many 
returned, amply compensating themselves for the 
hardships they had undergone, while their names are 
handed down to science in tributes which were be- 
stowed by their venerable preceptor.* 
The fame and reputation of Linnaeus had now 
gained him both riches and honours. He was admit- 
ted a member into most of the scientific societies of 
Europe. The Imperial Academy distinguished him 
by the name of Dioscorides Secundus. The Royal 
* Osbeckia, Kalmia, Solandra, Alstroemeria, Loefiingia, &c., 
will recall the names of some of liis pupils. 
